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

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

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

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

“Did you get coffee?” she asked.

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

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

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

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

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

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

She opened and shut it twice. “Perfect.”

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

Together, they started unpacking.


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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

“One for tonight?” he asked.

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

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

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

“I’ll fill it after lunch,” he said.

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“It was under consideration.”

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

“Hardware store next?” he asked.

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

“This one is cheaper,” he said.

“By twelve cents.”

“Twelve cents is twelve cents.”

She smiled and put it in the basket.

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

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

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

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

“Successful trip,” Marcus said.

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


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

“We’re out of coffee,” he said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

“We’re out of coffee,” he said.

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

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

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

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

“Tacos?” he suggested.

“We had tacos Tuesday.”

“That was last week.”

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Good for morale?” he asked.

Elena smiled. “Apparently.”


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

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

“We did. You finished it yesterday.”

Marcus nodded. “That sounds possible.”

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

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

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

“The one with the dog,” he said.

“My sister doesn’t even like dogs.”

“But it’s the funnier card.”

Elena chose the other one.

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

“That wasn’t on the list.”

“It’s an emergency supply.”

She left it there.

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

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

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

“Good thing you remembered it.”

“You remembered it first.”

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Large or extra-large?”

“Whichever isn’t cracked,” Elena said.

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I said I might bake.”

“That means two.”

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

Neither wanted to turn around.

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

“Not on the list,” he said.

“Necessary anyway.”

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

“For emergencies,” he said.

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

“Large or extra-large?”

“Whichever’s cheaper,” Elena said.

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

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

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

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

They had forgotten the mustard.

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

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


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

“Milk, spinach, eggs,” he said.

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

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

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

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

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

“It’s for morale,” he replied.

She laughed and added chocolate syrup.

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Did we forget anything?” Marcus asked.

Elena studied the cart. “Bread.”

He laughed and went back for it.

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

“Bank first?” she asked.

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

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

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

“Large or extra-large?”

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“It was on sale,” Marcus said.

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

“That’s the hardware store,” he said.

“It’s next door.”

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

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

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

“Did you get bananas?” she asked.

He lifted a bunch from beneath the bread.

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

“They looked good.”

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

“Fair enough.”

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

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

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

“We can survive until Monday.”

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

“The sale one is fine,” Marcus said.

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

He laughed and put their regular coffee in the cart.

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

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


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the laundry room, matching socks from a warm pile on top of the dryer.

“We’re out of coffee,” she said, holding up the empty canister.

Marcus checked the list on his phone. “Coffee, milk, onions, dog food. And the pharmacy says your prescription is ready.”

They lived in a small brick house outside Columbus, Ohio, close enough to several stores that errands rarely required much planning. Still, Elena grabbed two reusable bags while Marcus took the recycling bin to the garage. Before leaving, they debated whether rain was likely, then decided to bring one umbrella.

At the supermarket, Marcus pushed the cart while Elena compared coffee prices. He preferred the familiar dark roast, but she noticed another brand was on sale. They agreed to try it and moved on to produce, where Marcus selected onions and Elena added apples that weren’t on the list.

“You always do that,” he said.

“Buy fruit?”

“Improve the list.”

At the dairy case, Elena remembered they needed butter. Marcus checked their bank app before suggesting they skip the expensive dog treats. They chose a cheaper box, then used a coupon at checkout.

Their next stop was the pharmacy. While Elena waited at the counter, Marcus walked to the hardware aisle and found the furnace filters they had been meaning to replace. She joined him a few minutes later, prescription bag in hand, and reminded him they also needed batteries for the smoke detector.

On the way home, they stopped at the post office. Elena mailed a birthday card to her sister while Marcus dropped a package at the return counter.

Rain began as they pulled into their driveway. Marcus carried the grocery bags, and Elena balanced the dog food and umbrella. Inside, they put everything away together. Marcus started coffee with the new beans while Elena replaced the smoke-detector batteries.

When the machine finished brewing, they stood in the kitchen and shared a cautious first sip.

“Not bad,” Marcus said.

Elena smiled. “Put it on the next list.”


On Saturday morning, Maya found Daniel in the kitchen, adding the last of the milk to his coffee. They had lived in their Ohio townhouse for six years, long enough to know that an empty carton meant the weekend errands could no longer be postponed.

Maya opened the refrigerator and made a list while Daniel checked the pantry. They needed milk, eggs, rice, tomatoes, and cat food. Daniel added coffee filters and held up a nearly empty bottle of dish soap.

