While the Wife Is Away
John Perkins walked slowly to ward his apartment. He had just finished a hard day's work at the office, and he knew preelsely what would happen when he reached home.After all, he said to himself, there are no surprise awaiting a man who has been married two year and lives in a tiny New York apartment. He knew that his wife Katy would met him at the door with a kiss flavored with lipstick and candy. He would take off his coat, sit in his favorite chair, which would consist of the usual meat, two vegetables, and fruit desert ,Katy would show him the clothes that she was mending.At half past seven they would spread newspapers over the furniture in order to catch the pieces of plaster that fell from the calling when teh fat man in the apartment above them began to take his exercises. Exactly at eight, the couple in an apartment below them would begin to argue loudly. Then somebody in the house across the street would begin to play a musical instrument. Something would go wrong with the heater. A friend of his wife's who owned a little dog would come in for a moment before taking her evening stroll. and the whole evening routine of the apartment house would be the same as always.
John Perkins knew that knew that these thing would happen.And be knew that at a quarter past eight he would reach for his hat, and his wife would ask, " Now where are you going,John Perkin ?
I think I'll go to Maccloskey's Poolroom for a little while," he would answers.I want to play a few games of pool, with the fellows," Lately this had been John Perkins habit, At ten or eleven he would return.Sometimes Katy would be sleep when he came in sometimes she would wait for him ready to express her opinion, which was always unfavorable, of his nighty habits.
That night, on his arrival,John Perkins found everything different. Katy was not there to greet him with her candy - flavored kiss. The three small rooms of the apartment seemed to be in complete disorder. All of Katy's clothes lay in confusion shoes in the middle of the floor, and clothes, powder box, mirror hairbrush and comb piled on the bureau and chairs, this was not te way the apartment usually looked.Katy was exceptionally neat , with a sinking heart, John began to realize that something serious had happened. Lying on the dining room table was a piece of paper. John picked it up quikly.It was a note from his wife.
Dear John,
I just received a telegram saying that my mother is very sick.I am going to take the 4:30 train.My brother is going to meet me at the station. There is some cold meat in the refrigerator,Pay the milkman . fifty cents.And don't forget to write the gas company about the meter," Your good socks are in the top drawer of the bureau.I'll write tomorrow.
Hastily Katy," John and Katy had never been separated during their two years of married life. John read the note over and over again. here was the first bread in a routine that had never deviated he and it left him feeling very confused. On the back of the a chair the red apron, which she always wore while preparing his meals, hung empty and formless. Her weekday clothes had been thrown here and there in her haste. A little paper bag of her favorite candy lay on the floor, and near it was the daily paper. Every thing in the room suggested a loss of something close to him. John Perkins stood among these things with a queer feeling of loneliness in his heath.
He began to straighten the room as much as he could. When he touched Katy's clothes, a feeling of helplessness went thoroughly a part of his existence that she was like the air he breathed - necessary but scarcely noticed Now, without warning, she was gone, as completely absent as if she had never existed Of course, her absence would only be for a few days, or a week or two at the most, but it seemed to him as if death had visited his secure and uneventful home. John took the could meat from the refrigerator made coffee, and sat down to a lonely meal. As he ate he thought about the many times Katy had served him at that dining room table, Now his house was wreaked. His mother in law had upset te whole household routine.After dinner he sat near the window and thought about Katy.
He did not want to smoke.Outside, people were going by, and the noise from, the street attracted his attention.Suddenly an idea occurred to him. Why shouldn't he go out? After all, he was free as free an any gay bachelor. He could wander through the city all night long if he wished to do so, there would be no Katy waiting for him when he came home. He could play pool at McClosky's with his friends until dawn if he wanted to.Katy was gone.
As John Perkins sat there in his tiny living room, he began to understand why he felt so sad. He knew taht Katy was necessary to his happiness.His love for her had been dulled by the routine of married life, and now he was shaken by the loss of her presence.It was like the old saying," One never misses , the water until the well is dry. " I'm a fool," thought John Perkinss.I've been mistreating Katy. Every nigh I play pool and have fun with the fellows instead of staying at home with her. The poor girl is here all alone all evening with nothing to amuse her. I'm the worst kind of husband.When Katy comes home. I'll take her out and her have some amusement.And I'll stop going to McCloskey's right now,"
Yes, at the moment there were places he could go to and have a good time.At MeClosky's the fellows were knocking the balls around on the pool tables. But nothing could persuade him to join them. He could think of nothing but Katy,Katy's blue dress was lying on the back of a chair near his right hand. Midway on the sleeves there were tiny little wrinkles made by the movements of her arms while working for his comfort and Pleasure. Tears yes, tears came into John Perkins eyes.When she returned, everything would be different.
