A Raised Seat

The stairs had never looked so high, so winding, so...daunting. The handrail felt sticky under William's grasp. His fate was up there, just a few feet down the hall. He struggled to take the first step.

He knew what he would find behind those bedroom doors. The signs had all been there: the late night calls, the new lacy undergarments, and the raised toilet seat. Maybe she could explain the other signs, but there was no explaining away that raised toilet seat. His stomach tightened as the images cluttered his mind.

As William approached the top step, he could hear music coming for the bedroom. There was no light shining through the cracks under the door. His hands began to tremble as he realized he was going to catch them red handed.

Sorrow and dread weighed heavy on William as he crossed the short hallway. He grabbed the knob, twisted it and shoved. "Uh huh." He screamed stepping into the room. A shriek pierced the darkness as he fumbled for the wall switch.

"William, what the hell?" Delores yelled as she turned on the bed side light. He could see right away she was alone.

"Sorry. I guess I had a few too many at the club and thought it would be funny."

"It wasn't." Delores' glare was penetrating. She shoved the covers aside and marched into the bathroom.

William undressed, threw his jacket and trousers on the back of the chair and dove under the covers.

Delores crawled back into bed, kissed the back of William's neck and said in her most nonchalant voice, "The new maid refuses to put the seat down after she cleans the toilet; I think we're going to have to let her go."

A tear welled in William's eye, "Whatever pleases you my darling."