On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the kitchen, holding an empty coffee bag upside down over the grinder.

“That’s all?” she asked.

“Three beans,” he said. “Maybe four.”

They added coffee to the grocery list, along with milk, chicken, rice, spinach, and laundry detergent. After breakfast, Elena gathered towels from the upstairs bathroom while Marcus stripped the sheets from their bed. They carried everything to the basement, where the washing machine made a clicking sound before starting.

“We should probably keep an eye on that,” Marcus said.

Elena nodded and wrote “washer” on the whiteboard near the stairs, under a reminder to change the furnace filter.

Before leaving, they stopped at the post office to mail a birthday card to Marcus’s mother. Elena waited in the car while he went inside, then they drove to the supermarket. The parking lot was crowded, and Marcus circled twice before finding a space near the cart return.

Inside, Elena chose produce while Marcus compared prices on coffee. They met near the dairy case, where he placed two bags in the cart.

“Two?” she asked.

“I’m preventing another emergency.”

They divided the rest of the list. Elena found the detergent and rice; Marcus picked up chicken and milk. At the checkout, they realized they had forgotten eggs, so Elena ran back while Marcus unloaded the cart.

At home, they carried the bags in together. Marcus put away the pantry items while Elena washed the spinach and moved the laundry to the dryer. One fitted sheet had twisted around the towels, and they spent a minute pulling everything apart.

By early afternoon, the groceries were stored, the bed was remade, and the dishwasher was running. Marcus made coffee, and Elena opened the windows to let in the mild spring air.

They sat at the kitchen table with their mugs. The furnace filter still needed changing, and the washer still clicked, but for the moment, neither of them moved.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus at the kitchen table comparing the grocery list with the supermarket’s weekly ad. Their coffee had gone lukewarm, and a load of towels thumped unevenly in the washing machine.

“Do we really need three kinds of cheese?” he asked.

“One is for sandwiches, one is for tacos, and one is on sale,” Elena said, taking the ad from him. “So yes.”

Before leaving, they divided the chores. Marcus moved the towels to the dryer and carried two bags of recycling to the bins behind their apartment building. Elena wiped down the bathroom sink and changed the sheets. When they met again by the front door, Marcus held the reusable shopping bags while Elena checked that she had the coupons.

They drove first to the hardware store because the kitchen faucet had been dripping for a week. Marcus found a replacement washer, and Elena picked up lightbulbs for the hallway fixture. In the parking lot, they watched a short repair video on Marcus’s phone and agreed the job looked manageable.

At the grocery store, Elena pushed the cart while Marcus read from the list. They compared prices on chicken, chose store-brand cereal, and debated whether they would actually eat a large bag of spinach before it spoiled. They bought the smaller one. Marcus remembered dish soap just as they reached the checkout, so Elena held their place while he hurried back.

At home, they put everything away together. Elena portioned the chicken into freezer bags, and Marcus washed strawberries and cleared old leftovers from the refrigerator. Then they tackled the faucet. Elena held a flashlight under the sink while Marcus replaced the worn washer. When he turned the water back on, the drip was gone.

By midafternoon, the towels were folded, the bed was made, and groceries filled the refrigerator. They heated leftover soup for lunch and ate at the kitchen table, tired but satisfied.

“Next Saturday,” Marcus said, “we do nothing.”

Elena smiled. “Put it on the list.”


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus at the kitchen table comparing the electric bill to the previous month’s statement. He had circled the total in blue pen.

“The space heater,” Elena said, pouring coffee into two travel mugs.

“And your habit of leaving every light on,” Marcus replied.

She switched off the light above the sink. “Problem solved.”

By nine, they were in their aging Honda, heading across town. Their first stop was the post office, where Marcus mailed a birthday package to his sister in Ohio while Elena bought stamps. Then they drove to the hardware store for furnace filters and a replacement hinge for the loose cabinet door under the sink.

Marcus studied two nearly identical packages. “Which size did I write down?”

Elena pulled a folded receipt from her purse. On the back, she had written the measurements. “Three inches. I knew you’d forget.”

At the supermarket, they divided the list. Elena went to produce and chose onions, spinach, apples, and a bag of potatoes. Marcus picked up milk, eggs, rice, and chicken thighs. They met near the cereal aisle, where he had added chocolate cookies to the cart.

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

“Neither was the fancy cheese.”

“That’s for dinner.”

“So are the cookies.”

At checkout, Elena unloaded the cart while Marcus bagged the groceries, placing the eggs and bread together on top. The total was higher than they expected, so Elena checked the receipt before they left. A digital coupon had not been applied, and Marcus waited at customer service to get the difference refunded.

Back home, they carried the bags in together. Elena put away the groceries and started a load of towels while Marcus replaced the furnace filter and tightened the cabinet hinge. Afterward, they made sandwiches and sat on the back steps.

“We still need gas,” Marcus said.

Elena leaned against his shoulder. “That can be Sunday’s problem.”


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

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

Elena helped him redistribute the load, and the machine settled into a steady hum. While Marcus started coffee, she opened the refrigerator and made a grocery list: milk, eggs, spinach, chicken, rice, and coffee filters. Marcus added dish soap and the hot sauce he liked.

After breakfast, they divided the chores. Elena cleaned the bathroom while Marcus vacuumed the living room and hallway. When the vacuum stopped, she heard him moving furniture.

“You don’t have to get behind the couch,” she called.

“I already saw what’s back here,” he replied. “Now I have to.”

By eleven, they carried recycling to the bins behind their apartment building and loaded two reusable bags into the car. Their first stop was the pharmacy, where Elena picked up a prescription. Marcus waited in line at the service counter to return a phone charger that had stopped working.

At the grocery store, Elena compared prices on chicken while Marcus checked their list. They disagreed briefly about whether they needed more rice.

“We have half a bag,” Elena said.

“A small half,” Marcus answered.

They bought rice.

The checkout lines were long, so Marcus unloaded the cart while Elena arranged the groceries by weight. On the drive home, they stopped at a gas station and switched places after Marcus filled the tank.

Back at the apartment, they carried everything upstairs in one trip, each insisting the bags were not too heavy. Elena put away the refrigerated items while Marcus transferred rice and cereal into containers. Then they folded the now-dry sheets together, struggling to match the corners of the fitted one.

