Pillow Talk

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ 5.30 a.m.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œHal- Awake?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œYea.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œPenny for ‘˜em.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œAin’™t got any’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œLiar!’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œ ‘˜mnot.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œWha’™ d’™ya think of Gloria?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œDumb.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œDumb?’ She’™s beautiful!’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œDumb.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œThen why were you with her half the night?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œChecking out what makes her tick and dumb.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œDidn’™t look that way to me.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œI can’™t help that.’ But the party was great, wasn’™t it?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œHal.’ You avoiding the question?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œJulia throws a good party. Spends a lot.’ Champagne – genuine French.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œYou’™re still avoiding an answer.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œCheryl, you should know by now that a little competition keeps romance alive.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œAh, Hal. Now you’™re admitting.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œJealous?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œWorried.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œCheryl! Why?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œHal, I feel that a relationship should be interesting.’ If it becomes boring that’™s the beginning of trouble.’ What do you think?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œThere’™s nothing like a little spice to keep a marriage alive.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œBut spice can burn.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œSomething’™s burning you, Cheryl.’ Have to get up.’ Got a hard day ahead.’ Sorry Cheryl.’ We’™ll’ carry on some other time ‘
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Three days later. 5.30 a.m.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œHal – you there?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œYea?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œIs Gloria more attractive than me?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œI don’™t see Gloria in curlers, face cream and without make up.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œIs that what counts?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œIt helps.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œThen…’ then… if you saw me dressed well and made up and Gloria in hair curlers and face cream the situation may be reversed?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œMaybe.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œWould you think then that I was dumb?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œCheryl, isn’™t this getting a little out of hand?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œI’™m beginning to forget the last time you wanted me Hal.’ It’™s sad. When I saw you dancing with Gloria I was trying to remember when we last danced together.’ Does marriage after eight years have to lose its romance?
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œNot really, I suppose.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œHal?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œYea?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œI’™ve made up my mind.’ I’™m going back to work.’ The children are old enough to cope for the few hours that I won’™t be at home.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œOkay by me, Cheryl.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ (Five weeks later.’ 5.15 am)
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œCheryl? …’ Awake?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œNow,’ yes.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œDid I see you going by in the Jag with that looker?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œIf you mean Stanley, yes.’ He’™s my boss – remember?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œDidn’™t think he’™s so good looking… with a name like Stanley ‘¦’ but that Jag!’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œI went to take notes at a meeting.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œI thought tapes are used..’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œInefficient. Record everything. I record only the necessary.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œDidn’™t recognise you at first.’ New dress?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œNo.’ I make up to work. Never wear my nice dresses at home.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œYeh, guess so.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œKnow what, Cheryl?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œNot till you tell me.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œWe haven’™t been out in a long while.’ How about a dinner and a play?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œHal!’ That would be lovely!’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œWear that dress?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œSure, if you like it.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œCheryl?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œHmm . . .?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œ… Want you.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œJust when I can’™t.’ Got a little problem.’ Have to wait.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œWell, maybe a little waiting’™s also good for romance…’ ‘
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ When did I last say you’™re cute, Cheryl?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œCan’™t remember that far.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œYou’™re are cute, Cheryl… and smart.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œYou’™re nice, too, Hal.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œMmmm…’