It was late when Lesbat finally arrived home from a hard day's work at the box factory. Lesbat's work included his three greatest passions; cardboard, stapling things together... And he especially liked cardboard. However, after twenty-three years at this seemingly dead-end job, Lesbat was tired, and wanted a little variety in his life.
"I'm home!" He called to his life-partner, Louise.
Louise was sitting on their leopard-print couch, watching the bingo, as was typical when Lesbat would arrive home. Lesbat was greeting by the uninterested grunt of Louise as he circled B9. Lesbat tried to make an effort to involve his partner by asking, "What's for dinner, honey?"
When Louise didn't reply, Lesbat looked down at the somewhat burnt, and cold meat loaf sitting on the bench.
"Oh..." Lesbat said with feigned enthusiasm, "Meatloaf... Again..."
Louise looked up from his Bingo, "Is that a problem?"
"No-no... No. It's not a problem... For the fourth week in a row."
This caused Louise to drop his pen entirely. "What's wrong, Lesbat? You haven't been yourself lately."
"It's just... I'm tired."
"You're tired?" questioned Louise. "YOU'RE tired? What about ME Lesbat? I stay home everyday slaving over a hot stove, just to have you come home... And... And YELL at me - I don't even know who you are, Lesbat!..." Louise all but sobbed out, "Or whose perfume that is on your collar!"
"I..I..." stammered Lesbat, "I don't know what you're talking about!"
"It's Armando's perfume! Admit it!" accused Louise.
"Honey - the neighbours will hear!" Lesbat said in a hushed voice to the frantic Louise.
"Let them hear! Let them all hear!... I've been wanting change for years - years! But whenever I bring up the idea of children, you just change the subject!!" Louise pulled out a cleanex and sobbed into it.
"We have Claudiarietta! Isn't that enough? What more do you want from me, woman?!"
"I mean a child of our own! You're barely a part of Claudia's life! The other day she brought a picture home from school, which was supposed to be of her family!" Louise pulled out a piece of paper. "Look, Lesbat! Look, it says: 'Mummy, Cladiarietta, and Daddy's work' - 'DADDY'S WORK'!"
"Hey!" Lesbat retorted, "It's Daddy's work that puts that meatloaf on the table! ...As crappy as it is - "
This was interrupted by the outraged gasp of Louise. There was a silence. "I.. I'm sorry - " Lesbat began before being interrupted once again by Louise.
"Don't... Just don't, Lesbat. I'm taking Claudiarietta, and I'm staying with my mother for a few weeks. There's more meatloaf in the fridge if you want to re-heat it."
"No, Louise, I can change!" Lesbat yelled at the back of departing Louise.