My wifes things, I gave to good people
What space? Charlotte cried, clutching her chest. Where is the wardrobe?
I dismantled it and sold it, Frank waved her off. Just look how bright it is now! The air feels fresher!
His blissful expression didnt comfort me in the slightest.
Frank! I shook my head slowly. Wheres the wardrobe?
Oh, Charlotte, youre absolutely obsessed with that wardrobe, he laughed. The room has come alive, cant you see? Theres so much space now!
Ill give your face a whole new shade of aubergine if you dont answer me, I threatened. What did you do with the wardrobe?
I told youI broke it down and sold it. The money is on the hall table if you need it.
Frank, you just need to feel the space! Id completely forgotten how big this room could be!
I know exactly how large the room is, I replied. And the wardrobe was there for a reason: it was convenient!
Well, it wont be here anymore! Frank grinned. We shouldnt clutter up our space, its simply wrong!
Frank, I dont need your opinion on whats right or wrong! And Im not interested in hearing about space either! I bristled, storming towards my husband. How dare you
At this point, I paused, struck by a new thought. It wasnt just the wardrobe itself that troubled me; it wasnt standing empty. I hadnt seen mountains of clothing lying around anywhere.
Frank, where are the things that were in the wardrobe?
My voice was much louder now, and I heard a commotion from the bedroom: my daughters raced in, tears streaming.
Mum! Dads lost his mind! sobbed Jessica and Emily.
Jessica, being older, threw in a few choice phrases shed probably picked up at school, but I was too stunned to respond to her cheek.
The missing wardrobe made me edge closer to saying things to Frank that Id only heard in rougher settings.
Oh! Frank exclaimed. Here we arethe gathering of the Mindless Hoarders club can officially commence!
Mummy, sniffled little Emily, please make Dad give me my things back!
And mine, too! Jessica backed her up.
Things, things, Frank snorted dismissively. Thats all you ever wantthings! Cant think about anything else! And you had so many
Frank gestured wildly, rolling his eyes. I asked, Had? Frank, what do you mean had?
There are people who need things, Charlotte, he declared solemnly. People less fortunate than us! Its our duty, as comfortable citizens, to help those who have less!
No, I froze. Dont tell me
Alright, Frank nodded. I wont say another word. But Id ask you not to bombard me with silly questions!
I pressed my palm to my forehead. Odd, it felt icy coldor maybe my head was burning hot. I tried to swallow, but my throat was thick and tight. I coughed, struggling for breath.
Eventually, I managed to ask, Frank, what does all this mean? I gestured broadly at the chaos.
Ive liberated our wonderful home from all excessand earned plenty of good karma in the process! Frank beamed. You cant even imagine how satisfying it feels to do good! I heard so many words of gratitude!
I was speechless, staring at his face while my daughters wept quietly beside me.
Ive told you a hundred times, Frank said, almost smugly, dont turn our beautiful home into a warehouse of pointless stuff!
But you kept bringing more, as if possessions were lifes true purpose! Now everything that cluttered our existence has vanished! Frank grinned, inhaling deeply. Just feel how easy it is to breathe! Good deeds lift you up!
Lift you up? I felt so lifted that for a moment, I imagined my soul soaring on newly sprouted wings, while my body dropped limply to the floor.
Only the girls, crying and hugging me from either side, kept me rooted.
What did you do with our things? I asked, voice drained of all colour.
I gave them to charity! Frank said, as if hed won an award. Dont worry, I only gave away what was unnecessary. And since the wardrobe was empty, I sold it to avoid further clutter!
My legs trembled. It was a wardrobe to the ceilingfive doors, spanning the entire wall. Id designed it myself, and it held so much
***
People need things! Thats a universal truth. But exactly how many things does someone need? There used to be whole institutions devoted to designing furniture to fit peoples needseven keeping in mind everyones income, so that what you could afford didnt get lost in cavernous space.
But times have changed, and so have incomes and necessities. Now, what counts as enough depends entirely on the person. Each family decides their own meaning.
