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Charles sat down with a thump at his desk.
What a hellish morning he had endured so far and it was only early yet...he felt like he had run the marathon.
It had been going on for years really and then last night had been the last straw!
Charles worked hard and played rarely, he brought a fair wage into the home and gave a huge part of it to that awful woman every single payday.
The previous evening Charles had decided to go out for a bite to eat with some of his colleagues. It was a miracle that they still spared the time to ask him out with them; after all he had declined every other invitation on numerous times before...he would have quite understood if they had stopped asking him altogether.
He had endured a strenuous day working hard and so had joined Melissa, Frank and George at the bijou wine bar along from the office. The surprising thing was that he thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience...drinking copious amounts of good wine, eating well and finishing off with a good vintage port!
As they had all had more than their fair share of alcohol, it was decided that they should find their way home in a cab. Charles lived in completely the opposite direction to the other three, so he bade them farewell and minutes later was seated in the rear of a nearby cab.
The driver was a friendly sort, and Charles quite enjoyed his casual banter.
"Where've you been?" he asked in an enquiring tone.
"I've spent a pleasant evening with some friends," answered Charles briefly looking at his wristwatch.
He noticed that it was gone midnight and winced noticeably; he'd certainly pay for this!
The cab driver chuckled to himself, he saw this scenario many times...the man of the house grabbing the opportunity of an evening of jollity, but still sober enough to worry about the reaction from the little lady at home.
"Where do you live pal?" he asked, feeling a trifle sorry for the poor man. "That lady of yours will be waiting behind the front door with a heavy pan". He chuckled out loud and shook his head, seeming to marvel at his own little joke.
Charles smiled politely, but it was quite within the realms of possibility...his little lady would give him absolute hell for staying out late and for failing to advise her of his intention to do so!
The cab drew to a halt outside the darkened house, and Charles shuddered as he paid his fare and made the long lonely walk to the front door, the sacred barrier between him and that monster.
As he turned the key in the lock, he took a sharp intake of breath...where was she?
His heart was beating so noisily that he expected it to jump out of his quivering body!
Just as he thought that maybe he had got away with it after all, it happened...
"Where have you been until this time, out with floozies no doubt, do you know what time it is?" shouted a sneering and raucous voice from the top of the staircase.
Charles's voice shook as he answered the little woman
"Coming mother!" he said.
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