They left together just after ten. Maya drove, and Daniel read the list from the passenger seat. Their first stop was the post office, where Maya mailed a birthday package to her sister. While she waited in line, Daniel bought stamps from the machine and checked the post office box they shared for bills and neighborhood notices.

Next, they stopped at the pharmacy. Daniel picked up a refill, and Maya compared prices on allergy medicine before choosing the store brand. On the way out, they remembered the dry cleaning. Daniel ran inside with the claim ticket while Maya moved the car from a loading zone.

At the grocery store, they divided the work without discussing it. Maya started in produce, choosing tomatoes and checking avocados for ripeness. Daniel went to the pet aisle for cat food, then found the rice and coffee filters. They met near the dairy case, where Daniel placed two gallons of milk in the cart.

“Two?” Maya asked.

“So we don’t have to come back Tuesday,” he said.

At checkout, Maya unloaded the cart while Daniel bagged the groceries, keeping the eggs and tomatoes on top. They stopped for gas on the way home, and Maya cleaned the windshield while Daniel paid at the pump.

Back at the townhouse, they carried everything inside in two trips. Daniel put away the pantry items, and Maya arranged the produce in the refrigerator. Their cat circled the grocery bags, hopeful and impatient.

By noon, the errands were done. Daniel made sandwiches, Maya poured fresh milk into their coffee, and they sat at the kitchen table, pleased to have the rest of Saturday to themselves.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter comparing their grocery list with the nearly empty refrigerator. Her husband, Marcus, rinsed two travel mugs and filled them with coffee.

“We need milk, eggs, and something for dinner,” Elena said.

“And dog food,” Marcus added, glancing at Baxter, who thumped his tail against a cabinet.

They left their townhouse in Columbus just before ten. Elena drove while Marcus checked the list on his phone. Their first stop was the post office, where Elena mailed a birthday package to her sister in Arizona. While she waited in line, Marcus used the self-service machine to buy stamps and dropped their electric bill into the outgoing mail slot.

Next, they drove to the pharmacy. Marcus picked up a prescription, and Elena wandered two aisles over to find toothpaste and allergy medicine. At the register, she reminded him to use the coupon they had clipped to the loyalty card.

The grocery store was already crowded. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena chose produce, squeezing avocados and rejecting a bruised bag of apples. In the dairy aisle, Marcus noticed that yogurt was on sale and selected several containers for their weekday lunches. They debated dinner near the meat counter and settled on chicken tacos, adding tortillas, cilantro, and salsa to the cart.

At checkout, Elena unloaded the groceries while Marcus bagged them, keeping the bread away from the canned goods. On the way home, they stopped at a gas station. Marcus filled the tank, and Elena cleaned old receipts and an empty water bottle from the car.

Back at the townhouse, they carried everything inside in two trips. Marcus stored the dog food in the pantry and gave Baxter a small handful. Elena arranged the vegetables in the refrigerator.

“Lunch?” Marcus asked.

Elena looked at the clock and smiled. “Only if you make it.”

He pulled out the fresh bread and turkey they had bought, while she opened the mail they had collected on their way in. Their errands were finished, and the rest of the afternoon was theirs.


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

“We’re out of rice,” he said.

“And laundry detergent,” Elena added, writing both items at the bottom of the list.

They left their townhouse in Columbus just before ten, taking reusable bags and a package that needed to be returned. Marcus drove while Elena reviewed their stops: post office, pharmacy, grocery store, then the gas station on the way home.

At the post office, Marcus carried the box while Elena pulled up the return label on her phone. The line moved slowly, but they used the time to decide what to make for dinner. By the time they reached the counter, they had settled on chicken tacos.

Next, they stopped at the pharmacy. Elena picked up a prescription while Marcus browsed the seasonal aisle and found replacement batteries for the smoke detector. He held up a bag of discounted candy, but Elena reminded him that they still had Halloween chocolate in the freezer. He put it back with a sigh that made her laugh.

At the grocery store, they divided the list. Marcus headed for produce and meat; Elena collected cereal, detergent, and canned goods. They met near the dairy case, where Marcus had chosen six avocados.

“Six?” Elena asked.

“They were on sale.”

“They’ll all ripen Tuesday.”

After some negotiation, they bought three.

At checkout, Elena loaded the belt while Marcus bagged the groceries, keeping the eggs and bread separate. Outside, they worked together to fit everything into the trunk around an old folding chair they had forgotten to remove.

