A Woman's Wager

Then, after we got back to the house, we'd put on some light music and open a bottle of wine. She'd put on a little sexy number at night and we'd do things behind our closed bedroom door that would embarrass most people. Now, it's her flannel nightgown, terry cloth bathrobe, and fuzzy, dirty, pink slippers twenty-four seven," said Ed with sudden sadness.

"Maybe they both need an injection of hormones. Maybe their estrogen levels are out of whack and the reason why they stopped being feminine," said Jake. "Yet, whatever the reason, I miss the way my wife used to be."

"Yeah, that could be," said Ed. "Maybe they're going through the change of life and God help us if they are because I heard that women get really mean, bitchy, and hysterical during that time. Now that I think more about it, I wonder if I still have my old college football helmet. Maybe, for my own personal safety, I should start wearing that around the house with earplugs. That way I can't hear her when she starts yelling, crying, and screaming, and I won't get hurt when she throws dishes at me."

"Maybe, I should do the same," said Jake pausing to reflect on what his friend just said, while wondering if the reason why he suddenly dressed as a woman was because his wife was dressing more like a man. "Ever since my wife stopped working, ever since she no longer had reason to leave the house, ever since I made enough money to keep her home, she doesn't take pride in her appearance anymore," said Jake. "Her hair is always a mess and she doesn't even wear makeup, not even so much as lipstick. I like lipstick. Gees, I wonder if she's depressed."

"Your lipstick looks nice, by the way. It's a nice color on you."

"Thank you," said Jake giving his friend a smile. "With the bet that I made with her, I was just hoping to get her to look more presentable is all. I never really expected her to win, but she did.