To Be Worthy Of Your Love

~ A Happy Lunar New Year Special Chapter~

But the sun is so bright. But the wind is so cool. And the sky is so blue. It's such a beautiful day. He wants to hang out with his cousins and friends. He wants to chat and enjoy his beer. He wants to breathe the fresh Jersey air. He wants to stretch and lazily yawn. He wants to go out and have fun. He wants to smile, laugh, and enjoy his life. But he's trapped inside here in this crowded house, breathing in the smell of overcooked food, spilled milk, wet dog, dirty socks, and foul diapers. Soul-rending screams and all kinds of household noises fill his ears.

Yes, he's a happy married man.

The proud father of three pairs of twins. The loving husband of a pretty blue-eyed woman. The simple gold wedding band around his finger feels heavier than chains and shackles. Yes, he finally got what he wanted. And now he's being choked by life's pleasures. The burdens of being a son, a husband, a father, and a dog owner. He has to walk the dog. He has to help with dishes and laundry as well. He has to help change the diapers. He has to help clean after the kids and Bob. He has a noble full time job. He has overactive sperms. Emily, his sweet gentle wife, has just told him she's pregnant again. He has a sneaky sinking feeling that they are going to have another pair of twins. Angie. Bella. Melissa. Tony. Marco. Joe. He has run out of baby names. He has started losing sleep and hair. He needs a bigger car. He needs a bigger house. He needs an immediate promotion. He needs a bigger paycheck. He needs condoms that work. He needs birth control pills for men. He needs some peace and quiet. He needs to scream, and shout, and let it all out. He wants to run away, somewhere, all by himself. He wants to be single again.

The kids scream and fight. Bob the dog barfs and farts. Emily turns to smile at him. Pregnancy always makes her more...demanding. He knows what's going to happen tonight when the kids are all asleep. The last time she looked at him like this, their elderly neighbors called 911 and complained about the noise in the dead of the night and he was so drained and in so much pain that he thought he would die...

Emily Morelli licks her lips.

Joe Morelli cringes inside.