Lovers for a Day

'Not one? What about Christmas?'

'Christmas in our home is an orgy of present-giving. You always try and make up for what we don't get from you at other times.'

'It never occurred to me that I should regard myself as the one who owed anything on that score. And I never got the impression things like that bothered you particularly. Think of all the time you spend at that dressmaker's every month.'

'I haven't been to see my dressmaker for at least six months. But I'm not complaining about what I have to wear. We're not

talking about material things, are we? We're talking about the time we spend together as a family?'

'Why the "we"? I'm fairly happy with my evenings. And I think the children can look back on lots of nice evenings.'

'Can you really recall a single one? When we were all here together? Just one?'

'Stop interrogating me. You're not in the classroom now. And stop looking as if you were on the verge of tears.'

'How am I supposed to look when I am on the verge of tears?'

'You're the last person to have a reason to cry. Tell me what's missing from your life.'

'I'm sorry you can't sense it.'

'You're right. I'm insensitive. It's a pity you didn't pick someone more sensitive. Someone who'd lay on nice evenings for you. Some poet or other who'd recite his work to you. Stop crying. For my part, I'm sorry you don't realize that everything I do, I do so we can live half decently.'

'But we're not talking about that at all.'

'No, we're talking about nice evenings chatting together. Like now, for instance. This evening strikes me as going really well. We'll look back on this as a really successful one.'

'What's up? Why don't you come to bed?'

'Wait a second. I'll be right there. I have to wash, don't I?' 'You always take ages. Sometimes I think you deliberately

drag it out because you know I'm tired. You hope I'll fall asleep

in the meantime.'

'Don't you think I'm tired as well? These few minutes in the

bathroom is the only time I have to myself all day. And no

sooner am I out than you pounce on me like a vulture.'

'That's not a very apt comparison.'

'Why not?'

'Because vultures pounce on corpses.'

'Are you trying to say I'm like a corpse?'

'It was your idea. The vulture.'

'You're disgusting.'

'Don't keep me waiting any more, then.'

'After what you just called me? No one could blame me if I did act like a corpse.'

'I know you've had a hard day of it.'

'It's not so much what I have to do during the day as the fact that you ignore me the whole day and then want me to make love to you.'

'What do you mean I ignore you the whole day? I'm at the university the whole day.'

'There was a time when you'd phone me, at least.'

'You mean I don't phone you now?'

'Only when you need something.'

'Fine. Tomorrow I'll make a point of calling you. First thing. But at this moment I happen to be here.'

'I couldn't care less about the telephone. But at least if you'd hold me a bit first. Or say something loving to me.'

'Don't I ever say loving things to you?'

'Most of the time you don't say anything. When we were going out together — do you remember? In those days you used to say all sorts of nice things. You used to call me your little pussy cat.'

'Yes, I liked the pussy cat one. I thought it had a nice ambiguity.'

'That never occurred to me, I must say. And there was I thinking you meant I had claws.'

'You never struck me as having claws.'

'A woman is what a man makes her. Anyway you used to jump on me wherever we went. In the woods or the park. And once, out in the yard behind the bins, remember? I told you you were off your head, that someone would see us.'

'But it was pitch dark.'

'It may have been dark, but it stank of garbage. That didn't worry you, though, your mind was on one thing.'

'I wanted you. I was crazy about you.'

'Yes. And each time you'd tell me you loved me over and over again. You never stopped saying it in those days, and now you grab me without a word. You act like an animal.'

'I can hardly go on telling you I love you for fifteen years, can I?'

'Why not, if you love me?'

'I'd feel like a parrot. Or a robot. Repeating the same sentence over and over again.'

'You don't seem to mind acting like a robot and doing the same thing over and over again.'

'What am I then — a robot or an animal?'

'You act like a programmed animal.'

'Thank you. That's something you wouldn't have said fifteen years ago.'

'Because you used to act differently. Or you used to tell me you loved me in those days. And I hadn't heard of programming then.'

'Okay. So I'll tell you I love you.'

'I don't want you to tell me, I want you to love me.'

'But that's hardly something you can ask of me, is it?'

'Don't you love me any more then?'

'I didn't say that.'

'But you don't, do you? I'm only good for one thing.'

'It seems you're not even good for that, are you?'

'You're vile. You always were. And you only called me pussy because it sounded dirty. And it never even occurred to me at the time.'

'There was nothing wrong with the fact that I wanted every part of you.'

'Did you want me then?'

'Of course, I still do.'

'I don't only mean just below the waist.'

'I still want all of you.'

'There was only one side of me you were ever really interested in. The rest you regarded as a sort of necessary evil.'

'What do you mean by the rest?'

'The fact I had a soul. Or feelings, seeing that you don't believe in the soul.'

'I've always tried to respect them.'

'Not my feelings, you haven't. You've only thought about yourself. You know that full well.'

'What do I know full well?'

'No one has ever hurt me the way you did.'

'Me? When did I hurt you?'

'The time you didn't take precautions and you bullied me into having an abortion. Or have you forgotten?'

'But you didn't have it.'

'No, I didn't. Because I'd never do anything like that. But you wanted me to. You wanted to kill our little boy.'

'Our little boy is now fifteen and he's thriving.'

'Agreed. But you wanted me to have him killed.'

'I didn't force you into anything, did I. I simply thought the

time wasn't yet right for children. Anyway, the boy's alive, so

what's the point of talking about it?'

'Only thanks to me. You would have had him murdered.

And me along with him.'

'If he hadn't lived, another one would have.'

'How dare you say that to me? Get out! Get out of my sight!'

'Sorry, I didn't mean it that way. Even at the time.'

'You did. You disgusting creature.'

'I see. So I'm a vulture, whereas you're a. .'

'Yes, you are a vulture. And you're doing your best to make

a corpse of me.'

'I notice you're hardly in the door and you're already singing to yourself.'

'Why shouldn't I sing if I'm in a good mood?'

'You're in a good mood, then? I'm glad to hear it. What brought that on?'

'Not you, that's for sure!'

'That's obvious, seeing you've spent the day God knows where.'

'Yes, God knows, and you don't. That's what bugs you, doesn't it? Had supper already?'

'I had a slice of bread.'

'Did you butter it at least?'

'I didn't eat it dry.'

'How about the children?'