By, Nan Claire Falkner
“Husband, we need to replace this counter! I have splinters!” Ming-Ming pleaded as he walked in the door.
His daughters were playing Chopsticks on the piano.
“Unexpected expenses have come up – we can’t afford it! I’m hungry!” snapped Charles.
“We’re having your favorite, General Tso’s Chicken.”
Charles didn’t want to talk. He was cheating on her. Today he had leased a patio home near his office for Evie.
“What does your fortune chopsticks say?”
“I’m dumber than a fork?” He said gasping after biting into a killer pepper.
“Husband, perhaps Evie can help you. Water’s on the counter, you prick!”
nanclairefalkner 
Ohhhh …. SNAP! Caught! I loved the way you worked in the chopsticks AND the song, too. You really went all out pin the prompt here. Nice work, just great! Dang it! I’m hungry now …
That should read “on the prompt,” not “pin the prompt” although you really nailed it!
Why thank you Kent – You are always so kind with your comments and I appreciate it! Have a great week! Nan 🙂
Thank you so much for reading Mr. Colby. I appreciate it ! Nan 🙂
I didn’t know that Charley Chan and #1 son (the bumbling Chinese detectives) was Ming-Ming’s uncle. No wonder Husband was caught!
Charilie Chan and son #1 were always on TV on the weekends. The husband is going to be sorry! Thanks hon, Me 🙂
Dear Nan,
Kong Fuzi say, Ming Ming not so stupid after all.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Ming-Ming works at the library when I was there. She is Chinese and so very nice, she gave me my name written in Chinese on rice paper. Such a cool gift. Ming-Ming is brilliant and so are you Rochelle! Thanks for including me! Nan 🙂
Nan, it’s so weird to read your story after last night Bill showed us a YouTube video of a woman who accidentally (supposedly) ate a hot pepper. I can visualize your story in excruciatingly hot detail. 🙂
janet
Dear Janet, This actually (really truly) happened to me at a Chinese Restaurant when we first moved here. I thought I was choking to death – scary but I survived! Thanks for stopping by Janet! Nan 🙂
many questions on this most excellent read:
– How did wife find out about husband’s cheating?
– What were the tell-tale signs?
– Was his choking a dead give-away?
– Shouldn’t you have written ” you plick” – rather than “you prick”?
sometimes rittle things mean a rot,
(good story one again – Landy)
I don’t know how wife found out about no-good cheating husband. I think most women say they ‘suspected’ something was amiss before learning of the actual adultery. He choked and either died, or didn’t. Anyway, Ming-Ming is going to get a celebrity divorce lawyer and he won’t have any more money for patio apartments. No, it should be “You prick!” This is an American saying to someone you are extremely mad at. Thanks for reading, Landy. Nan
Ah so. Thanks for enlightening me, Nan.
I will remember to write prick from now on in America.
Landy, Maybe she has a friend at her husband’s work. I did, and yeah-howdy did I find out more than perhaps I wanted to know! I took everything while he was at work and he came home to an empty house! (and no money in the bank) We have our ways. 😉
I rike this story a rot more – even though you’re flirst one was vely good, too. 😉
Dear Lynda, Your story is perfect revenge! Nan 😉
Good job Lynda!
Nan,
Good story. I find it interesting that this photo prompt has led to so many tales of lost love and cheating or manipulative lovers. I particularly like the way you incorporate the kids pounding out “Chopsticks” on the piano. It helps set the scene for the harried, discarded wife. I hope she’s the one who files for divorce. With a good attorney, she should be able to take him (and Evie) to the cleaners.
Cheers!
MG
Dear Marie Gail, I hope she gets Everything! What a jerk! Thanks for stopping by, Nan 🙂
Ouch. Looks like Charles is clueless in more ways than one!
Hi Dawn, He is socially illiterate and thinks he can get out of any situation with his suave sophisticated personality, but this time, the tables will be turned! Thanks for dropping by and reading my story! Nan 🙂
My goodness Nan, this was rather raw. Great imagination.
Dear Dawn, Thanks for reading my story! Nan 🙂
Looks like he’s been found out, ha! He’d better watch his food from now on.
Dear draliman, He needs a royal taste tester from now on. Thanks for reading! Nan 🙂
Nan, Wow. Something tells me he’s going to have more trouble than that hot pepper. Looks like Evie’s not feeding him. She better learn to cook or he’ll have to eat out from now on. He’s going to find out how expensive a divorce can be.Well written. 🙂 —Susan
Dear Susan, Thanks! What a jerk – and with Ming-Ming getting splinters all the time! Thanks for stopping by! Nan 🙂
And all this time time I thought Evie was the hotie in this story. I guess Ming Ming had a pepper up her sleeve. Great story, Nan. Thanks for working the song in there too. I wondered if anyone was going to do that.
