Norma’s conversation with Lionel concerning his relationship with Alberta. Babies, she said. That’s all you need to know. What?You deaf? Alberta wants children. All women want babies.That’s what men like to think. Makes them feel wanted. Not much good for anything else, I can tell you that.She’s never mentioned it to me.Of course she’s never mentioned it to you. She doesn’t want to put up with a man. A woman who gets married and has a child winds up with two babies right off the bat. You get the picture? Norma took Lionel by the arm and sat him down on the couch. She pulled up a chair right in front of him, and she reached out and took his face in her hands and held it there so she could see his eyes. You ready?Lionel nodded that he was.First of all, Norma said, Alberta wants children. Most women want children. Why do you think there are so many human beings in this world? You think women are that crazy about men? You think women are that crazy about sex? Day after we find some other way to get pregnant, you guys will be as attractive as week-old fry bread.Lionel smiled and nodded some more. He could feel Norma’s fingernails at his ears. (King, 135)Poor Lionel seems to be clueless when it comes to women. For a male with supposed power over females, he’s a lost cause. Once again, the woman comes out on top, twice! First Norma, has to clear things up for him, and in the process shames him by treating him like a child. She has to grab his face to keep his attention; and second, Alberta’s control over him. She holds all the cards, he is just a player in her game, and he’s about get loose. She doesn’t really need him, in fact, if she can find a way to do without him, it’s done. She would rather have a one-night stand or be artificially inseminated than to have a man tag along. It is clear that the role of a man is very diminished, not needed to...
