Chapped and Peeling

Chapped and Peeling

            “Maybe we should buy one of those televisions,” Alice suggested.

            Grumbling from his worn out recliner, Burt said, “What for?  I bought you a radio a few years back, didn’t I?”

            “Yes.  Of course you did, but—”

            “Then you don’t need no silly moving picture box.”  Burt had a book in his lap, the same book he always had in his lap, but never even peeked at it.  He just stared.  Burt stared at the wall, ceiling, and he even stared at Alice from time to time.  Alice enjoyed when he stared at her.  It made her feel special and loved.  Burt had a hard time showing his appreciating for his wife, even when she went out of her way to look special for him.  But she knew, when he stared at her, she must have look like a million bucks in his eyes.

            Burt didn’t stare at Alice that day.  He stared at the wall. 

Alice had always been a homemaker, so staying home all day didn’t bother her any.  But Burt, he worked twelve hour days since he was sixteen.  Alice knew Burt was bored.  And it was her new project to keep him occupied during the day.

            However, Alice had her usual duties and chores around the house.  During this time Burt just stared.  Alice could live with him staring off into nothing for a few hours.

            That day, Alice thought that while she was doing the dishes, dusting, sweeping, and folding she’d try and talk to him.  She was folding their laundry in their living room.

            “I received a phone call from Rebecca yesterday.  She said that she wanted to come visit us today.  I told her it was alright.  Is that okay?”

            Burt grumbled something unintelligible then said, “If that’s what will get you off my case then sure.  Let her and that scum banker come and interrupt our peace.”

            “Oh posh!  William is an excellent provider for our daughter.  She makes a beautiful home for the two of them.  She tells me it’s in a wonderful neighborhood with close neighbors and everything.”

            “Remind me to congratulate her.”

            “Oh, Burt!”  Alice put the piles of folded clothes back into the basket and placed it on the floor.  “We aren’t expecting her until three.  Would you like to pick some berries until then?”

            Without saying a word, Burt huffed his way out of his chair.  He slowly shuffled his way to the kitchen where he’d grab a basket for the berries.  Alice smiled.  She was glad he got up before she did.  She didn’t want him to see the scene she was about to make.  She placed both hands on the arm rests of her chair to take her weight.  Her elbows shook as she shifted her weight from her torso to her arms and then her feet.  Then the piercing pain shot from her knee all the way up her spine.  She clamped her chapped and peeling lips closed to hide her whimper.  Once she was on her feet and standing straight, she let out a sigh.  There, that’s better.

                Alice made her way to the kitchen in the same shuffling manner that Burt had done before her.  That made her smile.  She loved his cute little shuffle.  When she got into the room, she found it to be empty and assumed that Burt had already left to the gardens.  The pain in her knee shocked her that day.  It was like someone was pinching her entire knee every time she put any weight onto it.  But she had to hide that pain from Burt.  If he knew how much it hurt her to even walk, he’d make her stay inside and sit and stare with him.  That did not sound pleasing to Alice in any way.

            Once outside, she took her place next to Burt as they made their way down a path beside their house.  It was a nice house that Alice had always enjoyed living in.  It was in the middle of the woods and was only accessible by a dirt road.  When Alice and Burt first married and were deciding one where to live, Alice chose the house because of the berries.  She knew she’d love to spend an hour or two strolling through the brush to pick berries.  It had turned into something for her and Burt to do together before they had their children and then when they left.

            She placed her hand in Burt’s as they walked.  He wrapped his fingers around hers and mindlessly stroked his thumb back and forth.  Alice never told Burt how much she loved that feeling.  He did it the first time he ever held her hand some thirty years before.  Alice secretly thought that if she brought attention to it, he may not do it anymore. 

            Burt brought their entwined hands to his lips and kissed the back of her hand.  “Mmm,” Alice murmured.   “The berries look nice and ripe today.”

            Burt nodded and stopped to pick some.  They spent the rest of their free time filling the basket that Burt held in his hand.  Alice thought about what she’d do with them.  She wanted to bake something special for Burt.  She could make some muffins.  Or even a pie.  Yes, a pie sounded delicious. 

            “You could make a pie out of these,” Burt mumbled.

            She gasped, “Oh Burt, what a wonderful idea.”

            As they made their way up the path back to their home, they heard the rumbling of a truck engine as it bounced its way up the dirt road.  Alice was happy at the thought of seeing her daughter, but wished that she could spend more time with Burt while they were on good terms.

“I love you,” she whispered to him.

“I love you, too.”  Burt leaned down to give Alice a beautiful peck on her chapped and peeling lips.