Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: ANNOYED (04/05/18)
- TITLE: Let Me Count the Ways
By Donna Powers
04/11/18 -
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“Oh, Dr. Jones, he drives me crazy. As soon as he gets home, he plops down in front of the TV with a snack and kicks his smelly shoes across my clean carpet. And don’t get me started on him setting his soda can right down on my clean end table.”
“Did you try putting down a coaster, as I suggested?”
“Yes; for all the good it did me. He ignored the coaster.”
“Sidney, how do Myra’s words make you feel?”
“The same way they always make me feel: angry. I work hard all day and need a little relaxation. I deserve to take off my shoes in my own house. As for those coasters, I can’t reach them. If she’d just put them where I asked her to, I would use them.”
“All right, folks. Let’s move on. Myra, can you sum up your other issues with Sidney?”
“He’s impossible, Dr. Jones. He’s constantly clearing his throat, and he picks his teeth right in the living room. His grammar is so unrefined. He never takes me out to dinner and insists on having dinner ready precisely at 6:30 – no matter what. He makes fun of my book club and the books I read. He’s constantly criticizing everything about the way I keep the house organized. And worst of all, he never listens to me. When I talk to him, he just ignores me.”
“Well, Sidney, how do Myra’s words make you feel?”
“Frustrated, as usual. Like I can’t ever do anything right.”
“I see. Sidney, can you sum up your issues with Myra?”
“Well, besides being a clean freak, she insists on alphabetizing the spices in the rack. Everyone knows salt and pepper should be together; next to the plate – not three feet apart on some shelf. And she’s always blasting the vacuum cleaner in the middle of my football games. Plus, she talks nonstop for the whole time I’m home. She says I don’t listen, but I do try. But there’s a limit to how much I can take. Plus, she’s always after me to “improve myself” and read all those touchy-feely books. And don’t get me started on her weight…”
“Let’s not. Myra, how do Sidney’s words make you feel?”
“Horrible. How do you THINK they make me feel?”
“I can imagine. Look, Sidney and Myra. You’ve both clearly stated your issues. I can see these issues are eating away at your marriage. But we’ve been talking about these same issues for six months now. And it seems neither of you has been willing to make any significant changes to improve the marriage .”
“But… that’s why we’re here, Dr. Jones. Aren’t you supposed to be helping us?”
“Of course, Myra. But none of the suggestions I’ve offered have seemed to be workable for you two, so…”
“Aw, c’mon, Dr. Jones. Aren’t you overreacting? I mean: we’ve got our issues, but they aren’t that bad. For the money we pay you, I’m sure you can come up with some more practical ideas about how to help us.”
“Well, all right, Sidney. But I don’t know if either of you are showing an ability to make any significant changes. Why not talk about it, and we’ll explore this further next week.”
“Well, all right, Dr. Jones.”
“Yeah. We’ll see you next week.”
“Sidney, can you believe that? Isn’t that the most ridiculous thing you ever heard?”
“You got that right, Myra. I thought she was supposed to be helping us – not blaming us because her ideas are duds. I mean … maybe we need a different counselor. She hasn’t really helped that much, has she, Myra?”
“No, she really hasn’t. And she those habits of hers: pushing her glasses back up from her nose; twiddling her pencil; wrinkling her forehead…”
“You’re right, Myra. She does that stuff all the time. Ya know… I don’t think it IS us. I think it’s her.”
“It must be. Sidney?”
“Yes, Myra?”
“This is the first thing we’ve agreed on in years. So, you may be right.”
“OK, Myra. You go ahead and look for a new counselor. Ya know, I’m feeling pretty good about the future of our marriage right now. Why don’t I take you out to dinner tonight?”
“Oh, Sidney, really?”
“Sure, why not. After all, you’re still my best girl.”
“Oh, Sidney…”
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Matthew 7:4: “How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?”
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