The Dangers of Dusk

The Stained Cigarette

      The serious wrinkles of past events moved slowly on his forehead as he furrowed his brow while analyzing the novel he held in his hand. She shifted in her seat and turned her gaze to her mother, who was miserably ordering the books that were left in a disarray. The girl then moved her eyes downward to her bosom, and plucked off the isolated dog hairs on her black turtleneck, paying no mind to the book she was ordered to read. In the most utterly perfect moment, the man caught a glimpse of the girl cleaning off the thin fabric that covered her small breasts. He pulled down his auburn glasses and bit the end.
      "Tommen, take Rosemary back to the house since she clearly has no interest in her mother's work." The woman narrowed her eyes at her careless daughter who was seated in a velvet chair. Tommen pushed his glasses back upon the bridge of his fairly large yet narrow nose. He delicately placed two of the books he checked out into his brown leather bag. Leading the entrance to the library, he rushed without a second thought about the short Rosemary trailing behind him, lazily waving to her mother. Before she noticed, the door to the exit (which was ironically the entrance as well) nearly collided with her face. She became outraged by Tommen's lack of common courtesy and decided it was best to run up to him and pout.
      "Where are your manners, mister?" She snarled and slammed the vehicle's door once she seated herself.
      "Apologies," Tommen sighed, "I was lost in thought." Little Rosemary detected no hint of sarcasm in his voice, and her heart suddenly softened. She then took it upon herself to fiddle with the radio, in hopes of avoiding awkward silence. Tommen noticed her struggle and brushed her tiny hand as he pressed an obvious button that allowed music to blast from the speakers. The wonderful sound of David Bowie's Rebel Rebel flooded out the vehicle's windows as Tommen picked up speed. Rosemary tapped her feet against the dashboard to the rhythm. Glancing over periodically, he caught a glimpse of her radiant smile and strangely felt entranced by her cream colored teeth and plump, heavily glossed lips.
      "Is there something you like?" She leaned her head over and gazed deeply into Tommen's eyes.
      "I - I'm sorry?" He stuttered, struggling to keep his eyes on the road. She slid a hand over her mouth and giggled profusely.
      "No need to be so tense Tommy!" Her sweet voice dragged as she spoke his name, and he enjoyed listening to it regardless of the correlation Tommy had to past memories. He drove a hand to his peppered grey hair.
      "See that pocket on the side?" He quickly changed the subject, in need of some release, "grab that carton of cigarettes." She obeyed what he had ordered right up until she placed a cigarette in her hand and held it between her lips. She playfully winked at him in a mocking manner. Tommen was at a brief loss for words.
"Smoking's bad for you, ya know." She pulled the pink, gloss stained cigarette out of her mouth and scoffed while shoving it into his.