On Saturday morning, Elena opened the refrigerator and found half a carton of eggs, a jar of mustard, and three soft carrots. She called to her husband, Marcus, who was sorting laundry in the hallway.

“We need groceries,” she said.

Marcus appeared with a basket balanced against his hip. “And detergent. We’re almost out.”

They lived in a two-bedroom apartment outside Columbus, Ohio, close enough to the highway that they could hear trucks when the windows were open. Before leaving, Elena started a load of towels while Marcus broke down cardboard boxes for the recycling bin. Together they made a list at the kitchen counter, checking the pantry so they wouldn’t buy another can of black beans they didn’t need.

At the supermarket, Marcus pushed the cart while Elena compared prices on chicken thighs. He chose apples, rejecting two with bruises, and reminded her that they needed coffee. Elena picked up rice, yogurt, onions, and a bag of spinach. In the cleaning aisle, they debated whether the larger bottle of detergent was actually cheaper. Marcus used his phone’s calculator, and Elena laughed when the difference came to less than a dollar.

They waited behind a family with an overflowing cart. While Marcus unloaded their groceries onto the belt, Elena found a digital coupon for the coffee. The total was higher than they expected, so they studied the receipt in the parking lot, then realized the detergent had been counted twice. Elena went back inside for a refund while Marcus loaded the trunk.

On the way home, they stopped at the gas station and dropped off a library book. Back at the apartment, Marcus carried the bags upstairs, and Elena put away the frozen food first. They folded the clean towels together at the dining table.

By early afternoon, the errands were done. Marcus made grilled cheese sandwiches, and Elena sliced two of the apples. They ate by the open window, listening to traffic and discussing what movie to watch that night.


On Saturday morning, Elena and Marcus stood in their kitchen comparing the contents of the refrigerator with a grocery list taped to the door. They had lived in their Ohio townhouse for three years, long enough to know that errands went faster if they made a plan.

“We need milk, spinach, and something for dinner,” Elena said, shaking an almost-empty carton.

Marcus checked the pantry. “Rice, too. And coffee. Definitely coffee.”

Before leaving, they started a load of laundry. Marcus carried the hamper downstairs while Elena gathered towels from the bathroom. He measured the detergent, and she set the machine to cold. Then they took the recycling bin to the garage and loaded several bags into the trunk of their car.

Their first stop was the neighborhood recycling center. Marcus sorted cardboard while Elena dropped glass bottles into the appropriate container. Afterward, they drove to a hardware store for lightbulbs and a replacement filter for the furnace. Elena found the correct bulb size on her phone, while Marcus compared filter dimensions with a photo he had taken at home.

At the supermarket, they divided the list. Elena picked out vegetables and fruit, rejecting a bruised bag of apples for a better one. Marcus went to the dairy aisle and returned with milk, yogurt, and two kinds of cheese.

“Two?” Elena asked.

“The cheddar was on sale,” he said.

They also chose chicken for dinner, rice, coffee, cereal, and a frozen pizza for a busy weeknight. At checkout, Elena unloaded the cart while Marcus packed the reusable bags, keeping the eggs and bread on top.

Back home, they put everything away together. Marcus moved the laundry to the dryer, and Elena replaced the furnace filter. Then they folded the clean towels at the dining table.

By midafternoon, the errands were finished. Marcus made coffee, Elena sliced an apple, and they sat on the couch, pleased that the rest of Saturday was still theirs.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus standing in the laundry room, holding one of her sweaters at arm’s length.

“Was this always this small?” he asked.

Elena took it from him and checked the tag. “It was, until you put it in the dryer.”

He apologized, and she laughed despite herself. They had lived in their Ohio townhouse for three years, long enough to divide most chores without discussion, but laundry remained unpredictable.

While Marcus moved the towels into the dryer, Elena wiped down the kitchen counters and made a list on the back of an envelope: milk, rice, coffee, spinach, chicken, dish soap. Marcus added cereal and crossed out coffee after finding an unopened bag in the pantry.

Before leaving, they carried two bags of recycling to the bins behind the building. Marcus drove, and Elena returned a library book through the drop slot on their way to the supermarket.

The store was crowded with families and employees restocking shelves. Elena chose tomatoes while Marcus compared prices on pasta. They debated whether they needed more olive oil, then texted themselves a reminder to check at home instead of buying another bottle.

At the meat counter, Elena picked chicken thighs for Sunday dinner. Marcus found a discounted package of salmon and suggested cooking it that night. They added potatoes and green beans to the cart, along with ice cream neither had written on the list.

Back home, they carried the groceries upstairs in two trips. Elena put away the refrigerated items while Marcus organized the pantry and discovered three cans of chickpeas hidden behind a box of crackers.

“That explains why we keep buying them,” he said.

After lunch, they changed the bedsheets and took turns vacuuming. Marcus handled the stairs while Elena cleaned the bathroom mirror and replaced a burned-out bulb.

By late afternoon, the errands were done. Elena seasoned the salmon, and Marcus trimmed the green beans. Their Saturday had not been exciting, but the house felt orderly, the refrigerator was full, and they had dinner to look forward to.


On Saturday morning, Elena woke to the sound of the washing machine thumping unevenly in the laundry room. She found her husband, Marcus, crouched beside it, holding a damp towel.

“I think the sheets swallowed this,” he said.

Elena redistributed the load while Marcus started coffee. They ate toast at the kitchen counter and made a list of what needed to be done: groceries, a return at the hardware store, and a stop at the post office before it closed at noon.

Marcus drove their ten-year-old Honda through light traffic while Elena checked the store hours on her phone. At the post office, she mailed a birthday package to her sister in Arizona. Marcus waited outside, reading the instructions for returning a faulty smoke detector.

The hardware store clerk exchanged it without trouble. Before leaving, Elena remembered they needed furnace filters, and Marcus found the right size by checking a photo he had taken of the old one.

At the supermarket, they divided the list. Elena picked out vegetables and compared prices on chicken, while Marcus got cereal, rice, and coffee. They met near the dairy case, where he held up two cartons of eggs.

“Eighteen or twelve?”

“Twelve. We’re not running a diner.”

He put the larger carton back. At checkout, Elena noticed a digital coupon had not applied, and Marcus helped the cashier locate it on the store app. They saved three dollars and joked about spending it on pastries, then decided to buy two anyway.

Back home, they carried the bags upstairs in two trips. Marcus put away pantry items while Elena washed lettuce and portioned the chicken for the freezer. After lunch, they changed the furnace filter together, though it took several attempts to slide it into place.

By midafternoon, the laundry was folded, the groceries were stored, and the new smoke detector was mounted in the hallway. Elena made fresh coffee, and Marcus split the last pastry between them. They sat at the kitchen table, tired but satisfied, discussing whether vacuuming could reasonably wait until Sunday.


On Saturday morning, Elena woke to the sound of the washing machine thumping unevenly. She found her husband, Marcus, kneeling on the laundry-room floor, sorting towels.

“You put the bath mat in with the sheets again,” she said.

Marcus opened the washer and shifted the heavy mat. “I was trying to be efficient.”

“Efficiency has limits.”

While the machine restarted, Elena made coffee and checked the list on the refrigerator. They needed groceries, lightbulbs, dishwasher detergent, and a birthday card for Marcus’s mother. Marcus added furnace filters after noticing the last one had been installed in September.

They left their townhouse just before ten. Elena drove while Marcus compared prices for filters on his phone. At the hardware store, he found the right size, and Elena picked out warm-white bulbs after rejecting the bluish ones he had chosen.

Next they stopped at the supermarket. Marcus pushed the cart and crossed items off the list. Elena selected vegetables, checking the peppers for soft spots, while he went to the deli counter. They debated whether they would actually cook salmon on Tuesday or end up ordering takeout.

“We’ll cook it,” Marcus said.

“You said that last week.”

“That was a difficult week.”

They bought the salmon anyway, along with rice, yogurt, coffee, apples, and a frozen pizza as insurance. At checkout, Elena remembered they were out of aluminum foil, and Marcus ran back for it while she unloaded the cart.

At home, they carried the bags in together. Marcus put away the pantry items while Elena divided the chicken into freezer bags. Then he replaced the furnace filter, and she changed the burned-out bulb over the kitchen sink.

By early afternoon, the laundry was folded, the refrigerator was full, and the house smelled faintly of detergent. They ate sandwiches at the kitchen table and discussed whether to clean the bathrooms.

Marcus looked toward the hallway. “Tomorrow?”

Elena considered it. “Tomorrow.”

They cleared their plates and went for a walk before either of them could change their mind.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter making a list while her husband, Marcus, checked the refrigerator.

“We’re out of milk,” he said, moving a jar of pickles aside. “And almost out of eggs.”

Elena added both items to the list. They had planned to leave early, but laundry took longer than expected. Marcus transferred the wet clothes to the dryer while Elena gathered empty bottles and cereal boxes for recycling.

By ten, they were in their car, driving through their Ohio suburb. Their first stop was the post office, where Elena mailed a birthday package to her sister. Marcus bought a book of stamps and held the door for a man carrying several boxes.

Next, they went to the hardware store. A cabinet hinge in their bathroom had come loose, and Marcus had brought the old screw to compare sizes. Elena found replacement air filters while he chose a small packet of screws. They briefly debated buying a new doormat, then agreed the old one could last another season.

At the grocery store, Marcus pushed the cart while Elena read from the list. They divided some tasks: he went to the produce section for apples, onions, and spinach, while she picked up pasta and canned tomatoes. They met near the dairy case, where Marcus placed milk and eggs in the cart.

“Coffee?” he asked.

Elena checked the list. “Already got it.”

At checkout, they noticed they had stayed close to their budget, though Marcus had added a bag of tortilla chips and Elena had chosen a small bouquet of yellow flowers.

Back home, they carried the bags inside together. Elena put away the refrigerated items while Marcus sorted the pantry goods. Then he replaced the bathroom hinge, and she changed the air filter in the hallway vent.

By early afternoon, the dryer buzzed. They folded towels at the dining table, discussing what to make for dinner. Nothing about the morning had been exciting, but the errands were finished, the kitchen was stocked, and the rest of Saturday was theirs.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus standing in the laundry room, studying the washing machine as if it had personally offended him.

“It’s making that noise again,” he said.

Elena listened to the uneven thumping. “The towels are all on one side.”

