Fiction logo

330 For the Girl Who Has Everything

For Monday, November 25, Day 330 of the 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge.

By Gerard DiLeoPublished about a year ago Updated about a year ago 2 min read

T'is the season. What do you give the girl who has gotten everything? And I'm the one who's given it to her. I'm not complaining. Jackie certainly has deserved everything she's gotten.

When she has disappointed me, repeatedly, what did I do? I gave her my special attention. When she wrecked the car, what'd I do? I explained how we should address it in a way that would make sure she learned what she'd done wrong.

But I was in the minority in this marriage. Her mother and her sister never liked me and always had something negative to say about me. Is it any wonder I tried to keep her away from them? They were sabotaging our marriage. They even suggested she leave me, if you can believe that! What mother does that? And her sister was just jealous because she was older and unmarried—and with no one on the horizon.

Her friends weren't much better, either. We all used to be a great crowd together before Jackie and I got married. Now she would rather go out with one of her girlfriends than be with me. She finds excuses to do "girly" things, like that trip to the New York needlepoint convention. Sure, she said I was welcome to go, but...needlepoint? And when I'd call, it was voicemail after voicemail I'd have to leave.

I guess she must have deserved even more of my attention. I'd have to teach her a lesson each time she disappointed me. They say there's only two eyes you can blacken, but you can still do it over and over. Her wreck simply meant no driving. The trips with the girls had to stop. I'd call her a dozen times a day to check to see if she was behaving. Her mother had a stroke, but Jackie can only visit her at the hospital when I can come. And a little private conversation with her sister meant she won't be interfering anymore.

So what do I get the girl I've given everything?

I'll just leave. Even though I'll drain the joint checking account money, I know she won't come looking. No present is better than no presence at all.

________

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

God! I hate this guy. Blameless and good riddance. A great present!

For Monday, November 25, Day 330 of the 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge.

366 WORDS (without A/N)

36 DAYS TO GO! THE STORIES KEEP COMING ON IN THIS VOCAL CHALLENGE, 366 WORDS A DAY.

There are currently three Vocal connubials in this 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge:

• L.C. (I do) Schäfer

• Rachel (I do) Deeming

• Gerard (I better not) DiLeo

Microfiction

About the Creator

Gerard DiLeo

Retired, not tired. Hippocampus, behave!

Make me rich! https://www.amazon.com/Gerard-DiLeo/e/B00JE6LL2W/

My substrack at https://substack.com/@drdileo

[email protected]

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments (5)

Sign in to comment
  • Cindy Calderabout a year ago

    If his narcissistic, delusional, violently inclined self truly leaves, it will end up being the best present he ever gave her, worth every penny.

  • Katarzyna Popielabout a year ago

    What a scary guy! He doesn't deserve being able to leave just like that, with nothing scary happening to him.

  • Oh my, that guy is scaryyyy+

  • Cathy holmesabout a year ago

    Oh, I hate that guy too. She's definitely better off without him.

  • JBazabout a year ago

    And that is exactly how a person like that would think. Well done

Find us on social media

Miscellaneous links

  • Explore
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Support

© 2026 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.