After the wedding, the bride rushed into her husband’s arms. Rose asked Jack how much he loved her. She looked up, expecting he might say he would love her until he died. To Rose’s great surprise, Jack replied that every month his unit gave the workers two towels each. One was new and big and the other was old and small. He washed his face with the new, big one and dried his feet with the old, small one. From now on he would only use the small one; she could use the big one.

Rose laughed. What a funny promise! But Rose thought it was very sweet. So she would use the new, big towel while he used the old, small one.
Each time they ate fish Rose would eat the body while Jack ate the head and the tail. If they had salted eggs, Rose would have the golden yolk, which was her favorite, but Jack would have only the white. When they went for a walk, he would walk on her left because he wanted to protect her from the passing traffic. Rose didn’t appreciate that Jack did all this to show his love for her. As time went by, she felt it was his duty.

After 5 years she found his behavior annoying, and she lost interest in him. She took a lover. Compared to her new lover, her husband had little passion and wildness and was less attractive. She decided to divorce him.

Before she left to go hiking with her lover, Brad, she told Jack she wanted a divorce.
However, when she went hiking with Brad, she found he was a very selfish man. He went on alone and didn’t wait for her. Instead, Brad complained that she was too slow. After hiking, they went to bathe. Brad took the new, large towel; Rose had to use the old, small one. The next morning when she awoke, Brad was gone; and so was all her money.

Rose wept. “How silly I’ve been.” she said to herself. For five years Rose had ignored Jack’s love. All his actions proved his great love for her.

When Rose returned, Jack was waiting for her. He had packed her belongings, ready for her to leave. Jack told Rose there were several new, big towels in the bag; there was also money to provide for her future needs. Until that moment, Rose hadn’t appreciated all that Jack had done for her.

Rose burst into tears. She reached for Jack with a strange expression in her eyes.

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