By midafternoon, the errands were finished. Marcus made sandwiches, and Elena opened the windows. They ate at the kitchen table, tired but satisfied, discussing whether they had enough energy to cook the chicken that evening.


On Saturday morning, Elena woke to the sound of the washing machine thumping unevenly in the basement. Her husband, Marcus, was already downstairs, shifting towels around the drum.

“One of these is trying to escape,” he said when she appeared.

Elena redistributed the load while Marcus carried a basket of clean clothes upstairs. They folded everything at the dining table, making separate piles for socks, towels, and the shirts Marcus needed for work. Elena matched socks while he checked their list of errands.

They lived in a small town outside Columbus, Ohio, where most Saturday trips required the car. Before leaving, Elena gathered reusable grocery bags from the hall closet. Marcus took the recycling to the bins behind their apartment building and noticed the car’s windshield washer fluid was low. He added a bottle to the shopping list.

Their first stop was the post office, where Elena mailed a birthday card to her sister. Next, Marcus dropped off two shirts at the dry cleaner. At the pharmacy, they picked up Elena’s prescription and compared prices on allergy medicine before choosing the store brand.

The grocery store was crowded. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena read from the list. They bought chicken, rice, spinach, yogurt, coffee, and a bag of apples. Marcus chose tomatoes, rejecting two that were too soft, and Elena found a coupon for laundry detergent on the store’s app. They debated buying ice cream, then agreed on one carton of chocolate.

Back home, Marcus carried the heavier bags upstairs while Elena put away the refrigerated food. He portioned the chicken for the freezer, and she washed the spinach and apples. Afterward, they replaced a burned-out bulb in the kitchen fixture, with Elena holding the step stool steady.

By midafternoon, the errands were done. Marcus started coffee, and Elena opened the ice cream.

“We were saving that,” he said.

“For tonight,” she replied, handing him a spoon. “It’s technically later than when we bought it.”


By nine on Saturday morning, Elena had already started a load of towels, and her husband, Marcus, was standing on a chair in the hallway, replacing the smoke detector battery.

“Still chirping?” he asked.

Elena listened. The apartment was quiet except for the washing machine. “Finally stopped.”

They made a list at the kitchen counter. Elena checked the refrigerator while Marcus opened the pantry. They needed milk, eggs, rice, coffee, spinach, and something for dinner. Marcus added dish soap. Elena added lightbulbs, then crossed them out when he found an unopened package under the sink.

Before leaving, they carried two bags of recycling down to the bins and stopped at the mailbox. There was a utility bill, a grocery flyer, and a birthday card for the previous tenant. Marcus tucked the card into his jacket so he could mark it “return to sender.”

The supermarket parking lot was crowded. Inside, Elena steered the cart while Marcus compared prices on coffee. They disagreed briefly about tomatoes—Elena wanted the cheaper canned ones for soup, while Marcus thought fresh tomatoes would be better for sandwiches—so they bought both.

At the checkout, Marcus unloaded the cart, and Elena watched the total climb higher than they had expected. She removed a bag of chips they had picked up on impulse. Marcus raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue.

On the way home, they stopped for gas. Elena filled the tank while Marcus cleaned the windshield with the squeegee.

Back at the apartment, they carried the groceries upstairs in two trips. Marcus put away the pantry items, and Elena washed the spinach and started the soup. When the dryer buzzed, they folded towels together at the dining table.

By midafternoon, the errands were done. The smoke detector was silent, the refrigerator was full, and rain had begun tapping against the windows. Marcus made coffee, and Elena divided the soup into containers for the week. They sat down for a late lunch, tired but satisfied that Monday would be a little easier.


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 bedroom.

“We’re out of almost everything,” she said.

Marcus carried the hamper into the hallway. “Make a list while I start this load?”

They divided the chores without much discussion. Elena checked the pantry and wrote down rice, coffee, cereal, and canned tomatoes. Marcus added detergent, toothpaste, and lightbulbs, then moved the wet towels into the dryer. Before leaving, Elena gathered the library books from the coffee table, and Marcus broke down a stack of delivery boxes for the recycling bin.

Their first stop was the public library. Elena returned two novels while Marcus dropped a utility bill into the mailbox outside. At the hardware store next door, they bought lightbulbs and a small tube of caulk for the bathroom sink.

The grocery store was crowded with families and employees restocking shelves. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena compared prices on chicken. He chose apples, rejecting two with bruises, and reminded her they needed bread. In the cereal aisle, they debated buying a large box that was on sale.

“We’ll eat it eventually,” Marcus said.

“You say that about every giant box,” Elena replied, but she put it in the cart.

At checkout, they realized they had forgotten milk. Marcus jogged back while Elena unloaded the groceries onto the belt. They used a coupon for coffee and packed the bags themselves.

Back home, Marcus carried everything upstairs in two trips. Elena put away the cold food and washed the carrots they had bought to replace the old ones. Then they changed the laundry together, folded the dry towels, and replaced the burned-out bulb over the kitchen sink.

By three o’clock, the errands were done. Marcus made coffee, and Elena sliced an apple. They sat at the table, tired but satisfied, while the washing machine hummed through one final load.


By nine on Saturday morning, Elena had started a load of towels, and Marcus was standing on a chair in the hallway, replacing the smoke detector battery that had chirped twice during the night.

“Test it before you get down,” Elena called from the laundry room.

Marcus pressed the button. The alarm shrieked, and Elena covered her ears.

“Works,” he said.

They made a list at the kitchen table. Elena checked the refrigerator while Marcus opened cabinets and called out what they were missing: coffee, rice, canned tomatoes, dish soap. She added spinach and chicken, then crossed out yogurt after finding two unopened containers behind the orange juice.

Before leaving, they carried a bag of recycling to the bins behind their apartment building. Marcus broke down a cardboard box while Elena sorted glass bottles. Then they drove to the grocery store, discussing whether they had enough gas to wait until next week. The gauge was just above a quarter tank, so they decided it could.

