ANN ARBOR, MI—Thursday of this week found an awkward conversation taking place between married couple of 31 years, Verlan and Annie Bell. As is often the case, Annie had made weekend dinner plans with another couple and, despite having told Verlan about the plans days in advance and getting his consent to make them, Verlan had made alternative plans to go fishing with a couple of his coworkers during that same time. Rather than do the appropriate thing and apoligize profusedly and attempt to reschedule, Verlan chose the more traveled path and complained about having things expected of him. The conversation quickly developed into an argument about which of the couple expects more of the other: a classic move in relationship argument tactics. Things quickly turned passive-aggressive when Annie assured Verlan that it would be just fine if he did not attend the dinner, but commented that it would seem strange to have him not there while she is dining with their mutual friends. Verlan countered that, whereas he would enjoy accepting her offer, he worried that his wife would then hold it against him for years to come, allowing it to drive a wedge into their relationship that would slowly weaken their relationship over the course of several years until they finally could not longer stand one another. At that point, Annie defended herself, shocked that Verlan would suggest she would do such a thing. "Why Verlan, I have never done such a thing. Just think about all of the things I could have let drive a wedge between us. I mean, if I were that kind of woman, I would still be upset that you left our son at his soccer practice for two hours that summer 16 years ago. Have I ever held it over your head that you never have taken me on a honeymoon officially? I don't recall ever once bringing up how you leave the cupboards open every day, and I just close them right behind you, never saying a word. Really, if I were the type of woman to hold grudges, I might tell someone about how you were too drunk to remember the night you proposed to me!" Verlan became increasingly uncomfortable and confused as his wife continued on like this for a full 20 minutes, getting more specific, recalling specific dates of offenses, and becoming incrementally more upset with each recollection. Finally, when she started to note how she hasn't ever criticized the way he chews cold cereal "like a troll with a broken jaw," he realized that she would continue on like this for the foreseeable future. He quickly repented of his selfishness and agreed to go to the dinner. When reached for comment, Verlan explained that, "Boy, it's a good thing she's not one of those women who holds onto things forever, or she'd probably kill me with that buildup." As of press time, Annie had pretended to forget the whole conversation, but her hair was notably grayer than before.