It Took . . .

Written for https://fivedotoh.com/2023/10/08/fowc-with-fandango-register/

It took a while for Tom to register his wife was annoyed with him, and even when he did, it wasn’t quite clear what he had done. She stomped around the kitchen, slamming doors, and mumbling under her breath. The trouble was, he couldn’t hear the mumbles – his hearing aid was on the blink.

‘You okay?’ he was going to ask, but then she would expect him to know what he said, or didn’t say. Was it his anniversary? He checked his mobile, and that was weeks away. Her birthday . . . no, they went out last week for that. His mind whirred around like a windmill in a hurricane. Something was up, but he couldn’t think of what to say.

‘Typical!’ she said, much louder this time.

‘Typical of what,’ he thought.

As she turned around, there was something different about her. Was it today she was getting her hair cut? It was a different colour, and shorter than normal. ‘Love, your hair looks amazing! I tell you what, we could go out for a meal tonight. Get Charles to look after the kids.’

‘I don’t . . . actually that would be nice. Although, I might need a new dress to go with this haircut. I’m just going to the shops, I’ll see you in a couple of hours.’

Tom watched her leave, not sure he had been conned. I mean, normally she would let him know if she was getting her hair trimmed. Twenty years of marriage, and he never failed to be amazed by her.

‘