I remember it like it was yesterday. December 13, 1993. It was just before we were going to go to her company's Christmas party when she gave me a gift. It was beautiful! Made of the finest mahogany and polished so that you could see your reflection, yet you could see deeply into it, as if it was the surface of a pond. It had brass fixtures on it as well, highly polished. It was expensive and absolutely beautiful!
"Why do you always have to entertain people at functions like this? You are always embarrassing me in front of my friends. Can't you just be normal? I want a normal husband who stands in the corner and drinks beer and talks sports with the other husbands."
I looked at the box again. She wanted me to lie in it. I opened the lid and saw that it looked comfortable. It was lined with padded white silk. It was ornate and smelled nice.
"You really don't understand what yo are asking, do you." I wasted my breath.
"Yes, I know exactly what I want. Either act normal or stay home."
She might as well have said, "If you love me you'll climb into this box." So I did. She wheeled it to the awaiting hearse and we drove to the party. When we arrived, she opened the lid and thanked me for making her fantasy come true. I started to say it was the least I could do, but shs shushed me and waved her hand.
After about half an hour, she came over and said that her friends could still see me moving and breathing. I wasn't making enough of an effort. So she closed the lid.
All evening long she kept shouting at me over and over. I couldn't really tell what she was saying. Finally we got home and she opened the lid just a crack, and yelled:
"NO MORE SINGING!"
Then I heard the whir of the cordless drill as she screwed the top shut.
I was fine, but a part of her died that day...
Author notes
Women often have this horrible notion that their husbands are extensions of them, and therefore, must conform to their idiosyncracies. It never occured to her I did not want to live in her world, only that I wasn't trying hard enough to fit in. The pretense of her artificial friends, who she complained about constantly, was more important than her love for me. So, upon realizing this, I climbed in the box.
What else would a good lover do?
In a list
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Comments
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You have made some valid points in this Allan, and some points that I disagree with, not ALL women have the misguided idea that their husbands are extensions of themselves, most I would say think of their husbands as an enhancement, I know I do. Paul enhances my life, he can be a total boob at times, but it's one of the many things about him that I adore. I think you are stereo typing based on your experiences with your ex-wife, and this surprises me. You of all people should know that all women are different. I'm sorry you chose to climb into the box and not simply smile and say "After you Dear!"
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*sigh* point made! During the courting period the husband worships the wife and would “climb any mountain” for her. Over time that changes and he has his trophy and now he must show the world how indelible it is. A good wife should swallow her pride and self respect and let him ridicule her so that he may “be himself” so that he may live. It’s a shame that the husband didn’t see that the mahogany box was a gift, a gift filled with dreams to be shared together, a life to be shared together and over time; both husband and wife would lay in that box together to share eternity together. The box is built for two.
Love,
Amera ♥
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What a wonderful comment! So it's kinda like "Dark Shadows?" A couple of dark vampires hanging out together away from the light? Cool... Let me think on that... Great image.
Now, all I can say about the rest is that you don't know my ex... The things you said really don't apply to that situation.
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*tears*
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Powerful write. I liked the ending the best. It makes me think of a person changing in personality, not necessarily for the better. This seemed like a sad write, though. I don't think all women think their husbands are extensions of them. I always think it's best for guys to be themselves and speak their minds if they have something to say. I know it sounds mean, but if someone were to tell me to climb into a box I would tell them off and then walk away. Anyway, keep writing.
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