I Like It This Way (Details)
citation: Collier's, June 24, 1950, 125(25):26-27, 57-58
alias: None
teaser: It's not easy to convince your wife that you love her. It's not easy — but it's awfully important.
summary: Seeking attention from her husband Charley, Ann Masik asks him to scratch her back. She asks if the little leather box on his dresser was given him by his ex-wife, Edith. He confirms it was, offering to get rid of it.
Charley changes the subject to purring, then tries to reassure his wife by tracing his initials on her back, meaning she belongs to him. He gets up to mix drinks, and brings back two highballs.
Enjoying their leisurely Sunday, Ann imagines
Charley did not spend Sundays with his ex-wife in the same way. Charley confirms
there was No such thing as loafing
a whole Sunday away
with Edith.
They discuss Charley's life with his ex-wife, where social events had
to advance us, get us somewhere.
Ann feels her status
as a housewife is less important than Edith's. Charley
agains offers to get rid of the leather box, but Ann won't
hear of it, leaving the room hastily. When she returns, Charley suggests
they go to a movie.
While Ann is preparing to leave, Charley throws the leather box into the trash.
After the movie, they window shop on the way to the bus stop. Charley begins playing a word game, finding signs that viewed backwards still spell valid words. Ann joins him in the game on the bus ride home, and bests him.
Ann asks if Charley played the game with ex-wife Edith. He confirms he did, but when it failed to impress other people, Edith stopped playing it.
After a light dinner, Charley helps Ann with the dishes. As he prepares for bed, he sees the little leather box has been returned to his dresser. Ann relates that the janitor found it, and returned it to her.
When Charley again offers to throw the box away, Ann disagrees, concluding
she has to grow up. … now you're married to me, and that's all that matters.
… I won't let the [box] be that important to me!
Charley has Ann examine the box, noting its design is formal, dignified, lifeless, depressing, and ungenerous, like nothing Ann would buy for him. Charley gives the box to Ann, then climbs into bed beside her, marvelling at the absurdity of all human beings.
words: 3,932
genre: Slice-of-Life, Romance
similar: Breakfast in Bed, You Haven't Changed a Bit, The Little Courtesies, Sneak Preview, My Cigarette Loves Your Cigarette
people: Charley Masik, Ann Masik, Edith
places: Unspecified
comments: Forthcoming