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Kids

 

         The road that carried Rita to and from her job stretched a


winding thirty miles. It was beautiful most of the year, but could


often be treacherous during the winter months.

 

         Rita’s job was at Glens Falls Hospital in northern New York


State. This hospital served the local city as well as a large


parameter of surrounding territory, to include West Paulet,


Vermont.

 

         Rita lived with her husband in a modest home in West


Paulet, Vermont.

 

         Over the years, many would ask her about her long commute


to her job. Her standard response was:

 

         “Most people in the big cities easily spend at least twice the


amount of time in the commute to their jobs. They are on


subways, crowded buses, in their cars, packed like sardines on


crowded highways, horns honking, for the duration of their


journey. I am in the comfort of my own car, listening to my own


music for a simple thirty-minute drive. So, who’s the idiot?”

 

         “How was your drive this morning?” Rick asked.

 

         Rita began removing her “winter insulation.”

 

         “Not bad this morning, Rick,” Rita replied. “Just took it slow.


There was a little ice with a little slipping and sliding. Drove at a


steady, but slower pace. Last Tuesday was rough, though. There


was a lot of ice. It took me almost an hour!”

 

         Yes, winter was somewhat problematic. However, she was in


very comfortable surroundings as she travelled en route.

 

         Rita worked in the hospital’s business office. She dressed


nicely each day to demonstrate professionalism and pride in her


position. Rita exuded confidence and carried herself with style.


Her activities during her workday at the hospital differed greatly


from those at her home in West Paulet.

 

         West Paulet was a small town compared to the small city of


Glens Falls.

 

         Rita’s daily activities differed from those of her husband, as


well. While Rita drove to her workplace, Rick walked to his. Rita


drove in the comfort of her warm car. Rick walked the six streets


to the car shop. Rita was dressed nicely in a warm office, and


mostly sitting at her desk. Rick worked in dirty jeans and a thermal


sweatshirt in the auto garage and was often lying on his back. It


gets mighty cold in Vermont during the winter!

 

         Rick grew up in West Paulet. He barely graduated from West


Paulet High School. His life’s ambition was to become a successful


car mechanic. He had done just that! He looked forward to


managing his own shop down the line.

 

         Northern New York State and Vermont are sparsely


populated areas, home to various wild animals roaming the


landscape. Deer are most common. Bears, foxes, beavers,


and skunks are also ubiquitous in the area. A moose is spotted


occasionally crossing a road. One year, the newspaper had a long


article about a Bigfoot that was not only spotted, but had chased


two police officers from their patrol car while on duty! It was in


New York, but just outside of West Paulet.

 

         “Rita,” Rick would often remind. “When it is dark, please


drive the road slowly. There are a bunch of critters out there. If


something runs out in your path, just hit it. Do not veer off the


road to hit a tree. Got it?”

 

         “Got it,” Rita always replied

 

         The auto mechanic knows best.

 

         On one of those reminder advisories, Rita offered, “Nancy,


my coworker, had a mouse run across her foot while she was


driving into work. It just hopped off the brake pedal!

 

         “That sounds ridiculous,” Rick smiled. “How would a mouse


get into a car?”

 

         “Animals have a way of getting into all sorts of places,” Rita


explained “Some people have problems with raccoons on their


roof or in the attic, and squirrels, as well. El Paso has bobcats


coming out a night, and tarantulas, too. Alligators are eating


people’s pets in Miami. I have a friend that found a snake in her


laundry room!” Rita said seriously. “Children in Japan even have


pet cockroaches!”

 

         “Well,” Rick said. “If you see a Bigfoot hitch-hiking, promise


me you won’t pick him “up. OK?”

 

         “But, what if he’s a good-looking Bigfoot?” Rita kidded.

 

         “Well, then, what the hell! By all means pick him up!” Rick


suggested. “You can both grab a bite at Denny’s when you get in to


town!”  

 

         Their friends would tell you that they were an odd match.


Rita and Rick were not at all alike. Yet, they seemed to fit together


like two connecting pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Each seemed to


complete each other. They each seemed secure and comfortable.


