Change the roles

I hear the carriage come to a halt outside, the horses braying and trotting coming to a stop as my wife laughs along with her business partner, Emily. "Henry! Ben! Minnie! Your mother is home, come downstairs and present yourselves to her!" I shout upstairs to our children as I dust off my apron. It is a shame we didn't have any more girls, I do love Henry and Ben but they do not prove much use in the world of business or anything that would help our family or their own, they'll mostly be admired to help women bear children.

The children land at the bottom of the stairs still cleaned up from earlier; there's no reason to wait for Elizabeth to get home to have them bathed and having the boys help me clean the house, Minnie's still too young to be engaging in studies. Out of the window I see that Elizabeth had only just crossed the gate with Emily. I turned to inspect the children; Henry, the oldest, hadn't buttoned his top two buttons on his overcoat. "Dad they itch and choke me," he protested when I went to do it myself.

"Henry, do you want a wife? Well if so you need to start dressing more appropriately before the town starts talking about how my teenage son cannot be modest," I retort as I button him up.

"I'm sorry father, I just-"

"But nothing. Honestly, if you go out like this people will think you belong in a bordello."

Elizabeth had stopped in the middle of the path to chit-chat with the neighbor; good for her, she's been working so hard she deserves a little time to socialize. I move on to Ben; it seems he's starting to grow out of his clothes, any woman could stare upon his ankles and wrists. "Ben you must remind me when I need to tailor new clothes for you, I can't keep an eye on everything you know," I joke.

"Yes, father," Ben giggles as he tries to cover himself appropriately.

Elizabeth has started on her way to the door once again as I finally got to Minnie. Her hair is still a bit damp from earlier as it sits upon her tiny shoulders. She's wearing a dress, which I found a little strange but maybe she was just playing dress up in her room, Elizabeth had been talking about the gorgeous dresses being sold in France for the most elegant of women, mostly prime ministers or even President Madison, who supposedly had a sleek black velvet one being shipped over for her and the first gentleman's anniversary.

As I look at my daughter, I know she's dressing up as her hero, President Dolley Madison and I know she's going to do great things, maybe even become president herself one day. If she does choose to go down that path I just hope I'll be allowed to vote for her, but if not many eligible women will do so. Elizabeth starts twisting the door handle and I stand in line with the children, straightening my clothes to stay pretty for her. When she opens the door Minnie immediately runs to hug her at her knees.

"Well hello there- Ms. President," Elizabeth says when she notices her dress. Minnie then turns to Emily who simply salutes her. Minnie giggles and runs back up the stairs, but not before grabbing the newspaper. "Make sure you practice noticing the date sweetheart!" Elizabeth yells up to her.

"October ninth, eighteen eighty-three," Minnie shouts back proudly. Everyone downstairs applauds her intelligence, especially me.

"Jack can you set the table with a few drinks for Emily and I," Elizabeth tells me more than asks, but I just stay smiling because I know she's had a long day and just needs a drink.

"Of course dear. Ben, Henry, why don't you take these hard-working ladies' coats," I respond cheerfully. The boys go around the women and offer their arms in service as the ladies take their coats off and Elizabeth reaches down and gives them a quick squeeze of their shoulders as she sends them off.

I scramble to set up drinks for them and stand to the side waiting to be dismissed to get back to cleaning up. I'm so lucky to have Elizabeth as my wife, she's the most amazing woman on this planet; Emily's husband had even told me once that he was jealous of what I have because I'm treated so well. This is truly the perfect way of life.