Peculiararities of Life -Chuck The tear finding its way down her cheek forced her fingers to brush it away. Tears were annoying. And, left to stroll as they may, a bit itchy on her skin. A quick glance at the old mechanical clock on the table next to her computer revealed the day had ended and another was just beginning. Sheila discarded the late hour and, as she continued pressing keys into words, she wondered why she adored that old clock so much. She had upgraded her PC to the latest wonders but kept that stupid clock that couldnt keep time at all. But, the PC was her life and the clock, with its constant ticking, was just a reminder of time passing her by. It didnt matter if it was accurate. Another tear. Another keystroke. The only world she would ever know was placed neatly in front of her fingers and eyes. She would never have the usual comforts of a conventional life. A life spent in a swing with a loving husband behind herpushing his love into the small of her back as he catapulted her into a warm summer breeze. A ride that sent her away to enjoy a brief moment of exhilaration but always ending with her husbands touch as he sent her away on another flight. But always behind her. Waiting. Her life existed inside this monitor in front of her. No swing. No breeze. But, it was comforting. And safe. After all, there was no real man for herjust the PC. And with that sorrowful thought, she logged out, switched the power off to her computer, and turned around to face her lonely bed. Charlie placed his razor on the side of the sink, looked up and analyzed his face in the mirror beneath the naked 60-watt bulb that lit his dingy bathroom. A slight grin emerged on his face as he laughed at himself. A pudgy and aging man who wanted to be presentable in front of a monitor that couldnt know the difference. He shrugged it off, reached out, flicked the bathroom light off, and made his way to the corner of the bedroom where his computer waited. Charlie was lonely. Had been for most of his life, it seemed. Yeah, even his familiar-sounding name suggested a person of many friends. And friends he did have, but not the soul mate he searched for each night on his PC. Like an endless vicious circle, he situated himself on the chair, and logged in to his favorite chat room and briefly noted the exiting members: CoyGirl exits. BigJohn exits Proud Mary enters Shy Sheila exits