Fracking for Tact
A Story Every Day in 2024 March 22nd 82/366
"Well, you've finally got the Yorkshire puddings right. Well done!" Neil was pleased with his compliment, hoping that it would get the response it warranted. He was, after all, praising for a change instead of criticising. He was making an effort and he felt sure that it would be noticed.
He smiled at Emma, who glared back at him with a scowl.
"What?" he said, before putting a big mouthful of the delicious roast dinner which Emma had cooked into his mouth.
Emma was watching him and getting increasingly irritated with the smirk that was still on his face despite his energetic chewing. His comment about the Yorkshire puddings was sitting while she formulated a reply that would convey her full disdain for it.
"I can't believe you just said that," she ventured as her opening gambit.
Neil's chewing slowed. He swallowed and said, "I thought you'd be pleased that I'd noticed the extra effort."
Emma bristled again but Neil failed to notice her hackles rising and continued.
"Every other time, we had those piddling little ones which were disappointing, weren't they? You said so yourself. And we know now it's not the oven, because you've had the new one, so it must have been something you did."
Emma listened, teeth grinding as Neil happily regaled her with her failings in the Yorkshire pudding department, thinking that this chump she was married to wouldn't have the first idea of how to cook a meal like this, never mind the Yorkshires, and he had the gall, the gall, to sit there and criticise her past Yorkshire puddings!
Everyone knew Yorkshire puddings were notoriously difficult to get right. Except Neil, it would seem.
"Do you know how patronising you sound?" Emma parried.
Neil blinked as the frostiness with which his comments were met made its way to him.
"I thought I was paying you a compliment," he said, completely flummoxed at her response. "They've not been great before and now they are."
Emma shook her head and blurted:
"Talking to you, Neil, is like fracking for tact!"
Neil still wasn't sure what he'd said wrong but he was very wary around Yorkshire puddings from that day onwards.
***
365 words
I love writing these little exchanges between people, the ins-and-outs of a marriage or a relationship that show the misunderstandings that exist and how these chinks can become bigger and wider until, like drifting icebergs, a couple is no longer a thing and the two are now miles apart.
Thanks for stopping by! If you do read this, please do drop a comment as I love to interact with my readers.
82/366
About the Creator
Rachel Deeming
Mum, blogger, crafter, reviewer, writer, traveller: I love to write and I am not limited by form. Here, you will find stories, articles, opinion pieces, poems, all of which reflect me: who I am, what I love, what I feel, how I view things.
Keep reading
More stories from Rachel Deeming and writers in Fiction and other communities.
The Mascot
"Morning, Mr. Humphries," Paul shouted as Mr. Humphries headed out. Paul knew a secret about Mr. Humphries but he would never tell anyone. Not because Mr. Humphries had told him not to, because Mr. Humphries didn't know he knew, but because he, Paul, wanted to keep it to himself. He was young, but he sensed that Mr. Humphries would not want others to know. He felt like it would bring trouble to Mr. Humphries so he kept quiet.
By Rachel Deemingabout a month ago in Fiction
Two Pink Lines
I had never really felt like a child. I'd always had to raise myself. My mother was just a teenager when she'd had me and consequently, we had spent my whole childhood arguing and fighting like a couple of sisters as opposed to mother and daughter. My father was older than my mother but still had some maturing to do himself. He focused his entire life on me, his little girl but never realized the pressure that put on me. I always felt I had to raise him even as he was trying to raise me. We raised each other. Then, I met him. He cares, he shows me a love like I've never known. For once, it's about me and I don't have to focus on other people's needs and what someone needs from me. Someone always wants something from you. That is what my parents have taught me. Love is selfish but it isn't with him. He is perfect, beautiful, funny, and can take me to places I've only dreamed about. Places outside my mind and my own pathetic life and I know that I will always love him. When we first met, I wanted him to have my children, but now? Right now, with us both still in high school? This is all happening so soon. I slipped into the restroom at work. It had been 6 weeks since my last menstrual and this was not normal. I couldn't wait any longer. I put the top on the test and waited. These 60 seconds felt like forever. What would we do? We were both seniors so we didn't have long to go before school was over but this was not the plan. The plan was for him to join the Army and me the National Guard and for me to get my associate's degree and then we marry, then have kids.
