The Tragedy of Mr. and Mrs. W.

By Tasheba Muhammad

Harry W. (short for Woodseydegernaughen) is an eccentric, accomplished, multitalented celebrity. He has the titles musician, producer, actor, writer, and former soccer player under his belt. His wife, Daina (nee Heathers) is a popular fashion designer and artist, who struggles with fame and elements of their marriage. After learning of her infidelity, Harry hits a breaking point and answers her betrayal with violence. He attempts to kill her!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tasheba Muhammad
• Release date: Dec 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201964474

Tasheba Muhammad

Tasheba F Muhammad was born in 2000, in Fairfax, VA. She has a great enduring love for coffee, art, and writing stories and poetry! She's known by her family and friends to have an insane and colorful imagination.

Book preview

Chapter One

HARRY

When I am awake, I am a conqueror. Where I tread, all peasants bow at my feet. I am great. I am. . .

Cut!

Mr. Ashburns, the director, calls for me to stop. Why? I’m unsure. I feel my delivery was better than it had been three shoots ago. I’m unsure why we have to reshoot this scene at all. It was perfect the first time. That is my craft. I give my all the first chance I take. I was weak before, but I have taken care of that.

Ashburns, what’s up? Another technical difficulty? I smile and ask. A rather cheeky one at that.

He stares at me with those round blue green eyes that always, always seem to see through you. It’s like he’s looking into another dimension or something.

No, your wife is on the line. He replies.

Oh.

The sound man passes me a flip phone. Why they’re using this in the twenty-first century is beyond me. I take the phone and stroll through the hall.

The prettiest girl in all of the worlds is on the other line. How I won her, I"ll never fathom. Though I am a man of successful status and good looks, I’m sometimes like a small rodent-like mammal out of my natural habitat, thrown onto a desert, forced to scavenge for my necessaries. The weight of the world pounds upon my head. Sometimes.

Hey, it’s Harry. I say into the phone.

She laughs.

Of course. Hey! How is the shoot going?

It’s going great. You didn’t interrupt just to ask me how the shoot is going, did you? I ask.

There’s a pause on the phone. Perhaps my tone wasn’t to her liking?

Harry, I was just checking on you. I haven’t heard from you since six O’clock this morning. She says.

The woman I love sighs on the other end of the phone. I’m a jerk. An idiot.

Daina, I’m fine. I’m actually glad you called, I reassure her. I can’t wait to see you. There is this Hibachi spot I really think you’ll dig.

I can’t wait to see you, either.

The conversation is cheapened with what we plan to do later tonight. Something in my gut tells me there’s something she really wants to say. I can feel it when I’m with her. When it’s just us two alone. There is a bullet between her teeth ready to shoot me in the forehead at any moment.

I love you. Daina softly murmurs.

I love you, more. I say with a grin in my voice.

We hang up. I don’t return to the set. I go out for lunch instead. I meet an old friend, surprisingly.

We’re at a table in the back of a casual cafe. It’s the perfect place to wind down. Especially if you want to stay low key. Since I’ve been in this town, I haven’t run across any paparazzi. That was a good sign.

That’s funny. I didn’t think I would be seeing you ever again. Grace chuckles.

She’s very pretty too. She’s tan, has these cute charcoal eyes, long dark waves for hair and a smile like it came straight out of a fashion magazine. I wonder why we didn’t make it. She was always so sweet.

I’m shooting a movie. Also, you say that like I’ve changed my phone number. I say, then take a long sip of my americano.

Harry, you got married out of the blue. We’ve been together for five years, then you just cut me off completely. I don’t hear from you at all and next thing I know in the headlines Harry Woodseydeggernaughen ties the knot with girlfriend Daina Heathers. That was very cruddy of you. She says all frankly.

I don’t say anything. I just gaze into her upset eyes. I slowly remember why we went our separate ways: Too much complaining.  I wasn’t good enough. I’m not there for her enough.

Harry, you’re not even listening to me now. Her lip folds into a pout.

I leave twenty dollars on the table to cover the bill and tip, then I get up to leave.

Harry. She calls after me.

I’m already out of the door.

I FINALLY MAKE IT BACK to my residence. My head is pounding from my recurring migraine. I took a store brand pain reliever twenty minutes back, and it still hasn’t kicked in apparently. The domestic workers look at me like I shouldn’t be here.

What? I snap at Franklin, the head butler.

He’s quite a reserved man and is in good shape for his age. He’s a muscular senior, with dark skin, steel grey hair, and a matching short beard. In addition to being reserved, I’d say he is also a no nonsense judge of character. He’s been with my family for years. He’s like the great uncle you didn’t ask for.

What do you mean, ‘what’? Franklin’s brows shoot upward.

Everybody is giving me the stank eye, so I asked you what? I smile. I hate upsetting him.

Maybe if you knew how to get dressed properly, they’d look at you differently. He mutters and points at my trousers.

I look down and my stupid fly is wide open. I turn around fast and set things right. Franklin laughs his deep, guttural laugh.

I suddenly hear footsteps descend the staircase.

Harry! Daina chirps.

I look up and she throws her arms around me. I hug her back. She laughs at me.

What were you just doing? She eyes me, curiously.

She’s shorter than I and petite. She’s got soft, velvety, caramel skin with a reddish undertone. Her hazel eyes are diamond shaped and her honey blonde tresses are flat ironed straight.

Can you believe I fastened my belt without zipping up? That’s mad. I chuckle, shaking my head.

She smiles humorously and I roll my eyes.

Sometimes you move too fast. You think you’re doing. . . She’s saying.

Oh, I’m a slow guy? I pretend to frown as I talk over her.