At the store, Marcus pushed the cart while Elena compared prices on laundry detergent. He chose apples and rejected one with a soft spot. She picked up tortillas, onions, and a bunch of cilantro. In the cereal aisle, Marcus reached for an expensive granola.

“Only if it’s on sale,” Elena said.

He checked the tag and put it back.

The checkout line was long. While they waited, Elena remembered they needed stamps. Marcus offered to stop at the post office kiosk near the pharmacy while she loaded the groceries into the car.

Back home, they worked without discussing it. Elena put away the cold items and divided the chicken into freezer bags. Marcus carried the heavier packages upstairs, then moved the towels to the dryer. They ate leftover soup for lunch and reviewed the receipt, pleased that they had stayed close to their budget.

Afterward, Marcus vacuumed the living room while Elena wiped down the kitchen counters. By midafternoon, the apartment smelled faintly of lemon cleaner and coffee. They sat together on the couch, tired but satisfied, and agreed to leave the remaining errands for Sunday.


On Saturday morning, Elena opened the refrigerator and stared at three eggs, half a lemon, and a jar of mustard.

“We can’t keep pretending mustard is a meal,” she called.

From the hallway, Marcus laughed. He was sorting laundry into uneven piles. “I’m making a list.”

They ate toast, then divided the chores. Elena changed the sheets and wiped down the bathroom while Marcus started the washing machine and took the recycling to the bins behind their apartment building. When he returned, she was kneeling beside the kitchen cabinet, checking cleaning supplies.

“Dish soap,” she said. “And trash bags.”

Marcus added both to the list on his phone. Before leaving, they measured the empty space beside the bookcase. They had been talking for weeks about buying a narrow storage shelf, but at the hardware store, the only one they liked was too wide. Instead, they bought lightbulbs and a new filter for the air conditioner.

Their next stop was the grocery store. Elena pushed the cart while Marcus read from the list. They picked up rice, chicken, spinach, yogurt, coffee, and canned tomatoes. In the produce section, Marcus chose peaches, pressing each one carefully.

“Those won’t be ripe until Thursday,” Elena said.

“That’s planning ahead.”

At the checkout, they realized they had forgotten dish soap. Marcus jogged back while Elena unloaded the cart and found a digital coupon for the coffee.

On the drive home, they stopped for gas. Elena cleaned old receipts from the glove compartment while Marcus filled the tank. Back at the apartment, they carried the bags upstairs in two trips. Marcus put away the groceries, and Elena transferred the laundry to the dryer.

By midafternoon, the clean sheets were on the bed, the refrigerator was full, and the new lightbulb brightened the dim hallway. They made grilled cheese sandwiches and ate them at the kitchen table.

“We still need that shelf,” Marcus said.

Elena looked at the cleared counter. “Next Saturday.”

Neither of them objected.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the kitchen, studying the refrigerator with the door open.

“We’re out of eggs,” he said.

“And milk,” Elena added, reaching past him for the nearly empty carton. “Also, the light in the hallway burned out.”

Marcus closed the refrigerator and opened the notes app on his phone. They spent ten minutes making a grocery list while eating toast over the sink. Elena checked the pantry; Marcus looked under the bathroom cabinet and discovered they also needed toothpaste and trash bags.

Before leaving, they divided the chores. Marcus carried two baskets of laundry to the basement of their townhouse, while Elena stripped the bed and gathered towels. She started the first load, and he replaced the hallway bulb using the small stepladder from the coat closet. When the light came on, they both noticed how dusty the fixture was.

“That’s next Saturday,” Elena said.

At the supermarket, Marcus pushed the cart while Elena compared prices on chicken breasts. They chose thighs instead because they were on sale. In the produce section, Marcus picked out apples and rejected two bruised ones. Elena added spinach, onions, and a bunch of bananas. They briefly disagreed about cereal—Marcus wanted the expensive granola, while Elena pointed to the store brand—then compromised by buying both because each box had a digital coupon.

At checkout, Marcus unloaded the cart, grouping cold items together. Elena scanned the loyalty app and packed the reusable bags. The total was higher than they expected, even after the discounts.

Back home, they carried everything inside in two trips. Elena put away the pantry items while Marcus divided the chicken into freezer bags. Then they moved the laundry to the dryer and made sandwiches for lunch.

By early afternoon, the refrigerator was full, the hallway was bright, and clean sheets tumbled downstairs. Marcus sat beside Elena on the couch and opened their shared to-do list.

“Anything else?” he asked.

Elena took his phone, checked off “groceries,” and said, “Not today.”


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 it.

“I thought it would work itself out,” he said when she found him standing beside the machine with a coffee mug.

Together they redistributed the wet towels and restarted the cycle. Upstairs, Elena made a list while Marcus checked the refrigerator. They needed milk, onions, rice, and something for dinner. Marcus added coffee filters. Elena added dish soap, then crossed it out after finding an unopened bottle under the sink.

Before leaving, they gathered the recycling and carried it to the bins behind their townhouse. Marcus broke down two shipping boxes while Elena rinsed a jar that had been left beside the sink. Then they drove to the supermarket, ten minutes away.

The parking lot was crowded. Inside, Elena chose tomatoes and cilantro while Marcus compared prices on chicken thighs. They disagreed briefly about cereal—Marcus wanted the expensive granola, and Elena pointed out that it was nearly eight dollars.

“Fine,” he said, putting it back. “But I’m getting the good coffee.”

They divided the rest of the list. Elena found rice and canned beans; Marcus picked up milk, eggs, and coffee filters. At the checkout, Elena remembered they were out of aluminum foil, so Marcus ran back while she unloaded the cart.

On the way home, they stopped at a hardware store for lightbulbs and a replacement air filter. Back at the townhouse, Marcus carried in the groceries while Elena put away the cold items. He changed the air filter, and she moved the towels to the dryer.

By early afternoon, the errands were finished. Marcus made sandwiches while Elena sliced apples. They ate at the kitchen table, looking over the grocery receipt.

“We forgot toothpaste,” Elena said.

Marcus sighed, then smiled. “Tomorrow.”

She folded the receipt and set it beside his plate. “Tomorrow,” she agreed.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus standing in the kitchen, holding the empty coffee can as if it had personally betrayed him.

