Not Every Oyster Has a Pearl

“Oh darling you’re home!” The familiar tune traveled as a tall man scuffled his feet through the door. He wiped his feet on a rugged doormat that could certainly use a wash. Walking into the dining room, he was surprised to find his wife sitting at the table waiting expectantly. “Hey hun everything alright? Why haven’t you started dinner?” The somber light made her usual walnut hair look almost blonde. “Well I was hoping we could have a little chat.” She looked at him with an innocent smile gesturing for him to take a seat. She started, “So as you well know, last week when I went to the market, His Majesty the King had held a festival.” The man sat, an eyebrow raised. “What you didn’t know was that he himself was present, and I just so happened to be in the right place at the right time. He approached me as I was waiting in the pastry line and the next moment he had invited me for tea at the palace. Of course I am not one to turn down the king! So yesterday at 3:00 I made my way.” The man imagined her walking into the palace, it was a huge structure built ages ago but was still just as elegant. It was mostly stone heavily accented by quartz with beautiful tulip gardens in front. “I was immediately ushered in, and there, I found the king waiting patiently. Oh but darling, you should have seen; he got on one knee and gave me a kiss on the hand, m’lady he’d called me! I'd never have imagined this happen to me! He pulled out my seat and poured me the loveliest tea I’ve ever had. It tasted of starlight!” At this point the man’s wife had forgotten all about him, completely encompassed by her story. “We chatted for hours and the entire time he had shown me the utmost respect. He, the king! To a simple commoner girl. Before I left, the king stood and handed me a little golden box with this lovely pearl necklace in it!” She said while curling her fingers around a shining pearl necklace bejeweled in silver. She rubbed her fingers over the smooth surface. The man tried to speak but immediately the woman went on; “Today a letter came in the mail” she tapped on a rough beige envelope beside her. “From the king, he requested I come live in the palace!” She shrieked. Her husband gave her a concerned look. “Dear, I’ve been thinking it through all day, and I don’t think I was meant to be the lowly stay at home wife as I’ve been living. I was meant to be treated like royalty! I mean really, having to do my own groceries every week, cooking, doing laundry? I was made for so much more! I was meant to be having high tea with the king, riding in carriages and having every luxury as I so deserve.” She finally paused. Now the man sat there jaw open looking at her like he had married a stranger. He tried to protest but no words were found, so she went on. “So darling I’ll be leaving you. I leave bright and early tomorrow, just after the sun is up.” “I’ve got no need to pack, you mustn’t worry; I’ll have everything I’ll ever need once I’m there.” The woman smiled to herself pleased, she got up and headed to the bedroom. “Yesterday's leftovers are in the fridge” she said just before disappearing through the door frame. The man didn’t say anything, he didn’t even move. Just a few minutes beforehand he had been making his way home excited to see his darling wife after a long day at work. He loved her very much and presumed she felt the same, but in only a day she wouldn’t bat an eye to leave him for a life of luxury. The man ran his fingers through his greasy hair and sighed. He got up and wandered to the fridge.

A few months later a woman sat at a big dining table full of food, his majesty the king sat silently across from her focussed on his meal not looking up once. The only sound was the screech of the knife on a plate. The woman broke the silence awkwardly “So what kind of tea will we be having this afternoon?” Not looking up the king replied “I won’t be there. I’ve got some business to attend to” The woman trying not to sound too accusatory “B- but you’ve missed the past three weeks! I never see you anymore!” Her fork clattered on the table. The king shot her a look and she immediately bowed her head. “I’m a very busy man and can’t be wasting time playing husband to you.” With that, the silence returned.

Later that night the woman lay in bed staring at the ceiling. She would not allow herself to be treated this way! She would get his attention again. He’d realize her worth! She tossed the blanket over her feet with a huff. She’d have him kneeling at her feet!

The next few weeks the tension between them only grew. The woman getting desperate for attention and the king growing more irritated by the hour. One Saturday morning they sat once again. The aroma of fresh fruit and pastry filled the air. The woman took but a bite of her meal before starting her rant as per usual. This time the king wouldn’t hear it. He slammed his fist down making the table shake violently. “You ungrateful wench! I gave you everything but everyday all I hear is your wretched whining!” He paused for a moment then suddenly got up “I’ve had enough of you!” He cried before storming towards the door. The woman got up and called after him but his pace stayed steady. His heavy boots seemed to pound on the marble floor. Just before exiting the room he leaned over to a butler beside the door and whispered something in his ear. The butler nodded, glancing at the woman before the king stomped out the hall, the tall spruce doors slamming behind him, echoing.

A man scuffled along a gravel path through a cemetery weaving his way through tombstones. It was a nice day, barely a cloud in the sky. He stopped at a small granite tombstone. He stood for a moment before kneeling, his hat to his chest, “Oh hun, I do hope the luxury was all you’d ever wanted, I’m sorry you had to find that not every oyster has a pearl.”