Couples Therapy Failure

Chuck and I have tried couple's therapy.
We have exhausted every effort to reconcile our relationship.
It's just not going to work out.
I still loathe him.

Bradley was invited over to "his place" for a little birthday party today.
We brushed shoulders but didn't speak.
Who needed words? Our eyes said it all. He glared at me with equal disdain.
Bradley, not seeing through ridiculous rat costume, was thrilled to be there.

The innocence of childhood filled his eyes as he dropped token after token into the games. He was so proud of each and every ticket he won. He had worked HARD for those 160 tickets. 2 hours spent toiling over whack-a-mole, skeeball, and trying to make quarters lose their balance. 160 tickets.

He eagerly went to the ticket counter. He pointed at the pink, artificial tongue on the back shelf with the "300 points" sign next to it. Surely he wasn't pointing to THAT.

"What? You want the curly straw? Ok, he'll take two of those...one for his sister"

(shrieks of terror coming from Bradley)
"I WANT THE PINK THING!"

"Okay - he will have three laffy taffy's"
(the disgruntled teenager rolls his eyes as he slams them on the counter)

"NOOOOO! The pink thing! I wanted the pink thing!"

"The tongue?", I asked with disgust.

"Yes! I wanted the tongue! I wanted the tongue!"

I hurried him to the car after the other teenager verified that he was truly my son under his magic blue light...the power had obviously gone to his head long ago.

"I want the tongue!" he screamed in the car "It's all your fault!"

I snapped.
"Actually - it's Chucky's fault. That tongue was 300 tickets. He makes all of the good prizes cost too much so none of the little kids can ever win it. He keeps the good toys to himself and makes sure all you will ever win is twirly straws, rubber snakes, spider rings and old candy. He takes our money - gives us junk toys and a nasty virus and sends us on our way."

Silence in the rear of the car.

"Chuck E. Cheese is a jerk", he angrily said as he glared out the window.

When we got home he continued, "Let's never go back and make him close forever!"

Mission Accomplished. The Rat Bastard has officially been exterminated.

(two more children to indoctrinate.)

p.s. tonight Tom went in to tuck Bradley into bed when he said, "Daddy...YOU say the prayer and that Chuck E. Cheese in a jerk"....... he even wants God to know about his evil antics.