Marcus filled the gas tank at their final stop, and Elena went inside to buy windshield-washer fluid. When they reached home, light rain had begun. They carried the bags in quickly, then put everything away together. By noon, the errands were done, and the kitchen was stocked for the week.


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

“Milk, spinach, eggs,” he said.

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

They left their townhouse outside Columbus just after ten. Marcus drove, while Elena organized their stops in the order that made the most sense. First was the post office, where she mailed a birthday package to her sister in Arizona. While she waited in line, Marcus used the self-service machine to buy stamps and checked their mailbox.

Next, they stopped at the pharmacy. Marcus picked up a prescription, and Elena browsed the greeting cards until he was finished. She found one for their neighbor, who had recently retired, and added it to the basket along with toothpaste and allergy medicine.

At the supermarket, they divided the list. Marcus headed toward produce, choosing apples and testing avocados for ripeness. Elena went to the dairy section, then circled back when she remembered they needed rice. They met near the frozen foods, where Marcus had added a pizza that was not on the list.

“For emergencies,” he said.

Elena smiled and put a carton of ice cream beside it. “Then we’ll need emergency dessert.”

At checkout, they realized they had forgotten coffee. Marcus stayed with the cart while Elena hurried to the next aisle and returned with two bags.

Their final stop was the gas station. Elena filled the tank while Marcus cleaned the windshield and emptied old receipts from the center console. By the time they reached home, light rain had begun to fall.

They carried the bags inside together, making two trips. Marcus put away the pantry items while Elena arranged the vegetables in the refrigerator. When everything was done, they heated soup for lunch and sat at the kitchen table, satisfied that the ordinary work of the weekend was already behind them.


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

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

Elena added both to the list, then reminded him they needed to stop at the pharmacy and the post office. They lived in a modest neighborhood outside Columbus, Ohio, where most errands were clustered along the same busy road. By ten, they had loaded reusable bags into their sedan and backed out of the driveway.

At the post office, Marcus carried in a box containing a birthday gift for his sister. Elena waited in line with him and double-checked the address before he handed it to the clerk. Their next stop was the pharmacy, where Elena picked up a prescription while Marcus browsed the greeting cards. He found one for their neighbor, who was recovering from knee surgery, and Elena agreed it was cheerful without being overly sentimental.

The grocery store was crowded. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena read from the list. They compared prices on coffee, chose chicken for Sunday dinner, and debated whether they needed another bag of rice. In the produce section, Marcus selected apples while Elena inspected a bunch of cilantro.

“You always buy too much,” he said.

“And you always use it in everything,” she replied, putting it in the cart.

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

Back at the house, they carried everything inside in two trips. Marcus put away the pantry items while Elena arranged the vegetables in the refrigerator. By noon, the errands were finished. They made sandwiches, sat at the kitchen table, and reviewed the receipt, pleased that they had stayed close to their budget.


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

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

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

Marcus drove while Elena reviewed their stops. First, they went to the post office, where Marcus mailed a birthday package to his sister in Arizona. While he waited in line, Elena bought a book of stamps from the self-service kiosk. Next, they stopped at the pharmacy. Elena picked up a prescription, and Marcus grabbed toothpaste and bandages from the front aisle.

At the grocery store, they divided the list. Marcus headed toward produce and chose apples, onions, and a bag of spinach. Elena went to the dairy section for milk, eggs, and yogurt. They met near the meat counter, where they debated dinner.

“Chicken tacos?” Marcus suggested.

“We had tacos on Tuesday,” Elena said.

They settled on salmon, rice, and green beans. Marcus noticed the coffee they liked was on sale, so they bought two bags. Elena compared prices on laundry detergent and chose the store brand.

At checkout, Marcus loaded the conveyor belt while Elena scanned their loyalty card and bagged the groceries. The total was slightly higher than they expected, but they had stayed close to the list.

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

Back at the house, they carried everything inside together. Marcus put away the cold groceries as Elena sorted the mail and started a load of laundry. By early afternoon, the errands were done. They made sandwiches, sat at the kitchen table, and talked about taking a walk before dinner.


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

“Milk, eggs, spinach,” he said.

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

They lived in a small house outside Columbus, Ohio, close enough to several stores that they could finish most errands in one loop. Marcus drove, while Elena sorted the coupons she had saved and mapped out their stops.

First, they went to the post office. Marcus carried in a package for his sister, and Elena bought a book of stamps from the self-service machine. Next, they stopped at the bank’s ATM to deposit two checks. Elena fed them into the machine while Marcus stood beside her, double-checking the amounts on the receipts.

