I have no couch

“I talked to the boy’s therapist, and she agrees that your house should be furnished when we tell him.”

“OK,” I say.

“What do you have?” she asks.

“The beds are in, the dining room, the TV, of course.”

“You don’t have a couch?” She sounds alarmed.

“No, not yet --”

“Why not?”

I wonder how to answer. This is how most of our fights start.

“I don’t have a couch yet,” I answer.

She pauses. Maybe thinking the same thing.

“You know the shell towels? The ones we use for guests, you can–”

“I have towels,” I tell her.

“Oh. OK. Well we have extra sheets.”

“I have sheets,” I tell her.

“Did your mother send you sheets and towels?”

“No,” I laugh. “I’m a grown man. I know how to do these things.”