Thursday, January 16, 2025

Listen here........ Now, that ain't workin', that's the way you do it



 Lily had been sick since classes started. It didn't help that all the good jobs were taken these days and she was starting at the bottom at the big named grocery store. She was the girl who brought in the shopping carts from the cold parking lot. Never in her life had she done such a meaningless job. Well, in her book.

But she stuck with it, hoping she got on at the deli soon. This felt like punishment braving the elements daily. And of course, there were always extra hours for this kind of work and she took them. She needed the money. She did her best to tell her mom and her grandmother every night when they called that things were fine.

Only, she was alone, and what she'd give anything to have someone to come home to. Even a cat.

Still, it was frigid weather. She heard it all the time, how much worse it could be. All sorts of strangers had to tell her about all the snow storms of the past. Funny, she thought of Florida when she was little, and then she was sent to stay with her grandparents. And she guessed she remembered the snow. She'd remembered Brick when they were kids. Yes, those were the best times. She wanted to go back to those times. 

But she went out on her hourly duty to chase down carts, put them in their proper place then push them into the cart carral inside.

"Are you sure you can handle that?" A voice awoke her of her past thoughts. Honestly, she hated for anyone to see her this way. She knew for certain an icicle was dripping from her nose. But when she saw it was Brick, it didn't really bother her. She kept going. It wasn't like she couldn't do it, but after all, he was the professional when it came to pushing grocery carts for the long haul. She'd watched him do it back in their hometown through the summers. Only, she wouldn't let him have at it. This was her job.

He watched with his arms crossed as if she might be doing it all wrong, but she wouldn't look. She didn't care.

"What time do you get off?" He called to her.

"Why?" She looked back at him.

"I got a little Christmas money," he said. "Thought you might like to go to that new place around the corner. I hear the steak and lobster is good."

She wasn't sure to smile or not, but she managed to say sure. She'd have to actually wear something nice, she guessed, and so would he.

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

There's someone in this crazy world for me


 

"So do you think you've come to an understanding?" Axton wanted to know when he and Oliver had lunch together at the Children's Center where they worked. Of course, they were both brown bagging, but it wasn't often they had time to eat together.

"I don't know," Oliver examined the tuna sandwich that Axton made for him. He'd been nice enough to bring an extra because he'd been talking about how Chili put a little soy sauce in the tuna and it made all the difference. They were talking about their women problems.

"I tried to find things Gabby might like," Oliver shrugged and took a mouthful of the sandwich. "I mean, her family is right here in town and she won't even see them. Something about they never liked that guy she used to be married to." Oliver sighed but told Axton he thought the tuna was really good and could he have the recipe.

Axton grinned. "Oh, Chili would kill me if I let go of that recipe. I mean, I try to watch what she does, you know."

"But you guys had some nice holidays, didn't you?" Oliver looked at him.

"I suppose," Axton told him that he knew Chili wanted to set a wedding date. "But it's too cold to think about a wedding."

"It could be a destination, thing, you know, like Vegas," Oliver reminded him of a co-worker they both knew who got married in Vegas over the holidays.

"I know, I don't mean to be dragging my feet and all," Axton nodded as he went to finish off the bottle of green tea he'd made himself. Something else, Chili taught him to make. 

"Then..then just do it," Oliver made it sound like ripping off a bandaid of some kind. Maybe he was joking as he smiled at Axton.

"Boy, what would you know, you didn't even marry Carrie's mother,"

"Lesson learned. Yes, it is a good idea to marry and divorce, I guess." He was even lipped then.

"You can't just let Gabby run the show, you just need to talk," Axton told him.

"Is that what you and Chili are doing?" Oliver's smile was quick.

"Well..." Axton looked Oliver in the eye. "You should sleep with her, you know. Just so you know if you're compatible." He finished off the drink.

"Now, how long do you reckon it takes you to figure something out like that?" Oliver wanted to know.

"I'd give it six weeks."

Axton bit into a chip then.

"Six weeks?" Oliver squinted.

"You got any better ideas?"

Oliver turned away from him so he could drink the canned lemonade. Axton knew he might spew it all over him if thought on it.

