Jack and Mary
Jack never had any desire to leave his village for the city. He loved the open fields, the gentle river, the sprawling woods, and his neighbours. He decided to become a farmer, set on raising pigs and selling the meat, hoping one day, if luck was on his side, to expand his business. He dreamed of building a grand house. He already owned a car, though it was modest and rather old, but hed invested the money from selling his grandmothers house into his new venture.
Jack held another cherished dream: to marry Mary and make her the lady of his large house. They were already seeing each other, and although Mary could see Jack didnt have a thriving business or much money, and his house was only in the early stages of construction, she went along.
Mary was a beauty. She had never planned to strive for much herself.
Whats the point of good looks if I dont use them? My husband should provide for me, and all I need is to find a man willing to take all that responsibility on himself. My beauty doesnt come cheap, shed say to her friends.
Jacks building a house and hes got a car, chimed in her friend Lucy. You might just need a little patience; it might take him a while.
I want everything, and I want it now, Mary would pout. Who knows when Jack will finally get things going? Hes not got any real money.
Jack adored Mary, but he understood her feelings for him didnt match his hopes. Still, he wished shed grow to love him in time. Everything might have worked outif Sam hadnt come to their village for the summer. Sam had come with a friend to stay with his grandmother. He looked upon the local girls with little interest and seemed bored at the village hall, until Mary walked in.
At first, Mary paid no attention to the newcomer, but once she learned Sam came from a wealthy, well-known family and his father held a significant job in London, she quickly turned her gaze to him. Sam was older than Mary, experienced and well-spoken, showering her with compliments. He often bought Mary flowersno one sold such bouquets in the villageso she realised he ordered them specially, and she was impressed.
Jack noticed Mary accepting Sams flowers and became angry.
Dont take flowers from himyou know it bothers me, he said, but Mary only laughed.
Dont be silly, Jack. Theyre just flowers, thats all.
Jack even confronted Sam.
Stop giving flowers to Mary; shes my girl, and I have plans for her.
Sam ignored him, and a fight broke out, only ending when Jacks friends pulled them apart. After that, things changed between Jack and Mary. She began to avoid him, and he was hurt and distant, too. Mary reasoned that Sam was only staying for the summerhed be gone before long.
I need to act quickly, catch Sams interest and get to London. Theres nothing for me in this village, she thought.
Enticing Sam home wasnt hard. Mary knew her parents would be away at the market in town. She timed it so theyd walk in on her and Sam together. They were in bed, both flustered when her parents came inher hair was a mess, she threw on a robe, and Sam barely managed to get his trousers on.
Whats all this then? her father snapped, looking at them both.
Mary lowered her eyes, while Sam shifted awkwardly.
I see. Well then, Sam, youll now have to marry our daughter or else Ill make you regret the day you were born. Into the next room with me, now!
No one knew what was said, but the next day Marys father drove them to the registry office to apply for marriage, and her mother busied herself preparing Mary for a move to London. The news spread round the village at lightning speed. Jack was gutted, but he tried not to show it.
Sam cursed himself.
Why did I even come to this village, and why did I fall for a country girls charms? Shes not as simple as she seemedshe tricked me, clever and calculating, he thought.
Mary only longed for the city and for happinessa beautiful life.
Its nothing, Ill love him well, give him children, and hell be grateful for it in the end, she dreamed. But will his parents even accept me?
Surprisingly, Sams parents were pleased their son had brought home a pretty, unspoilt girl from the country for once. They were tired of all the city types Sam used to date, women who cared only for money. Mary would look after their son, keep houseshe seemed homely.
Come in, Mary, dont be shy. Make yourself at home, said his mother, Helen, warmly, as Sams father, Michael, smiled on.
Mary truly tried to be a good wife. Their flat in London was spacious, with four bedrooms, and she felt at ease with Sams parents, who were kind and supportive. Even Sam soon realised Mary wasnt as manipulative as hed thought.
She certainly got me to the altar quickly, mused Sam, but perhaps shes sincere in wanting a happy life together, even if I doubt it. Still, she never asks awkward questionsmaybe she feels guilty but wont go back to the country. She keeps her head down.
