he marveled

        whoever spat their chewing gum into the gym urinalby all intents and purposes could still be chewing it   it appeared immaculate clean-white(though possibly its refreshment tainted)

he marveled that they chose to spit it in the urinal

entering the Mens lockerroom  walking through it to the restroomat its rear they walked past three trash cans  but since it was someone else job to clean the bathroomchange the urinal cakes toilet paper scrub the toilets 

                                                                            why be considerate

why not be a slob

once upon a time he pushed back on chores  the trading off  setting the dinner table and glassware  cleaning off the dinner tablerinsing off the pots and pans plates cooking utensils knives and silverware  washing the dishes  drying the dishes and putting them in their cabinets 

Why am I doing this stuff   This is womans work

his mother beginning to exit the kitchen through the swinging saloon doors wheeled around and stuck her face into his  Again

You heard me

I want to be sure I heard you correctly   Again

(doubling down) I said why am I doing this stuff  Its womans work

the –ork was barely out of his mouth when his mother cracked him on the cheek with an opened-hand slap

Why do you think  Or do you just open your mouth and bray like an ass as unthinking as an ass is

the slap didnt hurt him

it got his attention(probably her intent)

Why do you think

Im sure I dont know

Im sure you dont know either 

                        Your doing womans workas you call it  all of it the laundry the line-dry the ironing the cooking the cleaning every bit of it so when you leave this house this house is my house youll not be a bum some woman has to clean up after and take care of because you werent taught betterYoull not be a bad reflection on me or a bad example of what a man is because anything youll ever do in your life will be mans work  Theres no such thing as womans work except having a baby

Men dont have babies because they cant take the pain

So now you know  Youre not going to be a bum

the slap didnt hurt him

                 being called a bum cut him to the quickcaught in his craw  it squirted a couple of tears in his eyes

Better step on it you still got homework  and youre putting your baby brother down for the night too

he didnt see much difference between a bum and a slob

1200 and 1646,  Friday,  4  8. 17