This is my answer to the Facebook challenge, write a story with three paragraphs with the same sentence starting each one. This is a super short one shot about a little thought I had about what Rex hears. Anyway, thanks for reading and if you'd like, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.
"Oh, Rex. How was your day, buddy?" I asked as I reached in and stroked the hamster with two fingers. He sniffed at me, causing his little nose to twitch. It was his way of showing affection, and the way things were going for me it'd be the only affection I'd be receiving for a long time. "I'm glad you had a good nap in your little soup can. I should have stayed in bed today too. I had another bad day." I turned and grabbed a beer out of the fridge and a bag of cheese doodles off the counter. The dinner of champions, I thought and almost laughed. Then I situated myself next to Rex's cage and took a breath. Rex and I were going to have a serious conversation here, but Rex was used to it. He got to hear the things I'd never tell anyone else.
"Oh, Rex. I don't even know where to start," I said shaking my head. I figured I may as well start at the beginning. "Mom got a printer for her computer a couple days ago. She's printing everything, because it's easier to read on paper than on the computer screen. She even printed off an article that listed all the reasons it's more difficult and dangerous to have babies after you're thirty-five, and she gave it to me this morning. With things highlighted! I thought she was kidding me for a second, but she wasn't. Did she think reading that crap would make me run out and get married? Did she think listing possible birth defects would make me eager to have babies? Is she crazy? I've been telling her that I don't want kids for a decade now. I've been telling everyone that, but no one seems to hear me. Not mom, not Joe, not even Ranger. Why can't anyone understand that I don't want the typical burg-wife life?"
"Oh, Rex," I sighed as I took another long drink. "Can't she see that even if I wanted to run off and get married I don't have any real prospects? I know everyone thought Joe and I were on our way there, but they didn't feel what I did. We'd been drifting further and further apart every day. It's like we were just going through the motions, because it was easier than admitting things were over. But that's what happened this afternoon. He wanted to meet for lunch, and sex, and I just couldn't do it. I mean I ate the meatball sub, but I couldn't sleep with him. I just kept hearing Ranger saying he'd thought about marrying me. I know he wasn't serious, but what my brain knows and what my heart want aren't exactly on the same page. I don't even know how to tell him that I love him. How am I supposed to say, 'Hey, Ranger, you know I've been thinking about it and I'd like to share your closet? How about I move in?' Can you imagine what he'd say to that?"
"I'd say, pack your clothes," a deep voice said, penetrating my dark thoughts. Before I could look over my shoulder he kissed my neck. I was instantly surrounded by his warmth, the sent of his shower gel, and I felt like I was melting. "Babe. Pack. Now."