rivers_bend

Title: Every Now and Then
Author: river (beta by the ever vigilant karaokegal)
Fandom: Thelma and Louise
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Set ultimately about a year before the film, a chronicle of Thelma and Louise’s friendship.
Words: ~5,000
Disclaimer: Callie Khouri created these characters. I do not own them, nor am I making money off them.
Prompt: He felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it. ~ Douglas Adams





Thelma looked at the clock on the stove. The lunch rush should be over. Louise wouldn’t be too busy to talk to her.

“Hello?” Albert always seemed to be standing next to the phone when it rang. It was amazing he got any dishes into the kitchen at all.

“Hiya. Can I speak to Louise?”

“Louise, Phone!”

Louise looked at her watch. 1:45. It would be Thelma.

“Thelma, when are you going to leave that no good husband of yours and give me a try?” Albert, despite being half again as old as her, was tireless in his pursuit of Thelma Dickenson.

“Gimme the phone. Let the poor woman alone.” Louise tried to grab the phone out of Albert’s hand.

The busboy held the phone out of reach. “That lunch rush isn’t over yet you know. You should be out there waiting tables.”

“For god’s sake Albert. I’ve got two customers and I just gave them dessert and the check. Give me the damn phone.” She held out her hand and glared.

“Bye now Thelma, you remember what I said.” Albert’s voice dripped with honey.

“Thelma darlin’, what can I do for you?” Louise was glad to hear from her best friend, even if dealing with Albert made phone calls at work a pain in the ass sometimes.

“I had that dream again Louise. You know the one.”

“What one is that honey? There must be five or six you keep telling me about.”

“The one where my life is just someone’s dream. I have no control over what happens to me. No say.”

“Thelma, you let that Darryl tell you what to do too much. That’s your trouble.”

Albert stuck his head around the corner. “You tell her I’d never tell her what to do.”

Louise managed to get the back door between herself and Albert by pulling the phone to the limit of its cord. “Sorry Thelma, what was that?”

“I said, the trouble is the person having the dream seems to think my life is funny.”

“How do you mean?”

“I don’t know. Just I think they’re laughing at me.”

“Laughing for what?”

“Laughing at my life. I don’t do nothin’ fun Louise.”

“Well, Darryl never lets you have any fun is what.”

“Ain’t that just the truth.”

“I’ll tell you what. I finish here at five. Then why don’t we go out for a drink after work?”

“I can’t tonight. Darryl said he might come home early.”

“Well honey, that’s just what I’ve been trying to tell you. How are you ever going to enjoy life if you just sit at home waiting for that husband of yours to show up?”

“I’ve gotta go Louise. I’ll talk to you later.”

Thelma hung up the phone and wandered out to the swimming pool. She looked back at the house and out over the yard. She had nice things. That wasn’t the problem. It was just… She didn’t know quite what the problem was.


* * * * * *

“Thelma Yvonne, what are you doing? You’re going to be late for school!”

“Be right there momma. Jeez! I’m not that late.”

“That nice Darryl is waiting outside for you already. Hurry up! And don’t you use the Lord’s name in vain.”

“Have you seen my pompons? I thought I put them in the closet.”

“You left them on the sofa again. Your father put them in the garage I think.”

“Thanks momma. Will you be at the game later?”

“I can’t honey, tell those boys good luck for me.”

“You know, you’ve never come to see me cheer.”

“Well, honey, your father expects dinner on the table and I’ve got lots to do to keep the house nice for him. I will try.”

“Sure momma, bye.”

“Give that Darryl a kiss. You don’t appreciate that boy enough, all he does for you.”

* * * * * *

Thelma sat in the kitchen, dinner going dry and inedible in the oven. The store closed at six. When Darryl said he would be home early that usually meant he would let someone else close up shop and he would leave as soon as the last customer was out the door. It didn’t mean he would still be at work at 8:15. Or still be somewhere. It seemed a little unlikely he would be talking carpets at this hour.