Marcus opened the lid, rearranged them, and restarted the cycle. The machine settled into a steady hum.

After breakfast, they made a list at the kitchen table. Elena checked the refrigerator while Marcus searched the pantry. They needed milk, onions, coffee, rice, and something for dinner. Marcus added dish soap. Elena added lightbulbs after noticing the one above the stove had burned out.

Before leaving, they carried two bags of recycling to the bins behind their apartment building. Marcus broke down a cardboard box while Elena sorted glass bottles from cans. Then they drove to the grocery store, ten minutes away.

The parking lot was crowded. Inside, Elena pushed the cart while Marcus compared prices on coffee. He chose the larger container because it was on sale. In the produce section, Elena picked out tomatoes and cilantro for tacos. Marcus found a bag of avocados, but she pressed one with her thumb and shook her head.

“Too soft.”

They selected three firmer ones instead.

At the checkout, Marcus remembered the dish soap and hurried back while Elena unloaded the cart. They used a coupon for the coffee and packed the groceries into reusable bags.

Back home, they put everything away together. Elena washed the produce while Marcus replaced the bulb above the stove. He then started chopping onions for dinner, making his eyes water.

Elena laughed and opened a window. “You always say they don’t bother you.”

“They usually don’t,” he said, blinking hard.

The dryer buzzed. Elena folded the towels while Marcus matched socks from an earlier load. By midafternoon, the errands were done. They sat on the couch with fresh coffee, the apartment smelling faintly of laundry detergent and chopped cilantro, and agreed not to do anything useful for at least an hour.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the kitchen comparing the grocery list to the nearly empty refrigerator.

“We still have eggs,” he said.

“Two eggs,” Elena replied, leaning around him to look. “And one of them has been there since your mother visited.”

Marcus added eggs to the list.

They lived in a two-bedroom apartment outside Columbus, Ohio, where Saturdays often became a contest between chores and the desire to do nothing. After coffee, Elena started a load of towels while Marcus gathered the recycling. She wiped down the bathroom sink, and he replaced the burned-out bulb in the hallway, standing on a dining chair despite her suggestion that he use the step stool.

By ten, they were in the car. Their first stop was the post office, where Elena mailed a birthday package to her sister in Arizona. Marcus waited in line with her, then bought a sheet of stamps because they could never find one when they needed it.

At the grocery store, Elena pushed the cart while Marcus checked the list on his phone. They debated whether they would actually cook the bag of spinach before it went bad.

“We will this time,” Marcus said, placing it in the cart.

“That’s what we said last time.”

They bought chicken, rice, yogurt, apples, coffee, eggs, and ingredients for tacos. Marcus chose a jar of salsa labeled hot; Elena quietly exchanged it for medium. At the checkout, they split the work without discussing it—he unloaded the cart, and she bagged the groceries.

Back home, Marcus carried everything upstairs in two trips while Elena moved the towels to the dryer. They put the groceries away together, reorganizing a crowded cabinet to fit the cereal.

By early afternoon, the apartment smelled faintly of laundry detergent and fresh coffee. Elena made sandwiches, and Marcus sliced apples for both of them. They ate at the kitchen table, pleased with the small satisfaction of having finished what needed to be done, while the rest of Saturday waited.


On Saturday morning, Elena woke to the sound of the washing machine thumping unevenly in the laundry room. She found her husband, Mark, crouched in front of it, watching the machine shudder.

“I think the towels are all on one side,” he said.

Elena opened the lid and rearranged the load while Mark gathered the empty detergent bottles for recycling. They had planned to leave by nine, but first the kitchen trash needed to go out, the dog needed a short walk, and a pile of mail on the counter had to be sorted. Mark took Roscoe around the block while Elena paid the electric bill online and clipped a coupon for coffee.

By ten, they were driving to the supermarket. In the parking lot, Elena pulled up their shared grocery list on her phone. Mark pushed the cart.

They divided the work by aisle. Elena chose vegetables and compared prices on chicken, while Mark picked up cereal, bread, and the specific yogurt she liked. He almost added a bag of chips, then noticed they were not on sale.

“Still want them?” Elena asked.

He considered the price. “Not six dollars’ worth.”

At the checkout, Elena unloaded the cart while Mark bagged the groceries, keeping the eggs and bananas separate. Their total was higher than expected, so they checked the receipt before leaving. The cashier had accidentally scanned the coffee twice, and customer service refunded the difference.

On the way home, they stopped at the pharmacy for Mark’s prescription and dropped cardboard at the town recycling center. Back at the house, they carried the bags in together. Elena put away the cold food while Mark portioned the chicken for the freezer.

By early afternoon, the laundry was folded, the refrigerator was full, and the kitchen counter was clear. Mark made grilled cheese sandwiches, and Elena heated tomato soup. They ate at the small table by the window, discussing whether to mow the lawn that day.

When rain began tapping the glass, they agreed it could wait until Sunday.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the laundry room, staring at a puddle beneath the washing machine.

“Please tell me that’s from the mop,” she said.

Marcus shook his head. “The drain hose came loose again.”

While he pulled the machine away from the wall, Elena brought towels from the hall closet and shut off the water. Together they dried the floor, reattached the hose, and ran a short cycle to make sure it held. By then it was nearly ten, and their list of errands had grown.

They drove to the hardware store first. Elena compared hose clamps while Marcus searched for a replacement air filter for the furnace. At the register, they remembered they also needed batteries for the smoke detector.

Next came the grocery store. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena checked their list on her phone. They chose chicken thighs, rice, spinach, yogurt, coffee, and enough vegetables for several dinners. Marcus added a bag of tortilla chips.

“Those aren’t on the list,” Elena said.

“They’re for household morale.”

She laughed and put salsa in the cart.

At the checkout, Elena unloaded groceries while Marcus bagged them, keeping the eggs separate from the canned tomatoes. Outside, they loaded the trunk and returned the cart to the corral.

Back home, Marcus installed the new clamp on the washer hose and replaced the furnace filter. Elena put away the groceries, then cleaned wilted lettuce from the refrigerator drawer. When Marcus finished, he took out the recycling while she started another load of laundry.

By midafternoon, the house smelled faintly of detergent and coffee. They sat at the kitchen table with sandwiches, reviewing the remaining tasks.

“We still need to vacuum,” Elena said.

Marcus looked toward the living room. “After lunch?”

“After ten minutes of doing absolutely nothing.”

He raised his coffee mug. “Best item on the list.”

For ten quiet minutes, they watched sunlight move across the kitchen floor, satisfied that the ordinary machinery of their shared life was working again.


On Saturday morning, Elena woke to the sound of the washing machine thumping in the basement. Her husband, Marcus, had started a load of towels but forgotten to balance them.

“It sounds like it’s trying to escape,” she said as he came upstairs.

Marcus winced. “I’ll fix it.”

While he rearranged the towels, Elena stripped the bed and gathered the recycling. They had made a list over coffee: groceries, return library books, buy furnace filters, and drop off a bag of clothes at the donation center. Nothing urgent, but enough to fill half the day.

They left their townhouse just after ten. Elena drove, and Marcus checked the list on his phone. At the library, he returned two mysteries while she waited at the curb. At the hardware store, they stood in the aisle comparing filter sizes until Elena found a photo she had taken of the old one.

The grocery store was crowded. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena chose vegetables. They debated whether they already had rice.

“We have some,” Marcus said.

“We have half a cup,” Elena replied, putting a bag in the cart.

He picked up coffee, eggs, and chicken thighs. Elena found yogurt, spinach, and the crackers they both liked. When they reached the checkout, Marcus remembered dish soap and hurried back for it while Elena unloaded the cart.

On the way home, they stopped at the donation center. A volunteer took the bag from the trunk, and Marcus noticed an empty travel mug rolling near the spare tire.

“I’ve been looking for that,” Elena said.

Back home, they carried the groceries in together. Marcus put away the pantry items while Elena divided the chicken into freezer bags. Then they moved the towels to the dryer and started the sheets.

By one o’clock, the errands were done. They made sandwiches and sat at the kitchen table, tired in the mild, satisfying way that came from having handled small responsibilities together. Outside, a neighbor started a lawn mower. Marcus looked at the remaining list.

“Vacuuming?” he asked.

Elena took a bite of her sandwich. “After lunch.”

He nodded. “Definitely after lunch.”


On Saturday morning, Elena woke to the sound of the washing machine thumping unevenly in the basement. Her husband, Marcus, was already downstairs, trying to redistribute a load of towels.

“You put the bath mat in with them, didn’t you?” she called from the top step.

Marcus looked up. “It seemed towel-adjacent.”

Elena laughed and went to make coffee. They lived in a small house outside Columbus, Ohio, and Saturday mornings had become their unofficial time for catching up on everything they had ignored during the week.

After breakfast, Elena changed the sheets while Marcus carried the recycling to the garage. Then they sat at the kitchen table and made a grocery list. Elena checked the refrigerator, calling out what they needed, while Marcus added items to his phone.

“Milk, spinach, onions.”

“Coffee,” he said.

“We have coffee.”

“We have enough coffee for Monday. That’s not the same thing.”

At the supermarket, Marcus steered the cart while Elena compared prices on chicken. They split up briefly—he went for toothpaste and dish soap, while she picked out apples and a bag of rice. When they met near the frozen foods, Marcus had also added ice cream.

“That wasn’t on the list,” Elena said.

“Neither were those flowers.”

She looked at the small bouquet in her hand and placed it in the cart without argument.

Back home, they carried the bags in together. Marcus put away the pantry items while Elena washed the produce. They ate sandwiches at the counter, then drove to the hardware store for furnace filters and a replacement bulb for the porch light.

By late afternoon, the laundry was folded, the refrigerator was full, and the new bulb glowed above the front steps. Elena arranged the flowers in a water glass because they still had not bought a proper vase. Marcus started dinner, chopping onions while she swept the kitchen floor.

It had not been an exciting Saturday, but as they worked around each other in the warm kitchen, neither of them minded.


On Saturday morning, Elena woke to the sound of the washing machine thumping unevenly in the basement. She found her husband, Marcus, crouched beside it, holding a damp towel.

“I forgot to spread everything out,” he said.

Together they redistributed the load, then carried a basket of clean clothes upstairs. Elena folded shirts at the kitchen table while Marcus matched socks and made a list of errands. They needed groceries, lightbulbs, dish soap, and a replacement air filter for the furnace.

