Helen’s Soul Food Friday Meal #4

This meal we had hominy, fried okra, fried ham, cornbread, and turnip greens.

Tonight’s Sunset…

This was a wonderful sight after all the days of rain and storms we’ve had lately.

Comrades in Arms Against a Tirade! (Hyperbole)

The day started normally. I was the first to arrive so I got everything up and running. The dogs put on this grand cacophony of joy as I walked into the kennels to check on everybody. This day would take on a sour note, though.

Tracey was the first to be berated today. I was standing in the lobby when Mrs. Barbara told her she was still putting too much cat litter in the litter boxes. I was next…

“Sweet pea,” she said to me. “Please leave the thermostat where I set it. Fiscally things are tight right now.”

I said yes ma’am and headed back to the kennels to finish my job for the day.

Later, Tracy walked back into the kennels to talk to me.

“Who pissed in her Cheerios this morning?” Tracy asked with a smirk.

“She told me later her nose is to the grindstone and her job is on the line.”

“What about my job?” Tracy asked worriedly.”I hope I don’t get a pay cut.”

“You’re pretty much irreplaceable in my opinion,” I replied.

“I had a really good time with you last night,” Tracy then told me with a sly grin as she gave me a hug and kissed me on the cheek. “You are welcome any time.”

“Are you nervous about your chemistry exam this evening?” I asked intrigued.

I wish I had taken my second chance towards school more seriously years ago, but I was going to biology exams drunk.

“Just a little bit,” she replied. “I’ve studied as much as I can, though. I never want to see the periodic table ever again.”

I wished her luck and then she went into the outside kennels to mingle with and check on the dogs this chilly day.

Maggie! I’m Home!

Maggie was barking fervently as I walked across the yard from the car tonight. “Where have you been?” she seemed to urgently say as I stepped through the front door. I plopped down on the couch with a loud sigh as Maggie thoroughly sniffed me finding out where I have been. It’s a smell she is becoming accustomed to.

“I’ve got a lady friend, Maggie,” I told her as I turned on the television and took the shoes off my tired dogs.

I gave Maggie a big hug and then I told her I loved her as I scratched her back. That seemed to have settled her down some.

I had driven down to Tracy’s apartment tonight. Tracy was studying for a chemistry exam which was tomorrow evening and I watched The Outlaw King on Netflix at her home which I had been itching to see. It was okay. A little slow in places. I actually didn’t watch the ending as I gave up on it and got up to leave – ready to head home. Poor Tracy. I know I had to have been distracting, but she said she was really glad I was there.

“Drive safe, doll,” she told me. “Call me when you get home.”

We gave each other another tantalizing peck on the lips, a long embrace, and I disappeared into the night like a tomcat on the prowl.

One thing I am noticing about Tracy is that she tends to be a loner despite her bubbly personality. She is just not being overrun with girlfriends. I am not exactly running over with friends myself these days except for my blog friends and (gasp!) Tuleana and Richard.

Outlaw King Synopsis…

A true David vs. Goliath story of how the 14th century Scottish 'Outlaw King' Robert the Bruce used cunning and bravery to defeat the much larger and better equipped occupying English army.

Not Long Did I Linger…

Thursday mornings is a time dad and I get together and watch television. We had buttered toast slathered with strawberry preserves for breakfast this morning. It was a sweet treat. Dad is a bad influence as far as my diet is concerned. My sweet tooth rejoiced, though.

“Do you want some coffee?” my father then asked.

“Not this morning,” I replied. “Thank you, though.”

I like my coffee cold brewed these days of the café latte and mocha varieties. The Califia brand.

Dad was acting funny this morning and it perplexed me. I asked him why.

“It’s not you I assure you,” he said. “I feel like I am coming down with a cold and I am going back to bed when you leave.”

I took dad’s trash out to the bin and then came back inside and got an icy cold diet Coke for the road as I like to call it.

“Love you, son!” dad said when I said goodbye.

I told him to get to feeling better and I drove home.

Helen’s Soul Food Friday Meal #3

This was a whopper of a meal that took a man sized plate. We had cubed steak with gravy, colored butterbeans, steamed broccoli, white rice and gravy, biscuits, and fried okra.

Sleepyhouse…

Papa just stopped by braving the weather with some homemade corned beef hash, buttered biscuits, and a garden salad. He made a homemade dressing for the salad by mixing ketchup and mayonnaise together. It was delicious and a much needed diversion on a dreary night. I think half of Alabama has cabin fever like me after it has rained for three days straight.

“When is it going to stop raining Mr. Meteorologist?” he asked me.