Sunday, January 12, 2025

Just close your eyes and then remember



 It wasn't until Christmas was well over that Ruby realized that she didn't have any girlfriends. It was something she never thought about, actually. But suddenly, it felt important as if she wasn't very good at making friendships. 

Of course, there was Rafe, which had initially felt highly unlikely. Not once did he say she was too pushy (although she knew she was). Now, it felt like that chapter was over, and she felt as if she was barely treading water in life. And now she would be a mother. 

There was a lot to think about, she knew there was so much to do and to be for the future, but then she met Gabby on a crowded morning at the coffee shop. They ended up sharing a table in the masses. Honestly, she'd never seen the shop so busy on a winter's day.

Ruby mentioned she was pregnant and the thought of ice and snow made her feel uneasy.  "Oh, you'll be fine." After all, she'd told Gabby she worked in the building where she lived. "When it really gets a blast of winter, don't come to the coffee shop."

Ruby knew she was right. It was always good to stay put, especially now. Gabby congratulated her and said she wished she could have a baby. 

"But my boyfriend, has a little girl, already," she said. Funny, Ruby enjoyed talking to another redhead. Someone even walked by and said it was good to see sisters together. They both laughed. That's when Gabby mentioned she had a sister, but didn't see much of her, and she lived here.

"Why is that?" Ruby asked as she cradled a cup of hot herbal tea.

"She has her own family to deal with," Gabby made it sound as if it were full of drama, she'd spent Christmas with her boyfriend's family.

"I mean, it's not official that we are together, or anything," Gabby finally confided. She raked her fingers through her heavy auburn locks. "Who knew finding a guy would be so tough at this age." She said she heading toward thirty. "Although, when I was married before, we never thought about kids."

She was even lipped. "And then I met Oliver, and he's such a good dad." She said she  knew him in high school. "Oh, I think he liked me then, but I never gave him a chance and now, I'm not sure he'll really give me a chance."

"But you two spent Christmas together." 

Ruby looked at her blankly as if that had to count for something.

"Oh, he's just a good person, that's all. He was afraid I would be all alone," Gabby shrugged. 

Ruby had been listening. Gabby and Oliver lived in the same apartment building. She reminded her that it took time to nurture a relationship. "You never know, this might be your year." She told her not to give up.

Friday, January 10, 2025

So I'm back to the velvet underground

 


"It's not that I envy them," Maddie looked back at Boone wide-eyed about the Rafe and Ruby news that stole their thunder on their engagement party, but she might have been in a slight fret.

His arm was around her on the couch. They were close, well they'd been inseparable since the Christmas engagement. After all, they might as well have made a fort in the livingroom during the holidays. She couldn't remember the last time she slept in her own bed, just his or the couch. 

Of course, she could see his smile; it was playing into a laugh, and then she laughed, too. 

"Look, Rafe and I are friends, in spite of everything," he shrugged. "We do work together."

"Well..he's in school now," she pressed her lips in protest and of course, he kissed them very longingly as if she might forget they were even talking about Rafe.

"Uh-huh," Boone broke free from the kiss but looked her in the eye. "You are taking some classes this January too."

"Well." She wished he hadn't brought that up. Maybe she was sleepy after all even if the ten o'clock news hadn't came on yet. After all, they only got antenna TV, and she was not staying up for the old Carol Burnett show.

"OK, you say you can't decide on a major, I get that, but think about it, you need to start taking Library Science classes because you know how much you love the library,"

"I know, but, I'm just going to take, you know the usual stuff, and wait." Maddie shrugged. 

"We could all be learning about jet engines, you know," Boone smirked.

"He better stick with it," she sighed. 

"Oh, he's got a baby to feed, Rafe we'll figure it out," Boone nodded.

"But..but do I have to like Ruby?" Maddie found her a bit snooty, and she was Harley's friend, after all.

"Well, if you can try to be Ruby's friend, then surely I can be Rain's friend," he smiled.

Maddie nodded. She'd give it a try. She didn't feel Rafe nor Rain as big Xs anymore that she had to avoid.