“I wrote it on the list,” she said, pointing to the notepad on the refrigerator.

Marcus checked. “Coffee, milk, onions, detergent. You did.”

They ate toast with the last of the jam, then divided the morning’s chores. Elena started a load of towels while Marcus gathered the recycling from the kitchen and garage. When the washing machine began to thump, they paused to redistribute the towels, laughing when Marcus pulled out a bath mat that had wrapped itself around everything else.

By ten, they were in their car, driving through light traffic to the supermarket. Elena pushed the cart while Marcus compared prices on coffee. He preferred the dark roast, but the medium roast was on sale.

“We could get two,” he suggested.

“We could also remember that the pantry is small,” Elena said.

They settled on one. In produce, Marcus chose tomatoes while Elena picked through a bin of onions. They added chicken, rice, yogurt, cereal, and a frozen pizza for the night neither of them wanted to cook. At the checkout, Elena remembered the detergent and hurried back while Marcus unloaded the cart.

On the way home, they stopped at the hardware store for furnace filters and a replacement bulb for the porch light. Marcus checked the size on a photo he had taken before leaving. Elena found the bulbs and reminded him they also needed batteries for the smoke detector.

Back home, they carried the groceries inside together. Elena put away the cold items while Marcus installed the new porch bulb. Then they changed the furnace filter, taking turns holding the awkward metal panel in place.

By early afternoon, the towels were folded, the recycling was gone, and the refrigerator was full. Marcus made fresh coffee, and Elena brought two mugs to the living room. They sat on the couch, tired but satisfied, and agreed to leave vacuuming for Sunday.


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

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

Elena added coffee, spinach, and dish soap to the list. They had planned to clean the apartment before lunch, but the laundry basket was overflowing and the recycling had begun to crowd the pantry door.

Marcus carried two bags of bottles and cardboard down to the recycling bins while Elena sorted the laundry. When he returned, they stripped the bed together and wrestled the fitted sheet into the washing machine. Elena wiped the bathroom counter as Marcus vacuumed the living room, pausing twice to untangle hair from the roller.

By eleven, they drove to the supermarket near their neighborhood in Columbus. The parking lot was busy, and Marcus circled once before finding a space beside a cart return.

Inside, Elena steered the cart while Marcus checked the list. They compared prices on olive oil, chose chicken thighs for dinner, and debated whether they needed a large bag of rice.

“We’ll use it,” Marcus said.

“You said that about the lentils,” Elena replied, but she put the rice in the cart.

At the produce section, Marcus picked out apples while Elena inspected tomatoes. They also bought yogurt, bread, onions, frozen peas, and a box of cereal that was on sale. At checkout, Elena loaded the conveyor belt and Marcus packed the reusable bags, keeping the eggs and bread on top.

Back home, they carried everything upstairs in two trips. Marcus put away the pantry items while Elena divided the chicken into freezer bags. The washing machine buzzed, and together they moved the sheets into the dryer.

By early afternoon, the apartment smelled faintly of laundry detergent and coffee. They sat at the kitchen table with sandwiches, reviewing the remaining chores.

“Hardware store?” Marcus asked.

Elena looked at the loose cabinet handle, then at the couch.

“Next Saturday,” she said.

Marcus nodded, and neither of them argued.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the laundry room, staring at the washing machine as it filled with water.

“Did you check the pockets?” she asked.

Marcus reached into the empty hamper and pulled out a crumpled receipt. “Mostly.”

Elena laughed and handed him the dish towels from the kitchen. They had divided the morning’s chores over coffee: Marcus would start the laundry and replace the burned-out bulb above the back steps, while Elena cleaned the bathroom and made a grocery list. By ten, they had finished enough to justify leaving the rest for later.

They drove to the supermarket near their apartment in Columbus. Elena steered the cart while Marcus read from the list on his phone. They compared prices on coffee, chose chicken thighs for dinner, and debated whether they needed more cereal.

“We have half a box,” Marcus said.

“Half a box of the kind neither of us likes,” Elena replied.

They bought a different kind.

In the produce section, Marcus selected tomatoes while Elena searched for cilantro. At the checkout, they realized they had forgotten trash bags. Marcus jogged back to get them while Elena unloaded the cart and placed their reusable bags at the end of the conveyor belt.

On the way home, they stopped at the hardware store for a light bulb and a new air filter. Marcus carried the filter through the aisles to make sure the size matched the old one, and Elena found a small packet of picture hooks they had been meaning to buy.

Back at the apartment, they put away the groceries together. Elena washed the cilantro and stored it in a jar of water. Marcus changed the air filter, then climbed the short step ladder to replace the bulb outside.

By early afternoon, the laundry was folded, the refrigerator was full, and the hallway picture finally hung straight. They ate sandwiches at the kitchen table and discussed whether to vacuum.

“Tomorrow,” Elena suggested.

Marcus nodded. “Definitely tomorrow.”


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

“I think the towels are plotting an escape,” he said.

Elena opened the lid, redistributed the damp towels, and started the cycle again. While Marcus folded the dry clothes, she made coffee and wrote a grocery list on the back of an envelope. They checked the refrigerator together, debating whether the leftover spinach was still usable.

“It’s soup spinach now,” Marcus decided.

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 beside her, scrolling through the hardware store app for the correct size air filter. Afterward, they drove across town to buy one, along with lightbulbs and a small tube of caulk for the upstairs bathroom.

At the grocery store, Marcus pushed the cart while Elena compared prices on canned tomatoes. They divided the list: he went for milk, eggs, and coffee; she picked out vegetables and bread. They met near the frozen foods, where Marcus had added a pizza to the cart.

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

“It’s our emergency dinner.”

She considered this, then added a second one.

Back home, they carried the bags in together. Marcus replaced the air filter and tightened a loose cabinet handle while Elena washed lettuce and put away groceries. When she discovered they had forgotten dish soap, Marcus held up the nearly empty bottle by the sink.

“We can add water,” he suggested.

“We’ve already added water twice.”

They laughed and put it on next week’s list.

By midafternoon, the towels were folded, the refrigerator was full, and the bathroom window no longer leaked cold air. Elena made sandwiches while Marcus swept the kitchen. They ate at the table, tired in the modest, satisfying way that came from having spent the day taking care of their shared life.


