The Tale of a Friend: A Marriage Born from Love

A Friends Tale: A Marriage of Love
One fine day my friend decided to get married. He wed for love, of course. His bride was attractive, smart, and selfreliant. She worked as an accountant at a large firm and earned a good salary.
João, my buddy, didnt want to fall behind his wifes earnings. He took on extra jobs and put in long hours to pay off their apartment loan faster.
They bought the flat almost immediately. They saved, obtained a mortgage, and even received help from family. They carried out a solid Europeanstyle renovation and furnished it beautifully. As they say, it was a life to be enjoyed.
Yet happiness didnt arrive. The wife couldnt keep up with the household choresshe either didnt know how to sweep, dust, and prepare dinner on time, or simply didnt want to. She claimed she was exhausted from work and returned home late. In fact, João wasnt any better; he also worked late.
Thus the arguments began over who contributed more at home. The first six months were filled with daily battles in an apartment strewn with clothes and piles of dirty dishes. Neither confessed the cause of the fights to their relatives; both felt embarrassed.
One evening João went fishing with his fatherinlaw. Both were avid anglers, which made them get along well. By the fire, with a glass of wine beside him, João poured out his frustrations to his fatherinlaw, trusting him not to tell anyone, especially his motherinlaw.
The fatherinlaw swore to keep the secret but warned that their home would never find peace until they welcomed a house guardian.
I have someone in mind, he said. When I have a chance, Ill persuade him to move into your place.
João thought his fatherinlaw was joking, but he stayed silent.
The following week the fatherinlaw arrived at their doorstep with a kitten. João was outraged. Why? It will only add more mess! Yet the fatherinlaw invited him out onto the balcony for a smoke, reminding him of the house guardian. He claimed he had brought the guardian together with the cat and that everything would improve now, asking only that they treat the cat kindly.
João instantly fell for the little feline. Small and affectionate, it quickly accepted him as its owner. Wherever he went, it followed, demanding attention. The only mishap was a tiny accident it made on the floor, which he had to clean up that night.
The next morning, when João returned from work, the house was spotless. No clothes lay around, and his wife was preparing a delicious dinner.
Feeling encouraged, João finally installed the bathroom shelf hed promised to put up ages ago.
The following day, he walked in to find his wife vacuuming the rugs. He decided to help, tossed the trash out, and went to buy some bread. At the shop he also bought a bottle of wine. The dinner turned into almost a celebration; they couldnt recall the last time theyd felt such joy.
That pattern continued throughout the week. It seemed happiness had moved back into the home. On Sunday night his wife said to João:
Tomorrow you wont need to come home during the day. Ive already bought sand and set up a spot for the cat in the bathroom.
For whom?
For your kitten. I know youve been coming home every day after work to clean and tidy, but from now on you can relax; everythings taken care of.
João was stunned. He hadnt been coming home during the day for chores; he assumed his wife was the one cleaning. Perhaps she felt ashamed of doing nothing in a clean house.
He decided to leave work at noon to investigate. He pretended to go out, then slipped back quietly, hiding his phone.
Around lunch he heard someone unlock the door. The cat sprinted to the entrance, meowing and greeting. Then a gentle voice said:
Oh, Mimi, Ive missed you! I brought you milk and a fresh treat. Looks like youve learned to use the bathroom on your own
The bedroom door opened. It was his fatherinlaw, who hadnt expected to find João there.
So this is your house guardian, huh?
The fatherinlaw blushed:
Well, I gave you the cat. I thought it would help you look after it, at least at the start.
And how did you get a key?
I lifted one from your bunch without you noticing when we went fishing and made a copy. I returned it the next day
Three years have now passed since João and his wife settled into a happy life. They even have a little child. To this day, no one really knows who the true house guardian was that once lived in their apartment.