Fence Talk

Fence Talk

Suzanne Marsh

There she stood in her navy-blue polka dot house dress, her hair in bobby pins with toilet paper wrapped around her head. She and her neighbor met at eight thirty in the morning for their coffee clotch . That was the best time to hear all the good gossip that was going around the neighborhood. There had been some pretty good things going on lately. A gorgeous young woman, with blond hair and blue eyes was seen leaving Tom and Sandy’s house. Sandy went to see her mom, who was ill. This news just would not wait. The fence chat began:

“Did you hear about Tom Henry’s visitor? Sandy went to see her mom, apparently, she had

a severe heart attack.”

When is she supposed to be coming back?

“Two weeks last Tom informed Dick.”

“So tell me about the woman that visited Tom?’

“You won’t believe me when I tell you. She is blond, blue eyes and big busted.”

“I could see Tom going for someone like that. He and Sandy are always fighting about

something, maybe he really is unhappy.”

The following morning, once again the women met at the fence.

“Mary, how is Carolyn enjoying playing the piano?”

“Not real great, she hates to practice. I thought she would enjoy it, well she is going to

play either way. How about Penny?”

“Penny joined the school band this year, she is playing the saxophone, I don’t know

what was going on in the head of that music director, but the saxophone is bigger than

Penny!”

They both had a good laugh about that. Their next topic of conversation was food.

“Mary, have you tried that Eggplant Parmesan I sent over with Carolyn?”

“Meg, it was fantastic.”

“I am glad you liked it.”

“Can you give me the recipe?”

“Sure, I will copy it down today and meet you here at the fence tomorrow morning?”

“I am making eggplant parmesan, more or less stuffed cabbage leaves.”

“Sounds wonderful.”

“I’ll send some over with Carolyn.”

“Thanks Meg.”

They stood for a few more moments then said their goodbyes. Meg wondered if Mary had heard anything else about Sandy and Tom; that would have to wait until later. Mary, thought about a day at the beach, the girls could go swimming and she and Meg could have a long talk, just enjoy the day. She would ask tomorrow.

The following morning, Meg was late getting to the fence. She had burned the breakfast of bacon and eggs. She had turned on the fan in the kitchen and hoped eventually it would air out. Mary looked over and saw smoke coming out of the kitchen window.

“Well, good morning Meg, I hate to ask but why is there smoke billowing out of your

kitchen window?”

“I got up late, started breakfast. The bacon started to burn, so Mike said he would grab

something on the way to work. Carolyn, as usual was late coming to breakfast. I called

her a half a dozen times that was how the eggs became incinerated. I decided it would be

prudent to air the house out.”

“Sounds like you have had quiet a morning, how about tomorrow, which is Saturday, we

take the girls and go to the beach?”

“Meg, thank you. It would be wonderful just to sit in the sun and relax.”

“Mary, I want to get an early start, so how about we leave at nine in the morning.”

“We will be ready Meg.”

Mary’s footsteps were lighter as she walked away from the fence. The following morning, with music blaring, the girls singing to every tune known to that disc jockey. The beach was twenty minutes away. The picnic basket was full of sandwiches, the cooler full of pop. A truly glorious day at the beach. They found a parking spot almost a mile from the boardwalk. The first objective of the day was to locate a picnic table in the shade. That was the easy part, then they had to lug all the necessities to the picnic area. Mary and Penny carried the picnic basket and cooler. Meg and Carolyn carried the beach blankets, the sun screen, towels, beach chairs. Once they managed to get everything to the picnic table, the girls removed their shoes, socks, shorts and blouses, under which were their bathing suits. Carolyn put the sun screen on Penny as Penny reciprocated. They giggled and ran toward the beach, leave Meg and Mary to put the table cloth on the picnic table, a red and white checkered one that Meg had purchased when Carolyn was just a baby, specifically for this purpose. The women began to walk toward the beach, with their beach towels and flip flops. The boardwalk was made of wood, naturally Penny who refused to wear flip flops was nursing a huge sliver in her foot. Mary, sighed:

“Penny, I told you to put those flip flops on before you walked down here to the beach.

Let me see the bottom of your foot.”

“Oh mom, please.

Reluctantly Penny lifted her foot, there was a long black sliver of wood, in the middle of her foot.

“I have tweezers in my purse, I will go and get them, that sliver has to come out now.”

“Mom! No, I can tolerate it till we get home.”

“Penelope Anne, don’t argue, I am going to go and get them.”

Penny, knew when Mary used her given name she was not going to change her mind. Mary headed back to the car. She grabbed the tweezers, returning as quickly as she could. Once the sliver was removed Penny and Carolyn went swimming. Meg and Mary simply enjoyed the day.

The following Monday morning, Mary was at the fence waiting for Meg.

“Hey sleepy head you are late.”

“Mary, Dick told me something last night, that I promised I would not tell anyone.”

“Meg, what is it?”

“Tom and Sandy Henry and getting a divorce. She caught him last night with that blond in

their bed. She hit him over the head with a frying pan. He filed assault charges. It is a big

mess. Promise me you won’t tell anyone.”

“Meg, my lips are sealed.”