The Shadows Behind the Smile

Work in Progress


Shadows Behind the Smile

Julia hugs her teddy bear close to her breast and cries tears of complete darkness. Juliette is but a shadow of the person she used to be. She smiles when it is appropriate but her smile never quite reaches her eyes. No one notices, but the shadow within knows. She is unhappy. She can't remember a time when she was.

Julia and Juliette meld together. Although both entities share the same shell made of blood, flesh and bone they are as different as night and day.

Brad was in love with Julia, but had no inkling that Juliette lurked just beneath the surface. Julia didn't have all the education that Brad had, but beiges her like he loved no other woman.

Juliette, if she could be seen. Would be the mirror image of Julia. Where Julia was kind, Juliette was suspecting of every one. She saw ulterior motives in everyone who befriended Julia.

Juliette talked to Julia inside her head. She heard Juliette's voice as well as she could hear her own within the thoughts that ricocheted within the confines of her head.

Julia wasn't always aware of Juliette, but Juliette was always aware of every thought and action of Julia's.

When Juliette was in charge, Julia went to 'sleep' in the recesses of her brain.

Juliette was a risk taker. She was so tired of mousy little Julia that was scared of her own shadow. Juliette, on the other hand worked three nights a week as  private investigator.

There were weeks and even years that Juliette was living on the surface and Julia lived in the shadows. Juliette went to the police academy and graduated with honors.

One night while on duty she was shot in a drive by shooting. She spent a few days in the hospital and then decided that maybe getting shot at wasn't the best career she could have chosen.

Julia worked two days a week as a legal secretary. She struggled with the job because she was tired all the time and making mistakes. Her boss, the well known attorney. Jerry Mundy, was getting irritated with all the typos and exiting errors that Julia was making.

Little did Jerry know that Julia was a fractured individual who lived two completely different lives.

Julia had the inner knowledge that she may get fired for not performing her job in an appropriate manner. When she went to bed she cried into the only one who loved her unconditionally.  Foxy, her Doberman Pincer kissed the tears off her cheeked.  Foxy allowed himself to be hugged and snuggled with, though he was formidable when he sensed danger.

Foxy was aware if the changes that took place with his 'mom.'  He didn't know the names of the two distinct people that lived in his mom's body, but he liked the one that needed him the most.

Juliette hardly paid any attention to  Foxy. She left food and water for him, but she rarely gave him at pat on the head.

Juliette was gone from home for long hours. Foxy was nervous and trying to hold his bowels and bladder, but sometimes he couldn't help it. He knew the person who didn't take care of him was not his mom. When Juliette did finally come home, she would scold Foxy for making a mess. Foxy lowered his head and his eyes said it all. He tried to hold it but she didn't come home.

Juliette didn't have the same sensibilities and temperament that Julia had. Foxy loved Julia. She was the one who gave him treats and took him out for runs.

It was Monday, and when Julia came into work there was a note on her desk to see the boss before starting work.

She knocked on her boss's door and  he motioned for her to take a seat. Julia sat there with her hands in her lap while she waited for Jerry to finish writing on his legal pad.

He looked up at Julia like he had forgotten she was there.

"You wanted to see me sir?"

Jerry coughed and looked away for a moment and then he looked past her, rather than making direct eye contact.

As accustomed as Jerry was at talking eye to eye with a jury, he found it difficult to deliver bad news to his beautiful employee.

"Julia, I called you in here to tell you it's not working out. I want you to clear out your desk and leave this morning. I'll give you a month's severance pay, even though you were just part time."

Truth be known, Jerry kind of liked Julia. Under different circumstances, he might like to pursue her as a possible girlfriend, but he never crossed the line he had drawn long ago between employer and employees. He had been in a stick situation before several yeRs ago that could have cost him his practice, but as luck would have it that woman was after money, and was satisfied to be bought off.

Julia went home devastated. She lost her job. She lost the only thing that seemed to give her life meaning. Her identity was wound around her career.

Foxy sensed that Julia needed some loving. He stood up on his hind legs to give her a hug.

"That's a good boy. You are always here for mommy."  She reached into the snack bin and pulled out a chew bone for Foxy. He pranced into the living room and hopped onto the couch to eat his treat. Julia reached for her novel and began to read. After reading a few lines Julia's eyes got heavy and closed. When she awoke a few minutes later it was Juliette who was sitting next to Foxy.

Foxy realized right away this was not his mommy. He got down and whined.

"What do you want you hairy little bastard?"

Foxy didn't know the words but he knew the tone. It wasn't a nice tone.

"You may be Julia's mutt but you aren't mine. I don't even like you. I tolerate you for Julia's  sake because I cannot live without her.

Rather than take Foxy out for a walk to do his business and get exercise she opened the door and let him have the run of the neighborhood.

The neighbors liked Foxy. They fed him when he came scratching at their doors.

Juliette looked at her watch and realized it was tine to get ready for work. There was a case she was working on. She had been assigned a case where a woman was having her husband watched. The wife was sure that her husband was cheating on her. It was a great job, but she didn't get a lot if hours, but now that Julia got canned at the law office, Juliette could take on more hours and be in control more often.