How would you react if you come back home after a short absence to find the fire engine at your doorstep? How would you react if your garden fence had burnt out because on a very windy day your husband happened to light a fire in the middle of the garden to get rid of some old timber and sticks? How would you deal with the firefighters mocking comments alerting your husband of your presence such as " She is back!, Careful!!"?? And finally...how would you handle your own hubby questioning you about your mood after a few hours of tense calm ("Why are you so grumpy?") ???
Well, if you are British you'd take a deep breath in and run into the kitchen to turn the kettle on. Then with one hand you'd wave the firemen through the window kitchen whilst the other hand would hold the steamy mug.You would feel deep inside that, at least, there is something that would never let you down, a cup of tea. And there it would start a sort of dance that has been danced by the couple many times before. The cold war where you could cut the atmosphere with a knife, where communication gets limited to a brief an essential information exchange like "the dog needs to be walked" or "your mum called earlier". How long this situation would last is proportional to the anger and concern caused. What is fascinating it's the ability of holding your emotions to yourself to avoid a major crisis (insults, stabbing or even murder). Very civilised. Very British.
Things between them would warm up eventually and there would be a discussion and some new decisions would be made: to buy a fire extinguisher and to write a list of forbidden activities for firebug husbands.
If you are native to a Mediterranean country all the yelling and shouting would have been heard at Buckingham Palace. A very different story.
PS. A true story where the main characters won´t be revealed.
Well, if you are British you'd take a deep breath in and run into the kitchen to turn the kettle on. Then with one hand you'd wave the firemen through the window kitchen whilst the other hand would hold the steamy mug.You would feel deep inside that, at least, there is something that would never let you down, a cup of tea. And there it would start a sort of dance that has been danced by the couple many times before. The cold war where you could cut the atmosphere with a knife, where communication gets limited to a brief an essential information exchange like "the dog needs to be walked" or "your mum called earlier". How long this situation would last is proportional to the anger and concern caused. What is fascinating it's the ability of holding your emotions to yourself to avoid a major crisis (insults, stabbing or even murder). Very civilised. Very British.
Things between them would warm up eventually and there would be a discussion and some new decisions would be made: to buy a fire extinguisher and to write a list of forbidden activities for firebug husbands.
If you are native to a Mediterranean country all the yelling and shouting would have been heard at Buckingham Palace. A very different story.
PS. A true story where the main characters won´t be revealed.
¿Cómo reaccionarías si regresaras a casa tras ausentarte por poco tiempo y encontraras el camión de los bomberos en la puerta? ¿Cómo reaccionarías si la valla del jardín se hubiera consumido por el fuego porque en un día de mucho viento a tu marido se le ocurriera encender un fuego para deshacerse de algunos palos y madera vieja? ¿ Cómo lidiarías con los comentarios socarrones de los bomberos avisando a tu marido de tu presencia tipo "¡Ha vuelto!, ¡Cuidado!"?? Y por último cómo manejarías que tu propio marido cuestione tu estado anímico tras unas horas de tensa calma ("¿Por qué estás tan gruñona?")???
Bien, si eres británica cogerías aire y correrías a la cocina a encender la hervidora de agua. Entonces con una mano saludarías a los bomberos mirando desde la ventana mientras con la otra mano agarrarías la taza humeante. Sentirías muy ademtro que, al menos, hay algo que nunca te decepcionaría, una buena taza de té. Y ahí empezaría una especie de danza que la pareja ha bailado antes michas veces. La guerra fría donde el ambiente se puede cortar con un cuchillo, donde la comunicación queda reducida al breve intercambio de la información más indispensable como "hay que sacar al perro" o " tu madre llamó antes". Lo que pueda durar esa situación es proporcional a la furia y preocupación causada. Lo que es fascinante es la capacidad de sujetar tus emociones para evitar una crisis mayor (insultos, apuñalamientos o incluso asesinato). Muy civilizado. Muy británico.
Las cosas entre ellos se irán calentando al final y entonces hablarán de ello y se tomarán algunas decisiones: probablemente comprar un extintor y escribir una lista de actividades prohibidas para maridos pirómanos.
Si eres oriundo de un país mediterráneo los gritos y alaridos se habrían oido en el palacio de Buckingham. Una historia muy distinta.
PD. Una historia verdadera donde los protagonistas no serán desvelados.
