The parlor was so dark Amy had to squeeze her eyelids tight and pop them wide to be sure they were open. The house was so hushed that kerplunk, kerplunk echoed through the room as water dripped from the icebox into the old dishpan in the kitchen.

The little clock on the wall cracked Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, causing her to hunch her shoulders. She couldnt tell if the cuckoos counted to 9 or 10, but it didnt matter. Shed hide behind the old upright piano all night if necessary.

Her life had turned as black as the parlor just a week ago when her friend, Effie, had taken her by the hand. Amy, you know that Greenwood is a small community. People cant keep secrets very long. Effies lips were trembling. Since were best friends, I have to tell you what I heard about Jimmie when you spent the night with your folks

So Amy would stay behind the piano all night if thats what it took to find out. She just knew it was all a mistake because her marriage with Jimmie had been magical for six years.

It was like a fairy tale when she met him during her sophomore year. She was doing well in school because it was so easy she wrote poems in class to keep from being bored, and she expected to stay in school until she graduated. Then she met Jimmie at the soda fountain.

Can I buy you a Coke?

Surprised by the deep voice behind her, she turned to look up at a handsome Romeo with bushy eyebrows and wavy brown hair, who had to be at least 20.

You mean a sophisticated gentleman like you would take time to buy a Coke for a little ole school girl like me? She was shocked at herself.

He looked her up and down. You dont look like a little ole schoolgirl to me. For you Ive got all the time in the whole wide world.

She felt awful in her school sack-dress and scarred old shoes, while he was dressed like a dandy, with a white city shirt, and a watch fob hanging from his belt into a pocket.

My, youre dressed so citified. She could have bitten her tongue off, but he broke into a big smile.

Im a coal miner in Oklahoma. Coal miners make good money compared to farmers, so when I come home I put on my glad rags.

They held off marrying until she finished her sophomore year. They even waited a couple more days until June 1, 1918, so she could be a June bride.

Before long they went to Oklahoma cause thats where Jimmies work was. He disagreed with her at first when she landed a job with the biscuit company in Oklahoma City. But, she said, after all, its the 20s, and Im one of those liberated, flaming youth. It wasnt like they had any kids to take care of. Besides, he admitted he didnt mind the extra money she brought in.

She counted back; it had been a fairy tale for six years, and it would last forever.

Her fears disappeared. She didnt know how she could ever explain to Jimmie that she thought he was cheating. But theyd get through it.

Her foot had gone to sleep; it tingled like a thousand tiny twitches of electricity, so she stood up. Her throat tasted sour. She fumbled over the top of the piano to find the fresh stick of Wrigleys Spearmint gum shed left there. It made her mouth taste sweet and fresh. She crouched down again against the wall and dozed.

Her heart leapt like a lion when the front door swung open and the handle banged the wall as it always did when her husband came home. Jimmies familiar steps tramped across the floor to the lantern. He levered up the globe with its usual squeak, scraped a match against the box on the table, and light splashed across the parlor. Everything was going to be all right.

Then came a giggle, and high heels, clack, clack, clack.

Shed felt terrible lying to Jimmie about spending the night with her folks. But that was just a little lie. Now she was smack-dab in the middle of a big lie.

The fairy tale had become a nightmare.

She got up and stepped from behind the piano and the giggles stopped. She couldnt understand what she saw. The woman was short and pudgy, while Amy was tall and slim. The womans round chin grazed a bulbous bust, while Amys neck was long enough to wear a graceful necklace above her respectable bust line. The womans face was round like a childs drawing, and Amys was oval. The womans lips were fat and pouty, and Amys were thin and proper. The womans little black eyes lashed out like a snakes tongue, while Jimmie always told Amy her blue green eyes flashed like precious jewels. The womans Peroxide-blond curls hung around her ears like a frizzled mop, while Amy kept her auburn hair nicely trimmed above her shoulders with bangs above her eyes.

Get out! Get out! Get out! The shrieks split the quiet night like strikes of lightning.

Amy didnt realize the voice was hers until Jimmie and the girl had turned and scurried through the open door like cockroaches racing into the night.

She pushed the door of darkness shut and stared at her shadow flickering over it like a lurking black spider.