PHOTO PROMPT © Björn Rudberg
Thanks to Rochelle for Friday Fictioneers!
Stop! In the Name of Love
“10 minutes more,” Sean said.
Yippee. My feet dragged. Burning targeted both heels, which would be blistered and bloody.
I collapsed on a picnic table. Every muscle ached, even ones I don’t think belonged to me.
He pitched the tent, which I wished were a cabin. With a tub. And ice cold chardonnay.
The sun lowered. Loons yodeled. Crickets and katydids chorused. Fear accelerated my heartbeat.
After making a campfire, Sean wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Thanks for this.”
I leaned into him, my pains forgotten. Unconvincingly, I said: “Camping yay.”
Compromise. Maybe the marriage counselor was right.
end
Sascha Darlington 3/23/2018
Let’s wait till the morning before passing any verdicts, she still has to fight off the thousands of mosquitoes and insects, in addition to biting cold and howling winds 🙂
lol so true!
Great little story leaving me perplexed. How far do you go to keep a one sided relationship going? There is so much going on here behind the words, loved the complexity.
Thanks, James. I think this is a two-sided relationship. With another 100 words, I could do the other side. His beer loving self having to tour a winery or attend a romance book festival or follow her around a wool festival…. 🙂
I agree with James – a tough call how much to compromise and for how long? A very tricky issue and neatly highlighted.
Thanks, Dahlia. I was just showing one side. Maybe in a future story I’ll show his compromise.
Look forward to it 🙂
Dear Sascha,
I wonder if some of her pains weren’t exaggerated due to her dislike for camping? Cute story. Made me chuckle.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I think you’re right, Rochelle. A little petulance never hurt. 🙂
Thank you.
I love the line about muscles she didn’t think belonged to her hurt. Been there.
me too, so it was coming from experience. 🙂
Thank you, Alicia.
What a touching, beautiful, story. Well done.
Thank you! 🙂
If she’s going camping for him, what will his compromise be. Possibly we’ll find out in your follow-up story…? 😉
I’m thinking so. I have to find something that strikes my funny bone.
Thanks, Maggie! 🙂
Been there with the muscles and bloodied heals after hiking. Destroyed a brand new 100$ pair of shoes which back in the day was expensive. Had to climb into a tub of hot water to soak them off my feet then cut my socks off. It was for “him” and I loved it, just not the pain. lol I so equate with this. Very well written!
Yes. I’ve been prone to blisters so it was just one thing I knew about from hiking. Not a happy thing when you’ve got awhile to go before settling down.
Thanks, Phyllis! 🙂
Your welcome. I’ll never forget THAT particular incident as long as I live. lol
Fun … and … funny. I hope there aren’t any scary sounds during the night.
Good write …
Isadora 😎
Thanks, Isadora. I somehow think she’s all prepared (in a bad way) for the night sounds, but maybe he’ll prove a distraction. 🙂
Compromise is vital. I hope this couple makes it.
Yes! I certainly believe they think their marriage is worth saving. Thank you, Linda! 🙂
Oh dear. At least she is giving it a shot..
Yes. Thanks, Iain! 🙂
I am sad that Sean was blind to her pain( though you haven’t specifically mentioned that part) Also, it’s sad with we have to pay a price to stay ‘happy’ with another person. I just hope that the compromise isn’t one-sided. Great story, sadly true for many couples in marriage or in ‘love’.
I don’t think she openly complained, but I do think he understands because he goes about setting up camp while she sits. I think compromise is important as long as it’s something a person doesn’t mind doing or that it doesn’t in some way harm them.
Thanks, Moon! 🙂
I’m deeply suspicious that the compromise will all be on her part and not on his. I note that your story gives him a name but not her, which may or may not be significant. But she’s really trying – as you show us with the magnificent line ‘Unconvincingly I said “Camping yay.” ‘
I hope she gets to enjoy a hot tub and chardonnay later in the holiday!
Thanks, Penny. This is her compromise. I think his will be soon. 🙂
And I’m sure she’ll get the tub and chardonnay–I think he’ll make certain of it.
So next week it will be hot tub and Chardonnay… That’s compromise
Exactly! Thank you, Bjorn! 🙂
Great story. Love the person who is the main character, I can relate to them so much. Loved the romance of the story too.
Yes, I think she’s in a little pain, but she hasn’t lost her sense of humor.
Thank you, Lisa! 🙂
Yes… she has done for him… now he better do for her!
Yes, I think that one must be in the offing, just to show what a tremendous guy he is. 😀
Thanks, Dale!
😀
Compromise works both ways – hope he checks them into a five star hotel for the next trip. Good story. I would be dreaming of the hot tub and Chardonnay for sure!
(I think I’m dreaming of it right now. hehe)
Thanks, Jilly! 🙂
Ah… yeah… we know. Let me not dwell in that. Haha.
The key to a successful marriage is going along with the other person 75% of the time–even when you know they’re wrong.
True. It’s also knowing when to keep your mouth shut, even if you’re right. 🙂
Thank you, Russell!
That’s a pretty big compromise. Although I adore camping and have whittled my tent pitching time down to about fifteen minutes, I’m not sure she can keep it up.
Thanks, Alice. No, you’re right. I think it will be a series of compromises until they find themselves on common ground or more over the hurdle that separated them.
I loved your story–perhaps because I could relate to so much of it. Excellent!
Compromise is indeed essential in any long term relationship, but camping? She really wants this thing to work, doesn’t she? Great dialogue through this Sascha, very real
Heh. I hear you. My idea of camping is going for a hike and then to a hotel (or a cabin, I’m not a total snob 🙂 ) with a real bed.
Yes, I think she does want it to work or thinks they may be worth it.
Ha! Me too! Let’s hope he sees the effort she’s made for him 🙂
there’s this quote from patricia ryan madson that says, “if something is not to your liking, change your liking.” it should work in this situation. 🙂
That’s a good quote. 🙂
Thanks for reading!
There’s compromise and then there’s… that. Above and beyond I reckon!
Yeah. I can imagine it would feel like that. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Ha ha… nicely done