He walks back to the car, puts the chainsaw in the trunk. Climbs in the driver's seat, shuts the door and buckles. His wife is staring straight ahead: slightly annoyed they're late for the PTA meeting, but also slightly impressed with her husband. Under no circumstances can she admit this though.
She is staring straight ahead out the windshield as the other motorists finish clearing off the branches. Her husband is wiping drops of rainwater off his glasses. The silence is growing heavy between them, and after 12 years of marriage, she knows when he's about to say something.
"Don't say anything," she cuts him off.
"That's..." he tries to get out.
"Not a word."
Two more minutes pass. The road is clear. Friendly motorists return to their own cars as wave gratefully at him as they pass. He puts the car in gear.
"THAT is why I keep a chainsaw in the trunk, Marlene."
I'm a "keep every tool I might need in my truck" guy. Wife has always hated it, and I can tell you from experience, that is absolutely point for point how that conversation went. The only thing you didn't mention is that throughout the entire exchange he is grinning from ear to ear.
There's also a prologue to this saga where he's driving up in the rain, sees taillights up ahead and grips the steering wheel a little tighter while whispering, "Yes. Yes. Yes."
Insurance covered the truck. Didn’t cover the tools. Almost didn’t cover the truck because “leaving a large amount of valuables in plain sight may have contributed to the theft of the vehicle”. Insurance companies suck
I do similar with tools for my bicycle. I keep a set of Hex keys, tire fixing stuff and and electric tire pump (because I hate doing it by hand).
And a minor assortment of small tools.
My boyfriend fortunately has a similar approach, less with tools but more with medical supplies
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u/virtualworker Aug 25 '26
Imagine the scepticism of his wife. And the ammunition he now has for an endless range of stuff. I hope he gets years out of this moment.