The evening breeze blew across her agonized face, carrying away her hair which partly obscured her tormented face but gave her a mystical look that for a moment made an erotic suggestion on Jose's mind.
She brought a chair next to him and said, "Darling, we need to talk."
"Of course, darling, anytime, anyplace whatever subject" he answered.
"Well," she started, "it has not been easy for me at work but also at home" adding "I cannot lay my finger on any particular source of conflict at my workplace. Neither can I pinpoint the same in our marriage. Somehow, I am not getting it right. And this is what I would have us talk about today."
Jose took a long breath. The moon looked down on them solemnly. He got up from the reclining position and sat on the edge of the chair and then asked, "Did you say that you have conflicts both at work and at home and that you don't know where they are coming from?"
She answered, "Yes! Let's start from home."
Jose asked, "What is it?"
She answered, "I knew you to be the one with the fuel to fire the flames of my motherhood kiln."
Jose asked, "But what have we here?"
She answered, "I am cold and bruised in my heart and whatever I do, does not measure up."
Jose asked, "So?"
"I end up feeling awkward," said Ellaisaire.
Jose asked, "Is there anything you would like me to do?"
Ellaisaire said, "Yes, probably we may start by asking ourselves why there is such a big gap between us."
"Did you say gap?" José shrieked.
"Yes. Between me and you there is a high voltage electric fence," said Ellaisaire.
"Who put a high voltage electric fence between us?" asked Jose.
Ellaisaire took Jose's right hand in her left and pointed to the perimeter fence.
She said, "There is an electric fence between us and wildlife over there. And there is one between me and you. This is the very source of our conflicts."
"I am listening," Jose said.
"Your goals in life set both of us apart," said Ellaisaire.
Jose said, "Well."
Ellaisaire said, "Look here, Jose, I would like to get some feedback.
All I am seeing is your Adam's apple bobbing up and down. Don't you see I am hurting?" She asked.
"I am listening," Jose said.
"Now listen and listen to me well. Your schedules of late portray you as an individual with lofty ideas. You are not the man I married." said Ellaisaire.
Looking into Ellaisaire's eye, Jose called to mind what he'd seen in Armadillo's eye during their arm-wrestling contest; that he was winning and she was losing. And this was Ellaisaire, his wife- a helpmate and companion.
Jose answered back, "Well, your commitment to your work and indeed your church does the same to you. You are so heavenly bound and therefore worthless for earthly use."
And thus, a stalemate was established. Presently, Jose, who had been looking at Ellaisaire, turned round to look into the night.
The eventide hour unveiled a resplendent scene of twinkling stars and the moon, which was now captured as a reflection of the heavenly nightlife on puddles and glass surfaces below, and also in the eyes of this love-starved couple. The stars and the moon looked at Jose urging him to do what ordinary men do.
José was hesitant.
Coming to her house at around 8:00 pm, Winter was met by an unusual silence. Sony had not come back. Or so she thought.
When she knocked at his door, she was surprised when Sony answered back.
She said, "Jose wishes to see you."
Winter served her son and with a heavy heart went to bed.
Sony ate in a deliberative mood, cleared his table, and made his way to Jose's home. He allowed himself in and was at first surprised to see no one in at that time because Jose and Ellaisaire conversed partly hidden from sight by Ellaisaire's couch. When Sony caught sight of them, he was petrified. His conjuring, immature mind had become embroiled in fascination and indeed infatuation since the last encounter. To him, Ellaisaire had seen what she had found lacking in Jose. He wanted to turn back and run but chose to stay instead. He cleared his throat to attract their attention.
When Jose saw Sony standing at the doorway, he asked, "How did it go with you, Sony?"
Sony answered, "The studio asked me to collect your pictures tomorrow."
Jose said, "Thanks a million. Now, have you drawn your list of guests to your birthday party?"
Sony answered, "we are good to go unless of course, you suggest otherwise."
It was around 9:30 pm that this couple set their dinner table. Ellaisaire dropped a bombshell.
She said, "Jose, I have been fired from my place of work."
"On what grounds?" Jose asked.
Ellaisaire narrated the whole story tearfully to a pensive Jose and when she was through, she accepted Jose's offer for a visit to their up-country home. As Jose put it, this visit was aimed at releasing the pent-up feelings and enabling a focused, energized, and united front against their adversaries.