“They say it is going to taper off at dawn,” I replied. “It might get down to 29° degrees Friday morning. The high tomorrow is only going to be 41° degrees.”

I thanked dad profusely for the hot meal and he soon headed on his way after coveting his old TV one more time.

“I still can’t believe you fixed that TV,” he said.

Even Maggie has cabin fever. I walked into the laundry room and Maggie’s head was out the dog door and the rest of her body was inside. I chuckled heartily. This is about the time of the night she likes to sit at the fence gate and bark at things unheard and unseen. She has to assert her dog authority throughout the neighborhood.

Mr. Smooth Operator…

Last night was a flurry of activity brought about by Tracy’s imminent arrival. I have a Blu-ray disc of different fireplaces and picked a fireplace and put it on loop. I then turned the computer desk lamp on and turned the other main lamp off. The room flickered romantically from the fire on the TV screen. Next, I got the pizza in the oven. I wished I had a Digiornos pizza, but Red Baron had to suffice. Soon, Tracy’s black Volkswagen Beetle pulled up in front of my house.

“Hey sweetie,” she said as I opened the door.

Oh, my heart went into a whirl. She looked gorgeous last night despite having no makeup and her work clothes on.

“Hey gal,” I replied. “Come on inside.”

It is amazing what dogs know. Maggie has instantly welcomed Tracy into her pack. When Tuleana and Richard would come over, she would hide in the hall and look into the den apprehensively. I would have never thought Maggie would be the jealous type as she lay in-between Tracy and I as we sat on the couch. She was our referee.

We talked and talked and talked some more. I told her some things in my past and she didn’t balk. She had a few skeletons in her closet as well. We were really honest with each other last night.

11:00 pm rolled around and I told Tracy we better get some sleep. We both had to be up bright and early to arrive at the Humane Society. Tracy gave me our first kiss as she was leaving. It was just a peck on the lips, but a kiss none the less. It send a tingling down my spine and my heart had a few palpitations.

Helen’s Soul Food Fridays Meal #2

Here was a tasty meal. We had a fried chicken breast, brussels's sprouts, creamed potatoes, chowder peas, and corn bread.

Rethinking A Conversational Ride Home…

“Hey you!” Tracy said over her cellphone. “What are you doing?”

You could tell by the noise that she was driving and her radio was playing softly in the background.

“Maggie and I are listening to big band jazz on my computer surround system,” I replied.

Tracy laughed that Maggie was listening as well.

“She’s laying at my feet and loves it. She especially loves Diana Krall’s voice.”

“I was about to ask if I could come over, but I am already halfway home and I didn’t want to impose,” she said.

“If you change your mind, you are always welcome here. I could put a Red Baron pizza in the oven,” I replied.

“That sounds so nice!” Tracy told me. “All I need is a nice cabernet.”

“What are you doing?!” I then asked as there was a lot of commotion and noise going on the other end of the phone.

“I am trying to turn around and head your way,” she said. “You sure you wouldn’t mind having me?”

“I would be delighted,” I replied.

“I will be there in about 30 minutes. See you then,” she said.

“Home and hearth is waiting. I’ll see you then!”

Helen’s Soul Food Friday Meal #1

I have hundreds of these photos of Helen’s Friday meal. I am going to start posting one a day so we can all reminisce back to the good old days. Here was my favorite Helen meal. Meatloaf, mac and cheese, cornbread, colored butterbeans, and steamed cabbage.

Eastbound and Down! Loaded Up and Truckin!

Dad called me at 1:00 am last night sounding panicked. I was still up watching the television and fiddling with my tablet listening to the rain pitter patter on the eaves of my roof..

“Your shot is in the morning!” he frantically said as if we had already missed it.

“It’s no big deal,” I replied calmly, assuaging his worries. “Just call me at eight and make sure I am up and I will drive down and get it. It won’t take but 30 or 45 minutes. You just have the prescription filled when I arrive.”

Dad called me right at eight this morning. I had just popped two unfrosted strawberry Poptarts out of the toaster. It was like handling hot baked potatoes.

“You okay?” he asked worriedly. “You and I both haven’t had much sleep.”

“I am ready to roll!” I replied exuberantly.

He chuckled and told me I was a good man.

Guess who was back? I hadn’t seen her in a month! Rebecca, my coveted nurse, welcomed me back this morning to administer my shot. She had gained a lot of weight I noticed. She still looked the sexay in her dark blue scrubs. Seeing her was the icing on the cake. I have a slight crush on her.

The shot went without nary a hitch after much small talk and banter and I was soon on my way back to the pharmacy. Dee Dee had me all set up for another two weeks. I just had to grab my next appointment card off the counter.