By Lindsey Altom5 days ago in Fiction
A Jamaica Tale Story
In the heart of Jamaica, where the vibrant colors of the Caribbean Sea meet the emerald hues of the Blue Mountains, lies the quaint village of Marleyvale. Surrounded by lush forests and cascading waterfalls, Marleyvale is a place where time seems to stand still, and the echoes of ancient tales linger in the air.
By Alecia Harriotta day ago in Fiction
When the Robots Took My Job
This is for RM Stockton's Write Club prompt for the month of April: AI Please allow me to vent. For "college," I went to a scam school that is now closed. We were promised internships that were never spoken of again after admissions, and we were promised help finding jobs. The first time I went to the career counselor's office, she was completely frazzled. She had no idea what to do with us, the film majors. The second time I visited her office, I let her know that I'd found myself a job, and she was visibly relieved.
By Rebekah Conard5 days ago in Journal
Comments (14)
I'm guessing he felt those fracking earthquakes rumbling beneath him whenever the subject of any puddings, Yorkshire or other, ever came up again, lol. Us guys sure can be dense sometimes. (Yeah, I've had more than just a few of those moments myself.)
I'm so sorry Emma. If I was your friend, I would have talked you out of getting married or getting into a relation with him. Please divorce his ass or break up with him. You're not his mother to cook for him. I rest my case. Lol
"Constructive" criticism is still criticism and rarely welcomed, despite everyone's assurance that they want to learn! Dipped my toe in those cold waters a few times and decided that no response is better. I'm also not a fan of the manipulative way people "frack" for anything instead of asking directly or quietly letting things ride. Don't think I'd much get along with either of these two, but can think of many people like them. "Fracking for tact" is a great line, though! Well-wrought, once again!
Ah! I finally get it. Interesting.
I really liked this little snippet of life between two people and how you captured it. The dialogue was spot-on in revealing the grand disconnect between these two--a la differences in the sexes? or the difference between a guy like him and a woman like her? Who knows. But the marriage might be doomed.
Ah, Neil. Just so clueless. Brilliant title/line! You built the tension so strongly but with a bit of comedic flair!
Rd - Since Neil beat me to the Yorkshire Quips, may I add. Although I don't eat meat, Wife would slather gravy over our Yorkshire that came out in all different overstuffed slants ~ Drip-Drip-Drip....Yum. JB
Oof. This is so realistic, I can feel myself wincing. Awesome writing. Also - I think Yorkshire puddings are ridiculously difficult to get right!
Seems there more wrong between them than the pudding. Great piece.
Again, another convincing slice of life, almost forensic in its examination of a clueless male who has no appreciation of the efforts that his wife has made to provide gustatory pleasure. Really good storytelling, Rachel!
Fracking for tact. I can imagine finding myself on both sides of this!
Ah!! Fracking for tact. I get it now. Narcissism, it is just glaring us in the face everywhere we go. Little arguments that turn into storms and end not so well sometimes. Well said.
You are so great at these little exchanges. I love how realistic it is...the uncomfortableness...the anxiety it makes me feel for her and how much I think Neil is a tool or at least just being one in this instance. there's a history there too. You are just so great at weaving so much information in a believeable and not overladen way into short pieces. I know you're not interested in that kinda thing right now...but if you did a book of like micro viginettes I'd totally buy it lol. I love how you just take something small and seemingly insignificant everyday and just inject life into it. The dialogue is splendid. Yeah...you did it again, chum. Well bloody done.
I was waiting for one of the puddings to spring to life and murder Neil.