On Saturday morning, Elena woke to the sound of the washing machine thumping unevenly in the basement. She found her husband, Marcus, standing beside it with a basket of towels.

“I think the blue one is trying to escape,” he said.

Elena opened the lid and rearranged the load. While the machine restarted, Marcus carried a bag of recycling to the garage, and Elena made a list of what they needed: milk, onions, coffee, chicken, toothpaste, and something for dinner.

By ten, they were in their car, driving through light traffic toward the supermarket. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena checked the list on her phone. They compared prices on coffee, debated whether they would actually eat a large container of spinach, and chose a smaller bag. At the meat counter, Marcus suggested chicken thighs because they were on sale. Elena added rice and canned tomatoes, planning a simple one-pot meal.

They each picked one unnecessary item—salted almonds for Marcus and lemon cookies for Elena—then used a coupon at checkout. Marcus loaded the groceries into the trunk while Elena returned the cart.

On the way home, they stopped at the pharmacy for toothpaste and a refill of Marcus’s allergy medicine. Back at the house, Elena put away the cold food while Marcus organized the pantry, throwing out an expired box of crackers. Then they switched tasks: Marcus moved the laundry to the dryer, and Elena broke down a stack of delivery boxes for recycling.

By early afternoon, the kitchen counters were clear, the refrigerator was full, and clean towels tumbled behind the dryer door. Marcus made sandwiches while Elena swept the floor.

They ate at the small kitchen table, sharing the lemon cookies afterward. Nothing about the morning had been remarkable, but the errands were finished, the house felt calmer, and they still had most of Saturday ahead of them.


By nine on Saturday morning, Elena had already started a load of towels, and Marcus was standing at the kitchen counter comparing the grocery list to the nearly empty refrigerator.

“We need eggs,” he said.

“They’re on the list.”

“And coffee.”

Elena glanced over from the laundry closet. “Also on the list.”

They divided the chores before leaving. Marcus carried the recycling down to the bins behind their apartment building while Elena changed the sheets. Then he vacuumed the living room, steering around the coffee table and pausing to rescue a loose phone charger. Elena wiped down the bathroom sink and replaced the hand towels.

At eleven, they drove to the supermarket. The parking lot was crowded, and Marcus waited while a family loaded bags into their SUV. Inside, Elena pushed the cart while he checked items off on his phone. They picked up chicken, rice, spinach, yogurt, and canned tomatoes. Elena compared prices on laundry detergent, while Marcus went back for the onions they had forgotten.

Near the bakery, he added a loaf of sourdough to the cart.

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

“It’s for dinner.”

“You said that about the cookies last week.”

He smiled but kept the bread.

After checking out, they stopped at the hardware store for lightbulbs and a replacement filter for the air conditioner. Elena found the correct filter size on a photo she had taken before they left, and Marcus chose a pack of warm-white bulbs.

Back home, they carried the groceries upstairs in two trips. Marcus put away the pantry items while Elena washed the produce. Then she moved the towels to the dryer, and he replaced the hallway bulb that had been flickering all week.

By midafternoon, the apartment smelled faintly of detergent and fresh bread. They sat at the kitchen table with sandwiches, tired but satisfied.

“What’s left?” Marcus asked.

Elena checked the list. “Nothing urgent.”

They agreed that was good enough for one Saturday.


Saturday began with the sound of the washing machine thumping unevenly in the basement. Elena paused halfway through making coffee and looked toward the floor.

“Sheets again,” she said.

Marcus carried his mug downstairs and found the fitted sheet twisted around the agitator. He redistributed the load while Elena opened the refrigerator and made a grocery list. They were out of milk, eggs, onions, and nearly everything they needed for dinner. Marcus called up that they also needed detergent.

Before leaving, they divided the chores. Elena wiped down the kitchen counters and sorted the mail, setting aside the electric bill. Marcus took the recycling to the bins behind their townhouse and replaced a burned-out bulb in the hallway. By eleven, they had filled two donation bags with clothes they no longer wore.

They loaded the bags into their car and drove first to a thrift store’s donation center. Afterward, they stopped at the hardware store for lightbulbs and a furnace filter. Marcus compared filter sizes on his phone while Elena found a pack of felt pads for the dining chairs.

The grocery store was crowded with families and employees restocking shelves. Elena pushed the cart while Marcus checked items off the list. They debated whether they already had rice, then decided to buy a small bag rather than risk another trip. Elena chose tomatoes and cilantro for salsa. Marcus picked up chicken thighs and found detergent on sale. At the register, they realized they had forgotten coffee and took turns holding their place while Marcus hurried back for it.

At home, they carried the bags inside together. Elena put away the produce and started a load of towels. Marcus changed the furnace filter and vacuumed the crumbs from the car seats.

By midafternoon, the errands were finished. They ate leftover soup at the kitchen table, tired but satisfied. The clean sheets tumbled in the dryer downstairs, and their newly stocked refrigerator hummed beside them.


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

“You put the bath mat in with everything else, didn’t you?” she called downstairs.

A moment later, the machine stopped. “Maybe,” he said.

They ate toast at the kitchen counter while making a list for the day. Elena checked the refrigerator and wrote down milk, eggs, spinach, and chicken. Mark added coffee, cereal, and the salsa he liked. They agreed they also needed lightbulbs for the hallway and a padded envelope for a book Elena wanted to mail to her sister.

Before leaving, they folded the dry clothes together. Mark matched socks while Elena hung up shirts. Then Elena gathered the recycling, and Mark carried it to the bins behind their townhouse.

At the grocery store, they split up. Elena went to produce while Mark picked up dairy items. They met near the meat counter, where they compared prices and decided to buy ground turkey instead of chicken. Mark remembered they were almost out of dish soap, and Elena went back for onions after realizing she had left them off the list.

The checkout line was longer than usual. While they waited, Mark unloaded the cart, and Elena reviewed the receipt from a digital coupon on her phone. They saved three dollars on coffee.

Next, they stopped at the hardware store for lightbulbs, then used the post office kiosk to mail Elena’s package. By the time they returned home, it had started raining.

