Why do the biggest rows always start over the smallest things?

Alison recently had an argument with her boyfriend over a ready-meal carbonara

Alison Taylor
Friday 08 January 2016 17:31 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

I was trying to relay to my friend an argument I'd had with my boyfriend recently that resulted in a huge screaming row, and when I began, "So he told me he'd picked himself up a ready-meal carbonara", I realised how stupid it sounded.

The thing is, I'd called him en route from work to say I was thinking about picking up fish and chips and would he like some. That's when he told me about the selfish carbonara. I got home with the fish and chips and as he smiled hello, I gave him the death stare. "What's up?" he said. I started to tell him. You see, there was a thing before carbonara-gate.

He was on his motorbike that day and I wanted him to come and collect me from work and give me a lift home. He wanted me to walk to meet him at his work. It's not a long walk but I was thinking, why can't he just come and get me?

It ended up with me offering to get the Tube home, but the anger was simmering and the carbonara thing brought it to the boil. "Why would you just pick up a meal for one," I snapped, "and not offer to pick me up from work when you are on wheels and I'm on feet?"

"I got the carbonara because I knew we had that nice M&S pad thai in the fridge that you could have", he said. "Oh," was all I could muster. "And you offered to get the Tube…"

Then he went on about one-way systems, "nowhere safe to park", and something about Shaftsbury Avenue, all in order to justify why me walking to meet him was the better option.

And then I'm this screaming lunatic with not a toe to stand on. Even I don't know what I was annoyed about. Meanwhile he's looking at me not with anger but – worse – disappointment.

We didn't eat the fish and chips. Or the carbonara. Or the pad thai. And I'm pretty sure I'm still eating humble pie.

@lovefoolforever

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in