The Blankets

She sat in the middle of the dome tent and wrapped herself in a blanket, “We are alone.”

He sat in the middle of the domed tent and pulled the same blanket over his shoulders.

She listed to the sounds of the forest, and waited.

He moved closer. “We had a perfect summer day.”

She smiled, “And not much time to ourselves.”

He kissed her once then listed to the sounds of the forest and waited.

She sighed.

He said, “Goodnight.”

She said, “Goodnight.”

He could feel her move closer under the blanket.

She said, “I have a proposal.”

He said, “Another proposal today?”

She looked down, “I get the tent and you sleep outside.”

He pulled himself free of the blanket and started moving toward the zipped flap of the tent.

She reached out and wrestled him backward, laughing, “Will you always do what I want?”

He shrugged, “No.”

She said, “Good, I like a challenge.”

He said, “I have a proposal.”

She said, “Another proposal today?”

He paused for dramatic effect, “How about, I get the tent and you sleep outside.”

She pulled all of the blankets off the bed and laughed, “The blankets are mine.”

He said, “Our tent without blankets on a cold night?”

She wrapped herself in the blankets, and waited for his apology.

© J. Bateman

Concetrikey © 2022