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Kurt Vonnegut’s Marital Contract

In 1947 Kurt Vonnegut drew up a contract with his wife — he didn’t want her to “nag, heckle or otherwise disturb” him.

Kurt Vonnegut and his wife, Jane, had only been married for 16 months. She was pregnant. In this “contract,” Kurt promises to do a good job cleaning the bathroom, to put away his stuff and to keep his ashtrays in order.

In exchange, Jane can’t nag, heckle or otherwise disturb him. The flip side is that if Kurt messes up, Jane is free to have at it.

Read the contract in Harper’s “Chore List of Champions.”

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. by Mr. Hehn

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