It was cold that May evening in Waukegan, and Margie grabbed a sweater as they headed out the door. Phil put his arm around her waist as they walked to the neighbor’s house for an evening of adult beverages and cards. They got together with Jack and Sandy Wanton a couple of times a month on a Friday night. Phil was bored with the ritual, but Margie had fun and it gave them something to do besides talk about their children or argue about money.

Jack had the cards out on the dining room table and had set up the bar cart with ice and garnishes, so everyone chatted while Sandy mixed drinks and then they settled around the table for a game of Hearts. Phil and Sandy were always partners, Jack and Margie were always partners. They played, they drank, they laughed and groaned over the hands. Everyone rose after the first game and mixed another drink. Phil had to go to the restroom, so he headed down the hall.

When he returned, no one was in the dining room. He saw Sandy going to check on her children. Phil walked around the corner to the kitchen, but stopped short. Margie and Jack were there. Margie’s back was against the refrigerator and Jack was standing right in front of her. Jack was leaning in, very close to Margie and he was talking to her in a hushed voice while Margie blushed and smiled at him. They noticed Phil’s presence and stepped deftly away from each other, talking loudly about why they were in the kitchen together. Phil turned and left the room, thinking, if you hold a match to a candle, it will burn. Margie wouldn’t have to turn the heat up much to encourage Jack to take action. Perhaps he already had.

Phil walked outside on the deck. He watched the sun’s light fade and listened to what he called the sound of the sunset, crickets chirping, cicadas trilling and frogs calling from the subdivision’s pond. The sky was turning purple and he turned to walk back inside. He felt sadness, like the setting sun had taken all the light in the world with it.

This was written in response to The New, Unofficial Writer’s Guild challenge

This week’s prompts are:

1. if you hold a match to a candle, it will burn
2. Waukegan
3. the sound of the sunset

#OLWG

OLWG#417- Goin’ Home to Greta