Maybelle had met the perfect man after Leon left. She was determined to keep him and was not going to surrender him to the likes of her.
Maybelle was a black homemaker in the 1960’s with 4 children and one failed marriage. This new husband had a steady job and was finally able to buy a small home for their family.
Despite the joy, often, Maybelle found herself tense with tears thinking of him with her. She knew he went to her often,but she dared not mention it to him.
But, after 5 years of no change, it was time to confront her.
The years had bitterly crept by. In silence, she endured the slight of her husband pursuing her. It made it impossible for Maybelle to contain her anger.
She screamed her ultimatum with streaming tears and clenched fists. The young woman wore the staleness of Marlboros on her cheek as she cowered against the wall.
It had been settled.
The following week Maybelle sat at the kitchen table drinking coffee; two hands encircling her mug. Pausing after a sip, a proud smile came across her face. She watched him read the morning newspaper.
“Humpf, darn shame these teenaged girls out here dying doing they own abortions.” He rose from the table, tucked the newspaper under his arm, kissed Maybelle, and left for work.
Maybelle once again had her husband to herself. She was a black homemaker in the 1960’s with 3 children and only one failed marriage.
©Precious Harris and Woman Without Filters 2021
*I’ve taken a liking to microfiction. It forces creativity with succinctness. It is a writing art form all its own. This is my first attempt at it.