After breakfast, Elena loaded the dishwasher while Marcus took the recycling to the bins behind their townhouse. Before leaving, they measured the old air filter twice because neither trusted the number Marcus had typed into his phone months earlier.

Their first stop was the hardware store. Elena found the correct filter while Marcus compared prices on LED bulbs. He wanted the cheapest package, but Elena pointed out that the brighter bulbs were better for the dim hallway. They bought those and a small box of picture hooks.

At the supermarket, Marcus pushed the cart and checked items off their shared list. Elena chose tomatoes and avocados while he picked out chicken thighs for Sunday dinner. In the cereal aisle, they debated whether they already had oatmeal.

“We definitely don’t,” Marcus said.

“We definitely do,” Elena replied.

They bought some anyway.

The checkout line was slow, so Elena reviewed their receipt from the hardware store and noticed they had been charged twice for the hooks. Marcus offered to return later, but she suggested dealing with it on the way home. At customer service, the clerk refunded the extra charge in less than two minutes.

Back at the townhouse, they carried the groceries in together. Marcus changed the furnace filter and replaced the hallway bulb. Elena put away the food and discovered half a container of oatmeal behind the flour.

Without saying anything, she set the new container beside it.

Marcus noticed, smiled, and began folding the last load of laundry.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus at the kitchen table comparing the grocery list with the supermarket app. He had circled coffee, eggs, and laundry detergent, while she added spinach and the yogurt he always forgot.

“We also need lightbulbs,” Elena said, pointing toward the dim fixture above the sink.

Marcus looked up. “Hardware store first?”

They left their apartment in Columbus just after ten. Elena drove while Marcus checked the tire pressure warning on his phone, then remembered the car needed air. At the gas station, he filled the tires while Elena cleaned old receipts and two empty water bottles from the back seat.

The hardware store was crowded with people buying paint and garden supplies. They found the correct lightbulbs, a small box of wall anchors, and felt pads for the dining chairs. Marcus wanted to browse the power tools, but Elena reminded him that frozen food could not sit in the car later.

At the supermarket, they split the list. Elena picked out produce and compared prices on chicken thighs. Marcus found cereal, canned tomatoes, and detergent, but called her from the dairy aisle because the yogurt she liked was sold out.

“Get the plain kind,” she said. “We still have honey.”

They met near the checkout with more than they had planned: tortilla chips, flowers, and a discounted loaf of sourdough. Marcus raised an eyebrow at the flowers.

“They were six dollars,” Elena said.

“I didn’t say anything.”

Back home, they carried the bags upstairs in two trips. Marcus put away the groceries while Elena wiped down the refrigerator shelves. Then she replaced the lightbulb over the sink as he attached felt pads to the chairs.

By midafternoon, the laundry was running and a pot of tomato sauce simmered on the stove. Elena trimmed the flower stems and set them in a pitcher. Marcus opened the windows to let in the mild spring air.

They stood for a moment in their tidier kitchen, tired but satisfied. Then the washing machine buzzed, and they went together to move the clothes into the dryer.


On Saturday morning, Elena woke to the sound of the washing machine thumping in the basement. She found her husband, Marcus, in the kitchen, comparing the grocery list with the refrigerator’s contents.

“We’re out of eggs,” he said, adding them to the list. “And almost out of coffee.”

Elena opened the vegetable drawer and held up a wilted bunch of cilantro. “We can probably let this go.”

While Marcus moved the laundry to the dryer, Elena stripped the sheets from their bed and gathered the towels. They worked without much discussion, crossing paths in the hallway and kitchen. By ten, the dishwasher was running, the recycling was sorted, and they had filled two bags with clothes to donate.

They drove to a shopping center outside Columbus, Ohio. Their first stop was the donation bin behind a thrift store. Marcus lifted the bags from the trunk while Elena dropped off a stack of flattened cardboard at the recycling containers nearby.

At the grocery store, Elena pushed the cart and Marcus read from the list. They compared prices on pasta, chose chicken thighs for Sunday dinner, and debated whether they needed another jar of peanut butter. In the produce section, Marcus picked out apples while Elena selected onions and a bunch of fresh cilantro.

“Try not to abandon this one,” she said.

“I make no promises,” he replied.

The checkout line was long, so Elena went back for the coffee they had nearly forgotten. Marcus unloaded the cart and bagged the groceries as the cashier scanned them.

At home, they carried everything inside in two trips. Elena put away the refrigerated food while Marcus divided the chicken into freezer bags. Afterward, he folded the dry laundry at the dining table, and she remade the bed.

By early afternoon, most of their errands were finished. They ate sandwiches in the kitchen, tired but satisfied, while the second load of laundry turned steadily downstairs.


By nine on Saturday morning, Lena had started a load of towels, and her husband, Mark, was kneeling beside the kitchen sink with a flashlight. The drain had been slow all week.

“Anything terrible?” Lena asked, carrying the empty laundry basket down the hall.

“Only if you’re emotionally attached to this sponge,” Mark said. He pulled a soggy yellow corner from the pipe and dropped it into the trash.

They lived in a two-bedroom apartment outside Columbus, Ohio, close enough to a shopping center that errands could be finished before lunch if they stayed organized. While the washing machine ran, Lena made a list on the back of an envelope. Mark checked the refrigerator and added eggs, mustard, and coffee.

They drove first to the post office, where Lena mailed a birthday package to her sister. Then they stopped at the hardware store for a sink strainer and a pack of lightbulbs. Mark compared two nearly identical strainers while Lena measured them against a photo she had taken of the drain.

At the grocery store, they divided the list. Lena chose vegetables and chicken for soup; Mark found cereal, canned tomatoes, and the coffee they bought only when it was on sale. They met near the dairy case.

“Milk?” he asked.

“Already in the cart.”

“Yogurt?”

“You ate the last one.”

Mark added a large container.

At checkout, Lena noticed they had forgotten onions. Mark jogged back while she unloaded the cart onto the conveyor belt. By the time he returned, slightly out of breath, the cashier was scanning the bread.

Back home, they carried the bags upstairs in two trips. Mark installed the new strainer and tested the drain. Lena transferred the towels to the dryer, then put away groceries while he chopped the onions.

By one o’clock, the sink was draining normally, the refrigerator was full, and soup simmered on the stove. They ate sandwiches at the kitchen table and discussed whether vacuuming could wait until Sunday. It could, they decided.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the kitchen, examining the nearly empty coffee container.

“We can make one small pot,” he said.

“Then coffee goes at the top of the list,” Elena replied.

They lived in a two-bedroom apartment outside Columbus, Ohio, and Saturday was usually the day they caught up on everything neglected during the workweek. While Marcus started the coffee, Elena stripped the bed and carried the sheets to the laundry room downstairs. He gathered towels, sorted the recycling, and checked the refrigerator for anything expired.

By ten, they had a list: coffee, milk, onions, chicken, rice, detergent, and cat litter. Elena added cereal. Marcus added batteries for the smoke detector.

Before leaving, they stopped at the apartment complex’s recycling bins. Marcus carried the cardboard while Elena brought the glass and cans. Then they drove to the grocery store, debating whether they needed a full bag of potatoes.

Inside, Elena chose produce while Marcus compared prices on chicken thighs. They met near the dairy case, where he put a carton of eggs in the cart.

“We have eggs,” she said.

“We have two eggs.”

“That counts as having eggs.”

He kept the carton anyway. Elena laughed and went to find detergent.

At checkout, they realized they had forgotten coffee, so Marcus hurried back while Elena unloaded the cart. The total was higher than either expected, and they studied the receipt in the parking lot before deciding the cat litter and detergent explained most of it.

Back home, they carried the bags upstairs in two trips. Elena put away the cold items while Marcus changed the smoke detector battery. Then they folded the dry laundry together on the couch, matching socks and discussing dinner.

By midafternoon, the refrigerator was full, the bed had clean sheets, and the recycling was gone. Marcus made another pot of coffee. Elena opened the windows to let in the mild spring air, and they sat at the kitchen table for a few quiet minutes before starting dinner.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the kitchen, standing in front of the open refrigerator with a notepad in one hand.

“We’re out of eggs,” he said.

“And milk,” Elena added, reaching past him for the coffee creamer. The carton felt suspiciously light. “Almost out of this, too.”

They ate toast while making a list. Marcus checked the pantry, calling out items, and Elena compared prices on the grocery store’s app. Before leaving, they gathered the recycling and carried two bins to the apartment complex’s collection area. Marcus broke down a cardboard box while Elena chased a plastic lid that rolled under a parked car.

Their first stop was the post office, where Elena mailed a birthday package to her sister in Ohio. Marcus bought stamps and waited by the counter, reading the notices pinned to the community board.

At the grocery store, they divided the work. Elena headed for produce and chose apples, spinach, and tomatoes. Marcus picked up chicken, rice, and the cereal he liked. They met near the dairy case.

“You forgot eggs,” Elena said, looking into the cart.

Marcus pointed to the carton beneath the bread. “Protected them this time.”

At checkout, Elena unloaded the cart while Marcus bagged, putting frozen food together and keeping the tomatoes away from the canned beans. The total was higher than they expected, so they studied the receipt in the parking lot. Nothing was wrong; coffee and olive oil had simply cost more.

Back home, they carried the bags upstairs in two trips. Marcus put away the groceries while Elena started a load of laundry. Then they changed the sheets, watered the plants, and took turns vacuuming. By midafternoon, the apartment smelled faintly of detergent and the basil plant on the windowsill.

Marcus made sandwiches, and Elena sliced two apples. They ate at the small kitchen table, tired but satisfied, discussing whether they had enough energy to cook dinner.

“Leftovers,” Marcus suggested.

Elena raised her glass of water. “Best idea all day.”


By nine on Saturday morning, Elena had started a load of towels, and her husband, Marcus, was kneeling beneath the kitchen sink with a flashlight. A slow drip had dampened the cabinet floor overnight.

“It’s the connection,” he said, tightening the fitting with a wrench.

Elena handed him a rag. “If that doesn’t work, we’re calling the plumber.”

Marcus turned on the faucet and watched the pipe. No water appeared. “Temporary victory.”

They made a list at the kitchen table: milk, rice, chicken, spinach, coffee, detergent, and something for dinner. Elena checked the refrigerator while Marcus looked through the pantry and added black beans and olive oil.

