Rings around the Collar - Stories

THE SUBMISSIVE

"The day you make more money than me, that's the day I'm out of here. Don't even think of leaving and taking the kids because you'll find yourself floating down the river," Ed told her. Much to her credit, Suzette dug her heels in and finished school. "I was going to be self-sufficient," she said.

Twenty years and two children after Suzette and Ed were married, she received her business degree. What should have been a glorious time in her life was out shadowed by her unraveling marriage.

THE COMMITTED

"He knows that once we were married, because of our faith, I would never leave him so there's no reason to work hard to please me," said Christine.

"There's no perfect person, so I think we all have our crosses to bear. I firmly believe that when you take marriage vows you decide to make it work," she said. Philandering would be grounds for divorce, but that's not happening and Christine is confident it won't.

THE BETRAYED

Bobby was Sandra's first love. They were married for fourteen years. She has no regrets. "What a ride, for what it was," she said.

Looking back she realizes they didn't share many values throughout the marriage, except the health and welfare of their children. Bobby did not value education at all. He hated it when Sandra read the newspaper or books, she thinks because he couldn't read very well. Or, perhaps he felt he wasn't getting enough attention from her. He certainly didn't value truth and although he valued relationships he didn't value them with her or the children.

THE WILD AND CRAZY

They are different as night and day in other ways also. Maggie is a top of the chart extrovert, easy going, fun to be around, and very independent. She describes herself as a frustrated stand up comedian. I describe her as wild and crazy.

Steve, on the other hand is quiet, not very articulate, but very bright. "He won't embarrass me," Maggie said.

"We do definitely balance each other, just like the scales of justice," she said.

THE RESPONSIBLE

Beth's parents were surprised she wanted to marry someone without a college degree. They worried about Keith's plans for his life and whether he would be a suitable partner for their daughter. After all, she had a college degree and was beginning to make her mark in the paralegal field. Keith was waiting to hear if he would be accepted into the firefighter academy.

Beth did wonder sometimes "what am I getting myself into?" "I have to get used to this craziness," she said of their different lifestyles.