Saturday morning, I was headed downtown for a walk with my dogs. On the corner of West End and 116th street, we passed a couple in the midst of a tiff. She was crying and he was saying “I want to say something that will make you feel better!” She replied “Then say different stuff!!!” I chuckled and slowed the dogs down to catch more of their fight- eager for a little distraction from my walk. The fight wasn’t explosive though, it was just a steam blowing off-er. I slipped my earbuds back in and trudged onward.
Two blocks later, another couple was fighting. Actually, it was more of a mutual whine than a fight really. This time, there was something that needed to be picked up at the store for their baby (that was anxiously cooing from the sling around dad’s neck) and neither wanted to do it because there was other stuff that needed to be done. Again, there was sighing, head shaking and clenched fists from both contenders, but nothing that entertaining.
We crossed into the park and stopped suddenly when we hit yet another couple deep in conflict. He was bellowing about dirty laundry and she was yarping about laundromat quarters. I honestly thought I was on some hidden camera show or something. Three couples in less than 10 blocks? Was this sunny day in May a secret relationship Armageddon? I wiped the pond of sweat from my upper lip and thought, “Huh… maybe”.