The Saving Exchange

Dana

@dana1671119022 · 13 Mar 2022

The Saving Exchange

I love to write with key words, give me a game, and then I knit a story of it, sometimes even numerous stories with the same key words, so was the epistle below and at the same time saved my marriage from ruin.

With one hand on the steering wheel, my husband is messing with the front of his car radio.
“Does it work?'I ask.
'Yes, very well, don't come to my rescue. Just let me muddle up, all I have to do is pay attention to the traffic and drive the car. You're already tough enough just by letting you drive you everywhere next to me.'
I clamp my jaws together and watch him torment further with loathe eyes. The moment I have a moment of doubt whether rejecting my help has a sarcastic underlying intent, my husband helps himself with his steering left hand. The car makes a whip right away, the road surface is not even enough to drive with loose hands, the wheels are out of balance and I too.
I scream: “Idiot, watch the road, you don't drive tram tracks, and you don't have autopilot either.'
The front is in place. His hands grab the steering wheel again. A sigh escapes me.
'Go swimming anyway, 'my husband sulks: 'you saw me fester and let me fix it on my own, I have to do some.'
'I would like to, but I don't have a swimsuit with me.“I deliberately don't respond to his accusation, but take me for him to be more helpful in the future.
We're silent the rest of the way.

Coming home, my husband opens the paper to continue with the puzzle he had already finished half. Quietly, I'm going to sit next to him knitting, I firmly intend to get his sweater ready today.
A deep thin shrink appears above his eyes.
“Does it work out a little?'
'I'm looking for another 14 letter word.“He says it in a tone of human-meddy-you-your-own business. But I pretend I don't notice and ask on stoically.
“What is the description?'
“You wipe off strange portraits with it.'
“Do you already have letters?'
'The fifth, that must be a l.'
“Let me think. Pupillschool?'
“It may be there, but what does it mean?'Slight irritability sounds through in his voice.
“Don't know, but I didn't find the description to make sense either.'
“It's cryptic.'
“What?'
“You have to think differently. But don't bother to help me.'

Now don't make the same mistake again, a donkey doesn't hit the same stone twice either. I let my needles rest. So think differently, what do you use to wipe something away?
“Toilet paper.'
'Of that, the fifth letter is not an l, but an e.'
“Not when you write it with double l.'
“Don't be so retarded, and at that, then it's only thirteen letters.'
“Make it plural.'
He snorts. Steam comes out of his ears. First the front, then another unfinished sweater and an unsolved cryptogram. How many problems can a couple still handle together? We're just a fraction of a marriage crisis away.
“Do you just pay attention to your knitwear, that you won't drop stitches, or we will trade? You finish the puzzle and me that sweater? At least then he'll finally come off.'

I think it's a great idea, we change places and pens, I'm ballpoint pen, he my knitting pens, I the newspaper, he the sweater.
Smiling, I see how our marriage is saved from ruin. He has fun in my craft and I hit two flies with one stone, the missing word of the puzzle is the last word this keyword story needs: painting brush.

#shortstory

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