Photograph
1419 Words
For a period of one week, Adriel was the perfect husband and father.
He drove his wife Ethel to work, went grocery shopping, took Kai on play dates and even did some chores around the house.
On top of that, he was the picture of innocence in the bedroom. He didn't try to initiate any type of intimacy with Ethel.
He was well behaved to a point where Ethel was getting worried.
"I am telling you, he must be up to something. " She told June, pacing from left to right.
"Calm down Ethel." June said
"I can't. That man has me living on tenterhooks June. " Ethel wailed and threw herself on the couch in her office.
"What exactly do you want from him?" June asked.
"I don't know. " Ethel sighed. "and that right there is the problem. "
"You should visit a spa or something. You need to relax. We both know how you relieve your anxiety. " June advised her.
Ethel sat up "That's it!" She exclaimed.
"He knows I use s*x as a coping mechanism when I an anxious. He must be behaving like this to make me want him."
"Do you" June asked?
"Do I what?" Ethel asked back.
"Do you want Adriel?" June asked.
Ethel laid back on the couch, hand over her eyes.
"Have you see his abs. Of course I want him. Any sane woman would want him."
"Then tell him." June said. "I am sure you two can find a way to work through the issue. Your s****l frustration is interfering with my lunch break."
"I am not sexually frustrated. " Ethel denied passionately.
June laughed out loud at Ethel's denial.
"It's not funny. " Ethel punched the couch.
"Sweetie you packed your little pink vibrator in your bag. If that doesn't scream horny I don't know what does."
"Hey....." Ethel shouted out loud.
" Why were you going through my bag?"
"I wanted a sweet. You always carry some with you." June responded.
"No more checking my bag." Ethel grabbed her bag and locked it in a cabinet on her table.
"And I carry the vibrator because I don't want Adriel seeing it. He will mock me if he does. I can't hide it in the house." Ethel defended herself.
"Why hide your s*x toys?" June asked curiosity written all over her face.
"I don't know. I just feel embarrassed knowing he could find it at any moment. "
"Talk to him Ethel. He may surprise you. He could have toys of his own you know"
"Hmmmm...." Ethel said with a thoughtful look on her face.
"Maybe after this weekend. Your lunch break is over by the way. "
Ethel thought about June's words for the rest of the day.
When she got home she could barely look Adriel in the eyes without wondering if he had s*x toys and if he did, what they were.
She was distracted during dinner.
She was distracted while giving Kai his bath.
She was distracted when they got into bed to sleep.
Adriel couldn't take it anymore. "Out with it." he said.
"Huh." Ethel replied absentmindedly.
"Whatever it is that's been on your mind all night. Out with it."
Ethel was not ready to say what was on her mind so she blurted out "The zoo."
"We should take Kai to the zoo on Saturday."
"Are you sure that's what has been on your mind?" Adriel asked her.
"Yes." She replied with determination
"I have been thinking about which color of matching outfits we should all put on. It will be a family outing after all."
"Not pink." Adriel said
Ethel laughed. "What's wrong, big macho man like yourself afraid of a little color."
"Don't laugh." he said staring at her.
"Why?" She continued to laugh.
" Because you look beautiful when you laugh." he answered with a cute smile on his face.
Ethel stopped laughing immediately.
"I look beautiful all the time. " She said.
"Yes, you do." he answered.
"We should sleep." He switched off the lights.
Ethel was screaming with frustration internally. He had called her beautiful and smiled like an angel then proceeded to close his eyes and sleep.
How could he sleep just like that.
Ethel lightly slapped her pillow a few times and tried to sleep.
Adriel was awake and smiling victoriously.
Ethel was right, he was up to something.
On Saturday Ethel was up very early. They were going to the zoo. Adriel couldn't tell who was more excited between Ethel and Kai.
Ethel was running around preparing what they needed like food and drinks. She even packed a little swimming costume for Kai in case the opportunity to swim happened.
She stuffed the bag with toys and two extra outfits for Kai.
Their little family wore matching black t.shirts, blue jeans and white sneakers. Ethel took around twenty pictures before she was satisfied they looked good and ready.
At the zoo, Kai was running around from animal to animal. Ethel found it challenging to keep up with him but seeing the smile on his face was enough to give her strength to keep going.
Ethel was right to pack Kai swimming shorts because he was picked to play with the dolphins in the water.
She looked positively smug when it happened because Adriel had said it was useless packing it.
"That was a lucky break." he said
Ethel laughed at him .
When they got to the petting zoo, Kai was so excited he started to clap.
Even Adriel who rarely laughed was laughing, very loudly.
The downside to this was Kai crying very loudly when it was time to leave the petting zoo.
His tear filled eyes were so sorrowful Ethel failed to say no to him.
It was Adriel who grabbed Kai and sat him on his shoulders which worked as the perfect distraction they needed.
Ethel noticed photographer's and painters all over the zoo. There was even a studio where one could get the pictures framed.
"I think we should take pictures." She suggested to him.
Adriel agreed and they walked to a photo booth and joined a few parents who were waiting to take pictures with their children as well.
When it was their turn, Ethel turned to Adriel with an evil look on her face.
"I have a small surprise for you." She told him.
Seeing the look on her face Adriel replied "Well this can't be good."
Ethel pulled a pink shirt out of the baby bag.
"Tadaaaa." She said and laughed while waving it around.
Adriel frowned and folded his arms
"I am not wearing that."
"Really, honey. please pleeeeeease." she begged adorably.
Some of the mother's who were waiting to take pictures and those who were finished were laughing.
One of them actually said "they are so cute."
Adriel continued to frown and refuse.
Ethel knew pleading would not work so she decided to try something else.
She pulled a tiny similar looking shirt out of the bag and put it on Kai.
"See, father and son matching shirts." She squealed.
One of the waiting mother's said. "Awww, why didn't I think of that?"
"Because we both know I would not put that s**t on." her husband replied.
"Hey, language. There are kids around. " One of the father's shouted.
"Dude , it's for your son. Just wear the damn shirt." the same man said.
"I thought we were watching our language." a woman who seemed to be his wife said.
He winced and apologised.
Meanwhile Adriel was tired of being the centre of attention and gossip so he grabbed the pink shirt, took off the one he was wearing and put on the pink shirt.
Some of the women in the crowd drooled when they saw his body.
"He can be my daddy at any time." a voice said.
"Me too." another one added
Adriel picked up Kai and looked at Ethel.
"Can we just get this over with." he said.
Ethel smiled in victory. "Yes honey." She answered.
They stood closer, Kai in between them and took the picture.
"Something is missing." Ethel said.
Now it was Adriel's turn to smile viciously.
"Indeed, and I know what is is." he said.
He place Kai on his shoulders and held him with one hand, with the other he pulled Ethel closer and kissed her.
She tried to pull away.
"Relax, he said. It's for the picture. " And he proceeded to kiss her again.
- Writer