She turned off the oven and picked up the phone. Maybe Louise didn’t go out after work and there was always the chance she would still be willing to go for a drink.

“Hello?” Louise sounded tired.

“Hey Louise.”

“He didn’t come home, did he?”

“Maybe someone came in with a big order. Or he had to go out and check a fitting. That sometimes happens. Or there was a screw up with the paper-work. He has to stay late if there’s a screw up.”

“Thelma, when are you going to accept that man just does what he wants and doesn’t care a damn about how you feel about it?”

“Louise, do you still want to get that drink?”

“I’m on at six tomorrow. I was going to go to bed in a minute.”

“Come on Louise. Just one. I’ll buy. Margaritas.” Thelma drew out the last word enticingly.

“I don’t know hon. I already told Jimmy I’m too tired to see him tonight.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not going to give you the kind of exercise Jimmy had in mind. Just a drink. Please?” Thelma did her puppy dog face even though Louise couldn’t see her, because it almost always got results. Even over the phone.

Louise laughed. “Thelma, you are a bad woman… Alright, I will have a margarita with you. But I need to be home in bed before 10:30.”

“Come pick me up then. Darryl took my car today.”

Louise rolled her eyes. “All right. As long as I can kill that man next time I see him. What’s wrong with his car anyway?”

“Oh, I don’t know, something about a tire? I can’t remember. He just told me not to touch it.”

“I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

When Louise arrived there were two cars in the driveway. She knew exactly what would happen. She considered just driving on by and going back home, but decided to knock on the door, if just to see Darryl’s face.

Thelma answered the doorbell. “He came home. He’s really sorry. He didn’t even yell about dinner being burned.”

“For Christ’s sake Thelma. The man got home nearly three hours late! What state does he expect his dinner to be in?”

“I know. He ordered a pizza. Do you want to stay and eat with us? It should be here soon.”

“I want a damn margarita Thelma. And you know I can’t eat in the same room with that man, it turns my stomach. I thought we were going to get a drink.”

“I’m not sure Darryl would want me to go out now that he’s home. And he ordered enough pizza for me too.”

“Thelma Yvonne Dickenson, you are the living end. Just tell the man he is too late for dinner with his wife and you’re going out with me.”

“I’m not sure I should…”

Louise pushed past her into the house. “I’ll do it for you then.”

Darryl looked up from the television long enough to see who was causing the commotion at the door.

“Darryl.” Louise made an effort to sound like she thought he was anything other than a complete shit.

“Louise. What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to take your wife out for a drink. She deserves one after waiting for you for the last three hours.”

“My wife and I are about to have dinner. She doesn’t want a drink.”

Thelma tried to get between them. “Now honey, I did phone Louise and ask…”

“I don’t care what you did Thelma. I’m home now and we’re eating pizza. The least you can do is eat with me.”

Thelma looked apologetically at Louise. Begging her with her eyes not to say any more.

Louise turned on her heel and walked out the door. She didn’t bother to temper her urge to slam it behind her.

* * * * * *

“Psst. Louise.” Thelma whispered across the aisle, looking out for Mrs. Carr at the front of the room. She had her back to the class, writing something on the chalk board. “What did you get for number seventeen?”

“Shhh.” Louise hissed at Thelma. Mrs. Carr had turned around again.

“What was that Miss Sawyer?”

“I just sneezed Mrs. Carr. Sorry.”

“Well, see you don’t do it again. Everyone, heads down, finish your tests.”

Thelma circled ‘D’ for number seventeen because she hadn’t had a ‘D’ for a while and resigned herself to another bad grade.

Lunch was after history and the girls went outside to share a cigarette.

“God, don’t let Darryl catch me smoking.”

“Thelma, it’s none of his damn business what you do.”

“Well, he doesn’t like it when I smoke. And he just might tell my momma.”

“Gimme the damn cigarette then Thelma.” Louise took a big drag and sighed smoke out through her nose. “I’ve got something to tell you.”

