putting on the brakes

i used to ask
her why she speeded
up when coming to
a red light or a stop
sign, why not slow
down and ease to a
stop instead of
jarring everyone's
neck in the car and
spilling coffee
everywhere with a
sudden slamming
of the brakes. and
she looked at me
as if i was trying
to explain the theory
of relativity in
chinese. i don't know
what you're talking
about, she said, and
stomped on the pedal
towards the next red
light. and this
was a very important
moment in our marriage.
call it a turning
point, if you will.