Get yourself home! Ill talk to you there! snapped Michael, irritation written all over his face. I dont fancy putting on a show for people in the street with a row!
Oh, well, excuse me! snorted Harriet. Suit yourself!
Harriet, dont you push your luck! Michael warned, giving her an icy glare. Well have words at home!
Oooh, how terrifying! she tossed her plait behind her shoulder and stomped off in the direction of their house.
Michael waited until Harriet was well out of earshot before pulling out his phone and whispering into it:
Yeah, shes gone home! Make sure you greet her properly. You know what we talked about. And stick her somewhere she can cool off a bit! Ill be back soon!
Stuffing his phone back in his pocket, Michael was about to duck into the corner shop for a quick pint to celebrate sorting out his wife, when a complete stranger grabbed his arm.
Sorry to bother you so abruptly! the man said, looking slightly awkward. I just saw you with that young woman
My wife. Why? Michael snapped, face clouding over.
No reason, really! the mans grin turned sheepish. Sorry, I hope you dont mind me asking, but is your wifes name by any chance Harriet Mills?
Harriet, thats right, Michael grunted. And yes, she was Mills before we married. Why on earth do you ask?
And her middle nameVictoria?
Yes! Michaels annoyance was now obvious. How do you know my wife?
I do apologise, Ive never met her personally, the man blushed. Im something of, well, an admirer!
Listen here, mate, Michael growled with clear menace, if youre some sort of admirer, Ill give you a count of her ribs before cracking a couplemight trim your waistline the old-fashioned way! Are you trying to take my wife off me?
No, no, youre completely misunderstanding! the man flapped his arms frantically. I meant Im a fan of her talentnot like that!
Harriet, as far as I know, has no particular talents, said Michael, flummoxed.
Oh come off it, the stranger said. Getting a lifetime ban from kickboxing at eighteen for being excessively brutal? Thats talent! I loved watching her in the ringshe was brilliant! I just wish shed kept competing after a couple of those private tournament wins.
Michael, hands trembling, tried to fish his phone out again, but it slipped and smashed on the pavement. By the time hed scrabbled the pieces together, it wouldnt even switch on.
Utterly panicked, Michael broke into a run for home, muttering under his breath: God, please let me get there in time.
When Harriet had first arrived in their village three years ago, Michael noticed her immediatelyhow could he not? She was young, athletic, charismatic, and lively. Plus, shed landed a job at the village primary as a PE teacher.
Everyone assumed she was a new graduate temporarily placed there, whod disappear quickly. But to everyones surprise, she was twenty-five and had come to settle permanently.
People expected her parents would follow, but Harriet came alone.
Somethings fishy! the women in the village whispered. Whats a young woman moving here on her own for? She must have some dark secret.
Oh, secrets! More likely she got burned by some bloke and moved here to lick her wounds, another replied.
Or maybe she had a falling out with her parents and ran off! Happens all the timesaw it on telly just the other night!
Michael kept a cautious eye on Harriet, but didnt rush to introduce himself.
Who knows what baggage shes dragging around? he thought. Ill keep my distance until I know more.
Life as a teacher isnt just hard work and exhaustiontheres always the staff room, where everyone pours out their hearts. Within half a year, Harriet told her touching backstory.
My parentstheyre businesspeople. Good, decent people. But then their business took a divea supplier stitched them up. Everything started collapsing, so Dad thought the best solution was to marry me off to some wealthy chap, get us back on our feet.
If you saw that guy, youd understand why I chose to run instead!
And youve really got no one here? asked an experienced colleague.
There are people everywhere, Harriet shrugged. But Id rather fight my way through life on my own than marry someone I dont love.
It wouldnt have been a weddingmore like a sale! And if anyone thinks I want to be handled like merchandise, theyve got another think coming!
Oh, youll find love here, just you wait! her colleagues encouraged her. It might be a small village, but theres some good folks still about!
Once Harriets story spread through the village, and it seemed true enough, Michael made up his mind.
Ill marry her! The local girls have become greedy and bossy, but this ones an outsider! Plus, well never have to put up with her relatives.
Thats what he told his own familymum, dad, and older brother.
Shes young, fit, sportya perfect match for you, agreed his family. Shell give you healthy kids and lend a hand with the house. How many PE lessons can there even be per week?
Brilliant catch! they all agreed. And if she plays up, well soon teach her how things go in this house!
Why were they so sure about the wedding? Because Michael was a catch himselfgood looking, with a position as assistant manager at the local produce market.
When inspectors from head office visited, Michael was just a buyer, but he was loud about efficiency and ideas. He caused enough of a stir that, once it was over, he got promoted.
Since you know everything, you can do everythinglets see what happens!
People smirked, joking that initiative gets punished. But Michael ended up running the whole operation and proved himself a great manager.
His staff complained he was a harsh disciplinarian, and his big brother, promoted to head of security, was even worse.
They wont even let us throw out rotting carrots! The brothers stick together and will use force if they want!
But nobody made a fuss, since thefts at the market vanished overnight.
With such a promising candidate, how could Harriet say no? First she agreed to go out for coffee, then accepted his courtship, and soon enough, agreed to marry him.
Michael collected Harriet from her staff flat and brought her home.
A bride needs to understand that we live as a big family! his mother, Patricia, began.