Sam, meanwhile, dreamed of living it up after the wedding. He had plenty of girlfriends in the city. Then, over dinner one evening, Mary stunned everyone:
Im pregnantwere having a baby
Congratulations, Mary! Weve been waiting for grandchildren, Helen beamed, while Sam knew there was no point insisting the child had come too soon.
The wedding soon followed. Sams parents gave them a flat, fully furnished. But Mary sensed Sam wasnt thrilled about becoming a father.
Thats all right; when the baby comes, hell understand what happiness truly is, she told herself, unaware of the rot inside her husbands heart.
Afterwards, Sam spent more time out than in.
My jobs demanding, always away on business, hed say. Mary believed him, having no idea what he actually did.
She never complained to his parents about his constant absence, even when he didnt come home for nights at a stretch. She just waited patiently, cooking lovely meals for his return, keeping the flat spotless, but she missed her villageher friends, her parents. More and more, she found herself thinking about Jack.
Now, she began to doubt her choices. When she asked if Sam loved her, his answers were evasive. Helen saw her daughter-in-law was miserable and understood her son wasnt a model husband.
The birth of their son was a joy to everyone. Even Sam, for a fleeting moment, was moved to see his boybut the novelty quickly wore off as nappies, sleepless nights, and crying began to grate on him. Mary, harried with motherhood, could barely manage her usual home-cooked meals. Sam felt desperate to escape home.
Suddenly, Sam found other women werent interested anymore.
No use in a married man.
He kept quiet about his wife. She had no education, a country girl through and through.
What could I do with her, once the boy is older? I dont want my wife working as a cleaner or on the market stalls. Our familys name would suffer. Looks like Ill be supporting everyone. Maintenance payments would be cheaper, frankly.
Sam had a mistress, Kate, who had her own flat, moneyand no interest in children. He found bliss in her company; they laughed, drank and took trips together.
Kate, you dont know what chaos home is. I cant stand my wife or the kid. Shes pretty, sure, but utterly provincial. Ive had enough of it. She doesnt belong anywhere but the country, and frankly, Im tired. How am I meant to be seen out with her?
Mary realised at last: her dream of a happy marriage with Sam was futile. She suspected he had someone else. Hed come home smelling of strange perfume and sometimes with smudges of red lipstick on his shirt. Sam was constantly irritable, barely acknowledged their son, and snapped at her, even raising a hand once or twice.
She rang her mother for comfort.
We didnt force you to marry Sam. You made your choice. We thought youd end up with Jack, but you picked Sam. Well, you made your bed, now lie in it. If youve had enough, come home for goodbut dont expect us to pick up the pieces.
Mary felt crushed. One evening, while Sam slept, she checked his phone. The messages she found between him and Kate were devastating. She confided in her mother-in-law, but Helen was blunt.
If you try to divorce Sam, well do all we can to take your son. You must know what connections Michael has. No matter how Sam behaves, hes the boys real father, well-off, with his own flat. What could you give your son, with no qualifications or career?
One night, as their son was teething and running a fever, Sam was being bombarded with messages from Kate, eager for him to come over. Sam messaged back that hed leave as soon as the boy settled and Mary was asleep. Kate replied, Give them sleeping pills, the ones I gave you.
When Sam went for a shower, leaving his phone out, Mary saw the messageand she panicked.
What if he really does give our child sleeping pills? What if he poisons us both?
While Sam was showering, she rang Jack and told him everything.
Ill come and get you, Jack said. Dont worry about them threatening to take your son. Theyre just trying to scare you.
Mary did her best to soothe her son to sleep, then pretended to doze herself, leaving the light low. She heard Sam quietly check the room before dressing and leaving the flat. Quickly, she gathered some belongings, rang Jack, and he came at once, taking her back to his place.
When Sam returned next evening, he found the flat empty. No Mary. No son. He rang his parents.
Shes not here, Sam. Did she run off with the child? Shall I call the police? Helen sounded worried.
Please dont, Mum. To be honest, Im glad shes gone. Im tired of both her and the boy. Let her live her life. Please, Im asking you, he begged until she relented.
Time passed. Mary divorced Sam and eventually married Jack. Together, they lived in the big house Jack had built, and before long, were expecting a new joy in their lives. At last, Mary realised that Jack was her true happiness.
