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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Oops (01/14/10)
Six months after the wedding vows, I started to wonder if our marriage could sustain one more “oops.”

To start things off, I accidently flooded the basement of our new house, and she broke the zipper on her formal dress five minutes after we were to be at a party. Backing my truck over her cat did little to relieve the building tension. Then came the case of the salt-instead-of-sugar in her brownies. I couldn’t help gagging. Cynthia sobbed the entire night.

Things brightened on the day my little wife’s apple pie came out tasting like my mama’s. I lavished Cynthia with compliments as the two of us polished off all but one piece.

With the apple pie success, confidence started to build - until our pastor dropped in right at suppertime.

Cynthia called me into the kitchen during dinner. Clenching my arm, her face paled as she said, “I only have one piece of apple pie left to serve for dessert. What am I going to do? This is so embarrassing.”

“Aw, honey, it’s not so bad. There’s some ice cream in the freezer. We’ll just have it with chocolate syrup…” The look in Cynthia’s eyes left my sentence hanging.

Then an idea illuminated her face. “This is what we’ll do. When I offer dessert, you say you don’t want any, I won’t have any, and we’ll give the last piece to the pastor.”

Thankfully, she didn’t hear my halfhearted approval as she spun back through the swinging kitchen door.

“My, my, Cynthia, that was a wonderful meal.” Pastor turned to me. “Carl, how did you end up with such a beautiful wife that’s also a marvelous cook?”

“Would you care for a slice of apple pie, Pastor?” Cynthia rose like a princess and removed his dinner plate.

“Thank you, but no Cynthia. One more bite and I won’t be able to preach for a month of Sundays!”

If I hadn’t been politely chuckling, I might have realized in time to keep my mouth shut. But that apple pie began calling my name.

“Honey, I believe I’ll have a piece.”

I almost missed her look as she set the dessert plate in front of me.

I had shoved the second bite into my watering mouth when the pastor dropped the bomb with my death sentence.

“You know Cynthia, that pie looks so good, I believe I will have a piece.”

I could feel my wife’s glare singeing my eyebrows. I listened to her labored breathing.

Rescuing my wife at this moment would have been down right chivalrous, but seeing my part in it, I knew my motives were purely of self-preservation.

I gulped and met the pastor’s eyes as I said, “Well sir, uh, Pastor, to be honest with you, this was the last piece. I thought since you didn’t care for any-uh, well, I just didn’t want to see it go to waste.”

A smile spread across our guest’s face as he took in the situation. The smile became a chuckle then a booming laugh. Right then I knew we were sermon material.

Exhaling, I chatted with the pastor awhile before walking him to the door.

Tiptoeing back, I peeked in the kitchen. Cynthia stood at the sink as she slid dishes into it with a clang. Her shoulders were shaking.

I didn’t feel I could handle her tears at one more oops. But what choice did I have?

I put my hands on her arms and turned her around, letting the sudsy water drip from her hands onto my black leather boots. I opened my mouth to speak, but she cut me off with a burst of hysterical laughter. That’s when I knew I had driven her over the edge.

“Sweetheart, it’s okay,” I said, squeezing her arms, “I’m sorry, it was my fault. If I hadn’t asked for that last piece-“

“Then we wouldn’t be laughing at ourselves!” Cynthia dabbed the corners of her eyes with my shirt. “Oh honey, aren’t we silly? We’ve been pretending to know what marriage is all about. We just need to be patient and grow together, and stop getting worked up over all the little things.”

I bent over and touched my nose to hers. “I agree with you whole heartedly, Mrs. Nelson.” I would have given my wife a little kiss if I hadn’t looked over her shoulder at the overflowing sink.

Oops.
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This article has been read 2365 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Mildred Sheldon
01/22/10
What a story. I thought I would burst with laughter. I'm thankful my husband could cook and also for his love that gave us time for me to learn how to boil water without burning it. Keep writing and God bless.
Janice Fitzpatrick
01/22/10
This is so charming and I could see it in an old movie. One an inviting piece and one that everyone can relate to. Well done.:))))
Lyn Churchyard
01/22/10
Love it, love it, love it! You have captured the essence of the topic beautifully. I could see the whole thing playing out in my mind's eye. Well done!
Jean Beier
01/23/10
Today I needed a laugh and you gave it to me. You did a great job! I hope we see more writing from you. God Bless.
Scarlett Farr
01/24/10
This story made me smile. Great story and great presentation.
Shilo Goodson
01/25/10
Great story. That's how life often turns out. Everything seems to come at us at once.
Joan Campbell
01/25/10
What a lovely, well-written story. You captured the essence of the newly-weds perfectly!
Sharon Eastman
01/26/10
Excellent! Made me laugh and brightened my day.
Jan Ackerson
01/26/10
Excellent!
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
01/26/10
A nice story, I'd love to hear how the preacher made it a part of his sermon. It's also a good reminder that marriage is always hard work, but well worth the effort.
Shirley McClay
01/26/10
Very funny! I actually had something similar happen. Great lesson.
Kate Oliver Webb
01/26/10
Very real tale, told very well. Congrats on a great piece of writing!
Patricia Herchenroether
01/27/10
Wonderful entry!
George Parler 
01/27/10
This was just absolutely excellent. I really enjoyed reading this. The over-flowing dish water at the end was perfect. Great job.
Jackie Wilson
01/27/10
Just perfect! Your writing has a very comfortable flow to it. I loved the line "Right then I knew we were sermon material". Loved the ending.
Kristi Peifer
01/27/10
Very nice! I enjoyed the 'sermon material' line, too. (I find myself in that category too often as a pastor's wife!)
Bryan Ridenour
01/27/10
Superbly written and a wonderfully humorous story of a young marriage. Good job!
Mona Purvis
01/27/10
Fun, fun, fun. My kind of entry. So well-done. This is just excellent. You are doing so well and i look forward each week to read your entries.
There's just something about humor...hard to write.
Mona
Barbara Culler 
01/27/10
Good Oops! I, too, would love to know if it became sermon material!
Verna Cole Mitchell 
01/27/10
Delightful to read. I see you moving up----up----up.
Carole Robishaw 
01/27/10
I agree with Verna, I think you'll soon be moving up. This was wonderful.
Eileen Knowles
01/28/10
Beautiful,tender story! I felt uncomfortable for the wife when the pastor asked for a piece! Good job :)
Carol Slider 
01/28/10
A well-told story all around with a very authentic voice. I think their marriage will be just fine (even if he did run over her cat..). Well done!
Mona Purvis
01/28/10
Yea! I knew this one would be on the short list! Congrats, Sarah!

Mona
Rachel Phelps
01/28/10
Congrats, Sarah-girl! That's two in a row, my friend. :D
harvestgal Ndaguba
01/28/10
That was so good. I absolutely loved it.
Sharlyn Guthrie
01/28/10
Great story, and excellent writing. Congratulations!
Connie Dixon
01/29/10
Congratulations. Loved this. I love it when people can finally stop taking themselves so seriously and laugh at the things that don't really matter. Great message within great writing.