Good Husbands

by Cate Ray

He’s going slightly deaf and says it’s because he’s fifteen years older than me, but I think he’s too young for it to be age-related. More likely, he gets absorbed in what he’s doing. He always seems to hear me when I say I’m in the mood for sex, or can’t manage the rest of my chips.

You don’t want to acknowledge that you’re a product of your childhood because everyone likes to think they’re their own person, forging their own path. But we all know deep down that’s rubbish, and you’re molded for life by ten years old.

I hate it when people say that. I haven’t a clue what she’d like. “Tea? Coffee? Gin?”