W ith the kids at basketball, it’s an opportune time to fight about money, but neither of them has the energy or the will to continue. Instead, Richie drives to the gym, or so he claims, and Marina makes a batch of smoothies for later, dumping blueberries, yogurt, and whey powder into the blender without measuring. The smoothies began as a weekend treat—her idea, her fault—but have morphed into another daily chore that no one notices but everyone expects. Only the frozen fruit varies.
From the moment her eyes opened much too early, due to their inadequate blackout drapes, it was “internet bundle” this and “grocery budget” that kept coming out of her husband’s mouth. Then he yammered about the price of the winter coat and boots she’d bought on sale.
