It's Been A Hard Day's Night
Saturday, February 14th, 2004
It's Been A Hard Day's Night
A Dom Entry/Dom/McKenzie Chat
Today is Valentine's Day. And, like any other Saturday, it is a workday. For me, at least. (Billy got to sleep in, thank goodness. He looked so tired when I put him to bed last night. Not much happened in that bed, then. I suppose that's what makes Valentine's a little sweeter now).
I'm so relieved to be home. I don't think that can be thoroughly illustrated. I am SO relieved to be home.
Today was the day that Marty's niece came to work. Her first day.
You know how I said I'd give her a cookie if she stayed? Well, she's staying, and there will be no cookies. She does not need cookies. If I could, I would take a couple of cookies away from her past. And the new car?
Not a chance.
"But, wait, Dom! How could you be so horrible to Marty's sweet, little niece?"
I'm just going to put it this way: it isn't so much "horrible" as it is a survival tactic. She needs it, you know.
No, I'm not sure you do know.
Let me show you:
Dom: *My eyes open, the sound of my alarm finally registering in my ears. It’s Saturday. Saturdays should not be work days. Especially when they’re also Valentine’s Days. I roll over in bed, wishing that the alarm would stop, as long as that would mean I didn’t have to go into the post office today. My brow furrows as it continues to ring and I reach a hand to it, shutting it off with a scowl. I stretch, sit up, and look around the room. Maybe I’ll get off work early today. Is Valentine’s a national holiday? Turning my eyes to the pillow beside me, my smile appears for the first time today. There is Billy... Sleeping still. He should sleep in. Anyway, if I wake him up now, he’ll make some fuss about it being Valentine’s Day, and we’ll get distracted, and I’ll, no doubt, be late for work (by no fault of his). (Other than the fact that he has to be so beautiful). I grin, lean in, and kiss him on the cheek.* Good morning; I love you. *One more kiss.* See you later. *And I unsteadily stand out of bed, wobbling a bit, then making off to get ready for work. I’m ready in little time, really, which is disappointing. I could have stayed in bed with Bill another fifteen minutes. I shrug on my mailbag and pull my coat over the top, opening the door and stepping out. It isn’t really cold. That must be why the cats aren’t attacking me from their dens below the steps as I make my away from the porch. They usually find it beneficial to have outings on warm days... More young children running about, I suppose. I reach my bike around the corner of the house and throw off its tarp covering. With weary effort, I tug it out onto the gravel drive and mount it. I sigh heavily as I push my foot down on the pedal. This is going to be one of those days. I don’t see much on Saturday rides to work. Most people in town aren’t up yet, or at least have the sense to stay home on Saturdays, unlike me. I wonder how many of them are with their lovers now. Maybe there aren’t many... It’s such a small town. And Billy’s already taken. I smile to myself suddenly, considering. Who else is there to want? I arrive at the post office and , with the magnificent power of brakes, pull my bike up to the building without ejecting myself from it into the street. Coming off of the bike, I make sure it’s all set, then make my way to the office doors and pull them open with a creak and a glance from Marty over the top of the counter.* Hallo. *I say, trying to put on a cheery expression. Marty just nods and returns his eyes to their business behind the counter. I inhale, ignoring him and looking around the office as I enter. Reaching the counter, I pick up a few papers, looking them over as though I’m interested, but not reading a word. I swing my mail bag around the counter to ease the weight, then tug off my coat and drape it over the surface, looking up to Marty as I remove the strap of the bag from my shoulder.* What’s up? *I try, raising my brow. Marty doesn’t answer. Instead, he rustles with some papers and asks, “Do you know what today is?” My jaw sets and I look around the room curiously.” Valentine’s Day? *I guess, though I’m sure that’s not what he’s talking about. He’s not that easy to read. What an ass. He seems to perk at the sound of my ignorance and answers, “No, sorry, not for you.” I grimace and miss Billy sharply for an instant. “Especially not with the company you’ll be having today,” he finishes. Then I remember. She’s coming in today. Marty’s niece is coming in to have a look at the job opening here. And sanity be damned if she doesn’t stick around.* You’re niece coming up then? *I say with little effort.