Mark carried in the groceries while Elena put away the cold items. He replaced the burned-out hallway bulb, and she moved the towels to the dryer. Around two o’clock, they made turkey sandwiches and sat at the table.

“We still need to clean the bathroom,” Elena said.

Mark looked toward the rainy window. “After lunch.”

She nodded. “Definitely after lunch.”


On Saturday morning, Maya found Daniel standing in the kitchen, holding an empty coffee bag upside down as if a few beans might still fall out.

“I added it to the list,” she said, tapping the note on her phone.

Daniel opened the refrigerator. “Did you add milk?”

“You used the last of it.”

“So that’s a yes?”

Maya laughed and added milk.

They lived in a two-bedroom apartment outside Columbus, Ohio, and Saturday had become their day for catching up on everything they ignored during the workweek. After toast and the last two eggs, they divided the chores. Daniel carried laundry to the basement while Maya cleaned the bathroom. When he returned, he replaced a burned-out bulb in the hallway and gathered the recycling. Maya sorted the mail, setting aside a utility bill and shredding two credit card offers.

By eleven, they drove to the supermarket. Maya pushed the cart while Daniel read from the list. They compared prices on pasta sauce, chose chicken thighs for dinner, and debated whether they needed another box of cereal.

“It’s on sale,” Daniel said.

“We already have two boxes.”

“One is basically crumbs.”

They bought it.

In the produce section, Maya picked out tomatoes while Daniel weighed a bag of apples. They also bought coffee, milk, rice, spinach, yogurt, and dish soap. At checkout, Daniel loaded the belt, and Maya scanned the store app for coupons. They saved four dollars and spent more than they had planned anyway.

On the way home, they stopped for gas and dropped a package at the post office counter inside a pharmacy. Back at the apartment, Daniel carried the heavy bags upstairs while Maya took the lighter ones and unlocked the door.

They put everything away together. Daniel noticed the laundry timer had expired and went downstairs to move the clothes to the dryer. Maya started a pot of coffee and wiped out the refrigerator drawer where a tomato had leaked.

When Daniel came back, she handed him a mug.

They stood by the kitchen counter, tired but satisfied, looking at the clean room and the stocked refrigerator.

“Cereal for lunch?” he asked.

Maya opened the new box. “Only because it was on sale.”


On Saturday morning, Elena woke to the sound of the washing machine thumping in the basement. She found her husband, Marcus, standing beside it with a damp towel in his hands.

“I think the sheets wrapped themselves around everything,” he said.

Together they untangled the load, redistributed it, and started the spin cycle again. While Marcus carried a basket of clean clothes upstairs, Elena made coffee and wrote a grocery list on the back of an envelope. They checked the refrigerator, adding milk, spinach, eggs, and mustard. Marcus noticed they were nearly out of trash bags, and Elena remembered that the bathroom lightbulb had burned out.

By ten, they were in their car, driving past soccer fields crowded with children and parents. Their first stop was the post office, where Elena mailed a birthday package to her sister. Marcus waited at the counter beside her, then bought a book of stamps.

At the grocery store, Marcus pushed the cart while Elena compared prices on chicken. He chose tomatoes and avocados, rejecting one avocado after pressing it with his thumb. In the cereal aisle, they debated whether they really needed the expensive granola they both liked.

“It’s on sale,” Marcus said.

“That’s what you said last time.”

They bought it anyway.

At checkout, Elena unloaded the cart while Marcus bagged the groceries, keeping the eggs and bread separate. On the way home, they stopped at a hardware store for lightbulbs and a furnace filter.

Back at the house, Marcus replaced the filter and changed the bathroom bulb. Elena put away the groceries, then called him into the kitchen to help divide the chicken into freezer bags. Afterward, they folded the laundry at the dining table, matching socks and discussing dinner.

By midafternoon, the errands were finished. Elena started a pot of soup while Marcus swept the kitchen floor. The house looked much the same as it had that morning, but the refrigerator was full, the laundry was clean, and the bathroom light worked again.


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 between his teeth. A slow leak had dampened the cabinet floor overnight.

“Hand me the adjustable wrench,” he said.

Elena found it in the toolbox and passed it over. “If this turns into a plumbing emergency, we’re calling someone.”

Marcus tightened the loose connection and wiped the pipe with a paper towel. They waited. No new drop appeared.

“Temporary victory,” he said.

They made a list at the kitchen table: milk, rice, chicken, spinach, coffee, dish soap, and something for dinner. Elena checked the refrigerator while Marcus searched the pantry, calling out that they already had two cans of tomatoes and did not need a third.

Before leaving, they moved the towels to the dryer and carried a bag of recycling to the bins behind their apartment building. Marcus drove to the supermarket while Elena compared prices on the store’s phone app.

Inside, they split up. Elena chose produce and bread; Marcus picked up coffee, cereal, and cleaning supplies. They met near the meat counter, where Elena suggested salmon. Marcus pointed to the price and proposed chicken thighs instead. They agreed on chicken and added a small carton of ice cream.

At checkout, Marcus unloaded the cart while Elena arranged the reusable bags so the eggs and bread would not be crushed. The total was slightly higher than they expected, even after the digital coupons.

Back home, they put everything away together. Marcus divided the chicken into freezer bags, and Elena washed the spinach and set it in the refrigerator. Then they folded the warm towels on the couch while a college basketball game played quietly on television.

By midafternoon, the sink was still dry, the laundry was finished, and the groceries were stored. Elena made coffee, Marcus opened the ice cream, and they sat for a few minutes before deciding who would vacuum.


On Saturday morning, Elena and Marcus made a list at the kitchen table while the coffee brewed. They had lived in their Ohio townhouse for three years, long enough to know that if they went to the supermarket without a list, they would forget something essential and come home with three kinds of chips.

Marcus checked the refrigerator. “Milk, eggs, spinach,” he called.

Elena looked under the sink. “Dish soap. And trash bags.”

Before leaving, they carried two baskets of laundry downstairs. Elena started the washer while Marcus sorted a stack of mail, recycling advertisements and setting aside the electric bill. Then they loaded the car with empty cardboard boxes that had been cluttering the garage.