“You look nice this morning, Chuck!” my father told me – a man who doesn’t give compliments lightly.

I thanked him for the compliment and headed home in a pouring rain. It is supposed to keep raining until tomorrow night. Yikes, but I enjoy the interesting weather to be honest. 

Not Gonna Do It…

“Let’s go ahead and get your groceries tonight,” Dad told me over his cellphone as he was driving home from the pharmacy.

“Not gonna do it,” I replied. “It is thundering and lightning outside. Maggie needs dogfood, though.”

“I’ll go get Maggie’s dogfood,” Old Fuss and Feathers said. “I wish you would come with me and get your groceries.”

“Not gonna do it,” I replied again to my father’s consternation. “I’d be soaking wet just loading up my car. I'd catch the death of me in the process.”

“I’ll honk my horn and you can run out and get Maggie’s Purina One.”

“I will be waiting on you,” I said. “Can do that.”

I had told my father last night that it was going to be bad weather-wise tonight and that Maggie needed dogfood. He didn’t listen to me. I asked to be able to use my debit card to debit Maggie’s food last night at the Piggly Wiggly and he said no that we would get it tonight. Now? He is riding around in a rainstorm trying to get Maggie up something to eat. He can be so hardheaded at times.

Captain Zero…

I recycle water bottles. I’ve got about a collection of twenty I keep in the fridge to keep them cold. We have really sweet and clean tap water here. Every morning before I leave for the Humane Society, I put six water bottles in a little collapsible cooler I have.

Well, this morning I wanted something different to drink and I swung by the Circle K just down from my house and bought six Coke Zeros. Dad is going to think I bought beer I just know it. I gambled and we will have to wait and see the outcome. The total expenditure was almost eight dollars. Oh hell, it is my money and I should be able to spend it. I am going to stand up to him on this one. This keeping me from beer crap gets taken too far most of the time. If I really wanted to get it then I would and I could.

Mother Nature Abhors Us This Morning…

It is just pouring rain. I hated putting the dogs in the outside kennels this morning. It was cold and damp out there. I hurried to finish cleaning so I could let them back inside. We’re only at half capacity which makes my job much easier. We’ve had a lot of adoptions lately which is nice. I love seeing the dogs I’ve fallen in love with get a good home. Sometimes, I can get possessive, attached, and hate to see some go as well.

Tracy was having a bad morning which is rare for her. I wish I had her usual Pollyanna attitude about life.

“I can’t do anything right this morning,” she told me. “Mrs. Barbara said I was putting too much litter in the litter boxes.”

We got on the subject of what was the worst thing that has ever happened to us.

“I woke up Christmas morning, stepped outside to drive to my parent’s house to open presents, and my car wasn’t there,” I said. “It had gotten stolen on Christmas day.”

“That is terrible!” Tracy exclaimed. “I bet that ruined Christmas.”

“Yes, it did!” I replied. “The police, Charlie, and my father were soon at my house.”

“You already know the worst thing that has ever happened to me,” Tracy told me. “It was when I caught Michael sleeping around with all those loose women.”

Before I left for the day, I turned up the heat in the kennels much to Mrs. Barbara's chagrin. It was chilly in there and I wanted the dogs to be comfortable. It was on 70° degrees and I set it to 75° degrees.

They Say Papa and Charlie Are Coming…

“Papa and Charlie are coming!” I exclaimed to Maggie and she ran into the den to get on the back of the couch.

She was on lookout. I was relying on her to let me know when they got here. I had just called my father to get an ETA and he said they were already heading out. 

I sat down in my recliner to watch Jamestown on Georgia Public Broadcasting all the while fiddling with my tablet. Suddenly, there was someone coming up my front steps and then there was a knock on the door.

“Now? How in the hell did you miss them arriving?” I asked Maggie, astonished.

I then decreed that Papa and Charlie were here and opened the front door. Maggie went apeshit bananas and started to bark loudly and howl.

Charlie didn’t clean tonight bless his heart. He just got Maggie some fresh food and water as he does every Sunday night. Dad remarked on the TV again about how good a picture it has. They weren’t here ten minutes and then they were gone again. Papa and Charlie didn’t dawdle tonight.

I got the same thing Horsefly gets and that’s the chicken tender $5 dollar fill-up. Maggie got all the chicken and I ate just the biscuit with some honey to stick to my diet. I later snuck in the kitchen and ate two small bananas and a tablespoon of creamy peanut butter which I relish.

