The Engine

The instant she started tearing
gleefully at the wrapping
paper I knew I had made
a terrible mistake but it was too late now.

- I'm so sorry.
- What is this?

It was a big red model train.

- It's a big red model train. Can we pretend this never happened.
- Why would you give this to me on our anniversary?

She trembled with the insult, the assault.

- I don't know what I was thinking, I'm so ashamed.
- If you want to play with trains that's up to you.
- I think I may have to kill myself.
- Don't be flippant.
- I'm being completely serious.

(We would both be better off if I was dead.)

The big red train sat on the carpet.
It was bigger and redder than I remembered.
Twice as big. Twice as red.
And I didn't want to play with it.

"Ordinary people live thirty years back in a state of motivated somnambulism." - Marshall McLuhan