Before leaving, they carried two bags of recycling to the bins behind their apartment building. Marcus drove to the supermarket while Elena compared prices on the store’s app. The parking lot was crowded, and they waited for a family to unload a cart before taking the space.

Inside, they divided the list. Marcus chose produce and found chicken breasts on sale. Elena picked up dairy products and cleaning supplies. They met near the cereal aisle, where Marcus had added a box of expensive granola.

“That wasn’t on the list,” Elena said.

“It’s my Saturday luxury.”

She laughed and put a discounted bag of chocolate-covered pretzels in the cart. “Then these are mine.”

At checkout, Elena loaded the belt while Marcus bagged the groceries, placing the eggs and bread together on top. Back home, they carried everything upstairs in two trips. Elena put away the cold items, and Marcus portioned the chicken for the freezer.

The dryer buzzed. Marcus folded the towels while Elena swept the kitchen and wiped beneath the sink to make sure the leak had stopped.

By early afternoon, the apartment smelled like fresh coffee. They sat on the couch with sandwiches, tired but satisfied. The errands had taken longer than expected, but the laundry was done, the refrigerator was full, and the cabinet under the sink was dry.


On Saturday morning, Elena woke to the sound of the washing machine thumping unevenly in the laundry room. She found her husband, Marcus, standing beside it with a puzzled expression.

“I forgot to spread out the towels,” he said.

Elena opened the lid, rearranged the load, and started the cycle again. While Marcus stripped the sheets from their bed, she made coffee and checked the list on the refrigerator. They needed groceries, lightbulbs, detergent, and a new air filter for the furnace.

After breakfast, they divided the chores. Marcus carried the recycling to the bins behind their townhouse and swept leaves from the front steps. Elena cleaned the bathroom and gathered a bag of clothes to donate. By eleven, they loaded everything into their car and drove to a donation center across town.

Their next stop was a hardware store. Marcus compared furnace filters while Elena searched for the correct lightbulbs on her phone. They debated buying a more expensive filter, then chose the mid-priced one and added a pack of batteries to the cart.

At the supermarket, Elena pushed the cart while Marcus read from their shared list. They picked up chicken, rice, spinach, yogurt, coffee, and ingredients for tacos. Marcus chose avocados, rejecting two before finding three that were firm but not hard. Elena noticed pasta was on sale and added four boxes.

“Do we actually need that much?” Marcus asked.

“Eventually,” she said. “And it won’t spoil.”

The checkout line was long, so Marcus unloaded the cart while Elena answered a text from her sister. Back home, they carried the bags in together. Marcus put away the pantry items, and Elena divided the chicken into freezer bags.

By midafternoon, the clean sheets were back on the bed, the furnace had a new filter, and the refrigerator was full. They sat at the kitchen table with reheated coffee, tired but satisfied, and discussed whether taking a nap counted as finishing their errands.


On Saturday morning, Elena woke to the sound of the washing machine thumping in the laundry closet. Her husband, Marcus, was already in the kitchen, rinsing out the coffee pot.

“I think the towels are trying to escape,” she said.

Marcus laughed and went to redistribute the load while Elena made toast and checked their list on the refrigerator. They needed groceries, detergent, lightbulbs, and a new air filter for the furnace. Marcus added coffee, underlining it twice.

After breakfast, Elena folded the dry clothes while Marcus changed the sheets. They worked around each other in their small Ohio townhouse, carrying baskets up and down the stairs and pausing occasionally to discuss what could wait until Sunday. Vacuuming, they agreed, could wait.

By ten, they were in the car. Their first stop was the hardware store, where Marcus compared furnace-filter sizes on his phone while Elena found the correct lightbulbs. They nearly bought the wrong filter until Elena noticed the dimensions printed on the old one they had brought along.

At the supermarket, Marcus pushed the cart and Elena read from the grocery list. They chose chicken thighs, rice, spinach, yogurt, and enough fruit for the week. Marcus went back for onions while Elena waited at the deli counter. In the cereal aisle, they debated whether a sale was worth buying two boxes and decided it was.

The checkout line was long, so Elena answered a text from her sister while Marcus arranged the groceries on the belt. Back home, they carried the bags inside together. Elena put away the refrigerated food, and Marcus stored the pantry items, discovering they already had three cans of black beans.

“We should start checking the cupboard before shopping,” he said.

“We say that every week,” Elena replied.

They replaced the furnace filter, started another load of laundry, and made sandwiches for lunch. By early afternoon, the errands were done. Marcus turned on a basketball game, and Elena sat beside him with the basket of warm towels between them. Together, they began to fold.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter making a grocery list while her husband, Marcus, checked the refrigerator.

“We’re almost out of milk,” he said, lifting the carton. “And I used the last of the hot sauce.”

Elena added both items to the list. Their house in suburban Ohio was quiet except for the hum of the furnace and the washing machine turning in the basement. Before leaving, Marcus moved the laundry into the dryer while Elena gathered the library books they needed to return.

They drove first to the post office, where Elena mailed a birthday package to her sister in Arizona. Marcus waited near the counter, sorting through the envelopes they had brought from home and tossing two pieces of junk mail into the recycling bin.

Next, they stopped at the library. Marcus returned the books through the slot, and Elena went inside to pick up a mystery novel she had reserved. When she came out, he was checking the tire pressure in the parking lot with a small gauge he kept in the glove compartment.

“One’s a little low,” he said. “We can use the air pump at the gas station.”

After filling the tire and topping off the gas tank, they headed to the supermarket. Elena steered the cart while Marcus read from the list. They divided up briefly in the produce section—she chose apples and spinach while he found onions and potatoes—then met again near the bakery. Marcus suggested buying a loaf of sourdough, and Elena added tomato soup for lunch.

At the checkout, they used a coupon Elena had saved on her phone. Marcus loaded the bags into the trunk, arranging the eggs and bread on top.

Back home, they carried everything inside together. Elena put away the refrigerated items while Marcus stacked cans in the pantry. By noon, the errands were done. They heated the soup, sliced the sourdough, and sat at the kitchen table, pleased to have the rest of the afternoon free.


Saturday morning had already warmed the sidewalks when Elena and Marcus left their townhouse in Columbus, Ohio. Marcus locked the front door while Elena checked the list on her phone.

“Groceries, pharmacy, hardware store,” she said. “And we need gas.”

Marcus patted his pocket for the car keys. “Efficient and glamorous.”

At the supermarket, they divided the work without discussing it. Elena headed toward produce while Marcus pushed the cart to the dairy aisle. They met near the bakery, where Elena placed apples, spinach, and a bunch of cilantro beside the milk and eggs Marcus had collected.

“Did you get coffee?” she asked.

He paused. “I thought that was on your side.”

They doubled back, laughing, and chose the medium roast they both liked. At the checkout, Marcus loaded the belt while Elena compared a digital coupon with the price on the screen. The cashier corrected the discount, saving them three dollars.

Next, they stopped at the pharmacy. Elena picked up a prescription, and Marcus found the allergy tablets he needed. While they waited, he remembered they were almost out of toothpaste, so Elena added it to the basket along with dish soap.

The hardware store was across the shopping center. A hinge on one of their kitchen cabinets had been sagging for weeks. Marcus brought the old hinge in his jacket pocket, and Elena helped compare it with the replacements. They also bought furnace filters after checking the size in a photo Elena had taken before leaving home.

On the way back, they pulled into a gas station. Marcus filled the tank while Elena carried two reusable bags into the convenience store to buy ice for the cooler.

By early afternoon, they were home. Elena put away the refrigerated food as Marcus replaced the cabinet hinge. When the door finally closed evenly, he called her over to inspect it.

She opened and shut it twice. “Perfect.”

Marcus glanced at the grocery bags still covering the counter. “Now for the glamorous part.”

Together, they started unpacking.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the garage flattening cardboard boxes for recycling. She stood in the doorway with a grocery list on her phone and reminded him that they also needed stamps, dog food, and a new air filter for the furnace.

Marcus loaded the recycling into the trunk while Elena checked the refrigerator one last time. They left their townhouse outside Columbus just before ten, hoping to beat the weekend crowds.

Their first stop was the post office. Elena waited in line for stamps while Marcus dropped two packages into the parcel bin. From there, they drove to a hardware store, where Marcus compared filter sizes and Elena picked up batteries for the smoke detectors. At the register, she noticed a display of work gloves and added a pair to the basket after remembering that hers had torn while gardening.

Next came the pet supply store. Their dog, Pepper, was particular about her food, so Elena checked the brand and flavor while Marcus lifted the large bag into the cart. They debated buying Pepper a squeaky toy, then agreed she already had enough toys scattered across the living room.

At the supermarket, they divided the list. Marcus handled produce and dairy while Elena collected pantry items. They met near the cereal aisle, where Marcus had chosen peaches that were still firm and Elena had found coffee on sale. Together, they discussed dinners for the week and added tortillas, chicken, and bell peppers for fajitas.

By the time they reached the checkout, the cart was fuller than expected. Elena organized the groceries on the conveyor belt while Marcus packed the reusable bags. Outside, light rain had begun to fall, so they hurried to load the car.

Back home, they carried everything inside in three trips. Marcus replaced the furnace filter as Elena put away the groceries. Then they made sandwiches, gave Pepper her usual food—without a new toy—and sat at the kitchen table, satisfied that the rest of the afternoon was finally theirs.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter making a grocery list while her husband, Marcus, checked the refrigerator.

“We’re almost out of milk,” he said, lifting the carton. “And this yogurt expired three days ago.”

Elena added milk and yogurt to the list. They had lived in their small Ohio bungalow for six years, long enough to know that errands went faster if they planned the route. Marcus needed to return a library book and pick up a prescription. Elena had a package to mail and wanted to stop at the hardware store for furnace filters.

They left just before ten, Marcus driving while Elena entered the stops into her phone. At the post office, he found a parking space and waited in line with her, holding the padded envelope while she pulled up the shipping address. Next, Elena dropped the library book into the outdoor return slot as Marcus went inside the pharmacy next door. His prescription was not ready, so the pharmacist asked them to come back in twenty minutes.

They used the time to visit the hardware store. Marcus compared filter sizes while Elena checked a photo she had taken of the old one. They bought a three-pack and a small bag of birdseed.