We do everything together, help each otherours is a proper household! I dont know about your home, but this is how its done here!
We didnt really have any rules at mine, Harriet said. You must have heard I ran away from all that. But, as Michaels wife, Ill learn your familys rules now!
Everyone seemed pleased by this.
I do have to admit Im not very domestic, Harriet said, a little embarrassed. My parents had staff for that.
Well sort that out! said her father-in-law, Ronald, with hearty good humour. You pick things up as you go!
Im usually a quick learner, Harriet said. But I cant stand unfairness.
My dear, Patricia chimed in, fairness is a slippery thing! There are time-honoured rules for married life. Respect your husband and his family, and youll get respect back! Obedience and gentleness add to a womans charm! Men handle the big things, women run the home!
Well, if you say so, Harriet shrugged. But hopefully nothing like medieval punishments?
No whips, and we dont keep a stable! her father-in-law laughed.
But, unknowingly, Harriet hit the nail on the head. Within a month of the wedding, her freedom was dramatically curtailed.
Only to work or the shopnot much else. On all other issues:
Where do you think youre going? Theres plenty to do here! Theres the garden, chickens, ducks! Harriet! Patricia would call, Were a family, I cant do this all on my own!
On that point, Patricia wasnt exaggerating. Michael and his brother were at work from early till late, sometimes even overnight, as the market ran around the clock.
Ronalds back and legs were shot, so he busied himself giving advice. In truth, everything was left to Patricia and Harriet.
Even Patricia, though, wasnt getting any younger. Blood pressure up, aching joints when the weather turned, crippling headachesthe list went on. Housework waits for no one!
What about a life outside all this? Harriet asked. Not romance, just my own life? Like the cinema, a café, a walkafter all, I havent got any friends here yet!
Married women dont need friends! Patricia insisted. And from my experience, friends only cause trouble for married women.
As for going out to cafés or the cinema, talk to your husband! Its not right for a woman on her own in public around here. This isnt the citypeople will gossip. Teachers, of all people, must keep a good name!
Really? Harriet was astonished.
You used to live in the city, love, but here, everyone sees everything! Step out of line and youll carry the reputation forever. Youre a teacherone slip, and you could lose your job!
The logic was relentless, but Harriet wasnt about to bury herself in chores forever.
She worked, she did her share, but she demanded fair treatment in return. If something wasnt right, shed stand up for herself, raise her voice, tell it like it was.
If were working, its got to be equal! she said. If someones lounging about while others slog, count me out!
Michael and Harriet had been married for two and a half years, but she never gave up. She pushed for honesty and fairness from everyoneincluding herself.
What a handful that Harriet is! Patricia would exclaim when sending her off to the shop. Worse than a bitter lemon! Say one thing and she fires back five more!
She doesnt respect me! Ronald would complain. Ask her to fetch a pillow or some water, and she just brushes me off, says shes busy!
Michael, this is unacceptable, grumbled his brother Nick. She insults our parents! Its not on letting her get away with that!
I know shes just out to mock me! Shes always talking back, and Im supposed to be the man of the house! She needs putting in her place, like a wild animal at the circus. And we dont even have any kids yet! If we did, shed be even worse, lording it over us all!
Well have to sort this out, Nick plotted. Take her into the village, then send her home on her own. Well be waiting and have a little chat.
If she listens, fine. If not, well use force. And if she really makes a fuss, well lock her up in the cellar. Tell the school shes gone on holiday. A month or two and shell calm down!
That was the plan. While Michael took Harriet for a stroll, the family prepared themselvesworked each other up into a state, ready to sort her out as soon as Michael gave the signal that Harriet was on her way home.
But Michael didnt make it in time.
The gate to the house was there as usual, but the front door seemed to have vanished entirely, as if it never existed. Nick was sitting in the hallway, howling and clutching his broken arm. Michael grabbed his brothers phone, punched in 999, and shoved it to Nicks ear.
Tell them the address! Michael shouted, trying to break through the shock. And say you need a couple of ambulances!
Nick nodded weakly, grimacing from the pain.
Ronald was sprawled amongst splintered furniture in the hallunconscious, but alive, thank God. In the kitchen, right by the door, Patricia sat on the floor, her face blooming with a spectacular bruise, and holding the snapped remains of the giant rolling pin she brought out on special occasions for pastry.
At the table, calmly sipping her tea, was Harriet.
Darling? she looked up at her husband. Have you come for your turn?
N-no, Michael stammered.
Well, then Im not sure what to offer you, Harriet mused. How about a little justice for a change in this family?
You mightve given me some warning! he burst out. You couldve you nearly!
I know what Im doing! And everyone got just what they deserved! If someone comes for me with something, thats what theyll get right back!
I snapped that rolling pin over my knee myself! And as for your mum, I never touched hershe ran straight into the door, fleeing the scene!
So how are we supposed to carry on now? Michael asked.
Simple, smiled Harriet. Well finally live like a proper familyfairly! And dont think about divorceits too late for that, Im expecting! And my child will have a father!
Michael gulped.
Alright, darling.
After everyone had recovered and calmed down, the family rules got a serious rethink.
And from then on, peace truly reigned in their homerespect went both ways, and not a single person dared cross the line ever again.
