Second Street // Part Nine

A Story by David

Second Street

Part Nine

Their meal finished, drinks done, Charlie raised his hand to get Carmen’s attention. She came right over and Charlie asked for the bill. She delivered it and thanked him. He told her she was the best and thanked her for her attention. He paid the bill with cash and left a very large tip. She took the money and as he stood up to leave she gave him a big wink. He smiled broadly at the gesture. Andy was in front of him and did not see this, not that it made any difference. They walked to the car filled with thoughts of a fine day. He unlocked her door and let her in. She looked up as she sat in her seat and said, Charlie, you’re going to spoil me. He just smiled and shut the door. He really didn’t know what she meant. He got in and started the car. So Andy, did you enjoy your day? Oh my, she replied. This was the best day I’ve had in a very long time, thank you so much for getting me out of that house! That was the absolutely best lunch! Wasn’t Carmen so very gorgeous! She certainly was, Charlie replied. They drove home and pulled into the driveway. The pair started to unload all the day’s treasures. Charlie grabbed Andy’s cookie stuff and helped her home with it. She returned and helped him with all his purchases. Would you like me to help with the tree, she asked? If you help does that require me to bake cookies, he teased. Of course not, silly.

All the purchases piled on the floor Charlie located the stand and asked her to lock the screws as he held the tree in place. They stood back and looked to see if they had it straight. It took two more adjustments before it met with approval. Charlie got some water and started to put it in the base. Charlie, Andy said, you need to put some sugar in there as well. Huh? Mix some sugar in the water, it makes the tree last longer. He did as he was told and filled the base. Andy looked at her watch. Charlie I have to go and get dinner ready, Danny wants his meal when he gets home. Would you like me to come back later and help with the lights? Sure he replied, that would be nice and we can break in the new wine glasses! Great, see you in a few hours. Andy left and Charlie poured himself a Jack. He sat down at the table and looked at his tree. It smelled just as he remembered with his ex. His mind wandered back over the last few years and how warm those days felt especially compared to now.

Looking at that tree all of a sudden he remembered the candles and went digging through all the bags finally locating them. He brought them as well as the holders to the kitchen counter. He pulled the price stickers from the holders and stripped the plastic wrap from the candles. Putting them into their bases he put two on his kitchen table and two more on the table in front of the sofa. He had to go digging again to locate his matches, and lit them. Back to the bags one more time to retrieve the wine glasses bringing them to the sink to wash.

Andy climbed the steps to her house and was greeted at the door by the whirling dervish, Babette the Pug. The other dog excited but far calmer and so glad to see her. The poor things were almost cross eyed from being inside a large part of the day. She immediately let them out and took no time at all for them to do their business and then on to doggy business of chasing each other, biting at the falling snow, barking and jumping up on Andy seeking attention. She did her job and chased them. They would quickly run away only to circle around and nip at her boots. It wasn’t too long before one laid down and the other was off sniffing this and that. Come on, she shouted at them and slapped her knees. They came running and in they went. She grabbed her dog towel and attempted to dry them, not the easiest of tasks. One dog wandering off through the house, muddy paw prints everywhere while the other squirming all over, objecting to the towel. She had to grab another towel and clean the floors. She was already tired of winter and it wasn’t even Christmas yet.

She went to the fridge and took out some eggs and ground beef, along with the mix she got at the market putting together a meatloaf. Her recipe required veal and pork as well as her secret spices. The entire time putting this together, the dogs sat at her feet looking as sad as they could manage hoping for something to drop on the floor. To their dismay, nothing did. She looked down and said, alright. I know you’re hungry and its’ dinner time. She opened a can of Alpo and mixed it with dry food adding a bit of oil for their coats and mixing in some dog vitamins. The dogs did their pre dinner dance as she mixed their dinner. She put their bowls down and got them fresh water. She went about completing the balance of dinner with snap beans and baked potatoes. The phone rang, it was Danny telling her he would be home soon and asking what was for dinner?

