Boyfriends, a wife's privilege<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): I would not have realized the vivacious wit of
\nmy garbage man, or what an interminable, unflagging walking and
\ntalking encyclopedia my gardener was, had Idul Fitri not rolled
\naround and taken my maids to their hometowns. These guys are what
\nmy wife refers to as \"her boyfriends\".<\/p>\n
As he swung the trash can with the practiced ease of a
\nprofessional baseball batter, the garbage man talked non-stop
\nabout the fate of the world, the floods in Jakarta, and how they
\nare planning to send trash to the moon now that the earth's
\nlandfills are full.<\/p>\n
Standing in my bunny slippers and pajamas, I almost didn't
\nwant this intriguing monologue to stop. Or maybe it was a
\nsubconscious excuse not to go back and make my own bed -- a task
\nI had dreaded from the day I started walking until we came to
\nIndonesia two years ago.<\/p>\n
The bell shrilled again, and the next boyfriend was the
\nmilkman. Holding the pan, I positioned myself comfortably for
\nanother heart-to-heart -- I was disappointed. This man averted
\nhis eyes as if ashamed to see me take the milk in my own house.<\/p>\n
\"Oh, he's just a very decent guy,\" dismissed my wife.<\/p>\n
But what was I to do? Disguise myself with a false beard,
\ngoggles and trench coat? Run out, take the milk and run back
\nagain? No way. This was my home and I had every right to take the
\nmilk openly, and with my dignity intact.<\/p>\n
\"You have not met my favorite one yet,\" teased my wife. \"The
\nvegetable man. He's the one that diligently keeps us up to date
\nabout the happenings in the neighborhood. He has been very
\nhelpful and I am going to give him a big present for Idul Fitri
\nthis year.\"<\/p>\n
\"Should that make me as green eyed as a psychopathic sibling?\"
\nI asked, \"What if I referred to my secretaries as my
\ngirlfriends?\"<\/p>\n
The lift of half an eyebrow was answer enough. Wives have
\nprivileges, we men do not.<\/p>\n
-- Rohan Manav<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/boyfriends-a-wifes-privilege-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }