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The Misunderstanding
A "Mystery Contest" Honorable Mention
by
Donna Lee Anderson
It was just a series of little misunderstandings.
It all started the night Joyce had that plastic bowls party…you know the kind I mean? I told Jerry I had to be there early to help set up. What I wanted to do was stop for a drink with my special friend, and still arrive at the party before coffee and cake. How was I to know the dog would get sick and Jerry would call Joyce's to get the name of the vet? When I got home I explained I had a flat tire that made me late. He gave me an in my face lecture about how I should practice changing tires so it wouldn't happen again. The yelling lasted an hour.
The next little misunderstanding was the night I told Jerry I was going to my Cousin Charlotte's baby shower. I said I had to leave early to pick up a gift, but what I really planned to do was make a short stop at the Nightlife Motel to meet my special friend. I thought I could get to the party before the gift opening but how was I to know the television would quit and Jerry would call Charlotte to get the name of their TV repairman? When I got home I told Jerry I ran out of gas and had to walk a long ways to get help. He gave me another in my face yelling about not wearing those four inch spike heeled shoes, and shoved me down in the chair. That lecture lasted one hour, forty-five minutes.
Another little misunderstanding happened the night I told Jerry I was going to have dinner with my Mother. I left time to go by the Lovely Arms Apartment where my special friend lives, and then to Mother's to visit on the way home. How was I to know Mother would call and leave a message she was going to Aunt Sue's for the night?
When I got home I told Jerry I had been waiting in the restaurant for Mother to show up. He shook me, then gave me an in my face yelling about being so stupid I would wait two hours before calling home to see if there was a message. This lecture lasted two hours.
The last little misunderstanding was the time I hinted I might be late coming home after work because of a meeting. I planned to meet my special friend for a drink after work. How was I to know that the Security Guard would call at eight that evening, wondering why my car was still in the parking lot when all the employees had gone home early because of the heating system breakdown?
When I got home I told Jerry I couldn't get the car started and had been waiting for a bus. He slapped me and gave me an in my face yelling on why we belonged to the auto club. The lecture lasted three hours.
Now I am here at the police station, trying to clear up this latest misunderstanding about how the hot chocolate Jerry drinks every night could have gotten that rodent poison in it, instead of the sleeping powder he usually takes. How can I explain to them it happened after I found the report Jerry had from the detective agency about my whereabouts on certain nights and I just couldn't stand another lecture?
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© Anderson, 2006