The Graduate, Part 4

Part 4:The Pain

Karrie and Ashley woke the next morning at 10:00 a.m. and lay in bed kissing
and talking.  Joyce knocked on Karries door to wake them at 10:30. 

"Girls, you need to get up. Ashley's mother called and needs her home." she
said.

Both groggy from the previous night, Karrie and Ashley descended the stairs
into the kitchen. Joyce was making some fresh coffee.

"You ladies sure slept late, how was the party?" she asked.

"Fun Miss Jens," Ashley replied. Karrie was busy lighting a cigarette. When
she was done she passed them to Ashley who quickly followed suit.

"It was great mom. We didn't wake you when we came home did we?" Karrie asked
through a dense cloud of smoke. She immediately returned the cigarette to her
lips to fill her body with more nicotine.

"No..." Joyce said. "Bill said he thought he heard you come in around 2:00
p.m. Is that about when you got home?"

Karrie turned to Ashley with a frightened look.

Joyce startled them by clanking two steaming coffee mugs in front of them.
"Want some toast?" she asked cheerfully.

"Sure mom, that would be great." Karrie replied.

When Joyce turned, Karrie quickly turned to Ashley. "You don't think..."

"No..." Ashley interrupted. "He would have said something to her, don't sweat
it." Ashley's heart raced a bit and hoped she had concealed her secret. She
didn't know what she'd do with it yet, but it was hers and hers only.

Karrie drew nervously on her cigarette and then sipped her coffee. Her nose
exhale swirled atop the black coffee. Ashley followed suit.

"Where is Bill anyway?" Karrie asked nervously.

"He was going fishing with some friends today, so he left about 7:00" Joyce
replied from the kitchen.

Karrie drew again, a bit relieved. She tried to change the subject.

"So, how was last night for you?" she asked as Joyce sat the toast on the
table.

Joyce sat at the table and smiled. She lit a cigarette of her own and exhaled
towards the ceiling. "I don't kiss and tell girls."

They all giggled. Karrie and Ashley began their slow healing process,
nibbling on the toast and sipping coffee. Joyce kept them company and either
laughed at their stories or looked on in surprise.


At 11:15, Ashley finally got enough strength to get home. Karrie followed her
upstairs and they shared a tender kiss before she left. They made plans for
later that evening. Karrie watched from the front window as Ashley backed out
of the driveway and sped down the street.

Karrie returned to the kitchen table with Joyce and lit another cigarette.
She smiled at her mother as she exhaled lazily.

Joyce drew and then crushed out her cigarette. They sat silent for a few
minutes contemplating their next sentences.

Joyce spoke first. "Well, Ashley certainly left happier this time than the
last time you had her over..."

Karrie broke eye contact and tried to contain her smile, but found she was
unable to. "I guess you could say that," she said.

"Are you saying that..." Joyce began, sitting forward.

Karrie interrupted. "I don't kiss and tell either, Mom." She smiled at her
mother trying to ease the situation.

Joyce sighed and decided to let that conversation lay. A concerned look
crossed her face and she nervously reached for another cigarette. She lit it
quickly and double pumped the filter to calm her nerves before she began.

"Honey, there's something we need to talk about." she said.

"What is it mom? You aren't marrying Bill are you?" Karrie asked

"No, No... nothing like that," Joyce replied. She drew again. "It's about
your college money..."

"What about my college money?" Karrie asked. Her voice was now full of
concern.

"I, I..." Joyce stammered looking for the words to say. "Its, its gone. I got
a stock tip from..."

"It's GONE!?" Karrie now stood. She was fuming. Joyce looked away, drawing
deeply on her cigarette, allowing her daughter to vent. "What the FUCK did
you do with it? What the FUCK am I supposed to do now? I've already been sent
in my..."

It was Joyce's turn to interrupt. "Stop. Stop right there. Sit down and let
me try to explain. We can work this out..." Tears were starting to form in
her eyes. For the first time she was having regrets about ever contacting
Bonnie Kelly.

Karrie sat and drew angrily and steadily on her cigarette. "This should be
good mother, I'm waiting..." she said sarcastically. Right now, she wanted to
hurt her mother.

"Someone at work got a hot stock tip," she lied. "I tried to turn your
college money into more. It was a sure thing... But you know how these Damn
dot coms keep on dying left and right. It just wasn't the right time..."

"How long have you known? When did this happen?" Karrie demanded.

This question surprised Joyce and she wasn't ready for it.

"Uuuuh, just after your birthday" she finally said. This was the truth.

"And you're just telling me NOW?" Karrie yelled. "I could have gotten a job
by now and started saving, what were you thinking?"

"You can still apply for some grants or college loans honey..." Joyce said,
trying to soothe her.

"No I can't mom, the deadline has passed for all those. I'd have to wait till
next semester. And remember, you make just enough money that I'd probably
qualify for all of Jack SHIT!"

Karrie started upstairs but quickly returned, wanting to get in one last
hurtful shot. 

"And yes mother, Ashley and I had sex last night. I ate her pussy all night
long, and she ate mine. Then we fucked each other with a big vibrator Your
daughter, who isn't going to college, loves the taste of pussy! How do you
like that?" And then Karrie slowly walked upstairs. With all her strength she
slammed her door and locked it. A few pictures in the hall dropped and broke.

Joyce sat with her head in her hands, sobbing. Her cigarette smoldered in the
ashtray underneath her. She crushed it out and picked up her purse and keys.
She decided it was best to leave Karrie alone for a while to cool off. Bill
had given her a key to his apartment and he was gone for the day, so that was
her destination.

Karrie heard the door close and garage door go up. She went to her closet and
reached behind a few boxes until she found her box. She opened it and fished
out a small baggie of rolled joints. She pulled out the largest one she had
and returned to her bed. She lit the joint and pulled on it long and hard.
With each exhale, she'd immediately draw deeply again, directly into her
lungs and hold it as long as she could. 

With the third inhale she could feel the effects starting to take. Her eyes
felt squinty, her mouth was getting dry and her legs and arms started to feel
light and tingly. Still, she continued until she was holding a small soggy
roach. She tossed this into her ashtray and lay back in her bed. The room was
spinning just a bit and she felt like she was floating just above the bed.

She tried to forget everything that just took place, but even the marijuana
couldn't keep them away. She ended up crying herself back to sleep.

End Part 4

Previous part | Next part