My child should never cry

Chapter 6 - Spidy, a great friend

Sam approaches Mary and kisses her on her forehead. With a huge smile on his face he says, "I still cannot understand how she tricked you into buying that spider."

"I think she's wanted it for a long time, so . . . But, if you say we must get rid of it—"

"I do not want to do that. Let her assume some responsibility. It's much better than a puppy. The spider won't make any matters to us, but it's your problem now," said Sam, smiling again.

"Yes indeed. It sits in an aquarium all day and rarely eats, from what I understand. And the store assured me that it is not dangerous. They took all the necessary measures in this regard."

"I do not think we should worry about it," said Sam, serious this time. "Unless—"

"Unless what?"

"Unless it escapes from the aquarium."

Mary said nothing. Her husband makes fun of her sometimes, but obviously she worries about this problem. Finally she speaks.

"Never could I have imagined that Angel would like something so grotesque!"

"It's not grotesque, it's just a little ugly."

"But she is happy. Ever since we arrived home, she has been with that spider. I must go and tell her that dinner is ready," Mary sighed.

Mary climbs the stairs to Angel's room and gently opens the door. She sees the girl looking curiously at the animal. "Mommy," she said when she saw her mother.

The expression on Angel's face shows that she is very happy.

"Hello, my dear. I came to tell you to prepare for dinner," Mary told her.

"Okay," Angel said, keeping her face glued to the aquarium.

"And then you will clean your room."

"Okay."

"And then you will prepare your satchel for school, wash dishes, and gather together everything that needs to be taken out of the house, and then you'll do the laundry."

"Okay, mommy," Angel replied, still fascinated by the spider.

The mother said nothing else. But after a moment the girl looked at her mother and smiled.

"Mommy," said Angel, awakening from her thoughts, "are you joking with me?"

"Yes, darling. I see you do not hear anything I say. You are mesmerized by that creature. Come to dinner, and don't make me come after you again."

"Okay, mommy," Angel said, this time looking at her mother.

Mary heads toward the bedroom door, looking back to see if her daughter is following, but Angel stays still, her face near the aquarium.

"Angel! I will not come up again!" she yells, heading for the stairs.

"I'm coming!"

Mary comes down the stairs and into the kitchen, where her husband is arranging the cutlery on the table. Sam smiles ironically. "Mom called. We are expected again."

"Why are you so mean? You know how much she loves you, and you know how much I would love to have my parents here, but they're gone," Mary reminded him, her smile disappearing from her face. "Angel!" Mary yells.

They hear noise as their daughter quickly comes down on stairs. She reaches the table, and they all three sit and start to eat.

***

It's night, and Sam is in bed wearing his pajama, but he is not covered by the blanket. He's reading a book by the light of a table lamp. When Mary enters the room, he says, "Is she asleep?"

"Yes," Mary replies.

"It was a full day for her, and for you," Sam remarked.

"Yes, and I need to relax," she said, taking a deep breath.

"Darling, I hope you don't want me to give you a massage," Sam replied, continuing to read the book.

"No, I want more." And the woman lets her nightgown fall, leaving her beautiful body completely naked. She approaches her husband, takes his book, and throws it away. She takes his hands and puts them on her breasts and lets him have his way with them. Then she turns off the light.