Short Stories - With Unexpected Endings

“Where were you last night,” he asked with his cold dark stare while his body was collapsed on the king size bed. I ignored his questioning at first by smiling and rustling my fingers in his hair just like I always do when he gives me the cold shoulder. This always seems to soften him up but not tonight. He did not budge. He just watched me with his eyes, accusing and punishing me for treating him as if he was insignificant. I began to undress out of my work clothes like I usually do. I removed my blouse, began to slip out of my skirt and stopped. Slowly turning back to him I said, “Do you want to say something?” He just stared. I let out a puff which could have been interpreted as a smirk, pulled my skirt back up and walked into the bathroom to change without the heat of his gaze.

I splashed some water on my face and stopped to look at myself in the mirror. “What is wrong with you?” I ask myself while outlining the wrinkles which showed the lack of sleep my body was wearing. I completed my nightly routine then walked past him into the kitchen. I poured myself a glass of milk to help me relax then I noticed the present I had bought for him two days before still sitting on the counter. I walked back into the room leaned against the door frame and let out a sigh. I held the modest peace offering behind my back. He did not flinch. I sat on the edge of the bed, leaned down close to his face and softly asked, “Will this help?” I held up a twisted braid of cow-hide leather. He jumps to his feet, tips his lips up a little in the corner, takes the treat and hits me with his wagging tail as he heads to his corner of the bed for the night.