Randy sighed as he drove home. Since his father-in-law had passed he had taken on the responsibility of maintenance of his mother-in-laws place as well as his own. His mother-in-law had called that morning and apologetically asked Randy if he could look at her water heater.
When he checked it out he found a bad thermocouple. He went to the hardware store to get one and discovered they didn’t carry that model. He found one at a shop across town, drove over bought it and installed it. By then he had burned up Saturday morning. He was suppose to be fishing with his friend but canceled to take care of the hot water heater.
He asked his wife’s useless brother to help, but being self-centered he always had an excuse why he couldn’t help. Randy didn’t mind helping. He loved his mother-in-law, but the thought of her son sitting on his ass while his mother needed help always galled Randy.
As he got out of his truck at home he noticed the lawn needed to be mowed and trimmed. He also noticed his wife’s car needed a wash and the trim on the front of the house needed some touch up painting.
“Well shit!” he mumbled to himself, “Since I got screwed out of my fishing trip I might as well get some work done around here!”
When he entered the house, a note was stuck to the refrigerator: ‘Kids are at the grandparents and I’m off spending money at the mall with Donna. Love up XXX Sarah.’