Mary’s Home

She opened her eyes gently. It’s morning again. She gently turned to face the alarm by her bedside. 10:00AM. She smiled as she suddenly remembered today is Saturday and the kids were at Grandma’s. She looked at her husband who was still fast asleep and laughed quietly at the thought of what she was about to do. She just loved this weekend, its just she and her bestfriend!

1, 2, 3! She jumped on him and sat on his chest “It’s Saturday!” she shouted into his ears. He pushed her forcefully away from him but she kept laughing.

“God Mary, are you crazy?!” He didnt find that funny

She jumped on him again but this time harder and sits on his chest laughing, staring at his angry face. He tried to push her away but she stiffened.

“What do you want? I am not finding this funny!” He held her arms firmly

“Punch me” she said, smiling “I want you to punch me”

“You’re crazy”

“If you don’t then you are weak, ver-r-r-ry weak and afraid” She had that seductive look and tone that he’s always adored

“You just turned on my crazy button girl. I know how to make you beg” He swoops her off his chest to the bed and began to tickle her. That was the meanest thing to do to her. She laughed uncontrollably with tears, hitting him hard with her fists.

“Beg me” He smiled on seeing how helpless his wife was

“Please, please” She laughed, “I beg you”

“and?”

“…and I promise to make you Italian for lunch!” she screamed on top of her voice.

He stopped now, leaning over her body, his eyes fixed on hers “Really?”

“You win. I will” she smiled, “I’m sorry for what I did yesterday. It wont happen again”

“I know” He gently brushed her eyebrow with his hands, “I love you”

She sat up now and hugged him, “I love you too but am sure I’ll love you more after you brush that stinking mouth of yours”

They laughed. She placed a peck on his forehead, “Good morning”

After their normal morning routine (brush , bathe , and pray), they set out for breakfast and guess who fixed it? Him! that was the price for the Italian lunch anyway! Both happily ate their ‘burnt’ bacon for breakfast. what a way to begin the day!

MARSHA’S HOME (that same day)

She opened her eyes gently, how she hated Saturdays. She looked at her husband with disgust as he snored deeply. He didn’t even apologize for what he did yesterday.

She washed her face, brushed her teeth and headed for the kitchen. Anger rose within her as she observed the messy kitchen. It had to be him! she had cleaned this place before drifting off to sleep and besides the kids are at Grandma’s. She stormed back to the room and tapped him angrily. “You had better wake up ‘coz I am sick and tired of the way you do things around here! You are unbelievably disorganized…”

He wasn’t even listening

“Are you listening to me?! Very soon I’ll leave this house for you since you have chosen to live like a pig!”

That was it, He couldn’t take this. He shot up angrily from the bed with his hand lifted.

“Try it and we are done. You couldn’t even apologise for your behaviour last night!” she flared.

“Apologise? For what? For what damn it! You want to leave? Leave! That will be the sweetest thing you’ve done since our five years of bloody misery marriage!”

(BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH…the day is ruined anyway)

Now let me take you through a Monday. Week days are always a bit stressful right?

MARY’S HOME

There was silence. Both ate their food in complete silence…

“Look we made a rule that as a family we must eat our dinners together. It’s 11pm and you’re late, the children are asleep. You did not only keep us hungry but also worried you’re acting like nothing is wrong” He snapped

“Can we not do this please? I am quiet which is unusual. Why won’t you ask why instead of nagging and snapping” She said calmly but stiffly

There was short silence…

“I’m…I’m sorry. I was just very worried. How did the day go?”

“I promise to tell you everything but not while we are eating. Tell me about yours, you came early and you seem very happy…wow, you even made us ‘unburnt’ dinner” she mocked

“I’m not happy, who told you I’m happy” He squeezed his face playfully

She finally laughed, “You are a joker…I see through you and besides you are the only man I know like me”

He placed two tickets on the table, ” Take a break off work ‘coz I just took mine. I want to hang out with my bestfriend”

She gently dropped her cutlery, “Oh my God…where? where? ok, dont tell me, let me just close my eyes and when I open them, you show it to me!”

