Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"Stop making excuses, sweetheart. I'm not one of you city folks, all those fancy restaurants don't sit well with me. And come on, I'm your elder. Is it too much to ask for a homemade breakfast? If you don't like it, I'll just have a word with your mother-in-law!" As she spoke, she began to moan and groan, now claiming a headache from the stress, now bemoaning her hunger.

The others around immediately took her side, launching into a chorus of complaints against Madge.

Looking at the lot, Madge could almost see the usual banding together, the mob mentality at its finest.

"Great-Aunt Martha, you're hankering for some home-cooked breakfast, huh? Alright, I'll have Norris whip something up for you, just give us a moment."

"No! Didn't you get my point? I asked you, not Norris! It's only natural: men make the money; women cook the meals!"

"I heard you loud and clear but..." Madge flashed a wry smile, "In our house, I bring in more bacon than Norris does. Even this house, it was bought with my paycheck. So, by your logic, Norris cooking is just the way things should be." "Bullshit-You bought this mansion?!"

The disbelief was palpable in her eyes.

Madge, ever so serene, simply nodded.

Martha's sister nudged her, whispering with an awkward grin, "I asked Norris about it yesterday. The mansion really is bought by his wife..."

Martha was gobsmacked.

word, turning back to her

Impossible...

earning that much? Buying a

Martha was utterly flabbergasted.

"If I made that kind of money, I wouldn't be cooking either. I'd wait for a man to cook for me. With money in the bank, who'd bother with the kitchen? Put yourself in her shoes, what would you do?" Martha found

who would still play

...

could figure out what was going on, a loud "crash" from the

came from Norris' cherished

feeling

prized orchid was smashed to smithereens, other plants suffering various degrees of

his heart bleeding

cultivate such a beauty, he

mornings and evenings nurturing it, meticulously keeping notes.

ve

reckless kids.

gravity of the situation, even had the nerve to cheerily ask Norris, "Uncle Norris, isn't it pretty? We picked it for you, hehe..." Roseanne caught Norris' ashen face and feared