What was I to do? Certainly there was no kind of relationship in any real sense, and I was forced to sleep alone in my own room.What was I to do? Certainly there was no kind of relationship in any real sense, and I was forced to sleep alone in my own room. Nor was there any talk or exchanges at breakfast or at dinner. Then, to my horror, I learned by chance that a man had been going to the house during the day. "Seems to be her new lover," said an acquaintance of mine in the local pub. This was too much for me. I drank my beer and got home as quickly as possible, rushing into the lounge where my wife was reading. "You've had a man here," I shouted. "Yes," she admitted, "so what?" "So what? How dare you bring a man to my house," I shouted. "Don't lose your temper again. Just bear in mind that you struck me a week or two ago, and I don't happen to like men who do that sort of thing. So I've found someone who respects me." "You bitch, I'll thrash you if I ever see or hear of a man coming here again." "Thrash me, will you? You just couldn't! Remember what I did to you last time." "You're challenging me, are you?" "If you like. I'm ready any time to take you on. I think you'd live to regret it," she laughed. "Live to regret it! What, a bitch like you?" I shouted, losing my temper completely. "Go on calling me names as much as you like. But if you want to fight, we'll do so properly. Here and now. Shift the furniture back and I'll give you the hiding of your life!" I couldn't believe that she was serious. But I had to call her bluff if she wasn't, so I readily agreed to her suggestion. "That's what you want to do, okay," I said. I got to my feet and cleared a large area in the center of the room. "Well," I said, "I'm waiting. |