At the supermarket, they divided the list. Elena chose produce and bread while Marcus collected dairy products, coffee, and canned tomatoes. They met near the frozen foods, where Marcus held up two pizzas.

“One for tonight?” he asked.

Elena nodded. “Only if we get salad too.”

At checkout, Marcus loaded the belt and Elena packed the reusable bags. Then they returned to the pharmacy, where the prescription was ready.

By noon, they were home. Marcus carried in the heavier bags while Elena put away the cold items. They ate sandwiches at the kitchen table, pleased that everything was done. Outside, sparrows gathered near the empty feeder, and Marcus glanced at the birdseed.

“I’ll fill it after lunch,” he said.

Elena smiled. “Then I’ll change the furnace filter.”


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the garage flattening cardboard boxes for recycling. She stood in the doorway with a grocery list open on her phone.

“We need coffee, rice, eggs, and something for dinner,” she said. “And the pharmacy texted. Your prescription is ready.”

Marcus added the boxes to the bin. “Then we should stop at the bank, too. I need quarters for the laundry machines at work.”

They left their townhouse outside Columbus just before ten. Elena drove while Marcus checked the list and added dish soap after noticing the nearly empty bottle under the sink. At the pharmacy drive-through, he gave his name and birth date, then handed Elena the receipt so she could tuck it into the envelope they kept for medical expenses.

Their next stop was the bank. While Marcus went inside, Elena walked to the shipping store next door and returned a sweater that had arrived in the wrong size. They met back at the car at nearly the same time.

At the supermarket, they divided the work without discussing it. Elena chose vegetables and compared prices on chicken thighs, while Marcus picked up pantry items and texted her a picture of two coffee brands. She replied with the cheaper one and found him a few minutes later studying pasta sauce labels.

“Get the low-sodium kind,” she said, placing spinach in the cart.

“You say that like I wasn’t already going to.”

“You were holding the garlic-and-cheese jar.”

“It was under consideration.”

At checkout, Marcus unloaded the cart while Elena scanned their loyalty card and packed the reusable bags. They stopped for gas on the way home, and Marcus cleaned the windshield while the tank filled.

Back at the townhouse, they carried everything inside in two trips. Elena put away the cold items, and Marcus stacked cans in the pantry. By noon, the errands were finished. They made sandwiches, sat at the kitchen counter, and agreed that the chicken could wait until Sunday.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the garage flattening cardboard boxes for recycling. She stood in the doorway with a grocery list open on her phone.

“If we leave now, we can beat the lunch crowd,” she said.

Marcus glanced at the clock above the workbench. “Give me five minutes.”

They had lived in their Ohio townhouse for six years, long enough to develop a reliable weekend circuit. First came the post office, where Elena mailed a birthday package to her sister in Arizona while Marcus checked their box for a replacement debit card. Then they drove to the pharmacy. Marcus picked up his allergy prescription, and Elena wandered two aisles over for toothpaste and bandages.

Back in the car, Marcus added the receipts to the envelope they kept in the glove compartment. Elena entered the pharmacy total into their budgeting app.

“Hardware store next?” he asked.

“Only if you promise we’re buying one lightbulb, not a new drill.”

The kitchen bulb had been flickering all week. Inside the hardware store, Elena matched the old bulb’s wattage while Marcus compared two brands. They chose the cheaper four-pack and left without a drill.

Their last stop was the supermarket. Marcus pushed the cart and crossed items off the list while Elena checked produce. He selected chicken thighs and rice for Sunday dinner; she chose apples, spinach, and a loaf of rye bread. When they reached the frozen aisle, they debated ice cream flavors and compromised on vanilla with a jar of caramel sauce.

At home, Elena carried in the lighter bags while Marcus brought the heavy ones. They unpacked together, rotating older cans to the front of the pantry. Marcus replaced the kitchen bulb, and Elena started a pot of coffee.

The errands had taken just under two hours. With the refrigerator full and the afternoon still open, they sat at the kitchen table, shared an apple, and decided they had done enough for one day.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the laundry room, matching socks from a warm pile on top of the dryer. She leaned against the doorframe and read from the list on her phone.

“Milk, rice, tomatoes, dog food, and your coffee.”

“Our coffee,” Marcus corrected, dropping a pair of socks into the basket.

They lived in a modest townhouse outside Columbus, Ohio, close enough to several stores that they could finish their errands before lunch if traffic cooperated. Elena grabbed reusable grocery bags from the pantry while Marcus checked that the library books were in the car.

Their first stop was the post office, where Elena mailed a birthday package to her sister in Arizona. Marcus waited beside her, filling out a change-of-address card for a former tenant whose mail still arrived at their house. Afterward, they drove to the library. Marcus returned two mysteries, and Elena picked up a cookbook she had reserved.

At the pharmacy, Marcus collected a prescription while Elena compared prices on toothpaste. He found her holding two nearly identical boxes.

“This one is cheaper,” he said.

“By twelve cents.”

“Twelve cents is twelve cents.”

She smiled and put it in the basket.

The grocery store was crowded with families and employees restocking shelves. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena checked off items. He chose avocados, testing each one gently, and she selected chicken thighs for Sunday dinner. They debated cereal, agreed on oatmeal, and added ice cream anyway.

At checkout, Elena unloaded the cart while Marcus bagged the groceries, keeping the bread away from the canned goods. Outside, they realized they had forgotten dog food.

They looked at each other, then laughed and went back in.

By noon, the errands were done. At home, Marcus carried the heavy bags inside, and Elena put away the cold items. Their dog, Pepper, watched closely as the new bag of food entered the pantry.

“Successful trip,” Marcus said.

Elena held up the ice cream. “Especially this part.”


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the laundry room, transferring towels to the dryer while studying the grocery list on his phone.

“We’re out of coffee,” he said.

“And dish soap,” Elena added, handing him a stray sock. “If we leave now, we can beat the lunch crowd.”

They locked their townhouse in a quiet Ohio suburb and climbed into Elena’s hatchback. Marcus drove while Elena reorganized their route: pharmacy first, then the post office, hardware store, and supermarket. At the pharmacy, Elena picked up a prescription while Marcus compared prices on allergy medicine. They met at the register, where he remembered they also needed toothpaste.

Their next stop was the post office. Elena mailed a birthday package to her sister in Arizona while Marcus bought stamps and held the door for a father struggling with a stroller. At the hardware store, they debated lightbulbs under the harsh aisle lighting.

“The warm ones,” Elena said. “The bright white bulbs make the kitchen look like a clinic.”

Marcus laughed and put two boxes of warm LEDs in the basket, along with furnace filters and a packet of picture hooks.

By the time they reached the supermarket, the parking lot had begun to fill. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena checked items off the list. They chose chicken for Sunday dinner, spinach, apples, rice, yogurt, and enough coffee to last two weeks. Marcus suggested frozen pizza for the nights neither of them wanted to cook, and Elena added ice cream without comment.

At checkout, they split the work automatically: Elena unloaded the cart, and Marcus bagged the groceries, keeping the eggs and bread separate. Back at home, they carried everything inside in two trips. Marcus replaced the furnace filter while Elena put away the food.

When they finished, they made sandwiches and sat at the kitchen table. The errands had taken most of the morning, but the refrigerator was full, the package was mailed, and the house felt quietly prepared for another week.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the laundry room, transferring towels into the dryer while the grocery list sat on top of the washing machine.

“We’re out of coffee,” he said.

“And dish soap,” Elena replied, adding it to the list. “If we leave now, we can beat the crowd.”

They locked their townhouse and climbed into Elena’s hatchback. Marcus drove while she checked their errands on her phone: pharmacy, post office, hardware store, then groceries. At the pharmacy drive-through, Elena picked up a refill while Marcus confirmed the date of her next appointment. Afterward, they stopped at the post office, where he mailed a birthday package to his sister in Oregon. Elena held the door for an older man carrying two padded envelopes.

The hardware store took longer. A cabinet hinge in their kitchen had started squeaking, and Marcus wanted a replacement. Elena compared the samples to a photo on her phone while he searched for the right screws. They eventually found a matching hinge, plus weather stripping for the draft under the back door.

At the supermarket, they divided the list. Marcus chose produce and bread while Elena went for dairy and pantry items. They met near the meat counter, where they debated dinner.

“Tacos?” he suggested.

“We had tacos Tuesday.”

“That was last week.”

Elena laughed. “Fine. But we’re getting avocados.”

They checked the cart together before paying and discovered they had forgotten coffee—the reason they had left early in the first place. Marcus jogged back for it while Elena unloaded groceries onto the conveyor belt.

By noon, they were home. Elena put away the cold items as Marcus carried in the heavier bags. Then he replaced the cabinet hinge while she started a pot of coffee.

They sat at the kitchen table with fresh mugs, listening to the dryer tumble in the next room. The errands had taken most of the morning, but the refrigerator was full, the package was mailed, and the cabinet door finally closed without a sound.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter making a list while her husband, Marcus, checked the refrigerator.

“We need eggs,” he said, lifting the empty carton. “And coffee.”

Elena added both, then reminded him they also needed detergent, apples, and something easy for dinner. They lived in a small house outside Columbus, Ohio, close enough to several stores that they could finish their errands in one loop if traffic cooperated.

Marcus drove while Elena organized the stops on her phone. First they went to the post office, where she mailed a birthday package to her sister. While she waited in line, Marcus bought stamps and filled out a change-of-address card for a former tenant whose mail still occasionally arrived at their house.

Next, they stopped at the pharmacy. Marcus picked up a prescription, and Elena compared prices on allergy medicine. At the checkout, she remembered they were nearly out of toothpaste, so he went back for a tube while she paid.

Their last stop was the grocery store. Marcus pushed the cart, steering around a display of soda, while Elena worked down the list. In produce, he chose apples and inspected a bag of potatoes. She found broccoli, onions, and a bunch of cilantro for tacos. They debated dinner for a moment, then settled on rotisserie chicken, salad, and rolls.

At the dairy case, Elena reached for eggs while Marcus went to find coffee. They met again near the frozen foods, each carrying an unplanned item: ice cream for him and dumplings for her. Neither objected.

Back at the house, they carried the bags in together. Marcus put away the cold items while Elena sorted the pantry goods and started a load of laundry with the new detergent.

By early afternoon, the errands were done. They ate chicken sandwiches at the kitchen table, tired but satisfied, and agreed they had earned the ice cream.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter comparing the grocery list with the refrigerator’s contents while her husband, Marcus, rinsed their coffee mugs.