“What’s that?”

“We’re moving. To Texas.”

“What the hell are you doing that for?”

“Cos my momma found a job out there and I’m fifteen years old so she says I gotta go with her.”

“But you’ve been my best friend since fifth grade.”

Louise sighed. “Do you remember how we met?” She tried to catch Thelma’s eye, but Thelma was looking up towards the roof.

“Of course I do.” Thelma looked at Louise and mustered a smile. “You punched Bobby Bushman in the nose after he tried to pee on my shoes.”

“And then you let me sit at your table even though I was the new girl at school.”

“What’ll I do without you Louise?” Thelma had tears in her eyes.

“I don’t know Thelma. I don’t know what I’m gonna do without you either. Just promise me one thing. You won’t go and marry that Darryl.”

* * * * * *

Thelma raised her voice to be heard over the television which Darryl had turned up in response to the slamming door. “Why do you have to go and be so mean to Louise?”

Darryl just turned the television up louder, punching angrily at the remote.

Thelma went and stood between him and the set. “I said, why are you so mean to my friend?”

“Get your fat ass out of the way Thelma, the Broncos just intercepted.”

Thelma moved out of the way and sat sulkily on the couch. “My ass is exactly the same size it was when I was fourteen and you sure seemed to like it then,” she muttered under her breath.

The doorbell rang. Thelma could see the pizza delivery van out the window. She crossed her arms over her chest and refused to answer it.

“Are you going to get that Thelma?”

“I guess I’d better not eat any pizza if my ass is so fat.”

“Just get the damn door Thelma.” Thelma got up and took the pizza from the boy, digging in her purse for some money.

“Darryl, I need some money.”

“Damn it Thelma! What do you do with all the money I give you?”

“Nothing, but…”

“I don’t want to hear it.” Darryl fumbled in his pocket for his wallet and threw it at her. “He’s late. Don’t give him a tip.”

Thelma handed the boy the exact money. “Sorry,” she whispered. He squeezed her hand as he took the cash, smiled sympathetically at her and walked away.

Thelma started to walk into the kitchen with the box. “Where are you going with that?” Darryl sounded even angrier, if that were possible.

“I was going to put it on a plate for you.”

“I can eat it out of the damn box. I’m watching the game here.” Thelma turned and handed him the pizza box and his wallet. Without a word she went upstairs and ran a bath. She was getting tired. Not just from dreaming too much. She swiped angrily at the tears making her mascara run. Not caring what Darryl would have to say about it if he came upstairs, Thelma locked the bathroom door.

* * * * * *

The wedding invitation came back marked Addressee Unknown. Thelma had lost track of Louise along about the time they graduated from high school. Her momma’s job hadn’t worked out and they’d moved three times before Louise was seventeen. The last letter Thelma had gotten was from Laredo, which was just about as far from Arkansas as you could get and still be in Texas. Louise was waiting tables, waiting to be old enough to get a job in a bar where tips were better. Thelma didn’t write back right away and then she felt bad ‘cos it had been so long and the next thing she knew six years had passed and she was sending out an invitation to a wedding she knew Louise would not want to come to anyway.

Darryl took Thelma to a car show in Georgia for their honeymoon. When she got back there was a note from her mother in the mail box of her new house. Louise Sawyer is back in town. Call her. 478-3245.

Thelma called her the night she got home. “Louise?”

“Thelma? How are you? Your momma said you were on your honeymoon. Tell me you didn’t marry Darryl.”

“Louise, where have you been? I tried to invite you to the wedding. It’s been so long since I heard from you.”

“You married him. Didn’t you.” Louise wasn’t really asking.

“He’s not as bad as you remember.”

“Hey Thelma. It would be good to see you.”

“It’s been nine years. I missed you.”

“I missed you too girl. I missed you too.”

* * * * * *

Darryl was banging on the bathroom door. “Thelma, what are you up to in there? I want to brush my teeth.” Thelma slid down so her head was under the water. She could still hear him though. “Thelma!” The banging got louder.

