Myshuno! Prompt #16: "Why is it so hard to TALK to you?"
Prompt: "Why is it so hard to TALK to you?" (smoothiesims)
Characters: Clarence Alcott, Loretta Alcott
Rating: G
Summary: Clarence and Loretta’s evening routine.
Notes: Canon. More than likely will not appear in a future chapter, so I’ll call this an outtake.
Word Count: 474
“…And then I went to the grocery store and ran into Mrs. Bear. We spent more time chatting than we should have…”
Clarence took another swig from the scotch on the rocks that his wife had fetched him when he’d arrived home from work. This was their nightly routine. He got home from work and relaxed with a drink while Loretta prattled on about the thises and thats of her day. Then everyone would sit down to dinner, and he’d have to listen to Gordon and Ronald talk about whatever it was that they got up to at school all day long. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of nonsensical chatter, he could escape to the library under the guise of “doing work” to blissful silence.
“Have you even heard anything I said?” Loretta asked, taking in the vacant expression on her husband’s face.
“Of course, dear. You and Mrs. Bear had a nice chat at the grocery store today.”
Loretta shook her head. “I don’t know why I even bother talking to you. You never listen to me.”
“Now that’s not fair. I had a long day at work, and when I get home a little piece and quite would be nice.”
“Well, excuse me for wanting a bit of adult conversation after spending the majority of my day alone or with children. I won’t bother wasting my time talking to you any more then.”
“Don’t do that Loretta.”
“Don’t do what? Attempt to actually talk to my husband? Heaven forbid! You are so infuriating sometimes!”
“Don’t play the martyr! You…”
From the kitchen, the ding of the timer announcing that dinner was done interrupted their argument.
“Gordon! Get washed up! Supper’s ready.”
From somewhere upstairs, a boy’s voice called down that he would be right there. Loretta went into the kitchen, Clarence following close behind.
“What about Ronald?”
“Didn’t you hear him last night? He’s having dinner with Elmer’s family.”
“Elmer Thorne?”
“I wasn’t aware that there were any other Elmers living in Simsfield. Is there something wrong with that?”
Clarence made a noncommittal noise at the back of his throat.
“Just because you and Mrs. Thorne never got on doesn’t mean your children can’t.”
“Rosalie despises me, Loretta. Always has.”
“You always say that, and yet you never tell me why. I’m sure it’s all just a silly misunderstanding that’s gotten blown out of proportion over the years.”
“You don’t want to know.”
She heaved a sigh. “Just another thing that you won’t talk to me about.”
She picked up the casserole and went out to the dining room, leaving Clarence alone in the kitchen.
“Trust me, Loretta. You don’t want to know why Rosalie hates me so much.”
Characters: Clarence Alcott, Loretta Alcott
Rating: G
Summary: Clarence and Loretta’s evening routine.
Notes: Canon. More than likely will not appear in a future chapter, so I’ll call this an outtake.
Word Count: 474
“…And then I went to the grocery store and ran into Mrs. Bear. We spent more time chatting than we should have…”
Clarence took another swig from the scotch on the rocks that his wife had fetched him when he’d arrived home from work. This was their nightly routine. He got home from work and relaxed with a drink while Loretta prattled on about the thises and thats of her day. Then everyone would sit down to dinner, and he’d have to listen to Gordon and Ronald talk about whatever it was that they got up to at school all day long. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of nonsensical chatter, he could escape to the library under the guise of “doing work” to blissful silence.
“Have you even heard anything I said?” Loretta asked, taking in the vacant expression on her husband’s face.
“Of course, dear. You and Mrs. Bear had a nice chat at the grocery store today.”
Loretta shook her head. “I don’t know why I even bother talking to you. You never listen to me.”
“Now that’s not fair. I had a long day at work, and when I get home a little piece and quite would be nice.”
“Well, excuse me for wanting a bit of adult conversation after spending the majority of my day alone or with children. I won’t bother wasting my time talking to you any more then.”
“Don’t do that Loretta.”
“Don’t do what? Attempt to actually talk to my husband? Heaven forbid! You are so infuriating sometimes!”
“Don’t play the martyr! You…”
From the kitchen, the ding of the timer announcing that dinner was done interrupted their argument.
“Gordon! Get washed up! Supper’s ready.”
From somewhere upstairs, a boy’s voice called down that he would be right there. Loretta went into the kitchen, Clarence following close behind.
“What about Ronald?”
“Didn’t you hear him last night? He’s having dinner with Elmer’s family.”
“Elmer Thorne?”
“I wasn’t aware that there were any other Elmers living in Simsfield. Is there something wrong with that?”
Clarence made a noncommittal noise at the back of his throat.
“Just because you and Mrs. Thorne never got on doesn’t mean your children can’t.”
“Rosalie despises me, Loretta. Always has.”
“You always say that, and yet you never tell me why. I’m sure it’s all just a silly misunderstanding that’s gotten blown out of proportion over the years.”
“You don’t want to know.”
She heaved a sigh. “Just another thing that you won’t talk to me about.”
She picked up the casserole and went out to the dining room, leaving Clarence alone in the kitchen.
“Trust me, Loretta. You don’t want to know why Rosalie hates me so much.”