Their first stop was the county recycling center. Marcus broke down the last box while Elena separated glass jars from aluminum cans. A cold wind pushed across the parking lot, and they worked quickly.

At the grocery store, they divided the list. Elena picked out vegetables and compared prices on chicken, while Marcus found cereal, coffee, and cleaning supplies. They met near the dairy section.

“You got yogurt?” Elena asked.

Marcus held up a carton. “Plain, like you wanted.”

At the checkout, Elena noticed they had forgotten onions. Marcus jogged back to produce while she unloaded the cart. They used a digital coupon for detergent and packed the groceries into reusable bags.

On the way home, they stopped at the hardware store for a furnace filter. Elena checked the size on a photo she had taken that morning, and Marcus found the right one on the shelf.

Back at the townhouse, they put away the groceries together. Marcus replaced the filter and took out the trash. Elena moved the laundry to the dryer and chopped vegetables for soup. By midafternoon, the errands were finished.

They ate grilled cheese sandwiches at the kitchen counter, tired but satisfied. Outside, the wind rattled the bare branches. Marcus poured more coffee, and Elena crossed the last item off their list.


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 bedroom.

“We need groceries,” she said.

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

They made a list at the kitchen table. Elena checked the pantry while Marcus looked under the bathroom sink. They added rice, coffee, toothpaste, trash bags, and dish soap, then debated whether they needed paper towels. Marcus pointed out that there was still one roll above the refrigerator, so they crossed it off.

Before leaving, they started a load of towels. Elena measured the last of the detergent while Marcus carried the recycling to the bins behind their apartment building. Then they drove to the supermarket, ten minutes away.

The store was crowded with families and employees stocking shelves. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena compared prices on chicken thighs. He chose apples and onions, rejecting one bruised apple after she handed it to him. In the dairy aisle, they realized neither had put milk on the list.

“I thought you checked the fridge,” Marcus said.

“I checked the shelves,” Elena replied, smiling. “You made coffee this morning.”

They bought milk.

At checkout, Elena unloaded the cart while Marcus arranged the bags, keeping the eggs and bread together. The total was higher than they expected, so they studied the receipt in the parking lot and discovered they had been charged twice for coffee. Elena went back inside for a refund while Marcus loaded the trunk.

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

Back at the apartment, they carried the bags upstairs in two trips. Marcus put away the frozen food while Elena washed vegetables and moved the towels to the dryer. By early afternoon, the refrigerator was full, the laundry was turning, and both of them were hungry.

Marcus started sandwiches as Elena sliced the apples. They ate at the counter, discussing what to make for dinner and whether they had enough energy to vacuum.


On Saturday morning, Elena woke to the sound of the washing machine thumping unevenly. She found her husband, Marcus, crouched beside it, watching the machine wobble across the laundry-room floor.

“I think the towels are staging a revolt,” he said.

Elena opened the lid and rearranged the heavy, wet bundle. While the cycle restarted, Marcus gathered empty detergent bottles and a stack of cardboard boxes for recycling. Elena made coffee and wrote a grocery list on the back of an envelope: chicken thighs, rice, spinach, yogurt, coffee, and cat litter.

By ten, they were in Marcus’s sedan, driving through light traffic toward the supermarket. Elena pushed the cart while Marcus compared prices on olive oil. They debated whether they needed two cartons of eggs, then remembered Elena’s sister was visiting the next morning and bought both.

At the produce section, Marcus chose tomatoes while Elena inspected a bag of avocados. One was already soft.

“This one has about six hours left,” she said.

“Guacamole tonight,” Marcus replied, placing tortilla chips in the cart.

The checkout line was long, so Elena went to the pharmacy counter for allergy medicine while Marcus unloaded the groceries onto the conveyor belt. He used a coupon they had nearly forgotten, saving four dollars.

On the way home, they stopped at the hardware store for a new air filter and a package of lightbulbs. Marcus carried the filter; Elena found the correct bulbs by checking a photo she had taken of the old package.

Back at the house, they divided the work without discussing it. Elena put away the cold groceries and washed the spinach. Marcus changed the air filter, then took the recycling bin to the curb. After lunch, they folded the towels together on the couch.

One towel was still damp.

Marcus held it up. “The revolt continues.”

Elena laughed and tossed it over the back of a chair to dry. Then she added “check washing machine” to next Saturday’s list.


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 bedroom.

“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 several stores that they could finish most errands in one loop. While Marcus started a load of towels, Elena made a list at the kitchen table. They checked the pantry together, adding rice, coffee, canned tomatoes, and cereal.

Before leaving, Elena gathered the recycling and carried it downstairs. Marcus took out the trash, then moved the laundry into the dryer. By ten thirty, they were in the car.

Their first stop was the pharmacy. Marcus picked up a prescription and compared prices on allergy medicine while Elena bought toothpaste and a birthday card for her sister. Next, they drove to the grocery store.

Inside, Marcus pushed the cart and chose vegetables while Elena checked their list. They disagreed briefly over avocados—Marcus thought they were too hard, but Elena said they would ripen by Tuesday. They bought chicken, tortillas, yogurt, frozen peas, and a bag of apples. At the checkout, Elena noticed they had forgotten detergent, so Marcus jogged back to the cleaning aisle.

On the way home, they stopped for gas. Elena cleaned old receipts from the center console while Marcus filled the tank.

Back at the apartment, they carried the bags upstairs in two trips. Marcus put away the cold food, and Elena divided the chicken into freezer containers. Then they folded the towels together on the couch.

By early afternoon, the errands were done. Marcus made grilled cheese sandwiches while Elena sliced apples. They ate at the kitchen table, reviewing the grocery receipt and talking about whether to see a movie that evening. Outside, someone was mowing the apartment lawn, and the steady sound drifted through the open window.


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

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

Elena opened the lid and rearranged the load while Marcus steadied the washer. Once it started again, they carried empty coffee mugs to the kitchen and made a list of errands. They needed groceries, lightbulbs for the hallway, and stamps. Marcus also wanted to return a shirt that was too small.

