Short Story

                                      Rev. E. Anderson

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Jo Ann Larsen

Larry and Jo Ann were an ordinary couple. They lived in an ordinary house on an ordinary street. Like other ordinary couples, they struggle to make end: meet and to do the right things for their children.

They were ordinary in yet another way; they had their squabbles. Much of their conversation concerned what was wrong in their marriage and who was to blame.

Until one day, when the most extraordinary event took place.

“You know, Jo Ann, I’ve got a magic chest of drawers. Every time I open them, they’re full of stacks and underwear,” Larry said. “ want to thank you for filling them all these years”.

Jo Ann stared at her husband over the top of her spectacles. “What do you want, Larry?.

 “Nothing. I just want you to know l appreciate those magic drawers”.

This wasn’t the first time Larry had done something odd, so Jo Ann pushed the incident out of her mind until a few days later.

“Jo Ann, thank you for recording so many correct check numbers in the ledger this month. You put down the right number fifteen times out of sixteen times. That’s a record”.

Disbelieving what she heard, Jo Ann looked up from her mending: “Larry, you’re always complaining about my recording the wrong check numbers. Why stop now?”

“No reason. I just wanted you to know I appreciate the effort you’re making”.

Jo Ann shook her head and went back to her mending. “What’s gotten into him?” she mumbled.

Nevertheless, the next day when Jo Ann wrote a check at the grocery store, she glanced at her checkbook to confirm that she had put down the right check number. “Why do I suddenly care about those dumb numbers?” she asked herself.

She tried to disregard the incident, but Larry’s strange behavior intensified.

“Jo Ann that was a great dinner.,” he said one evening. I appreciate all your effort. Why, in the past fifteen years I’ll bet you’ve fixed 14,000 meals for me and the kids”.

“Gee, Jo Ann, the house looks spiffy. You’ve really worked hard to get it looking so good”. And even , “Thanks Jo Ann for being just you. I really enjoy your company”.

Jo Ann was growing worried. “Where’s the sarcasm and criticism?” she wondered.

Her fears that something husband peculiar was happening to her husband were confirmed by 16-year-old Shelly, who complained, “Dad’s gone bonkers, Mom. What’s wrong with him?”

What ever was wrong, Larry didn’t get over it. Day in and day out he continued focusing on the positive. Over th weeks Jo Ann grew more used to her mate’s unusual behaviour, and occasionally even gave him a grudging “thank you”. She prided herself in taking it all in her stride, until one day something so peculiar happened she became completely discombobulated:

“I want you to take a break”, Larry said. “I am going to do the dishes. So please take your hands off that frying pan and leave the kitchen”.

(Long, long pause). Thank you, Lrry. Thank you very much!”

Jo Ann’s step was now a little lighter, her self-confidence higher, and once in a while she hummed. She didn’t seem to experience blue moods much anymore. “I rather like Larry’s ne w behaviour,” she

That would have been the end of the story’s except one day, another most extraordinary event took place. This time it was Jo Ann who spoke.

“Larry,” she said, “I want to thank you for going to work and providing for us all these years. I don’t think I’ve ever told you how much I appreciate it”.

Larry has never revealed the reason for his dramatic change of behavior no matter how hard Jo Ann has pushed for an answer, and so it will likely remain one of life’s mysteries. But it’s one I’m thankful to live with. You see, I am Jo Ann.