* When is she supposed to be here? *Marty huffs. I hate that. He never does it for any reason but to make me want to avoid him for the rest of the day; to his enjoyment. He swivels in his chair and slips a few letters into one of the mail slots. “Any time now...” he mumbles, and swivels back to his work. Fine. Whatever you say, Marty. I snatch up my coat and mailbag, walking toward the back room to gather my mail and be off again. But Marty’s voice stops me at the door. “No...” he warns, as though I were tempting to reach into the cookie jar a second time. “You’re sorting first. When McKenzie shows up, you can show her how it works.” McKenzie? Not a bad name... Reminds me of someone Billy might be teaching sea creatures to at the school, though. But I suppose if you have the name as a first grader, you’re probably going to have it at eighteen, too. “Fine,” I say, continuing into the back room and sighing when Marty is finally out of sight behind me. I set my bag down against the wall and drop my coat on top of it, shrugging my shoulders up and heading toward one of the mail bins. My ears perk as I here a familiar creaking sound, turning my head to the sudden atmosphere of “outside.” I hear Marty speak, then in a nervous giggle, hear the reply. Damn my curiosity. I’m already leaning toward the front room, glancing at what I can through the door. It must be her. And I might as well go over and see for sure. Dropping the letters that I’ve already dug out of the mail bin, I wipe my hands down my thighs and approach the doorway, voices becoming clearer as I come closer. “You’ll just be in back today,” I hear Marty say gently. “Maybe he’ll take you with him on his run for a while.” The voice in reply is soft, almost hesitant. “Okay...” I reach the door frame and peak around to where Marty sits at the counter, glancing at a young girl and pointing out some papers. She doesn’t notice me, I suppose. She hasn’t looked up yet. Her fingers dodge between one another in her hands as she listens to Marty, pressing her stomach up against the side of the counter. She’s fairly thin; her cheeks look rather frail. But her facial expressions are so vivid, I’m not sure whether she is very weak. Just nervous. Her gold-ish brown hair shudders just above her shoulder as she shakes her head, and when Marty turns to find his next document, her eyes flicker to him curiously, mouth forming in a slight “o,” trying to see over the edge of the counter. Marty retrieves a paper and hands it to her, and she plops back flat on her feet. “Okay...” comes her same light voice, her eyes dancing over the words on the sheet. She doesn’t look eighteen. But, it’s odd, I can’t tell if she should seem older or younger. Maybe older. Just small. She’s pretty small. Her brow tilts as she reads. I watch her eyes trip over the page. “Here he is.” Marty’s voice catches my attention and I look to him, but as McKenzie’s head twirls, I look to her instead. I try to smile casually, but I don’t think I was ever meant to do that in my life. At least it doesn’t feel right. But her expression doesn’t change. She holds her paper stiff in her hands and looks at me, bright blue eyes unmoving from me and mouth slightly open. I’ve never really seen this particular expression carried out over such a length of time, and I begin to feel a little awkward. I give a short half-smile and turn my hand in a wave, and suddenly she blinks up.* Hey. *I speak softly, and a nervous smile begins to form through her mouth She lifts her hand to her head and looks at me with a new expression that I can’t really read, blowing a breath between her lips.*
McKenzie: Wow... *I laugh and rub my forehead. He must think I’m really stupid. I haven’t even said hi yet.* Hey... *I drop my hand quickly, spinning my fingers down my hair. He has to be the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen.*
Dom: *I smile at the sound of her voice. At least she’s still alive and moving. I take a few steps forward and extend my hand to her in introduction, in case Marty hasn’t ‘warned’ her about me already.* Domi-
McKenzie: Dominic Monaghan, I know, wow. I’m McKenzie. *I grin broadly, flicking my hair over my shoulder and taking his hand quickly.* McKenzie MacGee. *I squeak, scrunching my nose at the sound of my name. What a silly name, really.*
Dom: Yeah... *I don’t know whether to be surprised or slightly irked. I mean, she did just...well, she introduced me, I guess. I force a grin and relax. C’mon, Dom, she’s just nervous. It’s a new environment, and I’m new, and she probably doesn’t really know what to say yet. I hope. Or maybe it’s just the aftermath of high school gossip. Can’t blame her. She’s young and I’m old and scary.* Ho-
McKenzie: How are you? *Man, I’m glad I got to that one first. I’m always so slow asking how people are doing and then they just start thinking I’m a selfish bitch. I can’t believe my old friends called me that, anyway. What total flakes. Well, they can party all they want in college; I’ll take this guy, thank you.*
Dom: *Okay...so...she’s really nervous. Two interruptions is still, technically, coincidence. I look to my hand, realising she’s still grasping it tightly, shaking it up and down.* Heh... *I manage to wiggle my hand free and turn a smile to her before she really notices.* I’m good. You?
