Right Turn Left

Cullen backed out of their driveway and shifted into drive.

He asked Ruby, his wife, “So, we’re going to visit your brother, George, and his family again?”

Ruby said, “Yes, but when talking to me, call him ‘Boring George.’”

“Remind me… why are we seeing him again?”

“Always have. Always will.”

“Unless something changes.”

She nodded.

Cullen chose his words with care. “Was he always so boring?”

Ruby went into her standard rant. “Many have confirmed the fact that George was born boring. Our mother slept through her labor. She had to be awakened after he popped out, so the nurses could present him for the first time. Most boring baby ever.”

“You don’t believe that…”

About my brother? No… Yes. He is boring. God, is he boring! Mind numbingly… to the point of dozing while thinking of him.

She gave herself a gentle slap to stay alert.

He thought, we’re in a rut. How do people inject new blood in their lives?

Ruby continued. “But I love him! He’s my brother. Known him my whole life.” All those years wasted. “He’s a good father…”

Cullen thought, poor little kid. Does he have any idea…?

“…and a loving husband.” How bleak can a marriage be, and still survive?

Sighing, Cullen said, “We see him so rarely. It’s great that he’s around for you.”

Traffic slowed as he took the entrance ramp to the highway leading out of the city.

Ruby asked, “You know the way?”

“Of course. How many times have we gone there? This car could find it by itself.”

“I wish we were in a Waymo. Then I could stay home and it could find its way without me.”

“Ruby, you’re never good with directions. You can’t even point to the top of a map. Can only name ten states and three of those aren’t states.”

“If I name ten states, then I can name ten.”

“Like?”

“Well, New York. Wait. That’s a city... See? I know the difference.”

Cullen shook his head. “A fine distinction…”

Merging onto another highway, he said, “Did I ever tell you…?

Ruby tried to stop him. “Yes. A million times… Once, you drove across the whole country without looking.”

“…At a map.”

“A what?”

“Without looking at a map.”

“Oh… right…”

“So, if tonight is like previous visits, we’ll spend most of our time listening to the clock ticking. George’s occasional comments on yesterday’s news, or the latest sports scandal will add color.”

Ruby laughed. “Yes. And at dinner, his aimless ramblings will put us under his spell. Then he’ll realize, too late, that he forgot the punch-line.” She got quiet and looked over her shoulder. “What happened to the bridge?”

Cullen slowed and pulled to the shoulder. “What do you mean? Did they paint it?”

She peered ahead. “No. We should have crossed it by now.”

“Ruby, we don’t cross it. We drive under it. And we did that a few minutes ago.”

“No…”

“You want me to backtrack and show you?”

“No… Where are we? Nothing looks familiar…”

“Wait.”

“What?”

Cullen sat back. “You’re right. There was no dip.”

“You mean the bump?”

“Whatever. It’s always right before the bridge. Did they fix the dip?”

They looked at each other and then in every direction.

“Where are we?”

“That’s what I said.”

“It’s crazy. Always digging up the streets. But then they fix the dip I need to navigate by…”

Cullen got out of the car and looked back the way they came. Shaking his head, he got back in.

“Makes no sense. I don’t get it.”

Ruby said, “Check the GPS.”

“I hate GPS.”

“Because it’s so convenient.”

“Right. Like the time we were trying to catch a flight from Ft. Lauderdale and ended up in a swamp at the wrong end of the runway. Patient alligators twiddled their thumbs in anticipation of dinner. Meanwhile, the GPS kept saying, ‘your destination is on the right.’”

“That was unfortunate. Of course, it’s not perfect. But we made the flight.”

“No thanks to…”

“But now, we could use it to make sure we’re not lost. What can it hurt?”

“Alright. Fire up the GPS. Put in George’s address… I don’t want to end up in a swamp.”

He merged back onto the highway.

Soon, the GPS said, “Turn right. In 900 feet, your destination is on the right.”

Ruby said, “Shouldn’t it be on the left? I remember a store…”

“There never was a store.”

“Or a café…”

Cullen pointed. “There it is.”

Cullen pulled up in front of the house. Brightly lit windows revealed balloons inside. Music filled the air.

He killed the engine and sighed. “Made it.”

They got out and walked up the path to the door.

Before they could knock, the door opened. Two complete strangers, Randall and Genevieve, greeted them. George’s family was nowhere around. The house full of guests, all strangers, treated them like long-lost friends.

They had expected them. Cullen and Ruby accepted their hospitality with bemusement. He gave Ruby a questioning look. She smiled and shrugged.

Randall brought them each a glass of wine and engaged them in a lively conversation. He seemed to actually care about them.

Genevieve gave them a tour of the house. Ruby complimented them on the changes they’d made.

Very soon, Cullen and Ruby relaxed into enjoying themselves. Most of the guests gathered in the living room. Several of them were amateur musicians and accompanied others who wished to sing. With varied success, everything from traditional folk ballads to popular standards got sung. Regardless their varied skills or polish, enthusiastic applause greeted everyone’s efforts. The hit of the evening, Cullen conjured an impromptu lyric to an old folk song. Too shy to sing solo, Ruby harmonized with the other singers.

The food was delicious. The wine flowed freely. Warm laughter jostled the balloons.

They never once heard the clock tick.

When saying good night, Randall and Genevieve invited Cullen and Ruby to come back anytime.

After the farewells, Cullen and Ruby drove off. For several minutes they rode in silence. Their headlights were the only illumination.

Cullen said, “That was different.”

“I’ll say… What a night…”

He looked at Ruby. “You have a beautiful voice. Never heard it before.”

“Me neither. I don’t know what came over me. Hey! Where did you come up with those lyrics? That was amazing.”

Cullen laughed. “They just came out. Never done that.”

He turned onto the highway.

Ruby said, “I have to say, I kind of missed George.”

Cullen nodded. “Never thought I’d say it, but I get that. Me too.”

“Why did George move away without telling us?”

“Strange. I was thinking that’s what he did.”

“I mean, why would he do that?”

Cullen took his time. “Does he think we’re boring?”

Ruby gasped.

Cullen chuckled at the absurdity of such a suggestion. “Sorry… No. Not possible…”

They drove in silence for several minutes.

Ruby asked, “Do you know where you’re going?”

“Of course. How many times have I driven this route? The car could find its way without us…”

Cullen took his foot off the gas. Oh, my God! Are we boring? Is she?

Ruby glanced at Cullen. Is he?

Hoping their fear was not visible, they looked at each other. Something had changed. Or had it?

Cullen returned his gaze to the road. A few minutes later, Ruby took his hand. He squeezed it but said nothing. Releasing his grip, he took the wheel with both hands.

Neither spoke the rest of the way home.