Dinner in the oven, Andy opened her computer and got online. Looking through her mail found letters from her sister and nieces. She spent a few minutes reading and more time responding. Her sister Darlene’s husband was hospitalized the day before with complications from lung cancer and was happy to read he had been released and was back at home. They had given him shots of morphine and this had reduced his pain, making him more comfortable. She was worried for her sister. Darlene loved her husband so much and would be so very lost without him. Gerry had been given a few months to live but that was over a year ago and had been undergoing radiation. Darlene was hoping beyond reason that the radiation would cure him. Andy wasn’t really hopeful but never let her sister know this and kept her replies upbeat and positive.

Andy had a hobby of writing and loved writing poetry. She opened her word program and took a few minutes to collect her thoughts and started a new poem. The thoughts of the day crept into her head and inspired her to begin a new write about joy and friendship. She heard the truck arrive and the door open. Hello? I’m home. The dogs ran to the door and greeted Danny, who made a big fuss of them, Babette running in circles. Andy closed the computer and went to the kitchen to check on the progress of dinner. Danny appeared in the doorway and said Hi. How long before we eat? It will be a few more minutes she replied. Good, I’ll be in the living room working on my game. He disappeared, followed by his troop of four legged admirers. Ten minutes later she called him to the table. I’m gonna go look in on Damion, Danny said. No problem, she responded, actually happy he was going to be gone. Danny wolfed down his meal just about inhaling without chewing. He got up from the table and put on his coat. I’ll be back Later he told her. She was not even half done and just felt abandoned. No conversation had taken place, no interaction of any kind. Danny had paid more attention to the dogs than to her. Never asked of her day. She wanted no more food and started to clean up. Her mind wandered to her lunch, filled with laughter and smiles. She let the dogs out one more time and then put on her coat and walked next door.

She softly knocked and was greeted by Charlie with a big smile. Come on in. The first thing she noticed were the candles flickering and the smell of the tree. She had a feeling of warmth and comfort. Nice huh? She smiled and nodded. He took her coat and went to the kitchen, returning with two glasses of wine. How about this, he asked holding up the new glasses. She laughed, Charlie, You put the red wine in the glasses for white! He looked sheepishly at the glasses. I had a fifty, fifty shot ! Still a step up from water glasses! They both laughed as he handed her the glass. They sat on the sofa planning on how to proceed with the decorations. Andy got up and went to the bags digging around. She started removing electric candles and bulbs. What are those he asked? I don’t remember buying those? These are for the front windows she replied. She went about screwing in the bulbs and placing them in the windows, plugging them in and adding more spirit to the room. Nice, he said.

Andy got out the strings of lights, unpacking and straightening the strings. Charlie you go to that side of the tree and she started adding the lights pushing them towards the interior and eventually bringing them towards the outside. She would hand him the string and gently correct his sloppy ways instructing him in the proper methods of light stringing and he would do as told and handed it back to her. They proceeded in the same manner with all six strings finally reaching the top. Charlie got out an extension cord he purchased and plugged them in. It was stunning he thought to himself, so many lights, simply beautiful. They sat down on the sofa sipping their wine and admiring their handy work, lights in the windows, candles flickering away. It was feeling very peaceful. Charlie went and got the bottle of wine, returning and filled their glasses. Andy sat on the floor opening the packages and removing her new treasures ever so carefully, installing the hangers in each new item. Here she said handing him each new ornament with instructions where to put it. This process took almost forty five minutes. Andy being very particular and specific. He was enjoying this and finally the ornaments finished.

She continued to sit with all the packages, sifting through the contents, sipping her wine in the wrong glass! She enjoyed the thought and smiled. What now Charlie asked? Now is garland time. This is critical she explained. Garland is meant to be in a circular pattern. Some people make it vertical and it looks so stupid she said. I see he said. She stood up and they proceeded with the garland in the same manner as the lights. That complete, she turned and asked, Charlie? Are you a tinsel guy? He looked at her with a wry little grin. Not sure? What’s your opinion? I say hell, go for it Andy responded! She opened a package and handed him half the contents. Charlie knew he was about to catch hell but started to put up the tinsel. Stop! He winced. Charlie! This is the way it’s done. She took individual strands and let them gently float onto the branches. He was not sure he was capable of her delicacy but vowed to do his best. They sipped their wine and carefully applied several packets of tinsel. Having completed their task they sat and admired their work. Lights twinkling and the tinsel adding to the effect. It was almost magical.