Fireworks

Sue Storm Richards stood in a white cotton blouse and beige chinos, staring at her husband. He could tell that she was not happy. Her blue eyes flashed.

"Reed, we need to talk!" Your habit of taking me for granted has to stop! I won't restate what I have told you a thousand times already."

His brown eyes met her intense blue ones.

"Put me first damn it! The concept is not a hard one, but you just can't seem to comprehend it. I'll cut to the chase. YOU chose a scientific conference in Cleveland over a trip to the seashore! You clearly prefer white lab coats and stuffy conversation to White sand and tropical breezes. Worse, the middle of your stupid conference falls on our anniversary! I'm sure that insignificant date has completely slipped you mind!"

Reed flushed slightly and averted his glance.

Sue's stare took on a new intensity.

"Namor called. He invited me to spend the week with him in Atlantis. My bag is packed. It includes a particularly sexy nightie that Namor may or may not see me in. When we are both back here, I expect some serious changes in your behavior, OR ELSE!"

"Darling," began Reed.

With a haughty breath, she slid into his arms, graced him with a scintillating kiss, and soberly addressed him.

"I honestly love you. You're the smartest man I have ever met. You have a good sense of humor. In some ways, you are the sexiest man in the world. On the other hand..."

She stroked his cheek.

"I hope your imagination about what may or may not be happening in Atlantis kicks into overdrive while you are trying to discuss the nature of quantum theory as it ties to the general theory of relativity in the sixth dimension or whatever. It will serve you right!"

She ran her fingers through his hair, smiled coquettishly, and continued.

"Whatever happens in Atlantis stays in Atlantis. There will be no confession of any marital infidelity or other sins that may or may not have occurred; nor will there be an asking of forgiveness. You need to stew and marinate in your juices. Absentmindedness, aloofness, and distractedness are sometimes punished with lessons that perpetuate for the rest of a transgressor's life. That is just how things are."

She tugged on his chin and planted another kiss on his panic-stricken face.

"I packed your bag as well," she said soberly. I had your favorite lab coat dry cleaned and made sure to pack an extra cellphone charger because you always forget. Not that it matters. There is no cell service in Atlantis; there is captured sunshine and fresh sea breezes, which I'm sure will pale when compared to the ambiance of Northeastern Ohio."

Reed found his voice at last. "Susan, darling, please don't go."

"No, darling, I've rearranged my life any number of times because you asked. That is not happening this time. You are like an oblivious whale lumbering through the depths, darling. I must harpoon you and wound you to get your attention. Perhaps Namor will harpoon me, so to speak, perhaps he won't. You will never know. Dwell on that fact. Cogitate and mull over it from the moment you get on the plane at the airport until the time you are back here in the Baxter Building. Believe me, this will do wonders for our marriage."

"Sue, I don't want to lose you!"

"Says the man who booked a scientific conference the week of his wedding anniversary! To be blunt, Mr. Richards, I don't believe you. All the evidence indicates otherwise."

"I'll change."

"You'll have to prove that to me with your actions, later, darling. And don't think by cancelling your trip to the stupid conference that I'll stay home. You ARE going to that conference, and I AM going to Atlantis! Our future, if there is one, begins to play out when the week is over. The whale must be harpooned, or the whale learns nothing."

"I'm crazy about you, Sue!"

"You'd be crazy about me if I dressed up like a slide rule. You don't care about the string bikini in my packed luggage."

"Sue, darling, don't! Think about us!"

"You, Reed, have had years to prevent what may or may not happen. You go to Cleveland and deliver your paper while I go to Atlantis and work on a tan and, perhaps, something more. This conversation is over."

With that, she was off, determined and inscrutable.