A Daily Ritual

It's a daily ritual

The shave in the shower
The vacuuming of the rug
The fluffing of the pillows

Daily, routine
With small variations

Did you do this?
--An hour ago
Oh
--I took care of it

Small talk
Chitchat
Back and forth
Agreeable
Amicable
Allowable

Given the circumstances
A shave and a shower
A made bed and an empty laundry basket

The mail's here
--Any for me?
No
--Well, then...
Just thought you should--
--What?
Nothing, never mind
--Good coffee
Yes, it is

Odd to live in a home of routine
Books on the nightstand
That never get read

Recipes tacked to the fridge
With dust over their ingredients
Never to be made

But the bed gets made

You made the bed?
--Yes
You called your mother?  It's her birthday.
--Yes
You hate me, don't you?
--Let's not do this today

Not today
Not to disrupt
The daily ritual

There will be other days
For disruption

Where we will sit
And talk

Amicably, agreeably
Allowing ourselves the opportunity
To say our peace

But not today

Today the car needs to be washed
And the oil needs to be changed

--And you could use a shave
What?
--I said you could use a shave
Oh
--The coffee's good
You said that
--What?
About the coffee.  You said that already.
--No, I didn't.
You didn't?
--Not today.
Oh.
--Maybe yesterday.
Yes.  Probably.  Probably yesterday.

Hard to tell now, you think

Hard to tell
The difference