Unemployment

It was a sad day when Bill got laid off at the plant. He was absolutely lost, moping around the house all day.

"It's only for a few weeks," I said, holding his hand, trying to comfort him.

"Yeah, but I can't just sit around, Susan. I'm not that way."

And he was right. He wasn't the kind of man to sit in front of the television for long. He was always up and about doing something.

I tried the first few days to make him feel better. He wasn't one who wanted to be waited on and usually took care of his self. But I doted on him, asking him if he was hungry or if he wanted me to get him a drink, and for the next few weeks, I paid dearly for it. I spoiled him rotten!

"Honey?"

What now? I thought, sorting the laundry. " . . .Yes?"

"Could you fix me a sandwich?"

I wanted to tell him to get off his lazy duff and make it himself, but I knew it was only temporary.

"Sure. Give me a minute."

"Make it tuna salad, will ya, hon?"

Tuna salad? Why do I have to open tuna, cut and chop onions!@#&! "Okay. I'll get it in a minute."

"I'll have tea with it."

He can't drink water, I thought, snatching clothes out of the basket, or a soda because all I'd have to do is open the refrigerator and hand it to him. He wants me to boil water and dirty another dish! "Okay, I'll get you some tea." I finally finished the laundry and went to the kitchen to get his lunch.

"Here's your lunch," I said, carrying it to him in the living room.

"Don't you have any chips to go with it?"

"Chips?"

"Yeah, a sandwich is just a sandwich without chips."

" . . . Okay, I'll go see if we have any chips."

"Hey, grab me a pickle while you're in there. Ain't you gonna eat?"

"I have to get started on that cake you wanted."

"Well if baking the cake takes so much time, don't worry about it. Have your lunch, Susan."

"Okay," I said with a smile. "I am a little hungry."

"Yeah, go get me some chips and a pickle and get yourself a sandwich and watch the rest of this movie with me. You can bake the cake tonight after dinner."

Blank stare . . .

Bill gained ten pounds in those few weeks and I lost twelve pounds fetching for him. Thank you merciful Lord Jesus Christ for letting him go back to work!

It was a few months later when Bill came home and said, "They're expecting another layoff at the plant this fall."

"Oh . . . my . . . God!"

"Oh, Honey," he said, putting his arms around me. "Don't worry. It wasn't so bad last time. I kind of enjoyed the time off. Come on, admit it; you enjoyed having me here all day, didn't you?"

Learn more about this author, Pat Lunsford.
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