This is a silly idea, why did I write it, I'll tell you why below. :)

Jackie

PART 39 – Pillow Talk.

I am slightly confused as to why we get attached to certain things which we do not need for our basic survival. Material objects like cars, CDs, DVDs, computers. Replaceable things. I guess they are like 'comfort foods' so to speak, they make us feel good for whatever reason. "I can't believe you washed it!" Mac yells at me for the umpteenth time as I slide the Lexus into a spot at Macy's. "I've had it forever!" She pouts and, come to think of it, looking really cute when she pouts. I am not too sure I should tell her that, it might piss her off. Scratch that, she might kill me, but damn will she look cute doing it.

"I didn't do it on purpose." I say lamely. It's been my excuse since the night before. See, I tend to have this inherent need for cleaning. Mind you, my place, as of late, looks like a tornado has been through it – somehow it's easier to just clean someone else's things. Anyway, so I'm over at Mac's helping with laundry – pretty much just an excuse to see her underwear. At some point she instructs me to take the sheets off of the bed to wash them as well.

Being the ever dutiful, helpful male, I do as told, strip down the bed and remove the pillow cases as well. That's when I find it. Holding up with two fingers is this. . .THING about as thick as a pancake. No, actually, pancakes are thicker. It's Mac's pillow.

Since we've spent time at each other's apartments I've realized she tends to sleep better in hers than my own. Egomaniacally I thought it had something to do with me sleeping in her bed, protecting her, etcetera. Ah, no, it's her pillow. This flat, ugly, saliva stained pillow that she's had, and I quote, "Since 1989."

I jump out of the Lexus and go around to open the door for Mac only to find her brushing me off. "Do you know how difficult it's going to be for me to sleep now!"

"Mac, that's dramatizing it a bit, don't you think?"

Apparently she doesn't think the same way if that look of hers say anything. "You don't understand. . .It's. . .It's. . .argh! . .It's like the attachment to your Corvette. . .Remember how upset you were when it was stolen?"

Alright, she did not just compare a classic Corvette to a stinky old pillow. I give her a glare of indignation. "Mac, you can not possibly compare the Vette to that. . .that. . ."

"Saltine." She says with a grin. Saltine, as in a saltine cracker. Yes, it's that thin!

"Whatever. . .What a stupid name."

For that I get smacked on the shoulder. "Hey! It's bad enough you killed the thing, you don't have to make fun of it's name."

Sighing deeply, I step behind Mac as we head up the escalator. "I did not kill it, Mac. . .I cleaned it."

This un-lady like snort resonates in front of me before Mac turns slightly. "You bleached it! You bleached it TWO days ago and it still stinks. . .Jesus Christ, Harm, the cotton is even disintegrating!"

"Shows you how old it is." I throw quietly. Stepping off the escalator, I search for the sign letting us know where the stuff for the beds are. Across from the comforter things in a bag, is a very large wall with zillions of pillows available. "Damn, one hundred bux for a pillow?" I study one that comes inside of a box, supposedly it's contoured so that when you turn over your ear falls in a crevice so that you are comfortable. Hmmm.

Mac raises a brow. "For one hundred bucks I'd better fall asleep in three minutes." Sighing, she walks away from me studying the different types of pillows on the wall.

I may just get one for myself. Reaching over I grab a white pillow with green trim which is for 'back and stomach sleepers.' " Hmmm." Come to think of it, I have no idea how I sleep. I mean, does anyone? I tend to sleep on my side a lot with Mac because I curl up with her. But, sometimes, I'll wake up at the other side of the bed hanging slightly off of it, sleeping on my stomach. "Hey, Mac, what type of sleeper am I?"

When I don't get an answer, I turn to the side to find one of the funniest things I've ever scene. Mac's standing in front one of the racks, her head between two shelves as she 'tests' a pillow. Casually, as if that's a normal thing to do, she brings her head up, whacking it with the top shelf. "Ouch! Damnit. . .friggin'." Rubbing her head, she walks towards me. "What?"

"What type of sleeper am I?"

She stares at me as if I've lost my mind. "Deep?"

I chuckle and shake my head. "No, like do I sleep on my side, on my stomach or on my back."

"Is this a trick question?" Mac's still rubbing the spot on her head. "I don't know, you're like. . .all of the above? Why do you ask?"

I point out the series of 'custom' pillows. "You can get one pertaining to how you sleep. . . And you, babe, are a side sleeper."

She smirks at me, though she's trying to keep that angry façade. "Do you watch me sleep that much." Mac comes a little closer to me and I feel that little zing of electricity between us.

"Oh, you're cute when you sleep. . .So. . .So, peaceful." My hands come to her sides, resting under the jacket she's wearing, right on her hips. "You know, I didn't bleach Saltine on purpose." Yes, I did, the woman needed to get rid of that thing! Talk about dust mites!

Mac grins. "Yes you did. . .You're going to have to make it up to me, Commander."

"I have some good ideas on how to do that."

She moves back slightly, reaches back, grabs a pillow and whacks me over the head with it. "That's not the make up I wanted."

"Uh oh."

Nodding, she hands me two pillows. "Uh oh is right, Harm. . .For starters, lunch at Beltway Burgers. . .Then, ice cream. . .after that. . .remember that new, sappy chic flick?. . ." I walk after her holding both pillows as she rattles off the list of things I am to do. Finally, she grabs a pack of two dark green pillow cases and adds them to my burden. "Then we might discuss other terms."

"Other terms?" I ask stupidly, then place the stuff on the register counter.

Mac smiles. "Like dinner, finishing my laundry, cleaning my house. . .Stuff like that." She pats me on the six and grins.

Somehow that's not quite the terms I was thinking of, but, no matter. It is the weekend and the night is young. Besides, Mac can never resist me when I make my infamous Sinful Chocolate Cake. "You got a deal, MacKenzie."

"I was never dealing, Rabb." Ummm, maybe that chocolate cake won't work this time?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This idea came up yesterday when I went to get a new pillow. I havea Saltine, it really is that thin, I put it on top of another to sleep. No, I didn't get rid of saltine, but the other pillow which I put under it. I don't let anyone touch my Saltine, it's mine! It irritates me when people touch it. So, just don't. ;) LOL

Jackie