“We’re definitely out of eggs,” she said.

“And nearly out of gas,” Marcus replied, glancing through the window at their sedan in the driveway.

They left their home in Columbus just after nine, hoping to beat the weekend crowds. Elena drove while Marcus added stops to the list on his phone: the bank, the pharmacy, the post office, and then the grocery store. At the first traffic light, they agreed to get the errands out of the way before shopping so the frozen food wouldn’t sit in the trunk.

At the bank’s drive-through ATM, Elena deposited a check while Marcus sorted through the envelopes they needed to mail. A few blocks later, he went into the post office and returned with a receipt and a sheet of stamps featuring wildflowers.

“Those are nicer than the flags,” Elena said, tucking them into the glove compartment.

At the pharmacy, Elena picked up a prescription while Marcus wandered to the household aisle and found the lightbulbs they had kept forgetting. He also grabbed toothpaste after remembering the nearly empty tube rolled up beside their bathroom sink.

Their final stop was the supermarket. Marcus pushed the cart, and Elena checked items off the list. They chose chicken for Sunday dinner, vegetables, rice, cereal, milk, and eggs. Marcus suggested peaches, but Elena pointed out that they were hard and out of season, so they bought apples instead. Near the checkout, she remembered coffee filters, and he doubled back to get them.

By noon, they were home. Marcus carried in the heavier bags while Elena put away the refrigerated food. They worked around each other in the familiar kitchen, passing cans and cartons from hand to hand.

When everything was stored, Elena found a bag of cookies neither remembered choosing.

Marcus smiled. “I may have added one thing.”

She opened the package and set two cookies beside their fresh coffee.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter making a grocery list while her husband, Marcus, checked the refrigerator.

“We’re almost out of milk,” he said, lifting the carton. “And I used the last of the mustard.”

Elena added both items to the list, then reminded him they also needed to stop at the pharmacy and mail a package to his sister. By ten, they had put the reusable bags in the trunk and backed out of their driveway in suburban Ohio.

Their first stop was the post office. Marcus carried the box while Elena held the door for an older man using a cane. At the counter, Marcus realized he had left his wallet in the car, so Elena paid for the postage while he went back to get it.

Next, they drove to the pharmacy. Elena picked up a prescription, and Marcus wandered to the seasonal aisle for batteries. He returned with batteries, toothpaste, and a bag of chocolate-covered pretzels.

“Those weren’t on the list,” Elena said.

“They’re for morale,” he replied, dropping them into the basket.

At the supermarket, they divided the work. Elena chose produce and compared prices on chicken, while Marcus collected cereal, coffee, and canned tomatoes. They met near the dairy case, where Marcus remembered the milk but forgot the mustard. Elena caught the mistake before checkout and sent him back for it.

The parking lot was crowded, and a light rain had started. Marcus loaded the groceries while Elena returned the cart, jogging the last few steps as the rain grew heavier.

On the way home, they stopped at a gas station. Elena filled the tank while Marcus cleaned the windshield and threw away old receipts from the center console.

Back at the house, they carried everything inside in two trips. Elena put away the cold items, and Marcus stacked cans in the pantry. When he opened the pretzels, she took one without comment.

“Good for morale?” he asked.

Elena smiled. “Apparently.”


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus standing in front of the open refrigerator, holding an empty carton of milk.

“I thought we had another one,” he said.

“We did. You finished it yesterday.”

Marcus nodded. “That sounds possible.”

They made a list at the kitchen table in their Ohio townhouse: milk, rice, onions, coffee, chicken, and the cereal their daughter liked when she visited from college. Elena added stamps and a birthday card for her sister. Marcus reminded her that they needed windshield washer fluid.

By ten, they were backing out of the driveway. Marcus drove while Elena checked the pharmacy hours on her phone. Their first stop was the post office, where Elena bought stamps and mailed a return package. Marcus waited in line beside her, then helped an older man hold the door while they left.

At the pharmacy, Marcus picked up a prescription and Elena browsed the greeting cards. She showed him two options.

“The one with the dog,” he said.

“My sister doesn’t even like dogs.”

“But it’s the funnier card.”

Elena chose the other one.

Their last stop was the supermarket. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena read from the list. They compared prices on coffee, debated whether they needed two bags of rice, and added tomatoes after Marcus suggested making soup for dinner. At the frozen-food aisle, Elena caught him slipping ice cream into the cart.

“That wasn’t on the list.”

“It’s an emergency supply.”

She left it there.

The checkout line was long, so Marcus unloaded the cart while Elena ran back for the washer fluid they had forgotten. Outside, they divided the bags between them and packed the trunk.

On the drive home, rain began tapping against the windshield. Marcus turned on the wipers, which smeared the glass.

“Good thing we bought the fluid,” Elena said.

“Good thing you remembered it.”

“You remembered it first.”

At home, they carried everything inside in two trips. Elena put away the groceries while Marcus filled the washer reservoir. Then they met in the kitchen, opened the ice cream, and ate a few spoonfuls before lunch.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter comparing the grocery list with the nearly empty refrigerator. Her husband, Marcus, rinsed their coffee mugs and added dish soap to the list.

“We’re low on dog food too,” he said, glancing toward their beagle, who lifted his head at the familiar phrase.

Elena wrote it down. They left their townhouse outside Columbus just before ten, taking Marcus’s sedan because it had more room in the trunk. Elena drove while Marcus checked the errands they had saved on his phone: pharmacy, post office, grocery store, and hardware store.

At the pharmacy, Marcus picked up a prescription while Elena browsed the greeting cards and chose one for her sister’s birthday. Next, they stopped at the post office. Elena carried in a return package, and Marcus bought a book of stamps from the self-service kiosk.

The hardware store took longer than expected. They needed a replacement filter for the furnace, but neither remembered the exact size. Marcus searched through a photo he had taken of the old filter’s label, while Elena found the correct shelf. They also picked up lightbulbs for the hallway fixture.

By the time they reached the supermarket, the parking lot was crowded. Marcus pushed the cart and gathered produce while Elena visited the deli counter. They met near the dairy section, where they debated whether they already had butter.

“We always think we have butter,” Elena said.

“And then we don’t,” Marcus replied, placing a box in the cart.

At checkout, Elena unloaded the groceries while Marcus arranged the bags so the bread and eggs stayed on top. Back home, they carried everything inside in two trips. Marcus replaced the furnace filter and Elena put away the food, calling out where she wanted the dog food stored.

When they finished, it was nearly one. They made sandwiches with the fresh deli turkey and ate at the kitchen table, satisfied that the rest of the weekend was finally their own.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter in their Ohio home, checking the refrigerator while her husband, Marcus, finished the grocery list.

“We’re out of milk,” she said, lifting the nearly empty carton.

Marcus added it beneath eggs and coffee. “And the pharmacy texted. Your prescription is ready.”

Elena glanced at the clock. “Then let’s go before the stores get crowded.”

They carried reusable bags to the car and drove first to the post office, where Marcus mailed a birthday package to his sister in Arizona. Elena waited near the counter, comparing stamps until she found a sheet with wildflowers for the bills they still paid by mail.

Next they stopped at the bank’s drive-through ATM. Elena deposited two checks while Marcus sorted old receipts from the center console. When the machine returned the card, he tucked the receipt into her wallet so it wouldn’t disappear under the seats.

At the pharmacy, Marcus picked up toothpaste and bandages while Elena spoke with the pharmacist. Then they crossed the parking lot to the supermarket.

They divided the list without formally deciding to. Elena chose produce, squeezing avocados and rejecting a bruised bag of apples. Marcus found cereal, pasta, and the coffee they both liked. They met near the dairy case, where he held up two cartons of eggs.

“Large or extra-large?”

“Whichever isn’t cracked,” Elena said.

At checkout, Marcus unloaded the cart while Elena arranged the cold items together in their insulated bag. They both laughed when they realized they had separately added cookies.

On the way home, they stopped at a gas station. Marcus filled the tank, and Elena cleaned the windshield with the squeegee, stretching to reach the center.

Back home, they carried everything inside in two trips. Marcus put away pantry items while Elena loaded the refrigerator. By noon, the errands were done. They made sandwiches, opened one package of cookies, and sat at the kitchen table, pleased to have the rest of the weekend free.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the garage, checking the air in the front tires of their sedan. They lived in a quiet neighborhood outside Columbus, Ohio, where most errands required a short drive.

“Twenty minutes,” she said, holding up the grocery list. “Then we leave.”

Marcus nodded. “I’ll bring the library books.”

By ten, they were backing out of the driveway with two canvas bags, three overdue mysteries, and a package Elena needed to return. Their first stop was the post office. While Elena waited in line, Marcus filled out the return address on the label. She paid for the postage, and he carried the receipt back to the car.

At the library, Marcus dropped the books into the return slot while Elena went inside to pick up a cookbook she had reserved. She came out five minutes later, flipping through a chapter on weeknight soups.

“You know we’ll still order pizza on Wednesday,” Marcus said.

“Probably,” she replied, “but now we’ll feel guilty about it.”

They stopped at the pharmacy next. Marcus collected a prescription, and Elena picked up toothpaste and batteries. Then they drove to the supermarket, where they divided the list by aisle. Marcus chose vegetables and compared prices on chicken, while Elena found coffee, rice, and canned tomatoes. They met near the dairy case and debated whether they needed one carton of eggs or two.

“Two,” Marcus decided. “You said you wanted to bake.”

“I said I might bake.”

“That means two.”

At checkout, Elena unloaded the cart while Marcus packed the groceries into their reusable bags, keeping the bread away from the heavier cans. On the way home, they remembered they had forgotten dish soap.

Neither wanted to turn around.

Marcus pulled into a small convenience store, and Elena ran inside. When she returned, she also had two iced teas.

“Not on the list,” he said.

“Necessary anyway.”

Back home, they carried the bags in together and put everything away before lunch. The errands had taken nearly three hours—longer than planned, but ordinary in a way they both found satisfying.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the garage, checking the air in the tires of their aging blue sedan. They lived in a small ranch house outside Columbus, Ohio, and had learned that weekends went more smoothly when they made a list.

“Groceries, pharmacy, post office, hardware store,” Elena said, reading from her phone.

Marcus shut the garage door behind them. “And coffee, if we survive all four.”