McKenzie: Good! Thanks. I guess I’m kind of nervous. *I pull a frightened expression quickly, and then laugh, making sure he doesn’t really think I’m afraid.* I’m the newbie! *I raise my hand, feeling a little embarrassed when he smiles that perfect smile again.*
Dom: *Shite, okay, this really doesn’t seem like coincidence anymore. I glance to Marty desperately. (I can’t believe I’m looking to him for help on this. Not like he’s going to save me from his own niece). When he catches my gaze, his grin seems to ooze with satisfaction. Damn him. I stare pointedly until I hear McKenzie’s voice squeak up again, and I try not to wince.*
McKenzie: Oh my gosh, is that the uniform?! *I point at his cute little shorts and laugh sweetly. I think I’ll like this job! I look up to him again and he takes a deep breath, like he’s really proud of the job or something. I hope I’m as good a worker as he is.* That’s so cute.
Dom: Yeah... *I consider saying “my boyfriend likes it, too,” but settle on just looking down at the shorts myself, hating them more with every second. Why me? I can’t believe I’ve finally met a girl I actually don’t want to drown in flirtation. Really, I’m not even trying and she just keeps coming. Would there be an “off-switch” perhaps?* I think I’m going to change the dress code to ‘slacks’ actually. *I speak to the floor, soon hearing Marty’s voice pipe up in disagreement. “Over my retirement,” he snorts. I toss him a displeased glare. Indeed, Marty. Indeed.*
McKenzie: Aw... *I pout and tilt my head at him, letting my hair dangle over my shoulder. What a sweetie. He seems kind of shy. I wonder if he has a girlfriend. Oh my gosh, and his accent is too cute.* Are you from Australia? *I bounce.*
Dom: *My expression skews sharply. Australia? I flash my glance at her and laugh lightly, wondering if she’s kidding...or what. Okay, so she hasn’t exactly heard me speak too much... Maybe... Oh, shut up, Dom, we’re well aware she’s clueless about this. Just take it. I hesitate and reach my hand up to scratch my jaw.* Actually...I’m from England...
McKenzie: Awesome... *I nod my head and give him the thumbs-up. Two thumbs, in fact. I hope he notices as I wink, dropping my hands in front of me and biting my lip.*
Dom: *Help me. I thought Marty said this girl had “boundaries.” Marty’s chair creaks as it spins again and I look to him, actually relieved that he’s addressing me. “Dom, why don’t you take McKenzie to the back room and tell her about sorting,” he says with wry glare. Hell, Marty, I’m not going to try anything with her. In fact, I’d rather stay out her with you, if it’s all the same. She can burn the mail. Just let me stay.*
McKenzie: Sorting? Is that what we do with the letters? *I feel much more comfortable with Dom around. I mean, when it was just me and Uncle Marty, I thought I was going to die from nervous jitters. I can’t believe I’m finally getting a job. I look to Dom and smile brightly.*
Dom: *What, exactly, don’t we do with letters? I hold back my frustration in a sigh and nod, hoping that this is some kind of dream that I’ll wake up from; find myself next to Billy in bed, ready to head off to work to just me, Marty, and the heaps and heaps of beautiful mail in the back. So long as...she’s not here. I try, very hard, to keep smiling. She can’t leave, damn it... I begin to recall all of the lovely visions I’d had of early leaves from work, seeing Billy right after school, being with him those extra three hours. Damn it... I need McKenzie here. I can’t believe I just thought that. I feel like running my hand down my face and shouting. Really loud.* Let’s go to the back room, McKenzie... *I say with such pain as I’ve never felt. I point dismally to the doorway behind me, and she begins to trot toward the room already.*
McKenzie: *I stop at the doorway and look into the room.* Wow! Look at all of this postal stuff. Is this where the sorting is? *I turn and grin at Dom, squinting a bit.* I can’t wait to get started...
