Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Feel (emotions) (08/26/10)
-
TITLE: Who Needs a Man? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Arlene Baker
09/02/10 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
“Who needs a man?” The words echoed through the silent house, granted her by the judge who declared her longer married.
With a smug smile and nod, she returned to the priceless tome at her kitchen table, a book on house repairs, written for women by a woman. She returned to the section on plumbing, searching for instructions on the next job – replacing that leaky commode hose thingy. Fifteen minutes later – research and mission accomplished.
Confidence pulsed through her as she tackled the third job. The doohickey that provided hot water leaked a constant heated stream. Sally hefted her new channel-locks and moved to the pipes behind the tub/shower enclosure. She located the proper bolt in a blink.
“This is fun,” she informed her feline audience, adjusted her channel-locks to the proper setting. She locked them into place and pulled. Nothing happened. She pulled harder. The single bolt, no bigger than her ex’s ring, refused to budge.
“I’ll try pushing,” she announced to the dog, who offered encouragement with wet tongue and wagging tail.
Nothing. Anger surged from her toes up through her vacant heart and out her fingertips.
“How dare he leave me after all I did for him?” Tears trickled down heated cheeks as the sense of empowerment leaked into despair. She slunk to the phone and dialed her friend’s number.
“Would your hubby be willing to come over and loosen this bolt for me?”
Sally stood in silent awe as he loosened the bolt in less than 16 seconds. In the next second, her attitude shifted from who-needs-a-man to they-come-in-handy-around-the-house.
“Thank you,” she said to her friend’s husband. “Thank you for doing what I could not; but also for showing me that one bad man does not all men bad make.”
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
The unknowing references to doohickeys and thing-a-ma-bobs gave me a chuckle and I like the message here as well. Especially a good one in light of our feminist society.
I loved the way you 'showed' how a man could be needed, but I especially loved how you implied it. Though having someone around to do the handy work is nice, I felt it was the companionship your character missed most.
Very nice.