Calgary, March 2023
Some time ago I wrote two stories about John who wanted to save the world. In the first one he convinced Diana, his friend from the gym, to shover with him to save hot water. Then he wanted to save the world again by saving birds, also with Diana’s assistance. But both attempts ended in a disaster when Mary, John’s wife, caught him both times. John had to do a lot of explaining to reassure Mary of his future exemplary behaviour. But Mary felt hurt and contemplated a vengeance. How come John can have all the fun and she had nothing?
Her chance came when Mary’s co-worker, let’s call him Peter, noticed her unhappy face.
“Hello Mary, you don’t look too good. What’s happening?”
“Leve me alone!” she snapped back.
This was very unusual. Mary have always been polite to everybody, and Peter was determined to find out what caused such a change. Therefore, after work he was waiting for her at the parking lot.
“Hello again, would you like a go for a coffee? You look as if you need one.”
Mary indeed could use some coffee, and she also felt bad about being rude to Peter.
“OK, let’s go.”
The went to the near-by coffee shop, Mary told Peter all about her marriage troubles and he felt that Mary will be an easy target. Next day during the lunch he asked:
“Mary, do you want to stay in an unhappy marriage?”
“I don’t know.”
Peter gave Mary few days to dwell on it and then he invited her for a dinner in his apartment.
“We can talk some more,” he said.
It was tempting. Mary told John her friends invited her for dinner, and that tomorrow she will be late. Next day at work she told Peter: “OK, I accept.”
They did go to Peter’s apartment, all went according to the plan and when Mary came home late at night, she looked rejuvenated.
“How was the dinner?” asked John.
“It went very well.”
John might not have been an ideal husband, but he wasn’t a fool. The expression at Mary’s face suggested more than just a dinner with friends. And then few days later, when she said they have an office party and she will be late again, John decided to investigate. He knew when Mary finishes work, so he drove there and waited. Soon he saw her leaving with a man, getting to his car, and driving away. He followed them and watched the car to park, and his Mary to disappear with the man into an apartment. John felt like crying.
“Perhaps that’s how Mary felt when she caught me showering with Diana,” he thought.
At home, when Mary returned, John asked:
“How was the party?”
“Good.”
“Where was it?”
“In our office.”
“Were there a lot of people?”
“Yes, the whole office was there.”
“Really? Wasn’t the party at a private apartment and didn’t it consist of just one man?”
Mary started to cry, and John asked: “Are you planning to leave me?”
“No. I was just mad at you about Diana.”
“And therefore, you wanted to hurt me.”
“Yes. I wanted vengeance.”
“You certainly succeeded, but it didn’t do us do any good. I have a suggestion: Let’s forget about Diana and about whoever that man is. They already caused us enough pain. Let’s go to bed, it is late.”
Mary agreed and for a first time in quite a while they were happy to be in bed together.