In the spirit of the “Fourth of July” holiday I decided to reach out to my neighbors and invite them to dine at my home and watch the local fireworks display from my beautifully manicured backyard.
The Trickhart’s were prompt and under dressed.
Of course, they raved about the many wonderful dishes I served. They complimented me on my excellent taste in wine. They marveled at the elegance of my lush, flower filled garden. And they gushed at what an amazing host I am.
It was just like old times.
I have not always been at odds with the Trickharts. As a matter of fact, we had previously spent many holidays together. I was even a guest in their home on their very first Christmas as newlyweds. Seeing them open their gifts from each other was like a modern retelling of O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi”.
Nobert had sold his favorite beer stein in order to buy stockings for Farrah’s wooden legs. Farrah sold her wooden legs to buy Nobert a stout German ale to drink from his favorite beer stein. Which was unfortunate because Nobert can not hold his liquor and becomes quite abusive when he drinks and Farrah can not outrun him without her wooden legs. Things went from heartwarming to heart wrenching pretty fast.
That was the first and last Christmas I ever spent with the Trickharts. There were other holidays, but I will write about those at another time.
While at my little “Fourth of July” soirée, Norbert showed me the architectural drawings of his new home for the very first time (see image above).
It is everything I expected and worse.
That evening, watching the fireworks display, I prayed that one of the pyrotechnic projectiles would ignite my home so I could take the insurance money and move away from the hideous structure being built next door. But my “Independence Day” was not to be.
The Trickhart’s were prompt and under dressed.
Of course, they raved about the many wonderful dishes I served. They complimented me on my excellent taste in wine. They marveled at the elegance of my lush, flower filled garden. And they gushed at what an amazing host I am.
It was just like old times.
I have not always been at odds with the Trickharts. As a matter of fact, we had previously spent many holidays together. I was even a guest in their home on their very first Christmas as newlyweds. Seeing them open their gifts from each other was like a modern retelling of O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi”.
Nobert had sold his favorite beer stein in order to buy stockings for Farrah’s wooden legs. Farrah sold her wooden legs to buy Nobert a stout German ale to drink from his favorite beer stein. Which was unfortunate because Nobert can not hold his liquor and becomes quite abusive when he drinks and Farrah can not outrun him without her wooden legs. Things went from heartwarming to heart wrenching pretty fast.
That was the first and last Christmas I ever spent with the Trickharts. There were other holidays, but I will write about those at another time.
While at my little “Fourth of July” soirée, Norbert showed me the architectural drawings of his new home for the very first time (see image above).
It is everything I expected and worse.
That evening, watching the fireworks display, I prayed that one of the pyrotechnic projectiles would ignite my home so I could take the insurance money and move away from the hideous structure being built next door. But my “Independence Day” was not to be.
- C Smith
No comments:
Post a Comment