Edna Ferber observed people with the eye of a painter. She saw us clearly, much too clearly for what we are: humans with strange behaviors. Being a novelist with a way with words, she then proceeded to describe these strange behaviors in a way that was and still is, funny and painful because we recognize our silliness and oddness all too well. In this story she describes how a tiny mannerism in a husband can drive a loving wife to up one wall and down the other. And how, when she finally breaks after 4 years with this man whom she loves and hates at the same time, the man is left with a bewildered look on his face because, well, he didn't do anything and yet his sweet wife is screaming and dissolving into tears. Of course it works the other way too and husbands are driven to distraction by some small mannerism their wives do without thinking. Enjoy this delightful story and take a moment to reflect on the wonderful ability of humans to live with each other at all.
