Scene From the Clash Struggle in Backroads, Missouri

For many years, Hick has had a pattern of "helping" me with acts that actually cause great hindrance to my routine. It doesn't matter if I've asked fro the "help," or if Hick just takes such a good deed upon himself. It never works out the way he imagines. We clash on this regularly. 

Last week, Hick mentioned that he'd be going to Walmart for some light bulbs, and a few last-minute toys for Santa to give the kids at the pre-school function he would be attending. 

I had a request:

"Since The Pony is so busy these days, and can't get to Walmart, will you look for those plastic containers I use to give out Chex Mix for Christmas? [The Pony got up and counted through the ones I have in the pantry and closet.] I'll need at least 14. They usually come in a 2-pack or 3-pack. Get more than one pattern."

A normal man would likely text his wife with a picture before buying 14 containers. Hick is not a normal man.

I didn't know which day Hick went to Walmart. But a couple days later, he said,

"I got your tins. They're on the kitchen table."

"My WHAT?"

"Your tins. That you wanted for the Chex Mix."

"Oh! My containers! How many did you get?"

"Ten. That's all I saw."

"Oh. Well. That's not enough, but it's a start. Were they over by the frozen food bins, like I told you?"

"No."

"Up front, in the Christmas stuff?"

"No. They was on a back aisle when I was getting the dog food and light bulbs."

"Huh. I've never found them back there."

A while later, I got up to go to the kitchen, and saw my containers.

"WHAT IN THE WORLD??? WHY did you get THESE containers! I can't use them!"

 

"Why not? It's what you wanted."

"Um. They actually ARE tins! GIANT tins! Do you know how much Chex Mix they'll hold? We'll go broke if I fill these up to give out! They'll hold at least three times the amount as my usual containers!"

Yes. That's what Hick bought instead of that smaller plastic container I've perched on top. He bought TEN of them! You can see them, still piled on the table. Along with Hick's other clutter, like an almost-empty bag of York Peppermint Patties, a dirty pair of work gloves, 4/6 of a Diet Mountain Dew 6-pack, and a partially-used bag of white cotton work gloves. Oh, that's Hick's package in the background. Now empty.

I don't know what I'm going to do with all these containers. At least they weren't expensive. $4.48 for TWO. So $22.40 plus tax. Oh, the one I took out for posing? Is dented. Flat on one side. I haven't checked the other nine.