The White Light

Christy Tanner

“Looky there, Joe Bob.” Mary Jane shouts.

“What woman?”

“It’s something in the field, don’t ya see it?” She points towards the field of corn; Joe Bob squints but sees nothing.

“There ya go thinking all that sci-fi crap again.”

“Joe Bob it’s right there.” Mary Jane is persistent.

“Gosh darn woman, stop it already.” Joe Bob wants to backhand her to shut her up, but refrains for now. Her damn overactive imagination, she sees

things all the time. That’s what he got for bringing home those books to her.

“Fine, don’t believe me. But when them their aliens come to get ya I don’t want to here you whining.”

This time he does slap her, hard. “Stop all that nonsense.”

Grabbing at her aching face Mary Jane’s eyes water, damn that Joe Bob. Her momma had been right about him, “he’ll treat ya like one of those whores,

slapping ya around all the time.” But no she hadn’t believed her momma, but wish she had, the bruises were too many to count that she’d received from

his slaps.

“That’s better.” Joe Bob said. “You know who’s the boss woman.”

“Yes sir Joe Bob.” If she didn’t say sir to him after the slaps, she would get more. He was just cruel to her like that. When his friends were around it

was worse though, than he’d just slap her for the hell of it. She guessed to show his friends he was in charge.

“Now go get me my damn beer.”

She headed off to the shack to get his beer. That’s all ya could call it, what else could it be with three rooms?

“Hurry your ass up woman.” She heard Joe Bob scream.

If it was aliens out there in that field, she wished they come now, and take Joe Bob while she was inside. But Joe Bob was probably right it was her

over thinking, or whatever he called it.

“About time woman, lucky I don’t slap ya again for takin’ so damn long.” He raised his fist as to hit her again. She jumped backed from him, “I got

ya trained well.” He laughed.

Looking to the field again she was shocked to see how close the light was getting. “Joe Bob, can’t ya see that light now?”

“Woman I thought I told ya to stop all that racket off already?”

She could see it fine, maybe the aliens wanted her to see it, that way Joe Bob wouldn’t know what was hitting him? She kept staring at the spot hoping

for Joe Bob to be taken, or even blown up, anything as long as she didn’t have to put up with him anymore.

“Mary Jane, damn woman when I call you, you answer.” She was knocked sideways by another blow.

“What Joe Bob?” Another blow came her way. “What was that for Joe Bob?”

“Not listenin’ to me woman. I told ya I needed another beer.”

Mary Jane set off again, it was going to be one of those nights, and Joe Bob would drink all night, and then want to take her. She scuttled off to give him

his eighth beer.

“Better didn’t take ya as long.” He was already given her that look.

“Joe Bob, ya know ya hurt me last time.” She referred to the other night when he’d left her bleeding.

“Ya know ya like it rough.”

Mary Jane didn’t like it rough; at least she didn’t think so. She’d been a virgin when Joe Bob had first taken her, and it wasn’t gentle. Looking to the

light again, wanting to forget that night, and this one too.

“Damn Joe Bob, that lights right at the end of the drive.”

“Woman, I’m telling ya, stop that nonsense.”

Please blow him up, she thought as she watched the light move slowly towards them. I don’t want no more pain, momma was right. The light flooded

over them, she turned to Joe Bob, hoping he’d explode.

“Joe Bob, don’t you see it now?”

“Woman.” He slapped her hard; she tasted blood from her mouth.

The light began to lift her, but Joe Bob didn’t seem to notice any. Maybe it was protecting her first. Looking down on Joe Bob as he drank his beer

she waited, but nothing happened. Finally turning around to look at where she was, she screamed. She was surrounded by hundreds of Joe Bob’s

looking at her with that look.