14

memoir of what I experienced 10 years ago

My ex husband says that one day, my friend and I showed up at his house (where I lived when we were married) and asked him if we could borrow a pan for cooking steaks. The kind that is like a rack, with a pan underneath, it goes in the oven. I have absolutely no memory of this. He says we were just casually asking to borrow one, and he let us in, and we rummaged throught the kitchen, laughing, till we found one. He's brought this incident up several times, usually when we're going back and forth making fun of each other. I'll say something to him, then he'll say, "at least I didn't come asking to borrow things from you so that I could cook dinner for my girlfriend."

There's no way that could have been my idea. To cook dinner, for starters. Then steak of all things, that had to have been my friend's idea, we didn't eat like that in the trailer. It was fast food, always. Thirdly, it must have been her idea to go ask my ex. I'm sure of it. Either way, I don't remember it.

I do remember me & her getting into it a little bit, sort of a territorial thing, especially in the kitchen. I'd clean it and have things one way, then, the next day, everything would be different, so I'd put it back like I had it, and so on. Two homeless women contending for Queen status in a trailer out in the middle of nowhere. Funny, looking back. Funny that we would even attempt to make a nest there. One day it hit me how funny it all was, my friend & I were laying on HER bed (yes now she had her own room), and I just died laughing, uncontrollably. She asked me what was so funny, and I could barely get the words out. She ended up catching it and started laughing too, we were red in the face and crying, and finally I got it out: I said, still laughing, "look at us...we used to be perfect little stay-at-home mommies...taken care of...and now...here we are....both of us....in a trailer...out here...with THESE guys....." It was funny. If you could see our upbringings, both of us, you'd see what a culture shock it was. Especially for her, since her husband was the top salesman at a well-known furniture company and made ridiculous commissions. They had quite the home. And now this. She had a pair of handcuffs hanging on her doorknob. I asked her to take them down and put them away, she laughed at me. I didn't want my daughter to see them. I still think that kind of thing is retarded.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

I like the chapter. I like the way you described a simple situation with the pan. I like the way you described two woman in the same house. Rarely can two woman of the same age live in a small house. I like the attitude on the handcuffs. keep the private things private. Thank you for sharing the excellent chapter.
Coyote