Saving the planet

A grimace formed on Norman’s face as he watched Muriel fill the kettle, the water rising beyond the MAX line. Plonking it back on its base, she flicked the switch. The red light glowed and the kettle emitted a rising grumble.

She turned back to Norman, who offered her a weak smile. “You know, Muriel, love, you’re only making two cups.”

Muriel stared at him.

“And you know, you’ve put enough in there for eight cups. Really. You see.”

Muriel pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes.

“So, you’re boiling four times more water than you need to. And you know, kettles use a lot of electricity...”

Muriel puffed her cheeks up then blew out a long stream of air. She tilted her head back and looked at the ceiling.

“Muriel? Love?”

“I can’t do this anymore,” Muriel told the ceiling.

“”What’s that, love?”

“I just can’t do it. Anymore.” Muriel looked Norman in the eye.

“I’m not sure what you’re saying here, love.”

“I can’t live like this anymore. Measuring out water into the kettle, having to shower in under two and a half minutes, never leaving the telly on standby, constantly turning lights on and off, on and off, wearing three jumpers and four pairs of socks so we don’t have to turn the heating on.”

The roar of the kettle reached a crescendo, then, with a click, died away. Muriel picked it up and poured it angrily into the two cups, water splashing onto the worktop.

“Norman, you need to decide what’s more important to you. Saving the planet? Or saving your marriage? I’m going to go and stay at Mum’s for a bit so you can have some time to think about it.”

----------------------------------------------------

Muriel slammed the boot shut, got into the driver’s seat and turned the key in the ignition. She wound down the window and looked up at Norman. “I’ll call to let you know I got there safe, okay? You’ll be alright, won’t you? We both just need some space. Do you understand? Norman, are you listening to me?”

“Yes, of course, love. It’s just...”

“Just what, Norman?”

“Just that, you know. It’s waste of petrol to have the engine on. When you’re not actually driving.”

Muriel smiled sadly. “Bye, Norman.” She wound the window up, put the car into gear and drove away. Norman watched until she turned the corner then went back inside the house.

Norman sat on the sofa, thinking. He stared at the light switch but made no move to turn it on as the darkness grew around him.