On the Other Side
Xmas went fine. Course the trip was fast and busy. I got to my parents at 1:30 Saturday afternoon. I immediately wrapped presents. The family all arrived. We ate. After eating we unwrapped presents. We got stuffed again and we settled in to watch "Mary Poppins" with the kids. I walked over to my grandparents' new place -- It is just about 50 feet on the other side of my dad's barn. The place is very small but looks great. My grandmother told me that I needed a woman in my life (My parents insist that I not come out to my grandparents and I white-lie to appease them.) I said I have people in my life and left it at that.
Joe called just then. I talked to him on the walk back to the house. Updated him and assured him that everything was going ok.
An old high school friend caught up with me. He hadn't changed. He came to pick me up 45 minutes later than he said he would -- with a friend of his I'd never met. We drive back-country roads in circles while they get high. He shoots into instantly familiar tones with me and then begins hard-selling me on moving to Nashville to live with him and to start working on a sales job with him. I nod and don't say much. He agrees to meet me the next morning for coffee while my parents are at church. He never calls. I read more of "That's Revolting" and then everyone arrives for lunch. We gorge, I fall asleep, and my youngest brother, Josh, wakes me to tell me it's time to go to the airport.
I have a good talk with him on the way, talk to Joe again, get on the plane, arrive smoothly and on time, Beth picks me up and I get home. Joe had cleaned the place pretty damn thoroughly and I feel comfortable when I get back. I want to go out or something. We go over to a friend's house and I fall asleep on the floor. I crash at 11:30.
The the holiday is done. I am scarless, even if hyper-processed, and am ready for the turn of the year.
Joe called just then. I talked to him on the walk back to the house. Updated him and assured him that everything was going ok.
An old high school friend caught up with me. He hadn't changed. He came to pick me up 45 minutes later than he said he would -- with a friend of his I'd never met. We drive back-country roads in circles while they get high. He shoots into instantly familiar tones with me and then begins hard-selling me on moving to Nashville to live with him and to start working on a sales job with him. I nod and don't say much. He agrees to meet me the next morning for coffee while my parents are at church. He never calls. I read more of "That's Revolting" and then everyone arrives for lunch. We gorge, I fall asleep, and my youngest brother, Josh, wakes me to tell me it's time to go to the airport.
I have a good talk with him on the way, talk to Joe again, get on the plane, arrive smoothly and on time, Beth picks me up and I get home. Joe had cleaned the place pretty damn thoroughly and I feel comfortable when I get back. I want to go out or something. We go over to a friend's house and I fall asleep on the floor. I crash at 11:30.
The the holiday is done. I am scarless, even if hyper-processed, and am ready for the turn of the year.