The Ogre Within – Prompt 3 LJ Idol - Morgenmuffel

[erulissedances]

 

The Ogre Within – Prompt 3 LJ Idol - Morgenmuffel

 

Two different voices said “I do” in front of the judge and invited guests. One of those voices was mine, the other was that of my new spouse. I had no inkling of the roller-coaster ride I had signed up for while I signed the Marriage Contract for the first time with my new full name.

 

I wasn’t walking into unknown territory. I hadn’t met him a week earlier, been swept off my feet by a handsome Prince with kidnapping on his mind or been carried off by a soaring dragon to reside in a castle in the sky. No, we had lived together for more than two years, sharing the stresses that poor, underpaid and sleep deprived graduate students’ experience. We were immersed in study, a variety of examinations, and writing and defending our thesis topics.

 

It was tense sometimes. I worked odd hours for scant money in a town 25 miles away. The daily commute was hateful. We shared a waterbed, danced to 70’s music, and watched television on a small, black-and-white screen TV. Our friends were also grad students - there was companionship in misery. We were all experiencing the stress and lack of funds. It was good times with good friends and occasional potluck parties where everyone brought something to share. It was late nights, hot days, shared dreams, and the hopes of a future easier life.

 

I honestly don’t remember him as a morgenmuffel in those days. I think that crept on him as he aged over the decades that followed. I do know he’s never been a morning person. While I awaken early and welcome the dawn with joy, he prefers to stay up late at night, usually watching television. Perhaps that schedule has fine-tuned his morgenmuffel tendency. However, an advertisement for anti-morgenmuffel medications would now feature him in both print and media. He’s the poster child of morgenmuffel, a true ogre behind the castle doors. When he awakens in the morning, he’s frowning, and his general demeanor could fell a flock of morning larks. I’ve learned to live my life as a morning person while avoiding baiting the bear. In fact, I often leave before he’s awake, leaving him a note every morning, carefully placed in front of the coffee pot.  

 

It surprises other people when I tell them what a morgenmuffel he is. They don’t see that side of him - my ogre is hidden from public eyes.  My ogre turns into a prince when he steps outside the door of his cave; away from the house he shows his public persona. That’s when the witty, sarcastic, funny, intelligent, and charming guy I married emerges again. But inside that witty shell, a morgenmuffel ogre lives, waiting for the next dawn.

 

Comments

[greghousesgf]

what's a morgenmuffel?

[shirebound]

This is beautifully written... a bit sad, and true to what we adapt to with one another.

And you taught me a new word!

[tinnean]

I'm actually married to a morgenmensch. I've seen memories on FB where I mention us getting up around 6 or 7. Then it changed to around 5:30. Now we're up pretty much every morning at 4:48, and as a result I have very few early mornings were I wake up and start obsessing until it's time to get out of bed.

Unfortunately, I usually wind up falling asleep a few times during the day. ::sigh:: So not fun.

PS Loved the story!

[la_samtyr]