Dear Russell, I have a piano and that’s one of the first things my sister and I ever played on it. Nan 🙂
Greatest punishment ever..killer pepper haha and Russell I guess I thought wrong with you 🙂 Spicy work Nan 😉
Thanks Camgal – Cheating husband, opportunity, and splinters could drive any self respecting girl to unwind a little! Thanks, Nan 🙂
Very imaginative. Cheating husband, killer pepper, loved it Nan.
Dear Indira – Thank you – well like the musical “Chicago” “He had it commin!” Thanks. Nan 🙂
Good for Ming Ming! 😀
Dear Blog It or Lose It, Thanks for stopping by and I think Ming-Ming is brilliant too! She got rid of a huge problem and can now remodel – no more splinters for her! Nan 🙂
LOL!
All the best to you —
Jen
Some people never make the right choice. Let’s hope he does. Ming Ming of course.
I have to laugh, Nan. Too funny! Men think they can fool us, but they can’t! 🙂
Lily
Dear hafong, Thanks for reading my story – and yes, Men think they can fool us and some get away but not very often. Nan 🙂
Greatttake and wonderfully captured speech patterns.
Dear Etienne, Thank you so much for reading my story. I worked with a lady from China and she would tell us stories sometimes. Have a good week! Nan 🙂
lol 🙂 never had much sympathy for cheaters. great dialogue.
Thanks K.Z. he is a jerk and deserves the killer peppers! Nan 🙂
“Unexpected expenses” my eye!!!! Glad she’s on to him. May his taste buds burn!!!!
Dear Alicia, Stupid men thinking they will keep wifey ignorant of an affair. Ming-Ming was smart! Nan 🙂
Haha! I enjoyed reading this so much, Nan. And I second K.Z., GREAT dialogue 🙂
Nan, She will never get away with it. I just would have handed him divorce papers. And taken him for all that he has..
Dear Ann, This is fiction and I can kill him if I want to:) Just kidding, I think he lives and does take him to the cleaners – the jerk. Thanks for reading my story Sis! Nan 🙂
Next time he’ll just agree to replace the counter! Hell…he should pay to remodel the entire kitchen. This was a chuckle, Nan.
Excuse the delay….I’m trying to figure out how to get through the list of stories and try a new way each week. 😛 It’s probably not possible to read them all….
Ellespeth
Nan, First thanks for stopping by all these weeks and sharing your nice words & comments. I didn’t know how to reach you. Today, I am delighted to be visiting your Blog 🙂
That’s so bad of Charles to cheat on his Chinese wife- Ming Ming. He has an affair with Evie, still his wife serves him food…proves how nice she is. Also she has his favorite food in her mind.
Wonder what Charles does next!!!
I am deeply hurt when I read/see cases of infidelity.
Why can humans be loyal to their partners? Some animals are much better than us…
Typo- Last line- “Why *can’t*…”
Dear Anita, Thank you for stopping by. I like your writing a lot. I’m old and have dabbled in writing for years and it’s fun to write. I used to sit in airports and make up stories about people walking by (I didn’t say it out loud). But it’s fun to write. So, thanks for trying to find me! I appreciate your kindness! Nan 🙂
Great prompt response Nan!
All wrapped in rice paper? 😉
Absolutely wonderful how you weaved so many elements together.
Dear Pat, Thank you so much for your comments! I had fun with this prompt! Nan 🙂
I love that “Husband” start. It gives a certain tone to the story from the beginning. Great story, Nan!
Dear Snow, Thank you for your kind words. I truly appreciate your uplifting comments! Nan 🙂
Love it! You really have a knack, Nan!
Dear Lynda, Thanks for stopping by – I enjoyed this weeks prompt. You have a great knack for writing too! Nan 🙂
I hope the husband gets what he deserves. And I mean by getting something a bit more than a pepper! I loved this one, Nan!
Hi Aathira! Sorry this is so late, but I just figured out how to go back and check my posts – I missed thanking you. Oops! Thank you!
Prick is a good name for him. I’d go get that statue of the King and have it beat him into the ground. Nice one. Lucy
Dear Lucy, Thank you for your comments. Sorry this is so late, but I was going over my posts and saw that I had not replied to some comments. So sorry for this!
I really enjoyed how you got all the references in – bamboo top, chopsticks on the piano. The last line is the clincher though – wonderful comeback from the wife there.
Hi Sarah Ann, I’m so sorry this is so late, but I just figured out how to go back and check if I answered all the comments. Well I hadn’t. Thank you for reading my story!
Such clever writing!
Hi Love Happy Notes! I am so very sorry that I just now saw your comment and this is so very late. Thank you so much!