On the episode, we begin with Aaron’s short story on a woman’s life as it takes a final turn: a dead husband, fingers pointed in her direction, and a best friend willing to save her life. This tale then leads us into a discussion on that weirdest of holidays: April Fool’s Day.
Welcome to Smirk. A podcast that covers society and culture through a storytelling lens. Part creative writing, part discussion, and always interesting. Each week our hosts brings a story to the show, a story they wrote themselves, which is immediately followed by discussion on the author’s moral or theme. These stories can cover any topic the host wants to discuss, it can be lighthearted or more serious. No one but the author knows if these tales are truth or fiction, and part of the fun is guessing while you’re listening before the reality is made clear. We want to hear from you! If you want to share YOUR story, join the conversation by writing in to mystory@smirkpodcast.com, and include your moral, or you can let us guess at it. This is the podcast that looks at truth, fiction, and reality. With a Smirk. Don’t forget to subscribe to Smirk and share the show with your friends!
Want to read Aaron’s story “April Fools” in full? Think you can identify the moral or theme for this episode? Read it below, and then take a listen to the podcast.
April Fools
Madeline was petrified. Today was the day that could forever alter her life.
As she began getting ready, she caught her reflection in the mirror. Her formerly demure and soft features had given way to a more brittle, rougher exterior. She searched the dresser for the phoenix-shaped diamond necklace Jacob had gotten her all those years ago, “the symbol of their love rising from the ashes” as he cornily liked to put it, but she was unable to find it. Being accused of her husband’s murder over these past few months was taking a toll, both in her appearance and general psychosis. Her entire life had become nothing more than a heavy fog, weighing over her.
The stress, the anxiety of watching as almost all of her friends turned a cold shoulder to Madeline, casting her aside with looks of disgust as they departed. All but Helen, her oldest and dearest friend. If it wasn’t for Helen, Madeline was certain she would have collapsed, possibly even confessed despite her innocence, just to make it all go away.
But today it ends. The police have a mountain of circumstantial evidence in this circus of a trial, but nothing conclusive. Today, Helen goes on the stand and solidifies Madeline’s alibi, and no one can contest her word, it is impeccable.
While Madeline abandoned her life as a stripper to marry Jacob, and then reinvented herself as a school teacher, no one in the jury had looked past that first statement. To them, she was nothing but a tramp, a gold digger who latched onto a rich businessman to further her own ambitions. Her history screams of a Lifetime-movie seductress who wanted it all, even if it meant killing Jacob to get it.
Helen, on the other hand, was a renowned prosecuting attorney in Atlanta. She attended Harvard Law, she was dedicated to her community, and she remained involved in charities across the state. Helen was a star witness, and letting the jury know that Madeline was with Helen at the time of Jacob’s murder was more than enough to ensure reasonable doubt.
The only problem? It wasn’t true. Madeline had no alibi. She had stayed late at school that night, as she often did, but with no cameras or faculty to vouch for her, she was the easy culprit. Helen knew Madeline was telling the truth, she knew her friend, and agreed to put her career and legacy on the line in order to help Madeline walk. It was a horrible decision to make, but Madeline agreed, as she knew that otherwise her story would simply not hold up.
Madeline arrived in court, anxious to put this all behind her. Helen was the final witness, and then she can return to whatever remained of her life. As she sat in court, Madeline watched as the media filled the room, feverishly waiting for any inkling of a story to run on the former stripper accused of stabbing her millionaire husband while he lounged in his underwear watching cable. It’s salacious, and exhausting. The jury returned as well, staring at her with the contempt most of her former friends did.
Finally, the moment arrived.
Helen took the stand, and she gave a nod and wink to Madeline, which allowed Madeline to exhale a heavy sigh of relief. “Ok, this is going to be fine”, she thought.
Madeline’s attorney opened the questioning with the typical back-and-forth. Establishing their 10-year friendship, her closeness with Madeline and Jacob, Helen’s career, her integrity. And then the question Madeline had been waiting for.
“Helen, under oath, where were you the night of the incident, and who was with you during that time?” Madeline’s lawyer put it out there. This was the moment. If all goes well, they should both be able to make Happy Hour at Ned’s Bar on the way home!
But then, suddenly, Madeline caught a glimpse of something peculiar. She couldn’t make it out at first, and what she assumed it was…just couldn’t be. Madeline moved forward a hair, squinting to take a closer look, just as Helen answered.
“I was at home, working on a pair of briefs, for the entire night. And I was completely alone.” She turned her gaze to Madeline. “I’m so sorry, Maddy. I can’t lie for you! I just can’t!” Helen began sobbing.
The courtroom erupted, chaos was everywhere, even as the judge pounded his gavel furiously trying to reestablish control. And as Madeline suddenly realized her case had just been destroyed, and that this jury would certainly convict her now, she finally made out the object that caught her eye.
Around Helen’s neck, almost hidden under her blouse, was a phoenix-shaped diamond necklace.
And for the first time in months, the fog had lifted, and Madeline had achieved absolute clarity.