Free Fairytales by Cynthia Freeman

happy, Catherine, knowing you’re content.”
    “Oh, I’m more than content, I’m positively ecstatic … there aren’t many women whose husbands would give them the world, especially since there’s just one.”
    “I would, if I could, believe me.”
    “Oh, I believe you, Dominic, but I think that would be a little too expensive … even for you. So you know what I did?”
    “No, what?”
    “I let you buy me a new house instead—who needs the world?”
    Dominic thought for a moment, then laughed, “I don’t get it … you let me buy you a new house?”
    “That’s right, darlin’, you don’t know it yet, but you bought me a house today.”
    Dominic moved his arm away, switched on the light and struck the same pose he had so many times in their married life. Up on his elbow with his hand cupped around his chin, looking at Catherine as though he were afraid to ask what it was that she had done. Finally, he asked, “Okay, let’s hear what this is about?”
    “I just told you, Dominic, we’ve got a new house.”
    “We’ve … got a new … house?”
    “That’s right, darlin’.”
    Dominic bit his lower lip, “Alright, let’s start from the beginning … slowly.”
    “There’s nothing much to tell, Dominic. This house is simply too small for us … it has been for a long time, you know that and I haven’t complained till now, so I saw a house I knew would be perfect and bought it … that is, I put down a large payment and have made arrangements for the loan which, of course, you’re gonna have to sign because of those crazy community laws you got in this awful state.”
    “You did what?” Dominic exploded.
    “I just got through tellin’ you, Dom, just as slowly as I could … we got a new house.”
    Dominic jumped out of bed. The muscles in his jaw tightened as he began to breathe hard and pace the floor. Finally, he turned and stood staring down at Catherine, the anger written clearly in his eyes. Mama was right, but Catherine was wrong. Her timing had been bad … she should’ve told him in the midst of their rapturous moment when he was on fire with lust. Catherine had never seen him quite so furious, and for a moment she recoiled within herself, but just as quickly she rallied to the occasion. Once and for all, he was going to understand that everything was not going to be his way so she stood her ground when he screamed, “Goddamn it, Catherine, how could you do such a thing as buying a house without my knowledge or permission?”
    “What do you mean your permission? Since when am I chattel … you don’t own me … they freed the slaves a long time ago.”
    “You little bitch, didn’t you think I should have been consulted?”
    “No, I did not, because if I had, it would’ve been the same as before and don’t you ever … ever call me a bitch again … you hear? Why, I have to laugh … just a few minutes ago you wanted to buy me the world and now you’re blowin’ your brains out because I asked for a new house.”
    “That’s just the point, you didn’t ask, you took it upon yourself to go out and buy one on your own. A husband and wife talk about that sort of thing.”
    “Oh, really? … well, the last time we talked about that sorta thing, I ended up livin’ in what you wanted and hatin’ myself for it.”
    “You sound like you’ve been living in the ghetto. A lot of people would give their eyeteeth to have a house like this, but if it wasn’t grand enough for you, well, it’s the best I could afford and then some.”
    “But it’s not now.”
    “Then in that case, why the hell didn’t you come to me and sit down and talk it out?”
    “Because I knew what you’d say … that it was too expensive and that you had all your money tied up in stocks and bonds and property and God knows what. No, sir, Dominic, my children aren’t gonna keep on livin’ in a place like this. I’m gonna live a gracious life with all the comforts I was accustomed to when you took me