The evening is calm and pleasant

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The evening is calm and pleasant. Little House on the Prairie murmurs and giggles from the living room. Son cackles, washes the dishes, pronounces judgement on the foolish characters. Husband, near silent after his long hours of work, slumps uncomfortably on the too-short sofa. Wife? She passes solitary hours in her bedroom; she studies, she looks for erotic novels to read for free online, she wishes she could go out for the evening, but she’s tired and afraid she wouldn’t enjoy herself. Besides, she realised only days ago that her finances are much more constrained than she had thought. It’s time to batten down the hatches.

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