chapter 3

I wanted Trevor to take a lot less exersise. The way things were, he was running around too much, burning off all the Coke and peanuts he was consuming.
I tried to get him to come home earlier. I tempted him with lots of sex If he did. I tried encouragement, bribery, everything I could think of other than violence. Yet still he went to the gym after work. I tried something mire drastic. I left deliberate hazards for him to negotiate around the house. If he fell and broke his ankle what would be a good six weeks off the gym. That was time enough for her to step in with extra comforting treats.
A rug placed over a polished floor in the hall. A slipper left on the stairs. Deliberate trip hazards left around the house that would appear accidental.
They didn't work. I despaired as Trevor picked up each discarded object on the floor. He bought some special tape to go underneath the rug to stop it slipping. He urged me to be especially careful with my slippers.
I racked my brains trying to think of another way of doing it, but I was innocently foiled at each try.
Then, I had a stroke of luck. In the end it had nothing to do with me. Trevor overdid it at the gym and strained his groin. He was ordered to rest it on doctor's orders.
Yeah!
It was difficult to contain my joy, but I had to. No gym!
Trevor was convinced he could continue somehow. He could concentrate on his upper body. He could try something else.
I left him to work it out for himself. Going to the gym without the ability to use your legs was too difficult.
At home, I banned him from the kitchen. Standing at the sink washing up for too long would put a strain on his other leg. It was impractical for him to do all that bending and straightening to empty the dishwasher. He might injure himself again. He couldn't push a hoover around, etc...
With him banished to the sofa, I extended our cable tv package to try and keep him there longer.
I made sure the nuts were kept topped up and watched as he ate more of them out of sheer boredom. I made sure there was always a fizzy drink within reach for him and watched him increase his Coke intake to a full can every day.
I hid the scales so that he could not check his weight.
I made subtle changes to all of his meals. It was easy now he couldn't go into the kitchen and check which ingredients I was using.
His usual low fat spread was exchanged for spreadable butter. His skimmed milk was exchanged for semi skimmed. I didn't strain the fat off his gravy either.
I hoped it was enough to make a difference.
I was so disappointed when all my efforts appeared to go unrewarded.