the apple butter festival

let's do something fun today,

my significant other

says,

stretching her arms out

as i lie in bed reading the new

york times. page one.

let's go pick some berries.

wouldn't that be fun.

safeway has berries, i tell her.

they have these little

boxes all wrapped up.

clean, no bugs.

i know, she says, but wouldn't

it be fun to drive out to the country

and pick our own?

we can take pictures

and post them on facebook.

then we can go to a wine tasting

or to the apple butter festival

in winchester.

come on, don't be a sour puss.

let's go.

i put the newspaper down

and sigh. okay. okay. let's go.

then i hear thunder. the sweet

cascade of rain and wind,

the room goes dark as streaks

of lightning appear beyond

the window.

oh no, i say. it's raining. come

back to bed sweetie.

maybe next weekend okay?

okay, she says, lying down

beside me.

you're the best boyfriend

ever.