Make Your Own Silk

Woman: MJRanum
Spider: Riviera2008 

Gerald was looking over the sheaf of bills that had just arrived in the mail. Among the expected ones were, again this month, a dozen more from various clothing stores in the city. He had a pretty good idea who had spent the money, of course, and why. Vera, his wife of four years now, loved silk. Silk dresses, silk bedclothes, silk scarves, silk blouses, silk, silk, silk. And also expensive, expensive, expensive!

Now don't get Gerald wrong. He knew she looked good in the silk things she had. What worried him again this month is that, as a salesman, a good portion of his salary came from commissions. When the economy was down (as it was now), sales were down, too. For the past months, they'd had to dip into their savings to make ends meet. They shouldn't have had too except for his wife's extravagance about silk.

"Vera!" he shouted waving the bills. There was no answer. "Vera! We've got to talk."

"Just a moment," came her reply.

True to her word, a few minutes later she appeared at the study door in her latest acquisition, a stunning red silk chemise and skirt combination.

"What do you think?"

"It's beautiful," he began. "It's about all that stuff that I've got to talk to you. We're overdrawn again this month."

"Why? I only bought a few things this month," she replied with a pout.

"It's this month and every month. We can't keep spending three or four hundred dollars a month on silk things and expect to make ends meet."

"Why? You've a good position."

"It's a sales position, dammit. That means commissions. But when the sales aren't good, and they haven't been for a few months, we've got to cut back."

"That's not fair!" she protested.

"Or you'll have to go to work."

The look on her face told everything. She was from a well-to-do family and had expected her husband to support her every whim just as her father had throughout her childhood. She turned and stomped from the room. Gerald, from past experience, knew she'd likely as not go buy something to console herself. Something expensive. Something silk.

The next morning was Saturday and, even though Gerald had gotten up early, Vera had gotten up earlier still. The car was gone and her note said she'd be back later. He mentally added 'with more silk we can't afford'. He resigned himself to taking the bus. He wanted to put in a few hours at the office catching up on his orders and making contact with those few clients that were easier to reach on weekends than during the week. Maybe he could boost his sales enough to cover his wife's purchases.

He got off at the usual stop and, as he was walking down the street, noted a new shop. Or at least, he'd never seen it. In the window were any number of strange items. Gerald paused, curious. Something compelled him to enter the store. Inside, a large dark-haired woman smiled at him.

"How may I help you?" she asked sweetly.

"I, uh, am just curious. How long have you been open?" he asked.

"Only a few weeks. We specialize in all kinds of hard to get items. Mostly imported, all unique, or very rare."

Gerald thought to himself that they were all likely overpriced, too. Still, he felt bad about confronting Vera again. Maybe if he found something she'd like, a small gift would soothe hurt feelings and reduce the size of next month's silk bills.

"What have you got for a woman that is crazy about silk?" he asked.

"I've a number of pieces. Here let me show you."

She wandered over to a display case that held several brooches. All were beautiful of course and no price was apparent on any of them. One, in particular, caught his eye. It was an art deco spider.

"How much for the spider?" he asked.

"It's only $75," she replied, smiling at him.

"Costume jewelry then?" he asked.

"Not at all. I have a special deal with my supplier and he makes sure I get the occasional piece at a really good price. I pass that price along."

"Oh," Gerald looked at the spider again. It was beautiful. "I'll take it," he decided.

"Excellent," she replied. "I'll wrap it for you."

She returned a few minutes later with a beautifully wrapped box. Gerald, stunned by the speed with which she'd accomplished the wrapping, nodded and paid her. He then left the shop and continued to his office. Some four hours later, with two more orders to show for it, he decided he'd had enough for any weekend and began walking back to the bus stop. Vera, passing in the car, noticed him, waved and stopped.

"Heading home?" she asked.

"Yes. Find anything?" he asked.

"No. It was all so run of the mill. After your nastiness this morning, I deserved something better."

Gerald flinched. That meant expensive. Now was as good a time as any.

"I'll drive. I've gotten something for you." After she transferred to the passenger side, he handed her the package.

"It's just stunning," she replied with her eyes wide. "This must have cost a fortune."

"I found it in a new shop on sale. Hope you don't mind."

"Mind! It's wonderful," she threw her arms around him and kissed him.

The rest of the weekend went much better. Vera, it seemed wasn't interested in adding to her silks any longer. The brooch had done the trick. Inwardly, Gerald smiled. Much cheaper than the amount she'd have spent on her own. He managed to get the car first on Monday and made his way to work. Cold calls and call backs to clients occupied his day. By evening, he was tired and hoping that Vera had managed to cook something for supper. They'd been going out a lot but that extravagance, too, would have to be curtailed. Just before he left work, the phone rang.

"You'll just never guess what!" beamed Vera's voice over the phone. Gerald was too tired for guessing games.

"No," he stated tiredly. "I'm pretty sure I won't"

"I have a way to have all the silk I want now," she stated proudly. "And it won't cost us a thing!"

"How is that possible?" Gerald's tired brain was wondering what kind of oddball scheme she'd started this time.

"Just wait until you get home!" the line went dead.

Gerald, have curious and half in dread, made his way to the car and drove home. As he pulled into the driveway, he caught sight of his wife. She'd been quite right. Half spider now, she could make her own silk. She could have all the silk she wanted.