The Parsonage Kitchen Shutdown Threat (standard:humor, 905 words)
Author: Godspenman	Added: Jun 24 2018	Views/Reads: 1714/1210	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
When self is at the center of my negotiations, Christ is never honored.

A certain situation has been building in the Parsonage for the last
several months. At first, I did not think it too serious but alas, we 
have reached a terrible impasse. 

It started a few months ago when I came home, walked into the house and
was hit in the face so hard I almost passed out. At the time, I was 
hoping I would pass out, but no such luck. 

I think everybody knows what it is like to be hit unexpectedly by
something you do not actually expect. I guess that is why it is called 
unexpectedly. It happened to me and I am not sure I am over it yet. 

Even though I have been married 46 years, of which most of it has been
happily, I did not see this one coming. Just when you think you have 
your spouse figured out, they do something off the radar. Every husband 
knows exactly what I am talking about. 

This makes it hard to buy Christmas and birthday presents. What they
liked last year is not what they like this year. I remember buying my 
wife a watch one year for Christmas of which she was so delighted that 
for the next four years after I bought her a watch for Christmas. How 
was I supposed to know she only wanted one watch! 

I think we hit one of those impasses. 

Walking into the house, I was hit with the horrific smell of broccoli
cooking on the stove. I do not know if you ever smelt such a smell as 
that but if you are not prepared for it and even if you are prepared 
for it, it can smack you in the face like you have never been smacked 
in the face before. 

When I came to myself and gathered what little composure I could find, I
queried the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage who was in the kitchen. 

“What is that awful smell?” 

“I don't know, have you taken a shower yet?” 

After being married for 46 years, I know when to respond to a question
and when not to. I knew if I responded to this question the way I 
wanted to respond to this question, the smell of broccoli would be the 
least of my worries at the time. 

“No,” I said gathering a little bit of manliness about me, “Something in
this house smells dreadful. I smelled it as soon as I walked in the 
door.” 

Then she chuckled. I hate it when she chuckles. 

“Oh, that must be the wonderful aroma of broccoli cooking on the stove.
Isn't it marvelous?” 

Adhering to my rules about questions, I tossed that one aside and opted
for another one. 

“You're not cooking broccoli for supper tonight, are you?” 

I was hoping she would catch my attitude of disdain and disgust in this
question. Obviously, for whatever reason, she did not catch the drift. 

“Yes,” she said as chipper as I have ever heard her chip, “I thought I
would surprise you with a wonderful dish of broccoli for supper 
tonight, to go along with our pork chops.” 

Can you live with a person for so long and not know what they like or do
not like? Nobody has to be around me for five minutes before they will 
understand that broccoli and I have had a feud that has been going on 
since before the Hatfield's and McCoy's. 

“But I thought you knew I do not like broccoli?” 

“Oh, that,” she said with another chuckle, “I just thought you were
joking.” 

Nobody jokes about broccoli, especially me. 


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