Venom

Rocco and Sandy were free spirits and the people next door knew because that's what Sandy told them They were a couple They played for years traveled all the world that was worth seeing and then moved in, Rocco and Sandy she kept her pet constrictor on ice in the freezer because his free spirit was too much for anyone around to handle She talked to Rocco in a voice that bled into the walls of the neighbour's place the place across the lane A voice that carved its meaning into a being with a purpose that seemed to be to drown out the vacuum cleaner or construction workers who might be jackhammering somewhere on the block Sandy made sure the dog was walked and groomed mornings and when both were home that the vegetables got chopped exactly at four for dinner at six Certain days were always for laundry others for cleaning props and sorting costume jewelry one day before Easter all of Rocco turned as hard and cold as the snake found both Rocco and the antifreeze in the shed The other surprise came one Sunday when Sandy became the one to keep tradition alive by asking next door for the orange juice to go with the Southern Comfort and vodka and Blue they were a real couple