Last weekend, my wife and I trotted off to her parents house for one of those time-honoured Sunday dinners. It was meant to be a cozy evening, but, as luck would have it, things took a decidedly awkward turn.
All started as usual: sitting round the table, nattering about weather, neighbours and the state of the garden. Before I knew it, my wife managed to steer the conversation straight into my careeror rather, her belief that I should swap jobs. She was subtle as a sledgehammer.
Her point wasnt entirely without merit. See, recently wed been toying with the idea of installing a swimming pool at my parents place. Its been a dream of ours, but this year my wife lost patience and wanted it sorted, posthaste.
On top of that, wed discussed trading in the old car before winter hits, and planning a seaside holiday next summerits been three years since we saw the British coast. And, in our household, Im the only breadwinner.
Personally, Id gotten comfortable with the setup (speaking strictly of my job, lest I sound like Im complaining). Unfortunately, my companys hit a rough patch, and a few folks have been shown the door, with the rest of us taking permanent pay cuts.
Naturally, I explained we had savingsenough for a modest holiday in Brighton and, if prices stay steady, perhaps a budget-friendly Ford Fiesta. Not bad, but hardly grand.
She, however, was dead set on her parents pool, relegating our own plans to the bottom of the list. I simply couldnt agree, and our chat ended with her telling me I was too lazy and lacked ambition, apparently the cause of our financial limitations.
And, of course, this juicy topic resurfaced at dinner. I lost my British composure and blurted out that her parents already got a decent monthly handout from us. In a moment of pure annoyance, I said that the roast dinner before us was practically paid for out of my pocket.
Shouldnt have said that, but the words were out, and theres no uncooking that goose. I sat there with my bowl of soup, listening to my wife launch into an epic emotional speech, a full list of grievances. I didnt stick around for the grand finaleI left quietly and headed home.
Once home, I packed my wifes belongings and took them over to her parents. Honestly, I think stirring up such drama is beyond the pale. Now, Im back at my house, stuck for words and at a bit of a loss. Truthfully, no clue what comes next.
