John and Mary
John had never wanted to leave his village for the city. He loved the open fields, the winding river, the rolling meadows, and the nearby woodlands. Most of all, he was fond of his fellow villagers. He decided to become a farmerraising pigs and selling their meat, with hopes of eventually expanding into a larger business. He dreamt of building a big house for himself; he already had a car, though old and modest, having invested the money from the sale of his grandmother’s cottage into the farm.
John had another, more precious dreamto marry Mary and make her the mistress of his future home. They were already seeing each other, and though Mary knew Johns farm was still small and that he had little ready cash, she saw the shell of the new house rising from the earth.
Mary was beautifulby any standard, a stunner. She never planned on building her own future.
My looks are my ticket, shed tell her friends. I just need to find a man willing to spoil me. Why settle for less?
Johns building his house, and hes got a car, her friend Alice pointed out. He just needs a bit more time for things to come together.
But I want everything now! Mary pouted, lips pursed in annoyance. Itll take years for Johnny to get his act together. Hes got no money!
John adored Mary, but he sensed her feelings for him werent as deep. Still, he hoped shed learn to love him in time. Everything seemed on trackuntil Thomas arrived in their village.
Thomas, a city lad, had come to stay with his mate at his grans for the summer holiday. He hardly gave the local girls a second glancefound the pub dull, the disco dreary. That was, until Mary strolled in, radiant as ever.
At first, Mary paid no heed to the newcomer, but upon learning Thomas came from a well-to-do family, and that his father was a prominent city council member, her interest swiftly shifted. Thomas, older and suave, was no stranger to courting women. He wooed Mary with showy bouquets that clearly werent bought from the village shop, and Mary recognised and appreciated the effort.
John noticed Mary accepting flowers from Thomas, and it stung.
Dont take his flowers, John told her, hurt. Why are you winding me up?
She just laughed. Theyre only flowers, John. Whats the fuss?
John, frustration building, confronted Thomas directly.
Quit buying Mary flowers. Shes my girl, and Ive got plans for her.
But Thomas brushed him off, and an argument broke out. Johns mates broke it up before it became a full scrap. After that, a rift grew between John and Mary. She now avoided him, and he, offended, kept his distance. Mary knew Thomas was only in the village for the summerhed be heading back to the city soon enough.
If Im going to make a move, it has to be now, she pondered. No future in the village for someone like me.
It wasnt difficult to get Thomas alone in her house. Her parents had gone to the market in town, and she planned it so their return would catch her and Thomas in bed together. Her father was strict and stubbornshe knew what would happen. When Marys parents walked in, she hastily threw on a dressing gown while Thomas scrambled into his trousers, caught red-handed.
What on earth is going on here? her father barked, glaring at them both.
Mary hung her head; Thomas shifted awkwardly.
Thats it, Thomas, her father said. You will marry our Mary, or youll answer to me. Into the next room, both of you.
No one knows what exactly was said behind closed doors, but the next day, Mary and Thomas went to the registry office, escorted by her father, while her mother helped pack her belongings for the move to the city. Word of the impending marriage spread round the village in no time. John was gutted, but kept a stiff upper lip in public.
Thomas, in truth, was cursing himself.
What on earth possessed me to come to this village? he thought. Shes not as simple as she looksshe played me well.
Mary, meanwhile, daydreamed about city life and happiness.
No worries, she reasoned. Ill show him plenty of love, bear his children, and hell be glad things turned out this way. I just hope his family accept me.
But to her surprise, Thomass parents were delighted. They were tired of the shallow city girls Thomas had been bringing homethose who only cared about money. Mary, in their eyes, seemed homely and genuine.
Come in, Mary, make yourself at home, greeted Helen, Thomass mother. His father, Michael, gave her a warm smile.
Mary really tried to be a good wife. Their flat was large and comfortable, and his parents treated her with kindness. Even Thomas, growing used to Marys ways, began to think she wasnt so calculating after all.
She got me goodmarrying me out of nowherebut maybe she does believe well be happy together, Thomas mused, though he wasnt so sure himself. He was cut from different cloth. Still, Mary asked no awkward questions, and never complained, perhaps feeling guilty. She showed no bigger ambition than to settle in, and had no desire to return to village life.
Thomas, for his part, was making plans for a lively bachelors life after the wedding. He had plenty of women in the city. But then, out of the blue, during dinner with his parents, Mary dropped a bombshell.
