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by Joanne Sher
Steven stretched, slamming his hand on the clock’s snooze button. Reaching his other hand toward the middle of the bed, he found Brenda’s nightgown, minus its contents, on the pillow beside him.
Rolling onto his stomach, he stretched his left leg down off the side of the bed until it touched the floor. Turning his body, he maneuvered himself so both feet were on the ground.
With the least amount of exertion necessary, he rested his hands on the side of the bed and pushed himself up until he was standing upright. He wiped the sleep from his eyes, then begrudgingly turned the alarm off.
Man, do I wish I could just go back to sleep.
**
Alexandra wiped the sleep from her eyes and turned her head slowly toward the middle of the bed. She let out a quiet sigh of relief, finding David beside her, his chest moving rhythmically up and down.
Moving as smoothly as she could, she slid toward the edge of the bed, lowering her feet delicately to the floor. She lifted her body slowly from the mattress with care until she was standing by the bed. David hadn’t stirred.
She glanced at the clock. He’d be getting up in ten minutes. She had to get busy.
Alexandra walked out to the kitchen and got the coffee brewing, then crept into the master bathroom, closing the door gently. She brushed her teeth, then grabbed her hairbrush and started brushing out her golden tresses, working to remove every tangle. Once she was satisfied, she checked the mirror, and was turning to leave when she heard David’s alarm.
I hope it won’t be one of those mornings.
**
“Well, there’s one item to cross off your to-do list.” A lanky blonde in a sundress and sandals approached Steven with a smile, a large mug of coffee in her hand.
“Very funny, Brenda. Hilarious.” Steven rolled his eyes, took the mug, and planted a half-hearted kiss about two inches to the right of her mouth.
Brenda moved closer, covering the top of his mug with the palm of her hand.
“Nice try, mister. I’m taking this java back unless I get a real token of your appreciation.”
With a devilish smile, Steven put the mug on his dresser, grabbed Brenda by the waist and pulled her close. He brushed her hair from her face and kissed her passionately. Catching her breath, Brenda moved her head back and smiled, raising her eyebrows.
**
“Hey – where’s my coffee?” David was sitting up in bed, looking about with a scowl.
“Coming right now, David.” Alexandra shuffled toward the kitchen. “Was just getting it.”
When Alexandra returned, David was washing his face in the sink. She placed his coffee on the counter.
“Thanks, Lexie.” David pecked her on the cheek. “Breakfast almost ready?”
“About ten minutes. OK?”
He sighed. “I guess it’ll have to be.”
**
“I’d have brought you a ten-course meal if I’d known you’d be paying me like this.” Brenda winked, playing with Steven’s hair.
“That was just the appetizer, darling.”
Batting her eyes, she backed off a bit. “But you, my dear, need to get moving. Your big meeting is in 45 minutes.”
Steven sighed. “You’re right, as usual. Rain check?”
“You got it. I’ll be here.” Brenda plopped down on the bed, watching Steven’s every move as he walked toward the bathroom.
**
Alexandra lowered her eyes and lumbered back to the kitchen, putting a couple pieces of bread in the toaster and starting two eggs frying in the pan. Breakfast was assembled and on the table when David entered, dressed for work, the morning newspaper in hand.
He sat at his spot and ate in silence, reading through the front section. Alexandra grabbed a glass of juice and sat beside him, glancing his way every minute or so.
“Well, I gotta get to work.” David put the paper down and headed toward the door. “I’ll be home at six – fried chicken on the table when I get home?”
She smiled and nodded.
David blew Alexandra a kiss as he walked out the door. “See you later.”
Alexandra watched his car pull away.
**
A familiar ringing interrupted Brenda’s concentration on Steven. “I’ll get it sweetie.”
Brenda rolled over and grabbed the phone.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Brenda. It’s Alexandra.”
“Hey, Sis! How’s it going?”
“OK, I guess,” Alexandra mumbled. “How about you?”
“Great,” Brenda bubbled. “Just great.”
Joanne Sher is a wife, mother of two, and devoted lover of Jesus. She was saved out of Judaism ten years ago and has a passion for writing, encouraging others in the Lord, and caring for her family. A writer by calling, she enjoys writing devotionals, both here and at her blog An Open Book. She is currently working on editing and polishing Ailing Body, Nourished Soul, a non-fiction book on God’s workings through her husband’s serious health issues. She also loves to write short fiction that glorifies God, and has several novel ideas on the back burner.So tell me, how does self-confidence affect your marriage?
5 Zesters spoke up:
Guess I'll answer first :D
It's actually something of a struggle for me. I've had low self-esteem much of my life- at least in some areas. I'm definitely an "approval-hungry" woman, and sometimes I'm afraid to tell Marc when I want something - or if I've done something "bad" (it often takes me several days to let him know if I've gotten a speeding ticket, for instance). I'm working on this, with God's help - cuz Marc is wonderfully understanding about things like that. I'm not like Alexandra, though. ;)
I don't understand what the question has to do with the blog? What does this have to do with self-confidence? Maybe Alexandra isn't a morning person?
I was going off of Alexandra's body language and actions when I asked the question of how self-confidence affects your marriage. (This is only a story--it's not a true story.) Alexandra is mousie and seems to tiptoe around her husband, where as her sister is just the opposite.
I've lived out both of the women portrayed in this story. At one time I had no self-confidence and it translated into everything I did, including my marriage. It was like I was a little puppy waiting for a pat on the head, or a kiss, instead of just being more confident and kissing my husband when I wanted to. Because my husband is very confident and acts accordingly, he just went on with life. He wasn't meaning to be pushy, let alone rude, but because I didn't have the confidence I needed to have, it came across that way to me.
Things really changed in my marriage when I developed some self-confidence. Yes, I still do things for my husband, but life sure is a lot more fun and fulfilling now...like the story portrays Brenda to be. In my mind and life, self-confidence makes a big difference in a marriage.
Hope that explains the question about self-confidence being added on to this story.
We all have different perspectives, don't we? Great flow here, Joanne. I found myself wondering where this was headed...
I can tell you exactly what David would have been eating for breakfast in my house, but then again, why spoil my "submissive" persona for blog readers.
peace~elaine
My husband gets chocolate for breakfast and is quite satisfied with it. *grin*
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