Dom: *I nod a synthetic smile of agreement. Marty’s chair squeaks and I see him stand out of the corner of my eye. “Well, I’ll be going then...” he says.* Wait, what? *I jump, hoping he’s not serious.* I thought you wanted to...uh...help get McKenzie settled?
McKenzie: No, I’m good! See you later, Uncle Marty! *I wave at him and look at Dom again, anxious to have him teach me about the mail room.*
Dom: *No, no, no, no, no, no... I swallow and look from McKenzie to Marty and back.* Are you sure you can’t stay, Marty? *He shakes his head dismissively and straightens his papers up into his hands. He turns and makes his way around the mail counter toward the door, taking up his coat from the coat rack and pulling it over his arms. I watch him dumbfounded. “No, I’ve got some things to do at home,” he replies finally. “Just take care of things here, Dom. I’ll come back to let you off at about six.” Damn, I hate it when he does me favors. Letting me off early... How can I get mad at him now? At least, with any rationality?* Right... *I speak through me teeth. “Goodbye,” Marty announces, and steps out of the front door. The room is silent. I don’t want to turn around. And I want it to be this quiet forever.*
McKenzie: *He’s not turning around... He must be zoning out. Trying not to giggle, I walk carefully up behind him, holding my breath. Ducking, I reach my hands up and place them softly over his eyes.* Guess who.
Dom: *I jolt. Her palms press coolly on my eyelids, and as soon as I realise what’s going on, I try to imagine a happy place. I can’t believe I’m here. Someone pick me up and put me back in bed.* Uhm...I don’t know. *Go away...*
McKenzie: Nope! *I jump around him with a giggle, pulling my hands away and watching his lovely grey eyes open up.* Wrong, it’s me. Can we sort mail now?
Dom: *I nod vigorously, not knowing what else to do.* Yes. Yes, we can. Let’s give you something to do. *I put a hand to her back and swivel her around toward the back room. She squeaks in surprise and I duck my shoulders to my ears. Damn teenage noises. With a nudge, we come through the doorway and she scurries off into the room, laughing giddily.*
McKenzie: Wow, that was fun. *I turn around in front of him and beam, bending over a little to slap my hands to my thighs and laugh. He smiles back and I shrug, looking around the room at all the shelves. There are a lot of papers, and some big square sacks on the floor, full of letters.* Is this where the mail is?
Dom: *I stop, not turning my head, but glancing around the room dumbly, every crevice and container stuffed with mail. Okay, let’s try this another way. I tip my head and scrunch my nose at her now.* I don’t know! Why don’t you look for it and I’ll start sorting!
McKenzie: *Aw, he’s so silly. I wink at him again and point into one of the big sacks on the floor.* It’s right here, didn’t you know? *Giggling, I dig a hand into the letters inside the sack fluttering them around in their pile.* They look like big, rectangle snowflakes. *I say, lowering my voice instructively.*
Dom: Except they stick around all year. *I try to sound normal now, noting that teasing her just brings me to her level... Somewhere...in the third grade... Stepping up beside her, I look into the mail bin and pick up one of the letters as she offers it to me, obviously chuffed at herself.*
McKenzie: Silly, of course. *He takes the letter from my hand. I swear he almost touched my hand. I blush a little and look in to the letters, shuffling them around some more.* Our job is very important, you know. These might be love letters and there might be some girl out there who’ll never know how much her boyfriend loves her until we deliver these letters. Don’t you think so? *I lean slowly to the side, watching Dom and giving him my cutest face.*
Dom: *Oh, no you don’t. My eyes drop from hers and I flip the letter from my hand back to the mail bin, not nearly quickly enough.* Nah, these are probably just bills. *I don’t know what she was thinking; I don’t care...I don’t care...* I...uh...don’t think that many people write love letters. *Except for me. To my boyfriend. My beautiful, loving, wonderful boyfriend. I look into the mail bin painfully. Where is my Billy when I need him?*
McKenzie: Oh, I think they do... *I gaze back into the pile of letters and sigh. I wonder if we could open the letters and find out. Hehe, of course not! I know better. Maybe I should tell Dom about it. I turn to him again, deciding to talk about something else, actually.* How old are you?