Frank and I faced this issue after over a decade of marriage and raising two lovely daughters.
Our early days as a couple were full of struggles. Simply put, we had little to spare.
We lived as best we could, always tackling one problem or another. And there were plenty of problems!
Our first rented flat needed a complete overhaul, the second wasnt much better. In the third, furniture was only partly there.
We even lived with Franks parents while saving every penny for a deposit. Getting our own place brought joy, but mostly tears: renovations, furnishing, fixing even basic comfortsand thats just a start!
Our ten-year anniversary made me realise things werent so bad anymore. Sure, there were still issues, but we could finally relax a bit. At last, we could just live!
And then the strangest conflict appeared.
Why? Frank pestered with that question endlessly.
Because we need to! I replied, tired of spelling it out.
Well, I think we dont need to! he insisted.
You simply dont understand, I waved him off.
Oh, I understand perfectly, Frank stuck to his guns. You just cant resist spending money!
I look to the future, Frank! Id repeat. Better to have confidence in tomorrow, than to gamble on uncertainty!
It seemed such a trivial argument. So what if I bought eight towels instead of fourso thered always be spares.
Decent quality, good price. Towels in the cupboard arent just a reservethey make handy gifts for family.
You never know when youll be strapped for cash, and a wrapped towel with a heartfelt card saves the day!
But towels were only the tip of the iceberg.
We discovered we had two completely different philosophies.
Frank believed you only needed what you used right now, nothing more.
I believed the house should be a full cupand should have a bit extra for emergencies. No need to dash out for a towel when you could calmly grab one from storage!
Previously, we could barely keep up with immediate needs, so no argument arose. But as soon as I could start stocking up, I claimed that role as the mistress of the house, not a guest!
Instead of buying one bottle of washing-up liquid, Id buy two. Instead of two pairs of socks, five.
The same went for bedding, toiletries, and all household odds and ends: sponges, cloths, loo rolls, bag clips, and packetsall bought in bulk.
Clothes were an entire issue of their own. Not only back-ups, but sizes for growingsome for slimming, others for inevitable life changes.
Both girls were growing fast. And as girls, they had unique views on clothes: they simply couldnt wear the same outfits forever. Variety mattered!
They were shooting up so quickly. What fit today would outgrow them tomorrow. And I knew we might not have money for a new dress or blouse at a moments notice.
I myself was still young enough! Im a mother and wife, yes, but that doesnt mean I want to look dowdy!
And I wanted Frank to dress smartly, too! Not to wear the same outfit until it was frayed.
Which brought out Franks Why? even more.
Why do I need three pairs of lounge trousers? Two is plenty! One to wear, one in the wash!
But what if I havent washed them yet and you get messy? Id ask.
Then Ill manage, Frank shrugged.
Oh no, you wont! Id wag my finger.
Some things Id enforce, some Id hide from Frank, and some led to endless arguments.
I wouldnt be a good homemaker if I couldnt stick to my decisions. Sometimes Frank gave in, sometimes he kept grumbling, sometimes hed shout if he saw no logic in stocking up.
But my reserves grew. And every time I pulled something from storage, I made Frank admit I was right!
Where would we get money for new boots for Jessica now? Good thing I got them on sale last time! Remember how you complained? You should apologise to me now!
Well, Frank smiled sheepishly. That was a one-off
Or maybe you should just start listening to your wife! Id tease. Youre the strategist, and Im the caretaker!
We managed another seven years this way.
Then, suddenly, Jessica phonedsobbing, begging me to come home, saying Dad had lost his mind!
As Jessica cried in the background, I heard Emilys hysterical wails.
I nearly lost my mind, too, when I saw the massive wardrobe was gone
***
Jessica, take Emily to your room, I said gently, eyeing Frank. Switch on the telly, loud. My voice trembled. I need a word with your father.
At the threatening tone, both girls stopped crying. Jessica whisked Emily into the bedroom in seconds.
Frank! I growled.
He shivered. He was scared, and for good reason. And he had nowhere to run.
