she sighed  and said You can take the boy out of Chicago, but you cant take Chicago out of the boy.

Is that what you thought you could do love

I don’t remember. The girls confused me. Our girls, yes.   The other girls . .

They werent other girls

I know . . I know.  But I thought there could be.

he started to step towards her

No. Stay where you are; stay put.  Please.

I thought there could be.

There could have been, you can answer me that. Honestly.

Have you ever known me to be dishonest

No. You’re not dishonest, you’re not a dishonest man, you’re principled, your ethical, you’re fearsomely honest and loyal.

And . .

And?

Yes   And

Yes.  I know.

You know

Yes.

Tell me  Tell me and Ill answer your questionhonestly  as you asked me

                                                                                Tell me

she dug her toe into the kitchen linoleum

he put his left hand on the cupboard and leaned on it disarming himself if she thought he might do violence against hershed thought that many times

                                    she asked many times  Why don’t you slap me,slap me silly, bring me to my senses?

he replied warmly he smiled  You have your senses  Those are them

I asked you to tell me  Please

You . .

Yes

You love me.

Yes

she wiped the tears that welled up in her eyes with the heels of her hands

Yes  I love you

                 And yes  yes  there could have been  There could have been if I wanted  Ripe for the picking

I was ripe for the picking.

Ohyes  you were

                    And I picked you As you picked me  We exchanged vows even if we hadnt

I didnt need to make vows

My vow was when I told you I loved you 

The rest was theatrics  theatrics to please other peopleyour parents my parents   fuckin community society

I conceded  because you insisted   you insisted you wanted it and  then   that was what I could give you

We didnt have a pot to pee in

she laughed  her hand to her mouth We didn’t.

No  I cant say that I was ever happier   You  you made me crazy happy

I am sorry for your pain

But its not pain Ive caused you

he took his hand down from the cabinet  and stood upright facing her

Try as I may  I cant help you with it

I have tried

You have; you have you  her voice broke hysterically  you have youhave  her hands went up before her face

he spread his arms to her  opened them wide

You shouldn’t have . .

I did

she choked on her tears  sobbed silent into her hands  spread open across her mouth

Maybe  maybe youd like a Made in Chicago hug

                                                   from a Made in Chicago boy

she sputtered in her hands

but the sputtering had a different sound  a relief   like the last of the air running out of a heavy toy balloon

he stepped towards her  You know my hugs are hard

Yes

she stepped towards him

No one has ever hugged me like you hug me.

No one has ever loved you like I love you

she stepped into his arms

he gently wrapped his arms around her  they grew six incheseight inches longer as he embraced herheld her  his nose pressed to her widows peak  inhaled her scent

No one has ever loved you like I love you

Yes

she struggling to catchto catch her breath

No one has ever loved you like I love you  Yes

she exhaled sharply  Yes.

Yes

Why would they?

My love

         Theyre fuckin idiots and arent worth a precious moment of your timeany time you lavish on them

If I was going to slap somebody silly  Id slap them into next week

she giggled like broken glass into his throat

he kissed her forehead  And now my love Im going to crush your ribs  he hugged her hardhe hoped he could crush all the bad air out of her lungs so when he released her she would inhale the odor of her cinnamon toast and breakfast tea his orange marmalade English muffin and black coffee  and that they would enter her and fill her lungs

goodness
               simple goodness breathed in

1250 & 2324,  Thursday,  23  4. 20

Crosby Stills Nash & Young  Our House  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKYjUn-SBcg