Politically, you are discordant couple. Carol has conservative views and you are a liberal. This is hardly the best of times for your marriage.
When your folks visit, all they talk about is change. Your cousin Billy, foul and mouthy, always saves the worst expletive for anyone with conservative views.
He knows 'his' political party is going to win. He is so cock sure about it and is not afraid of mouthing his opinion. He knows your wife has conservative views. In fact, your wife often tells him to his face the few times they have met is that the only other man she loves more than you is her political hero to Billy's chagrin.
Now, you don't get along with her kinfolk too, at least politically. They are unapologetically conservative in their political views. All they talk about is tradition and do not want to listen to any talk about radical social change. Thankfully, they are not as mouthy as your kinfolk. So, when you meet, it helps to talk less about politics and more about general stuff. But since the premier league season is yet to come, and there is little else going on, and there is a TV always turned on somewhere with a politician talking nonsense, it is inevitable that you talk about politics.
But the elephant in the room is where you will spend election week. Schools will be closed and you have saved up enough leave days specifically for this. It will be an opportunity to get out of Nairobi and spend time together after voting. It is a discussion that you must have as family.
"Let's stay, all the action will be in Nairobi," your wife tells you when you tell her that you should go to the village.
"You mean you are not going to vote after all, and the way you are so passionate about exercising your civic duty? And when elections are over, you will say that you wish you had stayed and voted. Who do you want to vote?" she asks.
You are embarrassed at that charge.
"I will be in Nairobi. I'm not going anywhere. I have to vote for my candidates," she tells you. This actually surprises you since you have never known Carol to be political, save for the few times she engages Billy, your mouthy cousin.
You are also embarrassed that as a man, you are the coward in this case. Not the wife.
But from your point of view, women have a poor sense of judgment and are very poor in situational awareness. Very poor at reading the mood of the country.
I mean, Lot's wife could not trust The Lord, or her husband and could not believe that they were leaving their homes behind and she became a pillar of salt, or what does the Bible say? It is
historical.
You really have to figure out a solution.
"What if you go to your shags immediately after you vote? I can travel that weekend to the countryside and chill for a week..."
"That is fine with me," she says.
That was so easy. You know she will be doubly uncomfortable in your village.
@nyanchwani