Their first stop was the post office, where Elena mailed a birthday package to her sister in Arizona while Marcus bought stamps and held the door for a man carrying several boxes. At the pharmacy, Marcus picked up his allergy prescription, and Elena wandered the seasonal aisle until he reminded her they already owned three umbrellas.

The hardware store took longer. A hinge on one of their kitchen cabinets had broken, and Marcus brought the old one in a plastic bag. While he compared sizes, Elena found a clerk who explained which screws they needed. They also bought furnace filters, after both admitting they could not remember the last time they had replaced one.

By noon, the grocery store parking lot was crowded. Elena pushed the cart while Marcus checked items off their shared list. They debated pasta sauce, chose the brand on sale, and split up briefly—Elena for vegetables, Marcus for milk and eggs. He returned with a box of cookies that was not on the list.

“For emergencies,” he said.

At checkout, Elena remembered they needed food for their cat, Pepper. Marcus ran back for it while she unloaded the cart and arranged the coupons. They packed the trunk together, placing the eggs and bread on top.

On the drive home, they stopped at a neighborhood coffee shop and shared a blueberry muffin in the car. Back at the house, Marcus carried in the heavier bags while Elena put away the cold items. Then they switched tasks: she replaced the cabinet hinge, following the clerk’s instructions, and he changed the furnace filter.

By midafternoon, every errand was done. Pepper inspected the grocery bags, and Elena opened the emergency cookies.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter making a list while her husband, Marcus, checked the refrigerator.

“We’re almost out of milk,” he said, lifting the carton. “And we need eggs.”

Elena added both to the list, then reminded him they also had to stop at the pharmacy and return a package. Their house in suburban Ohio was quiet except for the hum of the furnace and the jingle of Marcus’s keys.

They drove first to the post office. Elena carried the box while Marcus held the door for an older man leaving with a stack of envelopes. At the counter, she showed the clerk the return label, and Marcus found the confirmation email on his phone when the clerk asked for the order number.

Next, they stopped at the pharmacy. Marcus picked up his allergy prescription while Elena browsed the greeting cards. His mother’s birthday was coming up, so they chose one together—simple, with flowers on the front and no long poem inside.

At the grocery store, Marcus pushed the cart and Elena read from the list. They compared prices on coffee, debated whether they would actually eat a large bag of spinach, and agreed to buy the smaller one. In the produce section, Marcus selected apples while Elena checked avocados for ripeness. He remembered they needed dish soap; she remembered that they had promised to bring dessert to dinner with friends the next evening.

By the time they reached the checkout, the cart held groceries, a birthday card, and a lemon pie. Marcus loaded the bags into the trunk while Elena returned the cart to the corral.

On the drive home, they stopped for gas. Elena cleaned the windshield while Marcus filled the tank. Back at the house, they carried everything inside in two trips, then put the groceries away together. Marcus set the coffee to brew, and Elena taped the pharmacy receipt to the refrigerator for their records.

Their errands had taken less than two hours. With the cupboards stocked and the afternoon still open, they sat at the kitchen table, shared the last two cookies from the old package, and decided they had earned a quiet day.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter scrolling through the grocery list while her husband, Marcus, checked the refrigerator for anything they had forgotten.

“We’re almost out of mustard,” he said.

Elena added it to the list. “And coffee filters.”

They left their townhouse just after nine, carrying reusable bags to the car. Marcus drove, while Elena reviewed their route: supermarket, pharmacy, post office, then the hardware store if they still had time.

At the supermarket, they divided the work without discussing it. Marcus headed toward produce and picked out apples, spinach, and onions. Elena compared prices on chicken and found the brand of rice they usually bought. They met near the dairy case, where Marcus held up two cartons of eggs.

“Large or extra-large?”

“Whichever’s cheaper,” Elena said.

At the checkout, she loaded the conveyor belt while he bagged the groceries. They both noticed the total was higher than the week before, and on the way out they agreed to cook from the freezer more often.

Next, they stopped at the pharmacy. Elena picked up a prescription, and Marcus bought toothpaste and batteries. At the post office, he mailed a birthday package to his sister while Elena filled out a change-of-address form for a former tenant whose mail still arrived at their house.

Their last stop was the hardware store. A kitchen cabinet hinge had come loose, so Marcus brought the old hinge inside to find a match. Elena located felt pads for the dining chairs and reminded him they also needed a furnace filter.

By noon, they were home. Marcus carried in the heavy bags while Elena put away the cold items. Then they worked together at the kitchen table, sorting receipts and checking off the list.

They had forgotten the mustard.

Marcus laughed and set the list beside his keys. “Next weekend.”

Elena opened the refrigerator and found a nearly full jar hidden behind the pickles. “Or maybe next month,” she said.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter checking the refrigerator while her husband, Marcus, read items from a list on his phone.

“Milk, spinach, eggs,” he said.

“And coffee,” Elena added, holding up the nearly empty bag. “Definitely coffee.”

They left their townhouse outside Columbus just before ten. Marcus drove while Elena sorted the errands into an efficient route: pharmacy first, then the post office, the hardware store, and finally the grocery store. At the pharmacy, Marcus picked up a prescription while Elena compared prices on allergy medicine. They used a coupon from the store’s app and left feeling unusually accomplished.

The post office was crowded. Elena waited in line to mail a birthday package to her sister in Arizona while Marcus filled out the address label she had forgotten to complete. Next, they stopped at the hardware store for furnace filters and a replacement bulb for the porch light. Marcus nearly grabbed the wrong filter size, but Elena found the measurements in a photo on her phone.

At the supermarket, they divided the list. Elena chose produce and meat while Marcus collected pantry staples. They met near the dairy case, where Marcus had added ice cream to the cart.

“That wasn’t on the list,” Elena said.

“It’s for morale,” he replied.

She laughed and added chocolate syrup.

At checkout, they realized they had forgotten paper towels. Elena stayed with the cart while Marcus hurried back for them. By noon, the trunk was full and both were hungry.

On the drive home, they stopped at a small sandwich shop and split a turkey sub in the parking lot. Back at the townhouse, Marcus carried in the heavier bags while Elena put away the cold items. Then they changed the porch bulb together—Marcus on the step stool, Elena steadying it below.

When the light clicked on, even in daylight, they both nodded with quiet satisfaction. The errands had been ordinary, but doing them together made the work feel lighter.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter making a grocery list while her husband, Marcus, checked the refrigerator.

“We’re almost out of milk,” he said, lifting the carton. “And we need eggs.”

Elena added both to the list, along with rice, tomatoes, coffee, and dog food. Their dog, Pepper, watched from the doorway as if she understood the last item.

By ten, they were backing out of the driveway of their Ohio home. Marcus drove while Elena sorted the coupons they had received in the mail. Their first stop was the post office, where Elena mailed a birthday package to her sister in Arizona. While she waited in line, Marcus bought a book of stamps and checked their post office box.

Next, they went to the bank. Marcus deposited a check through the ATM, and Elena used the machine beside it to withdraw cash for the farmers market. They compared receipts before returning to the car.

At the pharmacy, Marcus picked up a prescription while Elena searched for allergy medicine. She found two brands and asked his opinion. Together, they compared the active ingredients and chose the less expensive generic version.

Their final stop was the supermarket. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena read from the list. In produce, he selected tomatoes and checked a bag of apples for bruises. Elena picked up onions and fresh spinach. They split up briefly—Marcus went for dog food and coffee while Elena found rice, milk, and eggs—then met near the checkout lanes.

“Did we forget anything?” Marcus asked.

Elena studied the cart. “Bread.”

He laughed and went back for it.

After loading the groceries into the trunk, they stopped at the farmers market for honey and a loaf of sourdough. By noon, they were home. Marcus carried in the heavier bags, and Elena put away the cold items. Pepper circled their feet until Marcus opened the new dog food.

With the errands finished, they made sandwiches and ate together at the kitchen table.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter making a grocery list while her husband, Marcus, checked the refrigerator.

“We’re almost out of milk,” he said, lifting the carton. “And eggs.”

Elena added both to the list. They had lived in their Ohio townhouse for six years, long enough to know that errands went faster if they planned the route. Marcus pulled up the pharmacy’s hours on his phone, and Elena gathered two library books that were due Monday.

They left just after ten. Marcus drove, while Elena reviewed the list from the passenger seat and reminded him they also needed stamps. Their first stop was the post office, where Elena bought a booklet and Marcus dropped a birthday card for his father into the outgoing mail.

At the pharmacy, Marcus picked up a prescription. While he waited, Elena found the unscented laundry detergent they both preferred and compared prices on toothpaste. Marcus joined her at the register with a box of allergy medicine.

Next, they drove to the public library. Elena returned the novels through the indoor slot, and Marcus spent a few minutes browsing the new nonfiction shelf. He checked out a book about home repairs, joking that owning a house had turned him into someone who read about gutters for fun.

The grocery store was busiest. Elena steered the cart while Marcus collected produce. They debated whether four avocados would ripen before they could eat them and settled on two. In the dairy aisle, Marcus remembered the eggs; Elena remembered coffee. They divided the list and met near the checkout, where they discovered each had added a snack for the other.

Back home, they carried the bags inside together. Marcus put away the frozen food while Elena arranged the vegetables in the refrigerator. By noon, the errands were finished. They made sandwiches, opened the chips Marcus had chosen, and sat at the kitchen table, pleased to have the rest of the weekend free.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the garage flattening cardboard boxes for recycling. She stood in the doorway with a grocery list open on her phone.

“If we leave now, we can beat the lunch crowd,” she said.

Marcus checked the time and nodded. They loaded the recycling into the trunk of their sedan, then drove out of their Ohio neighborhood under a pale spring sky. Elena navigated while Marcus drove, though both knew the route by heart.

Their first stop was the county recycling center. Marcus handed over the flattened boxes while Elena carried two bags of glass bottles to the proper bin. From there, they went to the pharmacy. Elena picked up a prescription, and Marcus found the allergy medicine he needed. At the register, they remembered to buy stamps for the stack of bills and birthday cards waiting at home.

Next came the hardware store. A cabinet hinge in their kitchen had been loose for weeks, so Marcus brought the old hinge in his jacket pocket to match it. Elena compared packages while he searched for the right size. They eventually found one, along with furnace filters and a small pot of basil Elena wanted for the windowsill.