Thelma gave up on the bath and got out. “Just a minute. I was in the bath. I’m out now.”

“Why’d you lock the door? How am I supposed to brush my teeth?”

Thelma unlocked the door and continued drying off. “I just wanted a bath. Go ahead.” She wrapped a towel around her head like a turban and put on her bath robe. She was in bed already by the time he got there.

Darryl put a hand on her ass and squeezed. “Hey Thelma, how about it?” Thelma’s eyes narrowed but she had her back turned and the light off so he couldn’t see. He reached around and squeezed her breast. “Come on Thelma, don’t be like that.” He was pulling at her hip, trying to get her to turn on her back.

“Not right now Darryl.”

He started sniffing at her neck. “You smell good.” The pressure on her hipbone increased. She decided it was easier to go along with him. It didn’t seem like one of those nights he was going to give up easily. She turned onto her back and pulled off her panties.

Darryl pushed up her night gown and climbed on top of her. He tried to push into her but found it difficult so he rolled away, spat on his hand and tugged at himself a couple of times. When he tried again he managed to get inside. He didn’t even notice, in the five or six minutes he spent thrusting into her, that Thelma never moved. He snorted like a pig when he came, and she wasn’t sure whether she was holding back laughter or tears.

When he was back on his own side of the bed she turned away and tugged her night gown down over her hips. She was too slow though and he slapped her ass in what a less bitter woman might have considered an affectionate way before she could cover it. “’Night Thelma.”

It was definitely tears she was holding back.

* * * * * *

Thelma wanted to show off her new house to Louise. Darryl was doing pretty well at the store, and his daddy had given him a loan to get them started. She was nervous about seeing her friend again after all these years. She ran around all morning trying to clean. In the end she got very little done. She changed her clothes ten or eleven times, even at one point trying on her cheerleading uniform again, thinking it might make her look more familiar. She ended up in the sundress she’d put on to begin with. Balling up the rejected outfits when she heard the doorbell ring, she shoved them in the closet. She was primping at her hair as she ran down the stairs.

Thelma flung open the front door and she and Louise squealed to see each other. “My god girl, you look just the same!” Louise was the first to speak, but only by a second.

“You cut your hair. I love it!” Thelma squealed again and threw her arms around her friend. It was like nine days had passed, not nine years. They hugged for what seemed like forever, right there on the front porch where all the neighbors could see.

Finally Thelma pulled away and dragged Louise into the house. She gave her the grand tour and they ended up out by the pool.

“Did his daddy buy you the house?” Louise tried to speak lightly, editing disapproval out of her tone.

“Darryl’s workin’ real hard. We’re going to pay daddy Dickenson back.”

“Well honey, it’s a real nice house. You must be proud as punch to live here.”

“I love the kitchen, do you love the kitchen?” Thelma sounded nervous.

“I love it all.” Louise reached out for Thelma’s hand and held it tight. She was having trouble getting over seeing Thelma again after so long. They had been inseparable for five of the most intense years of a girl’s life and it had been a wrench to leave her. Though she would never say it aloud, Thelma was what she had come home to after what happened in Texas.

Thelma was crying. “Louise, I missed you so much when you left. I’m sorry I never wrote to you after that last letter you sent.”

Louise squeezed Thelma’s hand again. “Honey, I never held it against you. We both got busy. I could have written as well. It’s not like we had to take turns. Life sometimes gets in the way.”

Thelma pulled her hand away to wipe her eyes. “I look like a raccoon now don’t I?”

“You look beautiful. But let’s go get you a tissue. And what does a girl have to do around here to get a drink?” She laughed to show she didn’t really mind.

Thelma jumped up immediately and began apologizing. “I can’t believe I was so rude! Louise, you must think I’m an awful hostess. What a way to treat my guest!”

“Darlin’, I hoped I was still family.”

