Week 10 Story: The Hawk and the Hen

Author's Note: I decided to go back to my week 7 reading notes for this week's story. The basis for this tale is that a hawk marries a hen, but she she ends up running away with the rooster from across the street. My thoughts with this were to turn the characters into humans and make it into a cheesy soap opera/romance novel. I make no promises for how this will turn out.

Jeffrey Hawkins carefully tightened his grip on the leather steering wheel of his Corvette. Late September was always the perfect time for a drive through the country. His parents had finally returned to their penthouse in the city for the social season. It had been 3 grueling months of his father's business discussions and listening to his mother whine about her lack of grandchildren. His older brother had decided to run off with his boyfriend, now husband, that past winter. After being formally disowned, (while genuinely caring people, their parents were still a little behind the times in certain social aspects) the family legacy now rest on Jeffrey's shoulders. He began to grow uncomfortably warm in the sun, despite having the top down. He pulled off at a quaint little convenience store on the side of the road for some water. He pushed open the creaky old door and a little bell tinkled. Strolling casually to the back of the store, Jeffrey grabbed a plastic water bottle out of the refrigerated section. He walked back to the front, threw a $20 on the empty counter, and began heading for the door to return to his afternoon drive. He had just grabbed ahold of the handle when a small voice called out, "Excuse me mister! Where you not wanting your change? This is an awful lot for just one water bottle."

"No that's quite alright," Jeffrey replied, turning towards what he assumed was the owner who had been in the back and not heard him come in. When he turned his head however, he found himself looking in to a pair of beautiful green eyes. Partially recovering from his shock, his gaze moved from hers and took in the rest of her. She was on the shorter side, and her auburn hair was tied up in two braids with a few wispy strands falling in her face. She was covered in dirt and dust, having been in the back storage room like he had assumed, but her nose was covered in a sprinkling of freckles from being out in the sun all summer. He was in absolute awe of the beauty that was standing before him now, adamantly shoving the change from his purchase at him. As he continued to stare, a little smirk began to appear on her face. It was at that moment, when a little dimple appeared on her cheek, that Jeffrey knew she was the one. He reached out and gently stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.  Oddly enough, she leaned into the touch. "What's your name, miss?"

"Henrietta. Henrietta Jones." Her voice was surprisingly breathless. He leaned in slowly, giving her a chance to pull away. She didn't, so he kissed her.

~   ~   ~   ~   ~

Two months later, they married. Jeffrey's mother protested at first at such a short engagement, but eventually gave in, too excited at the prospect of finally being a grandmother to complain too much. It was a small, quiet ceremony, but beautiful nonetheless. The first three years of their marriage was bliss, but when Jeffrey's father grew ill, he spent more and more time away from home to deal with the family business. It was during one of these business trips that Henrietta ran into Russ Ster at the store. Russ was her childhood love and the feelings never really faded. Russ greeted her and gave her a hug. When he noticed the wedding ring on her left hand, his face fell.

"Well dang nabbit, Henrietta. You really did run off with that rich fella!"

They agreed to go out to dinner that night and catch up. Just as friends of course! But as the weeks went on with her husband gone and seeing Russ more often, Henrietta's heart began to change loyalties. By the time Jeffrey was able take a significant break from work, he returned home to find a note and divorce papers on the counter.

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