"Forever Young! Forever young!" Jadish sang with Rod Stewart a few days later, like some wishy-washy duet. Rod was on a music video blaring from the TV.

She was prancing in front of the stereo, trying to clean the house.

She wasn't a fan of Rod, but she felt like listening to something different. All she ever cared to hear was anything 2 Live Crew, even though they were played out like Vanilla Ice and his comeback attempts.

OutKast was her favorite rap group. Young Jeezy and his hustling tales enthralled her.

Too Short and his Dick Tales made her laugh 'cause the brothah had to be camouflaging the truth somewhere in his rap music.

Anything Whitney, Janet, Tony Benet and Barbra Streisand she absolutely enjoyed.

At this particular point in her life things were looking up. Except in her marriage. Opening the curtains in her living room, she marveled at the sunshine.

She was an outdoor type of gal. She
couldn't remember the last time she kissed her husband let alone hugged him or had a decent conversation with him.

When she was in his arms her heart knew it was right. It felt so good. But
her gut pushed her away and she begin to feel queasy and the more he insisted on fucking her the more rebellious she became.

It was something she couldn't control. He once asked her why she tensed up when he sometimes touched her and she dismissed his request with a wave of her hands and a fakechuckle.

"No reason. Just don't feel good."

Her words tore through him like knives. She busied herself with housework to keep from taking the
conversation further.

She knew she was being baited and she didn't remember seeing a shrimp
when she looked in the mirror.

How did she tell him that she couldn't stand when he touched her?

How did she tell him that she probably would never...

She put it out of her mind when her
husband called. Picking up the remote she turned down the music.

Hesitantly answering the phone, she
inhaled, rolled her eyes, sucked her teeth and said, "Yes, Sax."

He implored, "Are you cooking today?"

She closed her eyes, picking up the duster.

She began dusting the shelf again. "No, why?"

He got an attitude. "Why won't you cook sometimes?"

She sucked her teeth. "Because I work."

"I work, too," he whined bitterly.

She rolled her eyes. "Did you call to start an argument?"

His attitude was deteriorating into a bunch of massive explosives ready to sound off.

"No. I called to see if you cooked dinner."

Whatever! "Well no. You got money. Stop by McDonald's and utilize the dollar menu. I heard its pretty...fulfilling, Sax."

She was giggling and he didn't find it funny.

"I. Don't. Do. McDonald's."

"I hope you don't. Then that would be called cheating."

He choked, coughing uncontrollably.

"You know what? Have dinner cooked when I get home."

"Try Wendy's, also baby," she said absent-mindedly. "They have a dollar menu as well. And then there's Checker's, even though I heard they got roaches in the one by Big Lots. Two for one price does wonders when your wife isn't cooking you a meal...

"You're really pushing me, Jadish! Is this supposed to be love?"

She put her hand on her hip. I do love you, Sax. More than anything!

"I'll go to Publix and buy some food. What do you want? Rice? Chicken tenders? Bullshit? A pot of piss? A container of You Ain't Tasting This

Pussy Ice Cream or a bag of Male Chauvinist Vegetables?"

He released a large gush of air.

"Jadish..."

She said, "Good bye," as politely as she could and she replaced the receiver.

Biting back tears.