Vive La Différence (Details)
citation: Good Housekeeping, June 1958, 146(6):78-79, 140, 142, 145-146, 148-149, 151
alias: None
teaser: There are (reasonably enough) two sexes involved here. Most of the editors of this magazine are women. They say they understand Hilda and Becky perfectly. Me — I understand only Al and Hank. HERBERT R. MAYES, Editor
summary: Sitting at the kitchen table, Henry Jessup
reads the newspaper to his wife, Hilda, as she ignores him, preparing breakfast.
Hank makes up a news story about the muddleheaded, emotional
thinking of women,
that does nothing to improve Hilda's mood. He wants
to know what he's done to make her angry with him.
After some prodding, Hilda admits being upset by a dream she had where Hank was ignoring her, in favor of other people. Hanks finds this amusing, and although Hilda recalls the dream vividly and wonders what caused it, he cannot understand why she's still upset. Hank retires to the couch, while Hilda telephones her friend Becky Mehan from the bedroom.
At the Mehan house next door, Becky tells her husband, Al, that Hilda is mad at Hank, and explains about Hilda's dream. Al also does not undestand why Hilda is mad at Hank, even after Becky exlains there is always a basis for dreams. Mocking her, Al retires to a lounge chair, while Becky walks off to the bedroom.
At the Jessup house, Hilda realizes how silly it was to be angry with Hank, and they reconcile. Outside, Al explains to Hank how the Jessup's quarrel caused a quarrel for the Mehans. Concluding women have no common sense, Hanks invites the Mehans for dinner.
When Hilda calls Becky to extend the dinner invitation, Becky chides Hilda for having so easily reconciled with Hank, insulting him in the process. Offended by Becky's remarks, the two women argue, and the dinner invitation is off.
Outside, as Al and Hank comiserate about female irrationality, and the loss of friendship between their wives, Becky and Hilda appear, then reconcile; a common sense thing to do, Becky informs the two men.
words: 4,399
genre: None
similar: None
people: Henry Jessup, Hilda Jessup, Becky Mehan, Al Mehan
places: Unspecified; Waleeta
comments: Forthcoming