At the pharmacy, Marcus picked up a prescription. Elena wandered to the household aisle and found the furnace filters they needed. She texted him a picture of the size printed on the package, and he confirmed it matched the note taped near their thermostat at home.

Their final stop was the grocery store. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena worked down the list. In produce, he chose tomatoes and tested avocados for ripeness. She compared prices on chicken and selected a family pack they could divide and freeze. They briefly disagreed over cereal—Marcus wanted the expensive granola, while Elena pointed out that it was not on sale—then compromised by buying one small box.

At checkout, Marcus loaded the conveyor belt, and Elena scanned the loyalty app and handed over the coupons. They packed the bags together, putting frozen food in one and bread and eggs in another.

By the time they reached home, light rain had begun. Marcus carried in the heavier bags while Elena unlocked the door and cleared space on the counter. They put everything away side by side, then made coffee and sat at the kitchen table, pleased that the rest of the afternoon was still theirs.


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

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

Elena added both items to the list, along with rice, tomatoes, coffee, and chicken. Their house in a quiet Ohio suburb was only ten minutes from the shopping center, but they had several errands to handle, so Marcus gathered the library books while Elena found the package she needed to return.

They left just before ten. Elena drove, and Marcus used his phone to check the pharmacy hours. Their first stop was the post office, where Elena returned the package. While she waited for a receipt, Marcus bought a sheet of stamps and mailed the electric bill they had forgotten to send earlier in the week.

Next, they drove to the public library. Marcus carried the books inside, and Elena came with him to pick up a novel she had reserved. On the way out, they paused at the community bulletin board and noted the date of an upcoming neighborhood cleanup.

At the pharmacy, Marcus collected a prescription while Elena browsed the greeting cards and chose one for her sister’s birthday. Then they crossed the parking lot to the supermarket.

Inside, they divided the work without separating. Marcus pushed the cart and compared prices, while Elena checked items off the list. He chose apples and inspected the avocados; she selected chicken and found the coffee they both liked. They briefly debated whether they needed ice cream and decided that they did.

At checkout, Marcus loaded the conveyor belt while Elena scanned their loyalty card and paid. Back at the car, they packed the cold items together in an insulated bag.

By noon, they were home. Marcus carried in the heavier bags, and Elena put away the groceries. When everything was finished, they made sandwiches, opened the new carton of milk, and agreed they had earned a quiet afternoon.


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

“Milk, eggs, spinach,” he said.

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

They left their townhouse outside Columbus just after nine. Marcus drove, and Elena adjusted the vents while reminding him that they needed to stop at the pharmacy before noon. Their first errand was the post office, where Elena mailed a birthday package to her sister in Arizona. Marcus waited beside her, filling out a change-of-address card for a former tenant whose mail still arrived at their home.

Next, they crossed the shopping plaza to the bank. Marcus deposited two checks at the ATM while Elena sat in the car and updated their shared budget on her phone. When he returned, she showed him the total they could spend on groceries.

“That should be plenty,” he said. “As long as we don’t shop hungry.”

At the pharmacy, Marcus picked up a prescription, and Elena bought toothpaste and a box of bandages. Then they drove to the supermarket. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena compared prices and checked items off the list. He chose tomatoes and avocados; she selected chicken, rice, and vegetables for the week. They debated whether they needed ice cream, then compromised on a small carton of chocolate.

At checkout, Marcus packed the heavier items into reusable bags while Elena paid. On the way home, they stopped at a gas station. Elena filled the tank, and Marcus cleaned the windshield with the squeegee.

By noon, they were back in their kitchen, unloading together. Marcus put away the pantry items while Elena arranged produce in the refrigerator. When everything was finished, he started coffee, and she opened the ice cream.

“We bought that for later,” Marcus said.

Elena handed him a spoon. “It is later.”

He laughed and joined her at the counter.


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

“We’re low on rice, too,” he said, checking the pantry.

Elena wrote it down, then grabbed their reusable bags from the hall closet. They left their townhouse outside Columbus just before ten, hoping to beat the weekend crowds.

Marcus drove while Elena reviewed their errands: groceries, the pharmacy, the post office, and a quick stop at the hardware store for a replacement furnace filter. At the pharmacy drive-through, Marcus picked up his prescription while Elena checked the grocery store app for coupons. Then they continued to the post office, where Elena mailed a birthday package to her sister in Arizona. Marcus held the door for an older man carrying several boxes and helped him set one on the counter.

