Of care and Worry- A short story for We-write

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"Don't you care about my well-being?" Sophia asked.

"Of course," Derril said with a grin. He stood in the grocery aisle butter pecan ice cream in one hand, his cell phone in the other. "My only question, sweetie, was how I should keep the ice cream frozen while I run across town for the french fries."

Sophia sniffed loudly into the phone. "I...I suppose it's not very practical is it?"

Derril tried to cover the laugh that was building in his chest. His wife of four years sat alone in their apartment, five months pregnant with more cravings than hours in the day.

"No, it's not..."She let out another wimper.

"But it's fine! I will drop this off at home, and..."

"Derril?" Sophia asked, but the line had gone dead.

An ominous cloud seemed to loom over her thoughts, her already heightened sensitivity was bombarded by meaningles impossible worries. Sophia, with the customary grit and pragmatism of women, shook her head to throw out all the negative worries and stretched a hand towards the bowl of Nachos. She picked up one and bit into it, feeling the salt and spicy cheesy flavor in her mouth for a few seconds. Then, with the customary wild imaginings which are a forte of women, she dropped the chip- images of muggings and accidents filling her vision. "Oh No! No!" Sophia muttered, her mouth now tasting bitter. She punched 'Redial" on her phone and waited.. "unable to connect to..."

Sophia's brain was all afire with worry, so much so that her heart beat had sped up and there was cold sweat on her forehead. She could not sit now. Sophia got up again muttering instructions to her hormone overcharged brain. "Nothing has happened. The stupid git just dropped his phone when taking out ice cream tubs." She paced around the house deliberately slowing her breathing for about a minute, then she poured her self a cool glass of water from the fridge and sat down again. She checked that her phone was On and Working fine and waited for two whole minutes before punching 'redial'... "the number you have dialed is either switched off or.." again she redialled, then again. With the same result.

"I am going to kill you myself." Sophie was really worked up. She had finished the Nachos, a bowl of homemade chilly and half a cup of Strawberry Yogurt topped with whipped cream. It was just twenty minutes since Derril's call was disconnected and the stupid phone still said. "the number you have dialed is either switched off or..". Then the phone rang - a new number. "Derril?" Sophie asked.
"This is Ventura Travels Ma'am. You have been selected.."
"Oh Screw you!" She cut the line. A few seconds passed and again the phone rang. "You have won a free..."
Sophie pressed the disconnect button with vehemence, a righteous indignation building in her chest. She put on her shoes and took the keys and went to stand on the Mezzanine landing on the stairs. From there she could see the cars turning into the basement parking. The phone rang- a new number. She disconnected it. Again it rang after a few seconds and again she disconnected it. She stood there fidgeting with her sweater, biting her lips and chewing her nails and craning her head to take a good look at all the arriving cars. She then put out a message on her Connect-it. "Can't contact Derril. Call me if you get in touch. Urgent All. "Tears and sniffels overwhelmed Sophie when she saw their black and silver station wagon with the right side mirror missing turning into the basement parking entrance.

When Derril entered the flat carrying two packets Sophie burst out. "Derril Shannon you have no right to scare me like this. I was so worried. You men are so thick- skinned. You did not stop and call?"
"But I called.." Sophie cut him off. "Yeah! and you disconnected it. And I thought God! What happened! Is he OK,.... Accident?, Stroke? Earthquake?"

By now Derril was inside and had divested his shopping on to the small kitchen table. So he could manage to catch one of Sophie's daintily shivering hands. "OK OK I just lost my phone. It was wrecked under a shopping cart loaded with cornflakes and milk and two kids." Sophie came back to earth understanding dawning and bringing calm. "Huh. dropped it hum?"
"Yes! And I bought a new ready to use kind from there and I called you but you disconnected. Wait check this out! You remember Shane's out by the skating rink. There is a brand new outlet of Shane's just a block from the mall. I got the firey wedges, golden nuggets and regular thin fries." Derril emphasized his victory by removing a pack of wedges and showing it to Sophie.

Sophie looking at her one time favorite snack was struck by desire. Immediately picking out a still warm delectable piece and munching on it. "Ah.mmm." To calm herself now that she was a bit embarrassed, Sophie took the packet from him Sophie walked away from Derill, to the couch. "I was so worried and all."

Derril finished putting the ice cream in the fridge and asked. "Why did you disconnect my call?"

Sophie burst out laughing, spilling chunks of fried potato over the couch, all the tension draining out. "Wait till you check your messages. " All was well again.

The Contest: https://steemit.com/freewrite/@freewritehouse/3cjqyu-we-write-i-write-you-write