The grocery store was busiest, but they divided the list efficiently. Marcus selected vegetables and coffee while Elena visited the bakery and dairy aisles. They met near the frozen foods, where they debated between two brands of pizza before choosing the one on sale.

At checkout, Elena packed the reusable bags while Marcus paid. On the way home, they stopped at the gas station. Elena filled the tank, and Marcus went inside for ice.

By early afternoon, they were back in their driveway. They carried everything inside together, putting cold items away first. Marcus replaced the cabinet hinge while Elena planted the basil. When they finally sat down for sandwiches, the empty grocery bags were folded, the errands were finished, and the rest of the weekend felt pleasantly open.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter checking the grocery list while her husband, Marcus, searched the hall closet for reusable bags. They had lived in their small Ohio home for six years, long enough to know that errands went faster if they left before the supermarket became crowded.

Marcus found the bags beneath a pile of winter scarves and carried them to the car. Elena locked the front door, then slid into the passenger seat and opened the list on her phone.

“Bank first?” she asked.

“Then the pharmacy,” Marcus said. “My prescription should be ready.”

At the bank’s drive-through ATM, Elena deposited two checks while Marcus organized the receipts in the center console. Their next stop was the pharmacy, where Marcus picked up his medication and Elena bought toothpaste they had forgotten to add to the list.

The supermarket parking lot was already filling. Inside, they divided the work without discussing it. Elena chose produce while Marcus went to the deli counter. They met near the dairy case, where he held up two cartons of eggs.

“Large or extra-large?”

“Whichever is cheaper,” she said, comparing yogurt prices.

They moved through the aisles together, checking off coffee, rice, chicken, cereal, and cat food. Marcus suggested frozen pizza for dinner, and Elena added a bagged salad to balance it out. At checkout, she unloaded the cart while he packed the groceries into their bags, keeping the bread away from the canned goods.

Before heading home, they stopped at the hardware store for furnace filters and a new bulb for the porch light. Marcus checked the filter size on a photo he had taken that morning, and Elena found the correct bulb.

Back at the house, they carried everything inside in two trips. Elena put away the cold groceries while Marcus replaced the porch bulb. By early afternoon, the errands were finished, the refrigerator was full, and they sat at the kitchen table sharing coffee before deciding what to do with the rest of the day.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter comparing the grocery list with the nearly empty refrigerator. Her husband, Marcus, rinsed their coffee mugs and added dish soap to the list after squeezing the last drops from the bottle.

“We also need stamps,” he said. “And I have to return that drill bit.”

Elena wrote both items beneath milk, spinach, and chicken. They lived in a modest house outside Columbus, Ohio, close enough to several stores that they could finish everything in one trip if they planned the route carefully.

Marcus drove while Elena checked the pharmacy hours on her phone. Their first stop was the hardware store, where Marcus returned the unopened drill bit he had bought in the wrong size. While he waited at the service counter, Elena picked up furnace filters from a display near the registers. He carried the filters to the car; she tucked the return receipt into her wallet.

At the pharmacy, Elena collected a prescription while Marcus bought toothpaste and compared prices on allergy medicine. Then they crossed the parking lot to the post office. Marcus purchased a book of stamps, and Elena dropped two envelopes into the blue collection box outside.

Their final stop was the supermarket. Marcus pushed the cart and chose produce while Elena worked through the list. They debated whether they already had rice, decided not to risk running out, and added a bag. At the meat counter, Elena selected chicken thighs for Sunday dinner. Marcus found a discounted loaf of bread and suggested soup and sandwiches for lunch.

By the time they reached the checkout, the cart held groceries, paper towels, and one unplanned pint of ice cream. Elena raised an eyebrow when she noticed it.

“It was on sale,” Marcus said.

At home, they carried the bags in together. Elena put away the cold items while Marcus changed the furnace filter. Twenty minutes later, the errands were finished, the refrigerator was full, and they sat at the kitchen table sharing the ice cream before lunch.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter making a grocery list while her husband, Marcus, checked the refrigerator.

“We’re almost out of milk,” he said, lifting the carton. “And we need eggs.”

Elena added both to the list. They had lived in their Ohio townhouse for six years, long enough to know that errands went faster if they planned the route. Marcus suggested starting at the post office, then stopping at the pharmacy before going to the supermarket. Elena reminded him that they also needed gas and a new air filter for the furnace.

They left just after ten. Elena drove while Marcus sorted the envelopes they needed to mail. At the post office, he bought stamps and sent a birthday card to his mother. Elena dropped a package into the parcel bin.

Their next stop was the pharmacy. Marcus picked up a prescription, and Elena found the shampoo she liked on sale. At the hardware store next door, they compared furnace filters until Marcus located the correct size. Elena grabbed a pack of batteries for the smoke detector.

By the time they reached the supermarket, the parking lot was crowded. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena read from the list. They chose vegetables, chicken, rice, coffee, and the milk and eggs Marcus had noticed that morning. He went back for onions after Elena remembered she wanted to make soup. At the checkout, they divided the bags so neither had to carry too much.

On the way home, Elena pulled into a gas station. Marcus filled the tank while she cleaned the windshield with the squeegee.

Back at the townhouse, they carried everything inside together. Elena put away the groceries as Marcus replaced the furnace filter. Then he changed the smoke detector batteries while she started the soup.

When they finally sat down for lunch, the kitchen smelled of onions and broth. Their errands had taken most of the morning, but the refrigerator was full, the car had gas, and the house felt ready for another week.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter making a list while her husband, Marcus, checked the refrigerator.

“We’re out of milk,” he said, moving a jar of pickles aside. “And almost out of eggs.”

Elena added both to the list. They lived in a small house outside Columbus, Ohio, close enough to several stores that they could finish their errands before lunch if traffic cooperated.

Marcus drove, and Elena kept the list open on her phone. Their first stop was the post office, where she mailed a birthday package to her sister. While she waited in line, Marcus bought stamps from the machine and checked the post office box they used for his small repair business.

Next, they stopped at the pharmacy. Marcus picked up a prescription, and Elena found the allergy medicine she needed. At the register, she reminded him they also had to buy a new furnace filter.

“That’s the hardware store,” he said.

“It’s next door.”

Marcus laughed. “Good thing one of us planned this.”

At the hardware store, they compared filter sizes until Elena pulled up a photo she had taken of the old one. Marcus chose the right package, then added a box of lightbulbs after remembering the burned-out fixture over the back steps.

Their final stop was the supermarket. They divided the list without formally discussing it. Marcus went for produce, bread, and coffee, while Elena collected canned goods, pasta, and cleaning supplies. They met near the dairy case, where Marcus had already put milk and eggs in the cart.

“Did you get bananas?” she asked.

He lifted a bunch from beneath the bread.

At checkout, Elena used a coupon from the store’s app while Marcus bagged the groceries. On the drive home, they stopped at a gas station and took turns cleaning the windshield while the tank filled.

By noon, everything was put away. Marcus replaced the furnace filter, and Elena changed the back lightbulb. Then they made sandwiches and ate at the kitchen table, satisfied that the ordinary work of the weekend was already done.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter making a list while her husband, Marcus, checked the refrigerator.

“We need milk,” he said, lifting the nearly empty carton. “And eggs. Maybe spinach, if we’re actually making that pasta.”

Elena added all three, then reminded him they also needed to stop by the pharmacy and return a package. They lived in a small house outside Columbus, Ohio, close enough to several shopping centers that they could finish everything in one trip if traffic cooperated.

Marcus drove while Elena organized the stops on her phone. Their first destination was the post office, where Marcus carried in the taped cardboard box and Elena waited in line to buy stamps. From there, they crossed town to the pharmacy. Elena picked up a prescription, and Marcus found the brand of allergy medicine he preferred.

At the grocery store, they divided the list without really discussing it. Marcus headed toward produce while Elena went for bread and canned tomatoes. They met near the dairy case, where Marcus had added mushrooms and a bag of apples to the cart.

“Those weren’t on the list,” Elena said.

“They looked good.”

She nodded toward the chocolate cookies beside the eggs. “Neither were those.”

“Fair enough.”

They compared prices on coffee, chose chicken thighs that were on sale, and debated whether they had enough rice at home. Elena was certain they did; Marcus was not. They bought a small bag anyway.

Before leaving, they stopped at the customer-service desk so Elena could replace a damaged rewards card. Marcus loaded the groceries into the trunk while she finished.

On the drive home, they remembered they had forgotten dish soap. After a brief silence, Elena laughed.

“We can survive until Monday.”

Back at the house, they carried the bags inside together. Marcus put away the cold items while Elena sorted the pantry goods. By noon, the errands were done, the refrigerator was full, and the forgotten dish soap had already been added to next week’s list.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter making a list while her husband, Marcus, checked the refrigerator.

“We’re out of eggs,” he said, shifting a carton of milk to see behind it. “And almost out of coffee.”

Elena added both items, then reminded him they needed stamps, detergent, and a new porch lightbulb. By ten, they had left their townhouse in Maryland and were driving toward the shopping center.

Their first stop was the post office. Elena waited in line for stamps while Marcus used the self-service machine to mail a birthday package to his sister in Ohio. He returned holding the receipt just as Elena finished.

Next, they walked to the hardware store. Marcus found the correct LED bulb, but Elena noticed furnace filters stacked nearby and checked the size in a note on her phone. They bought a three-pack, saving themselves another trip later.

At the grocery store, Marcus pushed the cart while Elena crossed items off the list. They divided the work without discussing it much. He chose produce and compared prices on chicken, while she picked up cereal, yogurt, and cleaning supplies. In the coffee aisle, they disagreed briefly over whether to buy their usual brand or one that was on sale.

“The sale one is fine,” Marcus said.

“You said that last time, and then you complained for two weeks,” Elena replied.

He laughed and put their regular coffee in the cart.

At checkout, Elena unloaded the groceries while Marcus bagged them, keeping the bread and eggs separate. On the way home, they stopped at a gas station. Marcus filled the tank, and Elena cleaned the windshield with the squeegee.

Back at the townhouse, they carried everything inside in two trips. Elena put away the groceries while Marcus replaced the porch bulb and slid a new filter into the furnace. By early afternoon, the errands were done. They made sandwiches, opened the windows to the mild spring air, and sat down together at the kitchen table, pleased to have the rest of the day free.