At the hardware store, they stood in front of a wall of filters, trying to remember the correct size. Elena searched through photos on her phone until she found a picture she had taken of the old one.

“Sixteen by twenty-five,” she said.

“I was only off by five inches,” Marcus replied, returning the wrong filter to the shelf.

Their final stop was the supermarket. They divided the list without separating completely: Marcus chose produce while Elena compared prices on chicken, then they met near the dairy case. He reminded her they needed yogurt; she reminded him that the bananas in their cart were already ripe enough.

At checkout, they packed the bags together, keeping the eggs and bread on top. Rain had begun by the time they reached the parking lot, so Marcus pushed the cart while Elena held an umbrella over both of them, not very successfully.

Back home, they carried everything inside in two trips. Elena put away the cold items while Marcus replaced the furnace filter. By noon, the errands were finished, the refrigerator was full, and they sat down together to eat sandwiches made from the groceries they had just bought.


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

“We’re almost out of milk,” he said, lifting the carton. “And this spinach has seen better days.”

Elena added both items to the list. They lived in a small house outside Columbus, Ohio, close enough to several stores that errands usually took less than two hours if traffic cooperated. Before leaving, Marcus gathered the library books from the coffee table, and Elena slipped a package that needed returning into a reusable shopping bag.

They drove first to the post office. While Marcus waited in line to mail the package, Elena bought stamps from the machine in the lobby. Their next stop was the library, where Elena returned the books through the outdoor slot and Marcus went inside to pick up a mystery novel he had reserved.

At the pharmacy, they divided the tasks. Elena collected a prescription while Marcus found toothpaste and a new bottle of sunscreen. They met at the register, compared what they had picked up, and agreed they had everything.

The grocery store was busiest around the produce section. Marcus chose apples and inspected a bag of potatoes while Elena picked out tomatoes and broccoli. In the dairy aisle, they debated whether to buy the larger carton of milk.

“We’ll use it,” Marcus said.

“We said that last time,” Elena replied, smiling as she placed the smaller carton in the cart.

They worked their way through the remaining aisles, crossing off pasta, coffee, chicken, and cereal. Marcus remembered dish soap just before they reached the checkout.

Back home, Elena carried in the lighter bags while Marcus brought the heavier ones from the trunk. Together they put everything away, clearing old leftovers from the refrigerator to make room. By early afternoon, the errands were finished. Marcus started coffee, Elena opened the mail, and they sat at the kitchen table, pleased to have the rest of the weekend ahead of them.


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

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

Elena added milk and yogurt to the list. They had lived in their small Ohio townhouse for six years, long enough to know that errands went faster when they planned the route. Marcus suggested starting at the post office, then stopping by the pharmacy before heading to the supermarket.

They left just before ten. Elena drove while Marcus carried the envelopes that needed mailing. At the post office, she waited in the car and answered a text from their neighbor while he went inside to buy stamps and send a birthday package to his sister.

Their next stop was the pharmacy. Marcus picked up a prescription, and Elena found the allergy medicine she needed. At the register, they remembered they were also low on toothpaste, so Marcus hurried back to the personal-care aisle while Elena paid for the other items.

The supermarket was crowded. Marcus pushed the cart, and Elena read from the list. In produce, he chose apples and inspected a bag of potatoes while she compared prices on salad greens. They split up briefly—Marcus went for coffee and cereal, while Elena collected pasta, canned tomatoes, and rice.

Near the freezer section, they debated whether to buy ice cream.

“We still have some at home,” Marcus said.

“About two spoonfuls,” Elena replied.

They chose mint chocolate chip.

At checkout, Marcus loaded the conveyor belt while Elena organized the coupons on her phone. He bagged the groceries, keeping the bread away from the heavier cans. Back in the parking lot, they divided the bags between them and loaded the trunk.

On the way home, Elena stopped at the gas station, and Marcus cleaned the windshield while the tank filled. By noon, they were back in their kitchen, putting everything away together. Marcus made sandwiches, and Elena opened the new bag of chips. Their errands had been ordinary, but completing them side by side made the weekend feel properly underway.


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

“Coffee, rice, onions,” Elena read aloud. “And something for dinner.”

Marcus emerged with three canvas bags tucked under one arm. “Chicken tacos?”

Elena added tortillas and limes to the list, then locked the back door while Marcus started the car.

Their first stop was the post office, where Elena mailed a birthday package to her sister in Arizona. Marcus waited beside her, filling out a change-of-address card for a former tenant whose mail still occasionally arrived at their house. Afterward, they drove to the pharmacy. Marcus picked up a prescription, and Elena compared prices on allergy medicine before choosing the store brand.