She opened her eyes and tears welled up slowly, “Do you still love me?…like the early years?”

“Are you crazy?” He was shocked

“I’ll be crazy if you say No” she let the tears drop and ran over to hug him tight, “I got fired today” she sobbed

He was shocked…he tried to release himself from the embrace but she hugged him even tighter, “No…its okay, just hug me please. Thank you for this, God bless you. You are more important to me than any job…I love you” she sobbed

He felt both hatred and anger for the damn company but her embrace was soothing enough.

“God will fix you again…We will pull this off, I promise” He hugged her tight

MARSHA’S HOME

“Welcome” She said in a low tone, stiffly

“Yeh” He walked away with his briefcase upstairs

She had served dinner already and he didnt even notice. She stormed upstairs to meet him. “Won’t you eat dinner?”

“No, thanks” He lay on the bed

“Why? You are just going to let it waste?”

“Look, I am not eating. Keep it frozen or something” He snapped

Her anger rose now, “Keep it frozen? After stressing myself to prepare it! what is wrong with you? You never appreciate anything I do! Tell me if you’re seeing someone else and I’ll leave!”

“I just got fired woman! fired from my job!” He flared now, “All you do is nag, nag, nag! I can’t find peace at work, my home is a bloody war zone!” he continued

She folded her arms stiffly on her chest, she hadnt seen him this frustrated, “Is that what you found so hard saying!”

“You nag so much that you wont even hear when I speak, more or less undertand! so why waste my time?” He layed on the bed again and turned his face the other way

She walked over to where he lay,” So this is what you’re saying? that I am a hopeless nag right? Who the hell makes me nag! I am not the one who doesn’t know how to keep a job so don’t friging give me that attitude!” She flared

“mommy?…” their five year old daughter had been woken from sleep by the noise.

(Mary and Marsha finally meet at a seminar and got talking)

MARSHA: I really envy you. You seem so happy in your marriage. Do you two ever disagree?”

MARY: (laughs)…Everyday but we choose to put ourselves in the other’s shoes

MARSHA: I have tried everything…he makes me nag, we’ve so much drifted apart, it’s like I’m living with a complete stranger. How do you do it?”

MARY:I make him my bestfriend each day. I have been doing that for the past ten years

MARSHA: How?

MARY: Get to know him again, have fun, suprise him, go the extra mile, pray with and for him, smile when he gets back from work, loosen his tie, tickle him, crack a joke, watch movies, bake, wrestle with the children together. C’mmon, you know all these things, you imagine them don’t you?

MARSHA: Only in my fantasies…

MARY: Bring your fantasies to life. It wont be easy but keep on

MARSHA: I am happy I met you. I thought happy marriages were wishful thinkings till I met you

MARY: It’s not magic. You’ve got to pay the price, it will cost you some things or many things-whichever. No matter how much you pray, God won’t come down and build your home for you. You’ve got to do something and He’ll do the rest. Have my card and please call me when I get back.

Marsha watched Mary run into her husbands arms who was already in sight. She was touched, she was ready to pay the price for her marriage. She picked up her cell and dialed “HUBBY”.

THE END

Many of us think Mary’s kind of marriage is fantasy that exists only in our minds. Friends, things do not always have to get out of control. Create a strong friendship bond with your spouse. Let him/her be able to laugh with you, share with you, do silly things with you even scold or correct you. BE FRIENDS. We think fantasies are all about wishful, unrealistic thinking…what is so unrealistic about you creating the kind of home you’ve always dreamed off? It’s so real…It’s what God wants for you and I. Do me a favour and give life to all your wishes concerning your relationship. You might be rejected at first, but keep on at it.

C’mmon! Pick up your cell phone and call that special someone, say something you’ve never said before. Give a suprise. Marsha just did!

with love,

Lowla Dee