Dom: *Let’s please just sort mail...* Twenty seven...
McKenzie: Oh my gosh! *I look at him with surprise, covering my mouth with my hand.*
Dom: *My brow twists, and I look at her, waiting. And waiting.* What?
McKenzie: Nothing. *I shake my head and drop my hand. Oh no, I hope he doesn’t think that I thought he was too old. Oh my gosh, I must have scared him or something. I’d better say something to make him feel better.* I just thought that was really close to thirty, which is really cool.
Dom: *What? I gaze around the room, hoping, through some instant of insanity, that there would be someone there to save me.* Okay.
McKenzie: *I shrug, dragging a finger through the letters, following his eyes as they move around the room.* What are you looking for?
Dom: A way out. *Shite. Did I just say that? I turn my eyes to her quickly, wondering if she’s going to start crying or something. Maybe she’ll think I was joking.*
McKenzie: *Laughter bursts out of my mouth and I lean almost all the way into the mail sack.* You are so funny! I wish I were as funny as you!
Dom: No, you don’t. *I shake my head and reach into the mail bin, relieved despite the echoing laughter twittering about my head. I pull a pile of letters into my arms and turn to sit on a short step stool beside the bin, slowly beginning to filter through the addresses, hoping that she’ll get the hint.*
McKenzie: Oh! *I watch him sit with his pile of mail, and reach into the sack to get some mail for myself. Scooping a big mountain of letters into my arms, I walk to where Dom is sitting and carefully sit down on the floor before him. I flip through the first letter, waiting for Dom’s attention. When he glances at me finally, I wink.* I’m a fast learner.
Dom: *Wow. I try to nod with some hint of understanding.* I see that.
McKenzie: *I look at the next letter and set it on the floor, then take the next and put it on top of the last one. I look over the address on the next letter from the pile and make a face. I put it down in a new pile next to the others. Then I look to Dom.* Are we sorting by names or numbers?
Dom: *I drop a letter pointedly onto the pile I’ve made beside me.* Name. *I state, refusing to look up at any of what she’s doing.*
McKenzie: Oh man! *I laugh. It’s a good thing I’m such a good sport!* I’m going to have to start all over again! *I mix the letters back together with a smile and rustle them over and under, over and under on the space of floor I’ve made between my legs.*
Dom: McKenzie... *I try to sound gentle, holding on to my last threads of decency.* We have a lot of mail to go through. It’s all mixed up. You don’t have to mix it up more. It’s more important that we just do this as quickly and accurately as possible. *She looks up to me blankly, and I begin to lose hope again.*
McKenzie: *I wait a minute, trying to figure out what on earth he’s trying to say. Then I get it, finally.* Oh, okay... So, just don’t mix them up.
Dom: Right. *I give her one solid nod and return to my pile of mail.*
McKenzie: Hm... *I pick up a letter with a “Y” name and laugh suddenly when I read it.* Oh my gosh! Yelger?! That’s so funny! *I bend forward, putting the letter in a new pile and shaking my head.*
Dom: *How on earth can someone named McKenzie McGee... I quickly dismiss reason from the issue and pull out another letter; name beginning with “O.” I add it to the pile, ignoring McKenzie’s continuing giggles.*
McKenzie: Ho hum, ho hum... *I think I’ll make up a song now. Maybe Dom will think that’s fun. After all, it’s kind of boring here. If it weren’t for Dom, I think I’d rather be working at a restaurant or something. Only Dom’s really handsome, so I think I’ll stick right here. I pull out a couple more letters and put them in piles, continuing to hum.* Hum da da dum…hooooo….huummmmmm-
Dom: McKenzie! *I look up from my mail and pin my gaze to her. She looks up sweetly and raises her brow in question.* I’m sorry... Just... *I can’t believe I’m saying this...* No singing, please.