But they really were different persons! It is commonly said that


opposites attract. He was her ying and she was his yang.

 

         The Superbowl was looming in the near distance, just a few


days away.

 

         “Rick, I’m going to make a trip into town on Sunday morning


to get groceries. Make a list for me of what you need for your


party,” Rita stated. “Make out your list and check it twice!”

 

         “Promise I won’t be naughty, but only nice,” Rick typically


responded.

 

         “How many will be here?” Rita asked

 

         “Randy, Joan, Bruce, Darren and us. So, it will be just the six


of us” Rick said with reasonable certainty. “But who knows . . .?”

 

         “Then, I’ll get the grub, if you mend that broken cabinet


door?” Rita offered. “Clean up some, too.”

 

         “Agreed”, Rick said without hesitation.

 

         They did complement each other well.

 

         The Superbowl would begin very late in the afternoon. Rita


expected to be back well before that. The roads had some snow


and ice, but slow travel on a Sunday afternoon should not be a


problem.

 

         It wasn’t.

 

         Rita arrived back with time to spare before the start of the


big game. But apparently there was some other sort of game in


progress. The front door to the house was wide open? This did


not fit well for what was on the kitchen calendar!

 

         Rita saw Bruce’s car and realized he was already here. But


what was going on?

 

         As Rita approached the front door, there was some yelling


and screaming. She could see disarranged furniture scattered


about and a shattered vase on the floor. Cheese doodles


decorated the floor along the west wall. Four beer bottles were on


the large table, two empty and two half-full. Maybe this indicated


a positive outcome to whatever this game was?

 

         Rita stood in the doorway and observed the mayhem.


Clancy, their Boston Terrier, was running around and was


obviously confused.

 

         “What the hell is . . . ?” Rita remarked.

 

         “I think we have it cornered behind the lounge chair. I’ll bet


it’s as worn out as we are! Rita, leave the door open and move out


of the doorway. Rick and I are going to try to chase it out the door


again. We’ve already tried four times,” Bruce explained.

 

         Bruce pulled the chair out of the corner. There it was! It was


a big one! Rick jumped up onto the sofa as Bruce tried to get the


scared, exhausted rat to move off toward the open door.

 

         The big rat just stood in the corner, stunned.

 

         “You guys are pathetic,” Rita stated with obvious irritation.


“Get off the sofa, Rick. You shouldn’t stand on the sofa with your


shoes on!”

 

         Rita marched herself over to the rat.

 

Clancy ran toward the rat, barking with apparent authority, as


she always did when in the midst of a critter.  

 

         The rat sensed that something was about to happen. Maybe


this pretty lady was going to help it get out of this jam?

 

         Rita stopped in front of the rat and with a quick swoop of the


arm grabbed the rat by its large, thick tail. Fearless, with the rat


dangling calmly from her hand, she walked to the open front door.

 

         Bruce’s jaw dropped.

 

         Rick jumped back up on the sofa.

 

         “You big baby!” Rita said with disgust as she passed Rick,


smacking his rear end as she passed.

 

         Clancy, now very confused, ran over to the sofa, jumped up


and bit Rick on his butt! Then, she just hung on, swaying back and


forth.  

 

         Upon reaching the front door, Rita flung the grateful rat out


of the house as far as she could. Rita walked straight to the sink


for a good hand washing. She had saved the day for all.

 

         Rick was screaming like a little girl. Clancy released her grip


and ran to the front door, barking bravely from a distance.

 

         “I suggest you both get started with straightening this room


out. Your big game will be starting in about an hour. Bruce, come


help me bring the groceries in from the car. You boys can’t


possibly watch football without your party snacks,” Rita kidded.

 

         Rita then sat down to relax for a few minutes to puff on her


new cigar.

 

         “Thanks, Hun,” Rick said. “How about a beer?”

 

         “You have blood stains on your pants, Rick,” Rita observed.


“I’m relaxing, so go have Bruce put a band-aid on your butt and


change your pants. I do not want blood on the furniture!”

 

         “Hey, Bruce,” Rick summoned, “I need a small favor, bud , , .”

 

 

         

May 29, 2020 21:12

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