He was not going to neglect her any more. At that moment the door opened.Katy walked in carrying a little handbag.John stared at her stupidly.
I'm certainly glad to get home," she said. Mother wasn't very sick.my brother met me at the station.He said she got better soon after the telegraphed me. So I took the next train back. I'd love to have a cup of coffee .
As she said this, everything returned to normal.The routine again! John Perkins looked at the clock.It was 8:15," He reached for his hat and walked to the door. Now where are you going. John Perkins? asked Katy. I think I'll go to MeClockey's Poolroom for a Little while," said John.I want to play a few games of pool with the fellows.'
I think I'll go to Maccloskey's Poolroom for a little while," he would answers.I want to play a few games of pool, with the fellows," Lately this had been John Perkins habit, At ten or eleven he would return.Sometimes Katy would be sleep when he came in sometimes she would wait for him ready to express her opinion, which was always unfavorable, of his nighty habits.
That night, on his arrival,John Perkins found everything different. Katy was not there to greet him with her candy - flavored kiss. The three small rooms of the apartment seemed to be in complete disorder. All of Katy's clothes lay in confusion shoes in the middle of the floor, and clothes, powder box, mirror hairbrush and comb piled on the bureau and chairs, this was not te way the apartment usually looked.Katy was exceptionally neat , with a sinking heart, John began to realize that something serious had happened. Lying on the dining room table was a piece of paper. John picked it up quikly.It was a note from his wife.
Dear John,
I just received a telegram saying that my mother is very sick.I am going to take the 4:30 train.My brother is going to meet me at the station. There is some cold meat in the refrigerator,Pay the milkman . fifty cents.And don't forget to write the gas company about the meter," Your good socks are in the top drawer of the bureau.I'll write tomorrow.
Hastily Katy," John and Katy had never been separated during their two years of married life. John read the note over and over again. here was the first bread in a routine that had never deviated he and it left him feeling very confused. On the back of the a chair the red apron, which she always wore while preparing his meals, hung empty and formless. Her weekday clothes had been thrown here and there in her haste. A little paper bag of her favorite candy lay on the floor, and near it was the daily paper. Every thing in the room suggested a loss of something close to him. John Perkins stood among these things with a queer feeling of loneliness in his heath.
He began to straighten the room as much as he could. When he touched Katy's clothes, a feeling of helplessness went thoroughly a part of his existence that she was like the air he breathed - necessary but scarcely noticed Now, without warning, she was gone, as completely absent as if she had never existed Of course, her absence would only be for a few days, or a week or two at the most, but it seemed to him as if death had visited his secure and uneventful home. John took the could meat from the refrigerator made coffee, and sat down to a lonely meal. As he ate he thought about the many times Katy had served him at that dining room table, Now his house was wreaked. His mother in law had upset te whole household routine.After dinner he sat near the window and thought about Katy.
He did not want to smoke.Outside, people were going by, and the noise from, the street attracted his attention.Suddenly an idea occurred to him. Why shouldn't he go out? After all, he was free as free an any gay bachelor. He could wander through the city all night long if he wished to do so, there would be no Katy waiting for him when he came home. He could play pool at McClosky's with his friends until dawn if he wanted to.Katy was gone.
As John Perkins sat there in his tiny living room, he began to understand why he felt so sad. He knew taht Katy was necessary to his happiness.His love for her had been dulled by the routine of married life, and now he was shaken by the loss of her presence.It was like the old saying," One never misses , the water until the well is dry. " I'm a fool," thought John Perkinss.I've been mistreating Katy. Every nigh I play pool and have fun with the fellows instead of staying at home with her. The poor girl is here all alone all evening with nothing to amuse her. I'm the worst kind of husband.When Katy comes home. I'll take her out and her have some amusement.And I'll stop going to McCloskey's right now,"
Yes, at the moment there were places he could go to and have a good time.At MeClosky's the fellows were knocking the balls around on the pool tables. But nothing could persuade him to join them. He could think of nothing but Katy,Katy's blue dress was lying on the back of a chair near his right hand. Midway on the sleeves there were tiny little wrinkles made by the movements of her arms while working for his comfort and Pleasure. Tears yes, tears came into John Perkins eyes.When she returned, everything would be different.
He was not going to neglect her any more. At that moment the door opened.Katy walked in carrying a little handbag.John stared at her stupidly.
I'm certainly glad to get home," she said. Mother wasn't very sick.my brother met me at the station.He said she got better soon after the telegraphed me. So I took the next train back. I'd love to have a cup of coffee .
As she said this, everything returned to normal.The routine again! John Perkins looked at the clock.It was 8:15," He reached for his hat and walked to the door. Now where are you going. John Perkins? asked Katy. I think I'll go to MeClockey's Poolroom for a Little while," said John.I want to play a few games of pool with the fellows.'