Im expectingwere having a baby.
Congratulations, Mary! Helen beamed. Weve been wanting a grandchild for ages. Thomas realised then that protesting would be pointless.
The wedding followed soon after. Thomass parents gifted them a flat, fully furnished. But it didnt take long for Mary to see Thomas wasnt thrilled at the prospect of fatherhood.
Itll be fine, once the baby arrives, Thomas will change, Mary told herself, not realising how restless his spirit was.
Thomas plunged into the nightlife. Whenever he was absent, hed mutter about business trips, which Mary took at face value, never questioning him. She never complained to his parents about his frequent absences, just waited patiently, preparing his favourite meals and keeping the flat tidy. Yet, she grew increasingly homesickmissing her village, her friends, and even John, whom she found herself thinking of more and more.
Now she wasnt sure shed made the right decision. If she asked Thomas if he loved her, he dodged the question. Helen, her mother-in-law, saw Mary was often downcast and understood that her son wasnt much of a husband.
The birth of their son was a joyful event for allat first, even Thomas seemed touched, but that soon wore off. The late-night cries, the nappies, and sleepless nights began to get on his nerves. Mary, tired and flustered, could no longer cook elaborate meals or keep up appearances. Thomas found excuses to be out of the house.
He soon realised, though, that most of his old flames had little interest in a married man.
Whats the point of a married bloke? theyd say.
He never spoke of Mary to anyoneshe was a country girl, after all, with no education. Where would she work when the boys a bit older? I dont want her working as a cleaner or hawking fruit at the market. Itd tarnish the family name. Looks like Ill have to support them myself. Child support would probably be cheaper in the end.
Thomas maintained a steady affair with a woman called Kate, who had her own place and wasnt interested in motherhood. He felt free and relaxed in Kates companythey would drink, party, and take trips to the countryside.
You havent a clue how tired I am of all that domestic mess, Kate, hed say. I dont love my wife, my son drives me up the wall. Sure, Marys beautiful, but shes pure countryhonestly, Im sick of it. How am I meant to take her anywhere? Shes never seen anything but cows and cornfields.
Mary started to see that her dream of a happy life with Thomas was doomed. She suspected he had someone elsehed come home reeking of strange perfume and lipstick stains on his clothes, always irritable, barely sparing a glance for their son, sometimes shouting at her or worse.
One day, worn out, she rang her mother for comfort, but her mother was blunt.
We never forced you to marry Thomas. We thought youd marry John, but you chose for yourself. Now youll have to live with the consequences. When youre ready to leave it behind for good, come homebut dont expect any more handouts.
Mary felt crushed. Out of desperation, she checked Thomass phone one night while he slept. The messages between him and Kate left her speechless. She confided in her mother-in-law, but Helen warned her:
If you decide to divorce, well fight for custody. My husbands connections go further than you think. No matter what kind of father Thomas is, he can provide for your sona good home and more opportunities. What do you have? No qualifications, no profession, little to survive on.
Their son was ill, cutting his first teeth, crying endlessly. Thomas, losing patience, grew more irritableespecially as Kate was messaging, waiting for him. She suggested, Give them that sleeping medicine I gave youtheyll be out in no time.
Thomas left his phone on the table and went to shower. Mary saw Kates message and was terrified.
What if he really gives it to us? What if he poisons us…?
As soon as Thomas was in the shower, Mary rang John and told him everything.
Ill come and fetch you home, he said straight away.
But his parents have threatened to take my son.
Dont worry, John reassured her. Theyre just scaring you. Try to stay calm and soothe your sonlet Thomas leave first, then call me. Ill wait nearby.
Mary, heart pounding, rocked her baby until he finally dozed off. She lay down, feigning sleep. She heard Thomas check the bedroom; after a moment he left the flat. Quickly, Mary packed a few things and rang John. He arrived a short while later and took her and the baby to his place.
Thomas didnt come home until late the next day, only to discover Mary and the child were gone. He called his parents.
No, son, Mary hasnt come here, said Helen, feigning surprise. Could she have run off? Shall I alert the police?
Mumdont, Thomas said, sounding quite relieved. Honestly, Im glad shes gone. Id had enough of her and the boy. Just leave it.
Time passed. After Marys divorce came through, she and John wed. They lived in the big house on the land, awaiting a new addition to the family. At last, after all she had endured, Mary realised that John was where her happiness truly lay.
