Every new technology makes it harder to live together. His first thought, on seeing the summons, was of his wife: had she noticed it, was what he thought. She was in the kitchen, reducing wine and lemon juice for scampi. He lifted it from the pile of mail and opened it alone. The only witness was the traffic-speed camera, which hadn’t recorded who was driving, only whose car was speeding, and thus did technology ruin our weekend. He ran both hands through his hair and clutched the back of his head, eyes closed, taking a standing ten-count. “Love notes from traffic court?” is how I opened, not kindly, knowing from his look that he had seen it. “Sonofabitch traffic camera,” he told me, “Well, I’m not paying it.” I thought: “This is who he is.” I slammed the flat of the knife blade onto the garlic clove and peeled away the skin like a paper scab. We didn’t have to pile more points on his sad driving record, he wanted me to understand, and suffer all those penalties. He told me like I might not understand. We could offer mine up; say I had been driving. The wine was bubbling madly in the wok. I had such memories of things I had done to untwist him already. A dozen things I had in mind and not one of them made me love him more. If he had once said, “Do this for me, please, my darling,” instead of “Do what’s best for us,” I would have rushed to meet the judge, and raised my hand, and sworn the truth, and thrown in other lies. “You think about that,” I told him. “You think about what it’s worth.” It took a lot of butter to make the shrimp taste right.
Copyright © July 31, 2007 David Hodges
13 comments
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July 31, 2007 at 8:53 pm
whypaisley
very insightful… amazing what could be accomplished in love with a few kind words…..
Thank you, whypaisley. You do me a world of good with a few kind words.
–David
July 31, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Jas
I just tagged you! Hope this is alright with you because I thought yours was one of the more unique gems.
Sure, it’s all right, Jas, but usually disappointing for the tagger, since I don’t follow through. Thank you for your kindness and: Welcome to Very Short Novels!
–David
July 31, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Jessica Weisenfels
The Jessica Weisenfels Daily Favorite Phrasing:
“I had such memories of things I had done to untwist him already. A dozen things I had in mind and not one of them made me love him more.”
Thank you, Jessica. I wish I could do this daily.
–David
August 1, 2007 at 12:43 am
walksfarwoman
Another DBD nugget!
You’re the epitome of one of my favourite phrases: ‘Write much in few words’ – I wish I could put it into practice but I think the female compulsion to talk puts me at a handicap straight away. 🙂
Thank you, walksfarwoman! Think Emily Dickinson.
–David
August 1, 2007 at 12:12 pm
grantman
Mr User, meet Mrs Enabler…Oh the twisted relationships we entwine ourselves in for the sake of not being lonely!
Gee, grantman. Sounds sort of bleak when you put it that way. Thanks for your comment.
–David
August 1, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Wizzer
Shrimps pre-butter or love turned sour? Great observations David
Thanks, wizzer. Better a lot of butter than too much wine.
–David
August 2, 2007 at 1:47 am
briseis
Wonderful, wonderful, David. Although I miss (after such a brevity of the privilege!) knowing about your marvels before hand, the surprise to this one was equally delightful.
Crisp, delightful phrasing, and a sad and surprisingly un-shocking view of disappointment.
Thank you, Briseis. Good scampi never disappoints.
–David
August 2, 2007 at 4:12 am
litlove
I love the way the garlic cops it. Very true to relationships that – that it’s best to displace the full force of emotion onto some handy object nearby. Reminds me of the wise advice given to children – never let your mother comb your hair when she is mad at your father.
Thank you, Litlove. I’ve cooked angry often enough to know how badly that can turn out, too.
–David
August 2, 2007 at 4:30 pm
JaneDoughnut
I agree with walksfar…. It’s what you don’t say that make your stories so wonderful.
Thanks, Jane. Guess what I’m thinking now.
–David
August 4, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Valentin
I wonder how many readers (of this one piece of lit) have the balls to admit (alone, in front of mirror) they are acting like the speed-driver from the story ..
I said readers, not commenters .. 😛
Was that a confession, Valentin? It was a brave one, if it was.
–David
August 4, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Great Hypocrite
You think about what it’s worth! 🙂
Thank you, GH! That about sums it up.
–David
August 7, 2007 at 10:04 pm
lynnemery
Enjoyed it much.
Admire your brevity.
–David
August 10, 2007 at 1:46 am
Gautam
Another great piece. Perhaps my favourite so far.
Thanks again, Gautam. Feel free to work your way through all hundred-twenty or so.
–David