Morning all and welcome to a bright new week. It will be a short one for me but I am ready to jump into it. So the coffee is brewing and we will set the timers for fifteen minutes. Remember whether typing or writing by hand, don’t stop to edit. The point is to just get the words on the page without your inner editor stamping all over them. So keep going until the timer sounds.
That was not where I thought this was going. I thought inconvenient guest stays too long. But I kind of like this better.
Monday, December 23rd: How long will you stay?
“How long will you stay?” He asked. James eyed the veritable river of luggage that was coming from the car to his front door. The taxi driver shot him a sympathetic look as he set down a bag and went back to get another. Seeing what was already stacked beside his Aunt Nancy he wondered how the driver managed to fit it all in the cab. His Aunt didn’t listen, just patted his cheek as she passed.
“Do help the driver,” she told him.
James let her go and stepped around the stack to walk down to the cab.
“This is the last of it,” the driver said. “Could use a hand.”
James nodded and helped heave a trunk out of the car. The driver took one end and he took the other. Together they made it up the path to the front door without mishap. James congratulated himself on doing a thorough job of deicing the path earlier. The last thing he needed was an injured cab driver adding to what he was certain would be a chaotic time.
“Did she pay you?” James asked.
“Said you would,” the driver said. He again flashed a sympathetic look. James nodded.
“I suspected as much.” It wasn’t a surprise. Nancy had been floating through life since childhood always expecting someone else would deal with any of the details she couldn’t be bothered to worry over. Paying bills was always someone else’s department.
They successfully deposited the last of the luggage in the foyer and James paid the driver, adding in a large tip. He hoped it not only covered the luggage train but whatever unpleasantness might have occurred on the ride over. He knew exactly how difficult Nancy could be.
The driver left and James returned to the house. This was not going to be pleasant.
He closed the door and stepped inside. Nancy had moved to the living room and looked somewhat stunned. ‘As well she might be.’ James thought. There was a dark satisfaction in it, but he kept it to himself.
“So how was your trip,” he asked politely.
“It was …fine,” she said sounding slightly breathless as she looked around. It was a record breakingly short sentence for he and very out of character. She usually went on long explanations and tirades expanding any little inconvenience into a catastrophe specifically targeted at her.
“That’s nice,” James said. “Can I get you some coffee or something. I’m afraid I don’t have much in the hose at the moment.”
“What happened?” She asked. She circled the room slowly. “Were you robbed?”
“No, I’m moving,” James said. “Most of my things have been sent on already, as you can see.”
“M…moving?” She said. She turned bright eyes to him. “When?”
“Two days,” James said. “I did mention it when you called last month.” It was well known throughout the family that Nancy never actually listened. She only paused her speaking while you were speaking so that she could catch her breath and decide what she wanted to say next.
“But that won’t do,” she said. Her eyes darted to the mound of luggage still piled in the foyer.
Ten til Midnight 