A Girly thing

She was such a harmless looking character. It’s hard to believe she’s the one who had done this to him.

Miles’ life had been perfect until she appeared on the scene. He’d gone to university and as a result not only got the qualifications to become a successful doctor, but also met the girl of his dreams, Janice, who he later married.

His marriage was perfect, a dream come true in fact.  Janice prepared him a home cooked meal on the table every evening after work; they went for pubs walks in the countryside; posh dinners at swanky restaurants; theatre trips; watched local football matches every other Saturday; breakfast in bed on Sundays; they made love at least five times a week; and bought each other gifts on payday. He went out with the lads on Thursdays and she went to bingo with the girls.

But then ‘she’ came along and life was nowhere near the same as it used to be. Janice would rather go shopping with Amy on a Saturday than watch the football together.  She’s been too busy with ‘her’ to have dinner ready when Miles got home from work. Posh dinners and silly gifts on payday were becoming a thing of the past now that they have girly things to entertain them. ‘Girls on Tour’, Ladies that lunch and pink accessories are the essentials and priority now, apparently.

Miles had never seen so many pairs of shoes, a new infatuation Janice seemed to have acquired since ‘Amy’ had been on the scene.  Janice only ever had two pairs when they first started dating, three if you counted the old pair of sneakers she wore for gardening.  Now the house is inundated with them.

Shoes; photo frames; blankets; and stuff.  It was the ‘stuff’ Miles couldn’t get his head around.  It was like a third person in their marriage.

“What’s this?” Miles would ask, picking up a random, unidentified object from their immoderate leather sofa.

“Oh it’s something I picked up with Amy at the shops today.”

“What is it?” Miles said inspecting it carefully as if it was a ticking bomb ready to explode.

“What do you mean what is it?” she said, almost offended by his innocuous question.  “You can see what it is.  You’re just being difficult.  We need it, that’s all you need to know.”

Miles huffed, tossing the object down again, like a knight throwing down his sword in battle and admitting defeat.  He upstairs to avoid yet another pointless argument, one which he would no doubt become the ogre, blamed for not understanding Janice’s life and needs.

On his way up the stairs he tripped over yet another pair of pink shoes, kicking them to the side and sighing as he dragged his feet mindlessly up the remaining few steps.  He went into their bedroom and slumped onto the bed.

Miles heard Amy laugh and stood up.  He looked over the top of her crib and smiled. “I can’t stay annoyed or pushed-out for long.  I look down at you, our beautiful baby girl and it’s all totally worth it,” he held his hand out and she grabbed it with her cherub like hands. “Well maybe not the lack of sex life,” he said in a quiet voice, “or the tiny pink shoes which have invaded the entire house, but the rest is worth it,” they both giggled together, as if she knew what he was saying to be true.