“You don’t like my cooking? Fine! Go find some old lady who can cook better! I’d be happy for the break!”
“What old lady are you talking about?”
“Hah! You think I don’t know? You go to the town square every night to chat with a bunch of old women. One of them must be your sweetheart.”
“I… I was asking them what kind of birthday presents women their age like.”
“You’re planning to celebrate someone else’s birthday?”
“Your birthday is in two days!”
The old woman blinked. “My birthday? You remembered?”
“How could I forget?”
“Well, you should have just said so instead of making me think the worst.”
“I just wanted to surprise you, like the young people do.”
“So, what did you get me?”
“I was thinking of buying you a new pot.”
“Make it a big one. So I can cook you in it.”
“I only have a hundred dollars on me.”
“You dare to keep a secret stash of money from me!”
“I saved it up from selling empty liquor bottles.”
At this, the old woman turned to Penelope, gripping the back of the passenger seat. She launched into a long tirade about her husband’s drinking habits, how the empty bottles could build a mountain, and how he insisted on drinking despite his poor health. The old man, embarrassed, leaned toward Theodore and muttered, “Young man, never marry a fierce woman, or you’ll be oppressed for the rest of your life.”
Theodore smiled. “Haven’t you ever thought of fighting back?”
“I wouldn’t dare. I’m afraid she’d hit me.”

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