The Slice: Wondering about the rest of the story

Sometimes you see something and it sticks with you.

Maybe 25 years ago, on a warm sunny morning, I walked toward an apartment building in the west end of downtown Spokane. Feminine shouting could be heard. A young woman sticking her head out of a second-floor window was loudly addressing a young man standing on the sidewalk below.

She offered him clear, emphatic suggestions about how he might improve himself.

In addition, she hurled his clothes and a few of his other possessions out the window. I particularly recall a pair of white briefs floating down like a parachute and gently alighting on a shrubbery below.

I do not know what precipitated this frank reassessment of the young man’s character. I do not know what had prompted the vocal torrent of doubts about his merit as a partner in romance. But anyone within earshot of her candid critique was able to glean that the young woman was keenly eager to discontinue their association.

The young man said little as he sheepishly watched his garments descend to adorn the landscaping.

I’ve wondered a time or two over the years about how that story played out. Here are my guesses. Perhaps you have your own.

A) They rallied and are grandparents today. B) The couple had make-up sex, then broke up for good. C) It was all a big misunderstanding. They lived happily ever after. D) They got married and then divorced two years later.

E) Their counselor begged them to break up. F) He is still apologizing. G) They never saw each other again after that day. H) He’s still wearing some of that underwear.

I) Scalded by that experience, they never had another fight. J) They made up, stayed together and eventually got bored with one another. K) They look back on that day and laugh. L) All their friends applauded the break-up.

M) They divorced and then remarried. N) Then divorced again. O) They became relationship therapists. P) He claimed amnesia about whatever had caused her anger and she bought it.

Q) His body has never been found, but authorities suspected her brothers were involved in his disappearance. R) They invented revenge porn. S) She’s still throwing his stuff out of windows, 25 years later. T) He married her sister. U) Other.

Today’s Slice question: If you can recall the stupidest fight you and your spouse/significant other ever had, are you able to remember what it was about?

Write The Slice at P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. It’s bad form to blame the dog for a digestive transgression of your own.