A Fork in the Road

“Hello.”

“John it’s Sarah.”

“Oh Sarah-love, I was thinking of ringing you. I only just said to Bazza a moment ago, I need to ring Sarah. I was thinking …”

“John, don’t go on I’ve something important that I need to say.”

“Oh! Hang on let me go to somewhere quiet. Baz, I’m just going to talk to Sarah, okay? ”

“Where are you?”

“Um… we’re at the pub.”

“I thought you were fixing your car with Barry.”

“Um…Yeh. Now that’s better. What’s happened is, there’s a problem with the ECU and he has to get parts.”

“You’re not playing the pokies again are you?”

“No, were just here for a beer as Baz said he was ready for a drink. What’s a mate to do? Someone has got to do it.”

“But I could hear them before.”

“Look Sarah, he said he wanted to put a couple of bucks through the machines and so I was just sitting with him. I know what you’re thinking but I’m past all that stuff now, I’m truly cured and I will never, ever, put money in the pokies.”

“How can you say that, when you’ve been saying you won’t go to the pub anymore because of the temptation. John I don’t think I know you anymore; I’m losing my ability to trust you.”

“Are you checking up on me Sarah. I’m a grown man and I don’t need to be treated like a naughty child. Honestly, from the bottom of my heart, I promise on my Mother’s grave that I am over the gambling. I was just sitting beside Bazza as he put a few dollars in the pokies. I put nothing in that bloody machine in front of me, I really didn’t. You believe me don’t you?”

“Look John…Um, I’ve rang because I need to talk to you. I’ve been sitting here thinking about us and all the arguments and I’m getting sick of the shouting and broken crockery. It’s all getting too much for me. We need to talk.”

“I don’t want to talk about all this shit. You know it doesn’t get us anywhere. We always argue when you find fault with me. So don’t go on nagging because I know what we need to do and I’ve already made my mind up. We’re getting married. How about that”

“What! Why on earth are you bringing this up at this time, this is not what I want to talk about.”

“I’m thinking we’ve been together for two years and I think that it’s time I made an honest woman of you.”

“I don’t believe this. You haven’t brought a ring have you?”

“No I haven’t had time, besides I want you to choose any ring you like. How does that sound.”

“It sounds like crap to me. Where are you going to get the money to pay for a ring when you have trouble paying your share of the rent?”

“I have my ways. So how about it; shall we become Mr. and Mrs. We can even have a baby if you want?”

“Look John, I’m sick of this charade. It doesn’t matter what issues we have you always have some way to divert attention and we end up resolving nothing. We needed to see a counselor but...”

“I’ve told you before. WE don’t need to see a counselor. YOU need to see a counselor. Have you been drinking?”

“I needed a couple of wines to get my mind straight.”

“Ha, there you go, you said you were giving up the bottle and now you’re getting pissed and taking your frustrations out on me, by imagining all sorts of things. I took the bloody car to Bazza’s and he said he couldn’t fix it until he gets the ECU and so we came to the pub. That’s it, pure and simple. What the problem is, that YOU can’t accept that I need to have a life and because you’re so called friends are sick of all your bleating. ”

“John, stop now, because this is heading for another argument. Perhaps we and our relationship is getting to the end of the road. I don’t think that I know you anymore and you think that I’m a possessive bitch that won’t let you do what you want. Don’t you think we should call it a day?”

“Oh Sarah, come on, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. We have a great life. You’ve got a nice flat and I’ve got a hot car. We both like body art and we have great sex. You’ve got to admit all that. So come on pet, don’t get yourself all worked up. I’ll leave right now and we can sort this out in bed. I’ll hang up now and be home in 10.”

“John, don’t hang up. This is not another shouting match with kiss and makeup. I need to resolve this depressing life I find myself in. You may enjoy your free life with your mates and then almost free food and rent and then free sex but I don’t feel free. I feel trapped in a flat that’s not a home anymore. I need something to happen and I think that I want you to leave. You can stay with Barry and we can both sort ourselves out. John are you listening to me?”

“This is bullshit. I don’t need this, I’m on my way home and I know we can sort this out if you can just see reason.”

“John, I’ve made my mind up. We can’t go on like this, lurching from one argument to another. You out with your mates and me doing all the housework. I can’t go on drinking a bottle of wine a day and wake feeling like shit and knowing I really don’t matter to you. I’m past the torrid sex and then nothing but arguments. Listen John, I’m serious about this. Don’t think your coming home as usual because I’ve already put your things in your suitcases and they’re outside the door. Put your key under the door because it’s no use as I’ve got the dead-lock on. Don’t come home because I really and truly won’t answer the door. John are you listening to me. John are you there? John, John… Oh shit.”

Click, click, click.

Knock, knock, knock.