Wife 22

Date: May 18, 1:22 PM

To: Wife 22 <Wife22@netherfieldcenter.org>

Wife 22,

I understand what you’re saying completely, and often feel the same way, although I have to admit it worries me. It seems like we’ve gotten to the point where our experiences, our memories—our entire lives, actually—aren’t real unless we post about them online. I wonder if we might miss the days of being unreachable.

All the best,

Researcher 101

From: Wife 22 <Wife22@netherfieldcenter.org>

Subject: Re: Unreachability

Date: May 18, 1:25 PM

To: researcher101 <researcher101@netherfieldcenter.org>

Researcher 101,

I do not long for the old, unreachable days. When I’m plugged in I can go anywhere, do and learn anything. Today, for instance, I visited a tiny library in Portugal. I learned how the Shakers weave baskets and I discovered my best friend in middle school loves blood-orange sorbet. Okay, I also learned that a certain pop star actually believes she’s a fairy, an honest-to-goodness fairy from the fey people, but my point is access. Access to information. I don’t even have to look out my window to see what the weather is like. I can have the weather delivered every morning to my phone. What could be better?

Sincerely,

Wife 22

From: researcher101 <researcher101@netherfieldcenter.org>

Subject: Weather

Date: May 18, 1:26 PM

To: Wife 22 <Wife22@netherfieldcenter.org>

Wife 22,

Getting caught in the rain?

All the best,

Researcher 101

20

WEEKEND FORECAST THE BUCKLE HOUSEHOLD 529 IRVING DRIVE

ALERT: Rapidly Developing Class 3 Marital Storm Saturday AM

Windchill: Cold. Extremely cold. Freezing out husband while trying to pretend nothing is wrong.

Hi: Making it through day without screaming.

Lo: Head in hands. Soft moaning. Constant bouts of shame and mortification imagining KKM employees emailing Cialis video to hundreds of friends and said video then going viral.

Visibility: Limited. Refuse to look above husband’s jaw in order to avoid eye contact.

Share Weather: send to nedrar@gmail.com

Instant Message from nedrar@gmail.com

Nedra:Poor William!

Alice:Poor William? Poor me!

Nedra:This is what you get for going behind William’s back.

Alice:Did you even watch the video?

Nedra:Want my advice?

Alice:That depends. What will it cost me?

Nedra:Forget you ever saw it.

Saturday PM

Heat Index: Very High. Boiling hot.

Hi: Sitting on the couch watching MasterpieceTheatre.

Lo: Mentally trying to count the number of times we’ve had sex in the past twenty years while pretending to watch MasterpieceTheatre. Can’t do sums in head. Use fingers to add. Estimate 859. What’s wrong with that?

Visibility: Poor to none. Dense fog while trying to guess the number of times we’ll have sex in the next twenty years.

Share Weather: send to nedrar@gmail.com

Instant Message from nedrar@gmail.com

Nedra:Do not withhold sex.

Alice:Why not?

Nedra:This is not about sex.

Alice:What’s it about?

Nedra:Intimacy. There’s a difference.