6

Jessica was walking the dog in the park, when she felt a tap on her shoulder in the park and jumped.

"Oh, I thought I recognised you. Jennifer, right?"

Jessica corrected her, and the woman grimly smiled.

"Karen? Your mother-in-law introduced us. The book club at Panera Bread on Morris?"

"Oh, right... Karen - "

"You know, I heard about your poor husband," Karen tutted, "Twisting that ankle, you must be glad you only have the two mouths to feed."

Jessica scratched her neck, "Well, there's still time. You know - "

Karen sniffed and turned away. The dog scurried amidst the bushes, and Jessica grabbed for his lead. Karen swung her green scented bag in the trash, and whistled for her pup.

"You know, they're like husbands - all they need is training. I haven't seen you at this park."

"Well, Tim usually walks him," Jessica fiddled with an earring, "Between you and me, it's more hectic now he's laid up, but I enjoy taking the reins."

Karen beamed.

"I don't doubt it. What with your little salon - your mother-in-law told me. But it would be nice to put your feet up for a while, I'll bet. What - what does your husband do exactly?"

Jessica gestured with her hands and Karen frowned. They walked along the winding path and came out into town with busy traffic.

"You see they're doing repairs on Acorn Hall?"

Jessica nodded, "I hope it stays for a long while. My mom made me take her there, when she came for my wedding."

They hurried across the zebra crossing while a driver frowned over his steering wheel.

"Oh, that's right, your mother-in-law told me about that," Karen tugged on her pup's lead, "You had a small one, didn't you? It was probably in vogue, in those days."

They reached a cafe and bought coffees, and sat outside while the dogs sniffed each other.

"So, how did you and your husband meet?" Karen peered, "Your mother-in-law told me some, but - well, I didn't cotton on until she told me what family you were from."

Jessica checked her watch, "Um, well it's not a very interesting story."

"I've got time, dear," Karen smiled, "I only have to run to the store and pick up the dry cleaning and prepare dinner. You know, you do have to keep yourself busy these days to keep up with it all."

Jessica sipped her coffee faster.

"Well, there's not much to say. I was working at the salon with my mom, Tim was skateboarding in New York. We met through mutual acquaintances and time told the rest."

Karen pulled on her pup's lead who was straining to get free.

"My son used to catch the show. Horrible thing to put on TV, but now he's grown up, you see. But some people don't grow up. As they say, you can choose your friends, but not your family - do you still see them?"

Jessica shook her head.

Well, er, you were saying about your husband?"

Jessica drained the dregs, and Karen pulled on her pup's lead, and they began walking down the footpath.

"That's about it. We hung out a bit, decided we liked each other, got hitched by the end."

"I can't blame you. My husband had a stroke and I've had to do everything for him. He's recovered now, but I'll never let him take charge again - let me give you some advice. If you give in too much, they'll just start taking charge again. What do men know about running a household? Nothing. Did you always want to be just a hairdresser?"

Jessica spotted her car, and began extracting her keys from her purse.

"No, actually I wanted to go to Penn State - still do, actually. For - for a BA in English."

Karen stared.

"Oh, dear. You don't want to get one of those. Every millennial has one of those, and they're jobless! They're scrounging off their parents and forever on the Facebook. They're a drain on our society. No, there's no future in that, dear."

Jessica popped the trunk of her car and pulled on her dog's lead. She bent to lift the dog into the back of the car.

"You know, there's a bright side to all this," Karen strained against her pup, "You've got your little job on the side, and once your husband's on the mend, you can drink wine in the afternoons and sit by the pool - your mother-in-law mentioned it hasn't been used - or cleaned, in a while - "

Jessica stared as Karen carried on down the footpath.

"- I must rush - I'll see you at the next meeting," Karen shouted over her shoulder, and almost collided with a bystander.

Jessica smiled brightly and waved, and slammed the trunk door shut.