Page 16 of Husband of the Year
“I wanted to count to twenty,” Danny says.
“Right!” My face lights up. “And you can count past that. So, now you can set a new goal.”
“Four billion!” Danny shouts.
“Maybe we can try for… one hundred,” I offer. “That would be a perfect resolution.”
I can see the wheels turning in their little heads and decide a quick turn and talk might help solidify their thoughts. “Let’s turn to the person next to us and tell them an idea we have for our resolution. It would start like this: My new resolution at school is… Go ahead.”
I listen in as they take turns and hear lots of ideas about reading bigger books, writing more pages, and counting higher. First day back, and we’re already rolling in the right direction.
As I call them back together, I grab the paper with the “My new goal is…” prompt I prepared before the break. I show them how to write their resolution on the line and send them off. Not only are they bigger, taller, more grown up, with fewer teeth, but they also remember the routines of school and only need a few gentle reminders.
As they finish writing and coloring, I staple their papers to the bulletin board, and they proudly read each other’s, sharing the promise they’re making to better themselves.
“Mr. Block, what’s your goal?” Katherine asks. Her long, straight brown hair falls to the middle of her back. She can be quiet and I’m pleased to hear her voice, although I hadn’t thought of a resolution to share.
“Hmmm…” My mind races. Worry less. Be more organized. Try to be more present. Attempt to get a toy inside me while Olan’s fucking me. I grab a blank piece of paper and begin writing on the line. “My new goal is to help my students learn even more.”
“But you already do that,” Katherine says with furrowed brows.
“More. I can always do more. Better.”
Katherine nods like it makes perfect sense, gives me a quick hug, and heads back to her table with a smile.
Marvin: On the ferry.
Olan: Can’t wait to kiss your face.
Marvin: It can’t wait to be kissed.
Olan: I’ve been thinking about you all day. I’m worked up.
Marvin: Really? The rest of me can’t wait to get some attention too.
Olan: Dinner. Then bed.
We walk through the front door after a twenty-minute bus ride and twenty-five-minute ferry ride, and Illona jets upstairs. Presumably to pee, which is what I need to do after that commute. Music fills the living room, and Olan stands at the kitchen island, stirring something in a large pot.
“The Four Tops?” I ask, walking over for a kiss.
“Yes. And the lead singer is?” Olan asks, his lips lingering near mine.
“Um… Wait. Don’t tell me.” I rack my brain. Olan told me this. The Four Tops. That gravelly voice. Gravel. Like what you might work on if you were wearing jeans. “Levi Stubbs!” I shout.
Olan grabs me close, kissing me deeply. The music swells under Levi’s deep baritone, along with my cock in my pants.
“Can I ask a silly question?” I ask.
Gonzo lazily strolls in, purring softly as he rubs against my shin, and I bend over to scoop him up in my arms.
“No such thing.”
“Why isn’t the song called ‘Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch’ instead of ‘I Can’t Help Myself’?”
“Technically, ‘Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch’ is part of the title. It’s just in parentheses after the title.”
Olan tenderly pets Gonzo, before planting a soft peck on the top of his head.
