Behind the Pine Curtain

It took four Thursday nights to solidify their agreement. In that time, they had become comfortable with each other, having shared their secrets and the events that brought them to this place. David was ten years older, an army veteran who fought in Italy in World War II. He had married his childhood sweetheart shortly before shipping out. Upon his discharge, he returned home, hoping to build a life and a family, but the horrors of his wartime experience had a grip on his soul. While he struggled to manage his demons, rumors began to reach him about an affair his wife had engaged in while he was away. One night, in a drunken state, he confronted her, and she confessed. Filled with rage, he reacted as though in combat, drew his pistol, and was moments away from pulling the trigger. If not for the voice in his head that screamed, “stop”, he would have shot her. That episode had occurred almost nine years before, and it so frightened him that he had not been in a serious relationship with a woman since. It was even difficult for him to engage in casual dating, as the women always had expectations. After the divorce, he moved into a trailer on family property, across the road from his family’s homestead. He found comfort in solitude and books, particularly the teachings of the philosopher, Pythagoras. The type of arrangement the Pine Curtain offered suited him. Luckily, he wasn’t so damaged that he could not hold down a job and so money was not an issue. Lula, on the other hand, was still young and had not yet given up on future relationships. The kind of arrangement she struck with David would allow them both to seek other companionship, especially given they would never be able to be seen together in public. If they made time for each other and respected boundaries, the terms would be met, and to her, that felt oddly liberating.