MERLOT

Animal House Vignette #40 | HAND CREAM

Sean Michael Schaeller

1 min read

·

Apr 18, 2026

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“Fuck.”

She dropped her keys by the door, wet coat still on, tracking mud to the kitchen.

Kiki wound around her legs.

“Not now.”

She almost stepped on him.

He meowed.

She didn´t look down.

She pulled a bottle of wine from the fridge, grabbed a glass, and sat at the counter.

The phone started in her purse. She ignored it. Took out the hand cream instead.

The tube was almost empty. She squeezed until a thick coil of it hit her palm.

Another call. She fished it out. The screen ignored her finger. She tried again.

It kept ringing.

She slid the phone across the counter. It left a greasy smear.

She reached for the Merlot.

The bottle slipped.

“Shit.”