A hug for a rug

Paula tries to loosen up her uptight husband, and a good deed could provide an opportunity

- A short story by Audrey Parkinson

Dan strode determinedly from the garden into the house, obviously indignant.

"What now!" exclaimed Paula, his wife.

"That showoff next door is at it again - topless on a rug," Dan spluttered, "and to make matters worse, her husband is next to her wearing just a thong."

Paula stifled a laugh. Dan could be such a prude at times, and it was a hot day after all, another sweltering afternoon in the latest heatwave, which had brought tropical temperatures over the last few days.

"Come on Dan, they can do as they like in their own garden," said Paula. "They are not offending the public in the privacy of their own property."

This cut no ice with Dan.

"We bought this house thinking it would be OK when we eventually had a family," he fumed to Paula. "I didn't bargain for strippers."

"For God's sake, Dan," said Paula, wearying of her husband's easily-offended nature. "We haven't got a family yet, and by the time they would be old enough to notice the habits of the neighbours, this lot could have moved.

"We may not have many summers when the weather is good enough for sunbathing, or if the same people are here they may not want to expose their advancing wrinkles! Stop looking for trouble."

Paula saw her words weren't doing much to calm her husband down, as he stood, red-faced, in the kitchen. She decided to try a different tack.