Published Articles

ONE AND ONLY
by Karen Ackland

Jack calls her his best girl, which pleases Jill. She wraps herself in the old-fashioned, sentimental language of their life together, although by temperament she is neither old-fashioned nor sentimental. A tall, angular woman, she is the first to criticize illogical thinking or enthusiastic proclamations. She snorts at stories with themes of love.

"Schmaltzy," she declares. "Unrealistic."

"It's only a movie, sweetheart," Jack teases as they snuggle on the couch. "Where's your sense of romance?"

During their courtship Jill was wary of Jack's promise of happiness, but their life together has knocked holes in her reserve, pleasing her more than she anticipated. Privately she begins to adopt some of Jack's language. She calls herself Jack's one and only, turning the embroidery of the phrase over in her mouth. Embarrassed by her indulgence, she concludes that she is at least Jack's only wife, never suspecting he might have another family in another town.

'Because Jill never goes to that town and doesn't see the family - the woman, petite and freckled, the two boys with Jack's curly brown hair - when Jack hands her a birthday card that reads, "You mean everything to me," her pleasure grows without restraint.

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