* * * * * *

Thelma woke up early and went down to fix breakfast for Darryl. Not having had any supper the night before, she was hungry. For the first time since she had turned thirty she made breakfast for herself as well. Her mother always told her how much harder it was to keep your figure once you got out of your twenties and so she’d figured giving up breakfast was as good a place as any to cut down on calories.

Darryl was in a good mood when he came downstairs until he saw Thelma eating peanut butter on toast. “Where’s my breakfast?”

She pointed at the plate of eggs and toast on the table. He was used to her meeting him at the bottom of the stairs with something to carry out to the car. “I heard you get up a little early this morning so I thought you might like some eggs.”

Darryl grunted and sat down. He began to fork eggs into his mouth, not even chewing them. “What are you eating?”

“Toast.” Thelma tried her best not to sound defensive, she knew he hated it when she sounded defensive.

“I thought you didn’t eat breakfast.”

“Well, I didn’t eat dinner…”

Darryl raised his voice. “Don’t blame me for that! You didn’t have to let the dinner burn, and you didn’t have to lock yourself in the bathroom when the pizza came.”

“I was just saying why I was eating some breakfast. I didn’t mean it was your fault.”

“It wasn’t my fault Thelma.”

“I know honey. Now eat up. Don’t be late for work.”

Darryl shoved the last bite of toast into his mouth and chewed twice before opening it to speak. “I’m taking your car again. Don’t try to drive mine, the suspension needs some work.” A bit of toast fell out of his mouth on to his plate.

“I need to get some groceries today.”

“Well, you’ll have to go when I get home.”

“I could drive you to work and then come pick you up, or you could get Andy or Gina to drive you home?”

“Just do the shopping later Thelma.”

“But there’s nothing to cook for supper.”

“I won’t be home for supper anyway.” He was half way out the door and she was trailing behind him.

“But…” Darryl slammed the door in her face.

* * * * * *

Thelma tried suggesting some bars where Louise might get work, but Louise refused all of them. “Is that diner still out there on the interstate? Maybe they need a waitress.”

“It’s still there Louise, but I thought you could earn more money waitressing in a bar.”

“I worked in a couple of bars in Texas. I’ve done my time in bars. A diner will do me just fine.” Thelma offered to go out there with her in the morning.

“Just come pick me up when Darryl’s gone to work. We’ll find you something.”

Louise bit her tongue and even managed a smile. “What time does he leave then honey?”

“Oh, just come by at 9:30. That way we’ll get there between the breakfast and lunch rushes. Better to go then.”

Louise’s timing was perfect, they arrived just as one of the waitresses threw her order pad at the man behind the counter.

“I’ve had enough of your shouting at me!” Louise wondered how the girl heard anyone else over her own shrieks.

The man, his nametag said Bob, with day manager in smaller letters underneath it, shook a finger in the girl’s face. “Four plates you dropped today. Four! And not empty plates on the way back to the kitchen, plates full of food on their way to the customers!”

The girl threw her pen at Bob before running out of the restaurant.

Thelma pushed Louise forward. “Go,” she hissed.

“Hiya, Bob? I’m Louise Sawyer, and I was wondering if you could do with a waitress. I have lots of experience, and I can start today.” Thelma gave her a smile of encouragement.

Bob held out his hand. “You have your self a deal young lady. Louise you said? You do short order?”

“For the last seven years.” She shook on it and had herself a job.

* * * * * *

Thelma took the candy bar out of the refrigerator. At least half of it was left. She sat down and ate the rest of it without stopping. She popped the last bite in her mouth just as the phone rang.

“H’ro?”

“Thelma? Oh god. Are you ok? He didn’t hit you did he?”

Thelma swallowed. “What? Hit me? No, he doesn’t hit me Louise.”

“It was just, you sounded funny when you answered the phone.”

“I guess I was talking with my mouth full.”

“I thought you didn’t eat breakfast.”

“Just this morning.”

“I was just wondering if you’re coming by today.”

“Darryl has the car again. Maybe you could come here after work?”

