An Anniversary to Remember

Question

K. Reiter

The blazing sun was beaming down on Nathan’s back as he bent down to pull the weeds that had taken over the field. He had worked tirelessly day after day, but he knew it would all be worth it in the end.

“Hey, Honey,” Nathan yelled to his wife of almost five years. He trudged through the front door and plopped down in the hard-wooden chair and glanced at his boots that were covered with mud from the field. He scurried to take them off and throw them outside before his wife, Meredith, could see them.

“Hey,” Meredith replied and entered the room just as Nathan slid into the seat again. She came over and gently kissed him on the head.

“You still have to work late at the plant?” she asked.

“Oh, yes. They have us working like dogs,” Nathan lied. Their anniversary was coming up, and Nathan wanted to replace the diamond that was chipped in Meredith’s wedding ring. He had taken on another job to earn extra money to buy her nothing but the best. He wanted it to be a big surprise and could envision the look on her face when she saw the sparkling diamond that represented the love he had for her.

“What did you do today?” Nathan asked Meredith.

“Not much. I just went to the grocery store. You know, boring stuff like that,” Meredith replied as she turned away from him and glared out the window. Nathan could always tell when she was lying.

Earlier that day, Meredith had gone to the grocery store, but that was not the only stop she made. As she stared down at her wedding ring, she reminisced about the day she married the man of her dreams. Memories of that day swept over her, and she couldn’t help but smile. She also remembered how she had chipped it when they were hiking on their honeymoon, and she had fallen down a steep slope. Meredith loved that ring but knew seeing the look on Nathan’s face when he saw his beloved 78 Chevy truck repainted would be worth the loss of her ring. Besides, she had gotten a simple band to wear instead. Her hands were shaking as she handed the ring to the man in exchange for cash.

The anniversary was quickly approaching, and despite Nathan’s efforts to make enough money to buy a new diamond for Meredith, he was running out of time. As he walked out the front door to head to his job at the meat-packing plant, he stopped and stared at the old 78 Chevy pick-up that was parked in front of their house. He had big plans to have it repainted, but life got in the way, and he just didn’t get around to it. He knew what he had to do.

Nathan dug around in the old dresser. Meredith’s ring was nowhere to be found. Meredith swung open the front door, ecstatic to take the truck for a new paint job, but it was gone!

“Where’s your truck?” Meredith asked in a panic voice as she came running from the front yard.

“Where’s your wedding ring?” Nathan asked in a panic voice as he came running from the bedroom. They both stared at each other for a moment and then started to explain what they had done. They both realized how much they loved each other. They both had sacrificed their most prized possessions to please the other. They embraced and then burst into laughter. They decided to take the money they both received and go on vacation to celebrate their 5th anniversary together.
Question
Which words reveal the irony of Nathan’s situation?
Responses
A They decided to take the money they both received and go on vacation to celebrate their 5th anniversary together.They decided to take the money they both received and go on vacation to celebrate their 5th anniversary together.
B She came over and gently kissed him on the head. She came over and gently kissed him on the head.
C Her hands were shaking as she handed the ring to the man in exchange for cash.Her hands were shaking as she handed the ring to the man in exchange for cash.
D Memories of that day swept over her, and she couldn’t help but smile.

Answer 1

The words that reveal the irony of Nathan’s situation are found in option A: "They decided to take the money they both received and go on vacation to celebrate their 5th anniversary together." This highlights the irony because both Nathan and Meredith sacrificed their most prized possessions (the wedding ring and the truck) to surprise each other, but instead of the gifts they initially intended to give each other, they ended up using the money for a joint celebration, showcasing their love and mutual sacrifice.