At the hardware store, they divided the work. Marcus found a replacement furnace filter while Elena asked an employee which weather stripping would fit the drafty kitchen window. They met near the registers, each holding exactly what they needed.

By the time they reached the supermarket, the parking lot was filling up. Marcus pushed the cart, and Elena checked items off the list. He chose avocados while she inspected tomatoes. In the dairy aisle, Elena reached for plain yogurt, but Marcus reminded her they still had half a container at home.

They added chicken, tortillas, limes, and a small bunch of cilantro. At the checkout, Marcus loaded the belt while Elena arranged the groceries into their bags so the bread would not be crushed.

Back home, they carried everything inside in two trips. Elena put away the cold items, and Marcus replaced the furnace filter. Then they opened the kitchen window, measured the frame together, and cut the weather stripping to size.

By early afternoon, the errands were finished. Marcus started another pot of coffee, and Elena set two mugs on the table. They sat down, pleased to have the rest of the weekend ahead of them.


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

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

Elena checked the pantry. “And coffee. That would’ve been a bad surprise Monday morning.”

They left their townhouse outside Columbus just after ten. Marcus drove while Elena reviewed their errands: the bank, the pharmacy, the grocery store, and the post office. At the bank’s drive-through ATM, Marcus deposited two checks while Elena tucked the receipt into the envelope they used for household records.

Their next stop was the pharmacy. Elena picked up a prescription, and Marcus wandered to the greeting-card aisle to find a birthday card for his father. He returned holding two options—one sincere, one covered in cartoon fish.

“My dad will like the fish,” he said.

“He’ll pretend not to,” Elena replied, placing it in the basket.

At the post office, Elena mailed a return package while Marcus bought stamps. Then they headed to the supermarket. They divided the list without formally discussing it, as they usually did. Elena gathered produce and dairy while Marcus found canned tomatoes, pasta, rice, and coffee. They met near the frozen foods, where Marcus had added ice cream to the cart.

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

“Neither were the cookies you’re holding.”

They kept both.

At checkout, Elena loaded the conveyor belt while Marcus bagged the groceries, putting the eggs and bread together so they would not be crushed. Back home, they carried everything inside in two trips. Marcus put away the pantry items, and Elena arranged the vegetables in the refrigerator.

By noon, the errands were finished. They made sandwiches, opened the cookies, and sat at the small kitchen table, satisfied that the rest of the weekend was still theirs.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter checking the grocery list while her husband, Marcus, searched the hall closet for reusable bags. Their refrigerator held little besides mustard, half a carton of eggs, and a container of rice from Thursday night.

“We need coffee,” Marcus called.

“It’s already on the list,” Elena said, smiling as she added dish soap beneath it.

They left their townhouse outside Columbus just after nine. Elena drove, and Marcus read the errands from a note on his phone. First they stopped at the post office, where Elena mailed a birthday package to her sister in Arizona. While she waited in line, Marcus bought stamps and replaced the torn label on their mailbox key.

Next, they drove to the pharmacy. Marcus picked up a prescription, and Elena wandered two aisles over to find allergy tablets. At the register, they remembered the batteries for the smoke detector after hearing another customer mention them.

Their last stop was the supermarket. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena compared prices on chicken breasts. They divided the list without discussing it: he chose produce and bread; she found yogurt, pasta, and canned tomatoes. In the cereal aisle, Marcus reached for a sugary brand they rarely bought.

“For the children we don’t have?” Elena asked.

“For me,” he said, placing it in the cart.

She traded it for the smaller box.

At checkout, they realized they had forgotten milk. Marcus jogged back while Elena unloaded the cart and arranged the coupons on her phone. They packed the groceries together, putting frozen items in one bag so they could carry them inside first.

By noon, they were home. Marcus changed the smoke detector batteries while Elena put away the food. Then he made sandwiches, and she brewed the coffee they had nearly run out of. They ate at the kitchen table, tired but satisfied, listening to the washing machine begin its steady cycle in the next room.


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

“Coffee, rice, tomatoes, dog food,” Elena said. “And lightbulbs for the porch.”

Marcus emerged with three folded bags and their library books tucked under one arm. “I added dishwasher tablets. We used the last one yesterday.”

They drove downtown first. Elena returned two novels at the library while Marcus dropped an envelope into the utility company’s payment box. Back at the car, she handed him a new mystery she had checked out for him.