McKenzie: Aw... *I know it’s kind of hard to alphabetize when someone’s singing. Especially if they’re singing the ABC song! Oh my gosh! I giggle to myself, still trying to pout at Dom.* It’s too quiet...
Dom: Okay. *I turn the word off of my lips, letting another letter flutter to its respective pile.* I’ll bring some music in on Monday, all right?
McKenzie: What kind of music? *I ask, bouncing excitedly. I don’t really listen to much music. There are so many stupid bands out there.*
Dom: *I shrug and tilt my head. Nothing she would like, I’m sure. And if so, then I might as well culture her while she’s here.* Probably something like the Beatles. For starters.
McKenzie: They sang that one old song, right? What was it...
Dom: Penny Lane? *I offer, really wanting to laugh at this one, but distracting myself with another letter.*
McKenzie: N...no... *I look to the ceiling, thinking hard.*
Dom: *I drop my last letter into it’s pile and stand up for some more.* Hard Day’s Night? *I suggest, shoving my hands into the mail bin again and pulling out another large pile of letters. I step back around to my seat, careful not to step on McKenzie’s leg, though she’s sprawled out everywhere.*
McKenzie: No... *I shake my head fast, putting my finger to my chin.* It went like...wax the boards...something about surfing in California.
Dom: Surfin’ USA? *I straighten my letters on my lap and look up at her with an expectant grin. This isn’t even surprising anymore.*
McKenzie: Yes! That one! I love the Beatles. *I grin and shuffle my letters in their pile. Then I realize I accidentally shuffled my “G” pile into the mix.* Oops! Wow, I can’t believe I just did that.
Dom: *I smile and nod, plucking another letter and glancing at her mess.* I’m sure it happens all the time, love...
McKenzie: Love?! *I look up with shock. Did he just say that?? I didn’t think he liked me that much! Oh my gosh!*
Dom: *My eyes widen. Did I just say that? Trying to act casual, I shift my feet apart and continue sorting.* British expression... I just say it a lot. *I glance to her.* ...to everyone...
McKenzie: Oh... *I laugh like a weight has just been lifted off of me.* Wow, I was really scared for a second...
Dom: *I nod gratefully.* Me too.
McKenzie: *I giggle and lean forward, poking the toe of his shoe with my finger.* Aw... *I scrunch my nose up as he looks at me.* You’re the best co-worker, Dommie...
Dom: *I wince. My smile works against my initial response. At least... at least she likes it here... And that’s a good thing. She’ll stick around, and I’ll get off early... I’ll get to escape to Billy every day and she can work off some of my hours. Everything is working out.* Thanks... *I finally exhale and she bounces back in her seat, fiddling with a couple of letters and setting them aside happily. I take a long look at the ceiling. Then my eyes fall to the letters in my lap. Only nine more hours.*
Was this child ever schooled? Babysat? What I mean is...there had to have been a few rolemodels in her life, correct? Someone was bound to turn this around by now.
But, no. It's here. It's at the post office. In my personal space. Tackling me from behind when I least expect it.
If my bike had had wings, I would have been flying home. Billy has never looked, felt, sounded, tasted so, so, so sweet as he did after work today. I hope I didn't take out all of my stresses on him. That is, I hope he's still kissable. I might have done some dammage earlier.
And I need him to be kissable. It's Valentine's Day, and I need it so much. I need this day. I need him. I want to make love to him five hundred times until I lose all memory and realise that this day never existed. Just him. I just want him to exist. And me loving him.
No more work. No more stress. No longing.
Tonight, Billy and I are the only things that exist. Or ever existed. I'll build a new world on his body. He can tell me where to put my hands. He can tell me how to build this world for us.
Yes... Thinking good things again... I have to find Billy before I remember today. He'll cure me of everything.
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