Sunday Morning
A man and a woman. A married couple. It doesn’t really matter what their ages are, tragedies such as this can strike at any time in one’s life. In their kitchen the sun streams in through an elaborate and colorful stained glass window above the sink. Husband eats his breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, and chocolate milk. He does the crossword from the newspaper. Wife sits across from him. She sips her tea and nibbles her simple breakfast of buttered toast. As they talk, Husband seems to talk and look through Wife, never quite connecting with her.
WIFE
I’ve been so tired these last few days. So much so that I even had a second cup of tea yesterday morning. Although, I’ll admit it didn’t do much. I felt quite weak throughout the day and even had to take a break to sit down while doing the vacuuming.HUSBAND
You’ve burnt the bacon.
Husband holds up a strip of blackened bacon.
WIFE
I’m sorry. I know you like it very crispy, but you really only have a matter of seconds to act before perfectly crispy bacon becomes burnt and inedible.HUSBAND
That’s exactly what this is, inedible.WIFE
Lately, when I’ve been standing for long periods of time, I’ve been getting lightheaded. It happened again at the stove this morning. I couldn’t pay attention to the bacon in the pan. It felt like the room was spinning.
Husband takes a bite of the eggs on his plate.
HUSBAND
But these eggs are delightful.WIFE
I felt very poorly about myself when I had to stop to sit down while doing the vacuuming. I like to think of myself as a healthy and capable woman. I hate feeling compromised.HUSBAND
Don’t worry about preparing any more bacon. The eggs and toast are enough.
Husband begins to eat his eggs and toast.
WIFE
I’m feeling dizzy right now.
Husband goes back to his crossword puzzle.
HUSBAND
Dimwit. Six letters. The second-to-last letter is an i.WIFE
Cretin.
Husband fills the word in. It’s a match. Wife winces in pain. Her shoulder muscles contract.
WIFE
I’m beginning to wonder if I should see a doctor about my symptoms, them being so sudden, but also so exasperating.HUSBAND
Understood. Five letters. The first letter is n and it ends with e d.
Wife clutches her chest as she feels the same pain again.
WIFE
Noted.
Husband fills the word in. Another perfect fit. He sets the newspaper and his pencil down on the table.
HUSBAND
This is the first time I’ve ever completed the Sunday crossword puzzle. Sunday’s is the hardest one, you know.
Wife nods. Husband takes a big gulp of his
chocolate milk and then licks his upper lip
clean.
HUSBAND
Just while it’s on my mind, the next time you go grocery shopping remember to get Nesquick. That’s the good stuff. No more of this Ovaltine garbage.WIFE
Of course.
Husband downs the rest of his chocolate milk.
Wife takes in a sharp inhale as she experiences
another surge of pain.
HUSBAND
What a beautiful morning. I love how the light comes in through the stained glass window over the sink and colors the room.WIFE
I think I might be having a heart attack.HUSBAND
I remember when we were first looking at houses and nothing seemed quite right, nothing. I thought we’d never find the home for us, until I set foot in this kitchen.WIFE
I can’t be having a heart attack. I’m far too young.
Husband points to a corner of the room.
HUSBAND
I was standing right there when I knew this house was the one. The colorful light was dancing around on the floor and on that wall. It was heavenly.WIFE
Am I?HUSBAND
We bought the house the day we toured it. It really was the perfect house. No work needed to be done on it. Nothing.WIFE
I’ve never had any issues with my heart before. At my last physical my doctor said I was a picture of health. I shouldn’t worry.
Wife’s shoulders sieze up as she doubles over in pain.
HUSBAND
Although, this room could really use a new coat of paint now that I look closely at it.WIFE
But it’s better to be cautious and get these things checked out than it is to ignore them and allow them to get worse.HUSBAND
I wonder, should we paint the walls a lighter blue or a brighter blue?WIFE
I’m beginning to feel concerned this might be something serious. I feel as though someone is stabbing my chest from the inside out.
Husband finishes off his breakfast. His fork clatters on the plate as he sets it down. Wife notices he is done eating and with a gesture asks if she can take the plate.
HUSBAND
Go ahead.
Wife takes the plate from his side of the table, then stacks her own plate and cup on top of it. She goes to the sink to wash the dishes.
HUSBAND
You know, it might be nice to have a change around here. Maybe we could paint the walls yellow? Oh yes, a nice pale, sunny yellow.
Wife’s breathing becomes labored as she rinses the dishes.
WIFE
I think... I think...HUSBAND
I’m thinking I might drive down to the hardware store today and pick up a couple cans of paint, and do the job myself.WIFE
Could you call an ambulance?HUSBAND
It is always nice to feel that sense of accomplishment, isn’t it?
Wife makes a grunting sound out of pain. Her muscles tighten as she lets in a sharp inhale. She tries to shake it off and dry the dishes.
HUSBAND
I’ve always appreciated the feeling of a job well done. Well, not always well done. As a child I often rushed through school assignments or when building my pinewood derby cars just to have a job done.
Wife becomes dizzy. She finds something to grab onto to help her maintain her balance.
HUSBAND
When I was fourteen, I showed up to the pinewood derby after competing in it for many years, and for the first time I saw past my own pride in my own mediocre work. I saw the cleanly carved cars the other boys had worked hard on for weeks with their aerodynamic spoilers and detailed paint jobs. My car was nothing compared to theirs. It was essentially a block of wood with wheels attached. It was nothing.
Wife clutches her chest and moans in agony.
HUSBAND
From that day on, I vowed to nevermore merely get a job done, but to always do the job well done.
Wife collapses onto the floor.
HUSBAND
Ah, and today I completed the Sunday crossword puzzle in the Times. That’s something to be proud of. Aren’t you proud?
Husband finally looks at Wife sprawled out on the floor.
HUSBAND
Oh my.
Husband bends down to examine her. He feels for her pulse. Nothing.
HUSBAND
Oh dear.
Husband drops Wife’s limp, lifeless arm.
THE END