“You said you wanted something for the flight next month,” she said.

At the pharmacy, Marcus picked up a prescription while Elena compared prices on allergy medicine. They debated whether to buy a large box, then agreed it would last through spring. Their next stop was the hardware store, where Marcus tested porch bulbs against the display chart and Elena found a packet of felt pads for the dining room chairs.

By the time they reached the supermarket, the parking lot was filling. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena checked off produce. He chose avocados; she rejected two before finding ones that would ripen by Tuesday. In the cereal aisle, they split up briefly—Marcus for dog food, Elena for coffee—and met again near the frozen vegetables.

At checkout, Elena noticed they had forgotten milk. Marcus jogged back while she unloaded the cart and arranged the coupons on top of the bread.

They returned home just before noon. Marcus carried in the heavy bags, and Elena put away the cold items. After replacing the porch bulb together—Elena holding the step stool steady while Marcus reached up—they made sandwiches and sat at the kitchen table.

It had taken nearly three hours, but everything was done. Their dog slept beside the pantry, unconcerned, while sunlight from the newly lit porch fixture went unnoticed in the bright afternoon.


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

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

Elena added both to the list. Their house in a quiet Ohio suburb was still cluttered from the workweek—mail on the table, shoes by the door—but they decided errands came first. Marcus grabbed the reusable bags from the pantry, and Elena found the library books they needed to return.

They drove to the post office first. Elena waited in the car while Marcus mailed a birthday package to his sister in Arizona. Then they switched places so Elena could drop off a prescription at the pharmacy while Marcus filled the gas tank.

At the library, they returned the books through the outdoor slot. Elena wanted to go inside to pick up a novel she had reserved, and Marcus came with her. While she spoke to the librarian, he browsed the new-release shelf and checked out a history book.

Their last stop was the grocery store. Marcus pushed the cart, and Elena read from the list. They chose chicken, rice, vegetables, coffee, and cereal. In the produce section, Marcus suggested buying strawberries, though they were not on the list. Elena agreed and added whipped cream for dessert.

At the checkout, they divided the work without discussing it. Elena unloaded the cart while Marcus arranged the bags so the bread and eggs would not be crushed. He paid, and she returned the cart after they loaded the trunk.

Back home, they carried everything inside together. Marcus put away the pantry items while Elena organized the refrigerator. By early afternoon, the errands were finished.

Elena washed a few strawberries and set them in a bowl between them at the kitchen table. Marcus opened his library book, and she sorted the mail. The day had been ordinary, but the house felt settled again, ready for the week ahead.


On Saturday morning, Elena stood at the kitchen counter checking the grocery list while her husband, Mark, searched the hall closet for reusable bags. They lived in a modest townhouse outside Columbus, Ohio, close enough to several stores that they could finish their errands before lunch if traffic cooperated.

“We need coffee,” Mark called.

“It’s already on the list,” Elena said. “Right under the filters you forgot last time.”

He emerged with four canvas bags and gave her an apologetic smile. Before leaving, Elena put a load of towels in the washer, and Mark carried a package they needed to return out to the car.

Their first stop was the post office. While Mark waited in line to mail the return, Elena bought a sheet of stamps from the self-service kiosk. Next, they drove to the pharmacy, where Elena picked up a prescription and Mark chose a birthday card for his sister. They stood together in the card aisle, debating whether the joke inside was funny or merely strange, before settling on a simple one with flowers.

At the supermarket, they divided the list by section. Elena selected produce while Mark went to the deli counter. They met near the dairy cases, where he placed a container of potato salad in the cart.

“That wasn’t on the list,” she said.

“It’s for lunch.”

She added a loaf of rye bread. “Then we’ll need this.”

They moved through the remaining aisles together, comparing prices and checking expiration dates. At checkout, Mark loaded the conveyor belt while Elena arranged the bags in the cart. He packed the heavier cans on the bottom; she kept the eggs and tomatoes separate.

On the way home, they stopped for gas. Elena cleaned the windshield while Mark filled the tank. By noon, they were back in their driveway. They carried the groceries inside in two trips, put everything away, and made sandwiches with the potato salad on the side. As they sat down, the washing machine buzzed from upstairs.

Mark sighed. “One more errand.”

Elena smiled. “At least this one’s at home.”


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the kitchen comparing the grocery list to the nearly empty refrigerator. They had lived in their small Ohio house for six years, long enough to know that errands went faster if they left before the roads filled up.

