Jessica Kim-Patterson
Bio
Stories (4/0)
The Trappers pt. 3
JOEL: "Hey Honey! Did you make that appointment with Doctor Chen yet?" Oh shoot. Not yet. "I called the office yesterday and no one picked up. I'll call again tomorrow." "Joel, this is the fourth time you've forgotten to call. How about I just make the appointment for you?" "I'm a grown man, M. I think I can handle making a doctor's appointment for myself. Also, I didn't forget!" "You always say that. I can see right through you, you liar!" "DON'T CALL ME A LIAR!" M hates it when I yell. Her eyes tell me she's concerned. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for." She wasn't wrong. Such a cliche. Why are women always right? "Doesn't matter. I'll call tomorrow." "I just want to make sure everything's OK. You've been a bit more forgetful recently so it's important we check that you're all good. You probably are, but it never hurts to make sure!" She gives me a wink and a smile that makes me melt like ice cream in Phoenix. "I know, M. I'll remember to get it done." I have a feeling I'm going to forget again so I write it down. Probably should have thought of that the last couple times.
By Jessica Kim-Patterson2 years ago in Families
The Trappers pt. 2
"Ma'am. Please state your full legal name." "Maggie Park." "Your legal name." "Oh, Maggie Trapper. Sorry, I haven't used Trapper in a while." "Please state your current address." "807 Wakehurst St. New York, NY 10029." "Do you live with anyone else?" "If you count Flo, my Golden Retriever, then yes! If not, then no." "What is your current marital status?" "Technically, legally, on paper, I'm married." "Please state your spouse's full name." "Officer, I don't understand why you need to know my husband's name." "Please answer the question, ma'am." "But we're not together anymore. He's no longer in my life." "Just answer the question." I hate remembering my husband. I hate the fact that we were ever married. I hate that this dumb officer is wasting my time and asking for a man's name that I no longer have an attachment to. I hate this. I hate all of this. It's so early. I'm tired, hungry and upset that he doesn't even know our history. History... His story... What about my story? Doesn't anyone care about my story? Why doesn't anyone ask about my sto- "Ma'am! I'm gonna need you to answer the question!" I looked at him shocked that he raised his voice at me. After a little staring contest with this dumb officer, I finally answered. "My husband's name is Joel Trapper." "Do you know of a man named Asher Gonzales?" Asher? Did something happen to him? Is he in trouble? He wouldn't do anything bad. He's the best guy, the kindest guy you'll ever meet. "Yes, I do. Is he alright?" I was genuinely concerned. Honestly, I was concerned about all of this. I didn't even know why I was called in here. "We called you in today because you are a suspect in the missing case of Joel Trapper, your husband." "Joel? Joel is missing? What are you talking about?" "I received a call from Precinct 9 in Maine 2 days ago informing me that a man named Joel Trapper had gone missing. The last time he was seen was with a man named Asher Gonzales having dinner with him at a restaurant in Portland, Maine."
By Jessica Kim-Patterson2 years ago in Fiction
Safety
I was in therapy today and I learned that growing up, my parents did a really good job of making me feel physically safe, but not emotionally safe. What wrecked me when I learned this was that my parents would actually say that they did a really good job of raising me. They put food on the table, clothed me, made sure I didn't get raped by minimizing how much I went out, put a roof over my head... Some people would classify this as the bare minimum. My parents would strongly disagree. These are things you're supposed to do as a parent. That comes with the job. But what my parents didn't know was that my emotional safety was just as important as my physical safety.
By Jessica Kim-Patterson2 years ago in Psyche
The Trappers
"Maggie... Maggie... Maggie! MAGGIE!!!!" I startle myself gasping for air in my lungs. I pant like a dog. I'm sweating everywhere, mostly my chest and forehead. I try to ground and remind myself that it was only a dream. My eyes are still closed. I hear what I think sounds like train tracks, but I'm still trying to gather myself and get air in my lungs. I lay still, making sure that I take my time to breathe. Ok Joel... Inhale... Exhale... Inhale... Exhale... Last time, inhale... exha- "Excuse my sir." Oh jeez, that scared me. Great. Now my heart's beating fast again. I feel someone patting my shoulder as if I'm dead or something. I don't move. "Excuse me sir! Mr. Trapper!" Go away, I think to myself. Whoever this guy is keeps tapping my shoulder and it annoys the hell out of me. I grunt ever so slightly, flutter my eyes open so I can see that it's not a guy tapping my shoulder but rather a broad shouldered woman. "Yes? Can I help you?" "I just wanted to make sure that you were OK, sir. You were stirring in your sleep and it caused a disruption to our other guests on board. My name is Alice. Please let me know if you need anything." "My bad. Thank you, Alice." I do have a tendency to sleep talk and occasionally, sleep walk. I'm praying I didn't end up doing that on the train.
By Jessica Kim-Patterson2 years ago in Families