They left their townhouse just before ten. Elena drove while Marcus checked the store hours on his phone. At the post office, he bought stamps from the machine, and Elena dropped two envelopes into the blue collection box. Their next stop was the department store, where Elena waited near the entrance while Marcus exchanged the shirt for a larger size.

The supermarket was crowded with families and employees restocking shelves. Marcus pushed the cart, and Elena read from the list. They compared prices on coffee, chose apples that were not bruised, and debated whether they would actually cook the bag of fresh spinach.

“We will if we buy mushrooms too,” Marcus said.

Elena added mushrooms to the cart. Marcus picked up pasta, canned tomatoes, and the cereal Elena liked. At the checkout, they divided the reusable bags between them and carried everything to the car.

Back home, Marcus put away the pantry items while Elena washed the produce. They discovered that they had forgotten the lightbulbs.

“I’ll get them tomorrow,” Elena said.

Marcus shook his head and held up his keys. “Hardware store closes at six.”

They went together, bought the correct bulbs, and returned before lunch. Marcus replaced the burned-out bulb in the hallway while Elena moved the laundry to the dryer. By one o’clock, the errands were finished, the refrigerator was full, and they sat at the kitchen table eating sandwiches, pleased to have the rest of Saturday free.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus standing in the kitchen, staring into the refrigerator as if it had personally disappointed him.

“We’re out of eggs,” he said.

“And milk,” Elena added, reaching past him for the nearly empty carton. “Also, this lettuce has become a science project.”

They made a list over coffee at the small table by the window. Marcus checked the pantry while Elena opened cabinets and called out what they needed. Rice, dish soap, coffee, onions, cereal. He added tortilla chips. She crossed them out. He added them again at the bottom.

Before leaving, they divided the other chores. Elena started a load of towels and stripped the bed while Marcus broke down several cardboard boxes that had accumulated near the back door. He carried them to the recycling bin, then returned to fix the loose handle on a kitchen drawer. Elena held the flashlight while he tightened the screws.

At the grocery store, they pushed the cart together, taking turns steering around families and employees stocking shelves. Elena compared prices on canned tomatoes while Marcus chose apples, rejecting any with soft spots. They debated whether they already had mustard.

“We do,” Marcus said confidently.

“You said that last time.”

They bought mustard.

At checkout, Elena unloaded the cart while Marcus arranged the bags so the bread and eggs stayed on top. Back home, they carried everything inside in two trips. Marcus put away the pantry items, and Elena washed the produce. When she discovered two unopened bottles of mustard in the cabinet, she lined them up on the counter without a word.

Marcus looked at them, then at the new bottle in his hand. “We’re prepared now.”

By early afternoon, the towels were dry, the refrigerator was full, and the drawer no longer wobbled. They made grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch and ate them at the kitchen table, tired in the mild, satisfying way that came from having completed nothing remarkable but nearly everything they had planned.


On Saturday morning, Elena and Marcus stood in the kitchen of their Ohio townhouse, looking at a refrigerator that contained half a carton of eggs, mustard, and a container of rice neither of them remembered making.

“We could order breakfast,” Marcus suggested.

“We could,” Elena said, “or we could finally go grocery shopping.”

They made a list together. Marcus checked the pantry while Elena opened cabinets and called out what they needed: coffee, pasta, onions, cereal. He added laundry detergent and lightbulbs, then crossed out paper towels after finding an unopened package in the hall closet.

Before leaving, they carried two baskets of laundry downstairs. Elena started the first load while Marcus gathered the recycling and took it to the bins behind their building. Then they drove to the supermarket, listening to a weekend news program and debating whether the car needed an oil change.

At the store, they split the list. Elena chose vegetables and compared prices on chicken, while Marcus found canned tomatoes, oatmeal, and detergent. They met near the dairy case.

“Did you get milk?” Elena asked.

Marcus held up a gallon.

“Did you check the date?”

He looked at it, sighed, and exchanged it for one with a later expiration date.

They also bought tortilla chips and a frozen pizza, neither of which was on the list. At checkout, Marcus packed the heavier items into reusable bags while Elena paid and reviewed the receipt.

Back home, they put everything away together. Marcus cleaned a sticky spot on the refrigerator shelf before loading the milk and eggs. Elena divided the chicken into freezer bags and labeled them with the date.

By early afternoon, the laundry was dry. They folded it on the couch, matching socks and setting aside a shirt with a loose button. The errands had taken longer than expected, but the kitchen was stocked, the recycling was gone, and clean towels filled the closet.

Elena opened the chips. Marcus turned on the television. They sat down, agreeing the oil change could wait until next Saturday.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus at the kitchen table comparing the grocery list with the supermarket app. He had already circled the digital coupons, though he complained that saving seventy-five cents on detergent should not require “this much paperwork.”

Elena poured coffee into a travel mug and checked the refrigerator. “We also need eggs,” she called. “And the spinach is bad.”

Marcus added both items. Before leaving, they carried a basket of laundry downstairs to the shared laundry room in their apartment building. Elena loaded the washer while Marcus went back upstairs for the detergent he had forgotten. They set a timer on his phone, then drove to the grocery store.

The parking lot was crowded. Inside, Elena pushed the cart and chose produce while Marcus searched for the least expensive olive oil. They debated whether they would actually cook the bag of dried beans Elena picked up.

“We always say we will,” Marcus said.

“This time we will,” she replied, putting it in the cart.

At the meat counter, Marcus selected chicken thighs for Sunday dinner. Elena found cereal, yogurt, and the coffee they both liked. They divided the list and met near the frozen foods, where Marcus admitted he had also added ice cream. Elena laughed and added waffle cones.

After checkout, they stopped at the hardware store for lightbulbs and a replacement filter for the air conditioner. Back home, Marcus carried the groceries upstairs while Elena moved the wet clothes into the dryer. They put everything away together, then ate sandwiches at the counter.

Later, Elena changed the air filter while Marcus replaced the burned-out bulb in the hallway. The dryer buzzed, and they folded towels on the couch while a baseball game played quietly on television.

By midafternoon, the errands were finished. Marcus made fresh coffee, and Elena opened the windows. Neither of them had done anything remarkable, but the apartment felt cleaner, the refrigerator was full, and the rest of Saturday belonged to them.


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.”


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.