“We need coffee,” Marcus said, adding it to the list.

“And detergent,” Elena replied, holding up the almost-empty bottle from the laundry room.

They put reusable bags in the trunk and drove first to the bank. While Marcus deposited a check at the ATM, Elena walked next door to the pharmacy to pick up her allergy prescription. He met her at the counter just as the receipt printed, and together they headed back to the car.

Their next stop was the hardware store. A cabinet hinge had been squeaking for weeks, and Marcus had finally removed it to find a replacement. Elena compared the display samples while he checked the measurements on his phone. They chose a matching hinge, plus a pack of lightbulbs Elena remembered they needed for the hallway.

At the supermarket, they divided the list without separating. Marcus pushed the cart and selected produce while Elena checked prices and crossed off items. He picked up tomatoes, onions, and a bag of apples; she chose chicken, rice, yogurt, and the coffee they had nearly forgotten. In the frozen aisle, they debated between two pizzas before agreeing to buy the one on sale.

At checkout, Elena loaded the belt while Marcus bagged the groceries. He kept the eggs and bread together so they would not be crushed, and she reminded him to put the detergent in a separate bag.

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

By noon, they were back in their driveway. They carried the bags inside together, then put everything away before making sandwiches. The errands had been ordinary, but the refrigerator was full, the car had gas, and the loose cabinet door would finally be fixed.


On Saturday morning, Elena found Marcus in the garage flattening cardboard boxes for recycling. She stood in the doorway with a grocery list on her phone and reminded him that they still needed to stop at the pharmacy and the post office.

Marcus checked his watch. “If we leave now, we can beat the lunch crowd.”

They loaded the recycling into the trunk of their sedan and drove across town. At the county drop-off center, Elena helped carry the cardboard to the proper bin while Marcus sorted glass jars and aluminum cans. A gust of wind caught one of the paper bags, and Elena chased it halfway across the lot before stepping on it. They laughed as she returned, holding it up like a trophy.

Their next stop was the post office. Marcus waited in line to mail a birthday package to his sister in Ohio while Elena bought a book of stamps from the kiosk. Then they walked next door to the pharmacy, where Elena picked up a prescription and Marcus compared prices on allergy medicine.

By the time they reached the supermarket, the parking lot was filling. Elena steered the cart while Marcus read from the list. They divided the work without discussing it: she chose produce and checked the avocados, while he went to the dairy aisle for milk and yogurt. They met near the bakery, where Marcus added a loaf of sourdough that was not on the list.

“We already have bread,” Elena said.

“Not good bread,” he replied.

She left it in the cart.

At checkout, they realized they had forgotten coffee. Marcus hurried back for it while Elena unloaded the groceries onto the belt. Outside, they packed the bags around the empty recycling bins and drove home.

Elena put away the cold items while Marcus carried everything in. When the last bag was emptied, he sliced the sourdough, and she made two sandwiches. They ate at the kitchen counter, tired but pleased that the errands were finished before noon.


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 the spinach has given up.”

Elena added both items to the list. They lived in a small house outside Columbus, Ohio, close enough to several stores that errands rarely required much planning. Still, they tried to combine trips to save time and gas.

Marcus drove, while Elena organized their stops: the post office, the pharmacy, the hardware store, and finally the supermarket. At the post office, Elena mailed a birthday package to her sister in Arizona. Marcus held the door for an older man carrying two large boxes, then bought a roll of stamps.

Their next stop was the pharmacy, where Marcus picked up a prescription. While he waited, Elena compared prices on allergy medicine and chose the store brand. At the hardware store, they searched for a replacement filter for the furnace. Marcus found the correct size, and Elena remembered they also needed batteries for the smoke detectors.

By the time they reached the supermarket, the parking lot was crowded. Marcus pushed the cart while Elena checked items off the list. They chose apples, chicken, rice, yogurt, and fresh spinach. In the cereal aisle, Marcus reached for a sugary brand they had not bought in years.

“For nostalgia,” he said.

Elena laughed but put it back, replacing it with oatmeal. He retaliated by adding a bag of chocolate-covered pretzels to the cart. She let those stay.

At checkout, they split the work without discussing it: Marcus unloaded the cart, and Elena packed the reusable bags. On the drive home, they talked about making chicken and rice for dinner.

Back at the house, Marcus carried in the heavier bags while Elena brought the pharmacy items and mail. They put everything away together, replaced the furnace filter, and wrote the date on its cardboard edge. By early afternoon, the errands were finished, and the house felt quietly prepared for another week.