A Piece of a Tail, mini-micros by A.J.

“There isn’t a good time to say what I have to say, so I might as well say it now. I’ve decided to get a divorce.”

Rose lowered her eyes to hide a pyrite glint, flashing bright as the mid-day sun on the shimmering surface of their pool. Her grown children lifted their heads in unison. Why now, and why was she telling them?

Trying hard to look concerned, Herbert, the oldest, cleared his throat. “What on earth for? Aren’t you happy here, like this, with all of us?”

“Happy? Happy isn’t the point, is it?” Rose answered before pouring the rest of her drink into the water and walking away, the tip of her tail peeking out from the rim of her bikini.

***

“Did you see that?”

“What?”

“Oh come on, don’t pretend you didn’t notice anything.”

“I don’t have the faintest idea of what you’re talking about.”

“She dumped her Daiquiri. When was the last time you saw her waste a perfectly good drink?”

***

“Hey, Rosie, get us another round, would ya?” An old guy wearing a heavily stained mechanic’s overalls flicked Rose’s padded backside as she picked up the empty bottles from the table. She shot him a steely glance before her face relaxed into a smile as she snatched the bill from between his fingers.

“No problem Harry, so long as you’re payin, I’m playin.”


***