“I need to do the shopping after work.”

“I don’t guess you want some company? I need some groceries myself.”

“I’ll pick you up at 2:30.”

“Thanks Louise. I owe you one.”

“You owe me more than that. But don’t worry, I’m not keeping score.”

* * * * * *

It wasn’t long after Louise came back that it felt to both women like she’d never left. Louise worked hard for her tips and Thelma worked hard to be the best wife she could be to Darryl. After a couple of years Louise had a nicer apartment and a little bit of money socked away. The time in Texas started to fade a bit.

Twenty four became twenty eight, became thirty. Darryl was made shift manager then store manager then regional manager and the carpets bought nicer and nicer stuff. Every purchase he made increased Thelma’s struggle to live up to his expectations. To be a wife that deserved a house with a widescreen TV and a coffee maker and the newest fridge/freezer.

Louise brought order to her life by keeping things lined up, tidy, clean and sorted. She found herself a fine man and complained that he spent most of his time on the road, but Thelma suspected she secretly liked it that way.

The year they’d turned thirty Thelma and Louise went out for pulled pork to celebrate. Darryl didn’t like barbecue of any kind. Jimmy was out of town and without their men they’d had the best night they could remember since high school. Dancing, laughing, letting their hair down. They’d sat in the car, neither of them sure they should drive after all those beers, giggling softly and considering going back to the pay phone to call for a cab. Suddenly Thelma caught Louise by the cheek and looked her in the eye. “Louise Sawyer. You are my best friend and I will love you with all my heart until the day I die. It’s very important to me that you know that right now.”

“Thelma, you are drunk. And crazy. And I love you. Even though you married that shit and you can’t hold your liquor and you have this crazy idea that you can’t eat breakfast any more. I love you.” Louise leaned forward and kissed Thelma once, on the lips. A chaste kiss, it none-the-less sealed a promise.

* * * * * *

Louise helped Thelma carry the groceries into the house, but sat and drank a cup of coffee while Thelma put them away. “What are you making him for dinner then?”

“Nothing. He said he won’t be home for dinner. So the question is, what am I making you for dinner?”

“Lets go get pulled pork like we did for our birthday that year. Was it two years ago?”

“Three Louise, we’re gonna be thirty three this year. A bit of barbecue sounds good. I’ll just put these last things away, freshen up and then we can go.”

They got to the restaurant and sat outside on one of the rickety tables surrounding the parking lot. Thelma ordered diet coke and a salad but changed her order to the pulled pork and biscuits when that’s what Louise asked for. “Fuck it. I’ve been on that damn diet since the last time we came here. If Darryl thinks I’ve got a fat ass he can at least be right for once in his life.”

Louise wisely let that subject just slide on by. “You gonna have a beer with that?”

“No, I didn’t bring enough money for a cab tonight.” She was grinning at the memory of that journey, “I’ll stick to diet coke.”

“In that case, I’ll have a margarita. Make up for last night.” She said it with a smile to take any sting out of the tail.

“You’ll find I’m still buying. To thank you for last night.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Exactly.” Thelma covered her friend’s hand with her own. “You’re a good friend Louise. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Their food arrived and the moment was broken.

They laughed and ate until they thought they would pop and though Louise only had the one margarita, she let Thelma drive the thunderbird as far as her house. She pulled up behind a corvette. A little red corvette not to put too fine a point on it. Vanity plates. It was definitely Darryl’s. “I can’t believe he went and bought a fucking car. Look at that car.”

“That there car, Thelma, tells me more than I ever wanted to know about your husband’s dick.”

“So what did he do with my car I want to know.”

“There it is, in the garage. His car is missing though. Probably traded it in. Maybe they gave him one of those shiny chrome hubcaps in trade.”

“Well. At least I have my car back. Damn Louise, I guess I had better go in and tell him what a great shiny new car he has.”

“I’ll let you get on and do that honey. Thanks for dinner. I’ll see you soon.”