The Survey Says

Janine sat at her table staring over her cup of coffee at her husband waiting for his usual morning rhetorical question, and it didn’t take long.

“So, what do you have planned today?” Tim asked, as he carefully speared another piece of egg with his fork and stuck it in his mouth.

Usually she replied, “Nothing.” Today, she decided, was going to be different. She was putting her foot down.

“I made arrangements to meet Kathy in town for coffee and then we’re going to do a little shopping for her upcoming trip,” she said. 

Tim raised an eyebrow and placed his fork across his plate. “You have coffee here, and she can get whatever she needs just fine by herself. Here’s my list for you.” He slid a long piece of scratch paper across the table at her. 

Janine slid it back after glancing at it. “There’s nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow.”

I’ll have a new list tomorrow,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone. “I don’t know why you bothered to make plans. You know you can’t keep them. You have to do what I have planned for you. Do you think I have nothing better to do than come up with things to occupy your day?”

“You always make plans for me and it isn’t necessary. I am perfectly capable of planning my own day,” she said.

“You will do what I tell you to do,” he said, his voice flat. “I am the head of this household.”

“It’s my house too,” she pointed out.

“As I recall, you aren’t on the mortgage. I pay for it. It’s my house.”

“Janine stood up. “You wouldn’t let me on the mortgage,” she told him.

“You don’t have a job, he returned, also standing. “We discussed it and it was agreed that you should stay at home and take care of me.”

“No, you discussed it. I went along because it was easier than arguing. If I disagree, you brow-beat me until I cave in and you get your way. I’m sick of it.”

“There’s the door. You’re welcome to use it,” Tim said pointing.

“And if I do?” she challenged him.

He balled his fists and rested them on the table. “You wouldn’t stay gone long. You can’t support yourself. Besides, the day you took my name you became my property. Everything you wear, everything you eat, even your car, belongs to me.”

“I am not your property,” she said slowly, anger seething out of every word.

Tim checked his watch. “I have to go to work, you know, to pay the bills. This had better be done when I get back,” he said pointing to the list. He slammed the door on his way out.

Janine went to a drawer and pulled out an envelope from her doctor’s office. It was the results of a survey they had her fill out at her last checkup. “And the survey says,” she said, re-reading the cover letter, skipping over the introduction. “You are being emotionally abused. He may not have hit you yet, but all indicators project that he will. He is escalating and it won’t take much to set him off.” They included the numbers for marriage and family counselors and a number to call for a referral. She shook her head. 

Janine pulled a cell phone Kathy had given her out of her robe pocket. She hit the speed dial Kathy had programmed into the phone. 

“I can be ready in an hour,” she told her. “Is your aunt sure she wants to take me in.”

“Absolutely,” was the reply. “I’ll see you in a few minutes. 

Janine scribbled a note across Tim’s list. “Do it yourself, jerk. I’m out of here. Since my clothes wouldn’t fit you anyway, I am taking them with me.”

She ran to her room and stuffed her clothes and personal items into paper sacks. “Wouldn’t want you coming after me because I took your luggage,” she said to herself. She looked out the window when she heard the car and sighed with relief that it was Kathy. She had left the door unlocked for her so she was wasn’t surprised when Kathy stood in the doorway.

“Ready?” Kathy asked her.

“As I’ll ever be,” Janine said. She threw the keys on the counter beside her note and walked out the door.