Diana Krall -- It Could Happen to You

Torn Apart From the Inside…

They say life is a series of opportunities and if you let them pass you by, then you may never get them again. I am just torn apart inside about what to do with Tracy. I’ve had a lot of lonely days and nights since my Rosa left me for a new life with her daughter in Atlanta. I realize I miss Tracy today and want to call her to hear her voice. Have I already fallen in love, but I am over analyzing things? Is this what love feels like? An extreme temptation is there to escalate our relationship to the next level. Tracy would jump at the chance of us starting dating. Who knows? It may be my one last chance to start a family and be a father. She’s cute. She’s beautiful. She’s young, vivacious and full of life. As my commenter Jennifer said, we would make a good fit. I will give it a week and see where we stand after some time has passed  I just don’t know if I can keep up with someone that age, though. Hell, Hugh Hefner had babies with young women into his eighties. My uncle Maxie didn’t get married until he was in his late fifties.

This Morning’s Cold Sunrise…

I got up early to see if we got our first frost and we didn’t. My grandfather always said that we get our first frost around the 13th of November.

Hugs From Charlie…

Charlie's not a touchy, feely kind of guy so I was really rating to get a big hug from him today. He dropped off breakfast this morning and stepped inside to look at dad’s TV one more time.

“It’s amazing you can do that,” Charlie said. “We were going to throw it away and your daddy spent $499 on that 46 inch television. I went with him to get it. How much did the part cost to fix it?”

“The power motherboard was $44 dollars,” I told Charlie.

“How did you know what part was failing?” Charlie asked.

“Just simple intuition,” I replied. “I knew the backlights weren’t getting power.”

“Give me a hug and then I am headed to your daddy’s house,” Charlie then said.

Charlie then remarked on how much weight I have lost for which I blushed. Charlie gave Maggie a dog hug as well and he was on his way.

“Don’t spill the senior coffee,” I said jokingly as he stepped out my front door.

“I’ll try not to,” Charlie replied laughing. “Your daddy and that senior coffee!”

Maggie was anxious to get her biscuit so I tore it up in little pieces and gave it to her. She was a happy dog and then turned her attention to the sausage biscuit I was eating. Dog logic. Yours tastes better than mine.

A Pooped Pups…

Maggie’s respite is the computer room bed. Maggie got groomed today and I dare say they did a fine job.

Yay! I Love Britcoms!

Tonight’s Wintery Sunset…

Maw Maw Cooks…

I coined the phrase Maw Maw Cooks and it has stuck. My father is just enamored with this amateur cooking show by an elderly lady named Jan. He found it accidentally on YouTube browsing cooking shows. He loves her simple recipes and also loves her attire. You can search for Dollar Tree Cook under YouTube to find her there. Here is one episode to view. I think this was her very first episode. She must be doing something right as she has 20,000 subscribers to her channel. She has this endearing quality that is hard to put a finger on.

Andrew Says, “Hello!”…

Microwave Delights…

I thought I would cook a Marie Calendar's meal and plate it up to make it look nice. Chicken medallions, cheesy baked potatoes, glazed carrots and green beans. This is my favorite Marie Calendar’s meal, but it is getting hard to find. They don’t always have it in stock at Kroger.

Tonight’s Pastel Sunset…

It started to pour rain just after I took this photo. Rainy night here in J-Ville. We get our first frost in the morning.

Grand Aspirations…

“You up, Chuck?” my father asked after calling me at 7:30 am. “Your brother is here and I am cooking a big breakfast. Come over and eat with us before you head into the Humane Society.”

Dad had cooked Clark Brother’s sausage – my favorite sausage in the whole wide world.

“This is a treat!” I told my father excited to fix my plate and eat breakfast.

He also cooked bacon, scrambled eggs, and homemade biscuits.

“I hate to run so soon after eating, but duty calls,” I told my father and brother.

I arrived at the Humane Society a little late and Tracy greeted me at the door.

“You scared me,” she said. “I thought you might have quit volunteering.”

She gave me a big hug and I went back to check on the dogs. Everybody was happy and barking today – glad to go out to the outside kennels so I could start my cleaning duties.

Tracy stepped back into the kennels to talk to me.

“Best friends forever?” she asked.

“Best friends forever,” I replied giving her another hug. “I will always be here if you need me.”

She was her bubbly and chipper self for the rest of the morning.

The Perils of a Work Place Romance…

Tracy and I were talking on the phone tonight and she was speaking of all these plans she had for us. I had to finally pull in the reigns.

“Things are moving much too fast,” I told her alarmingly. “We agreed to just remain friends.”

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone until she softly said, “Okay.”

“You know I will be your best friend forever and ever?” I replied. “You know that?”

“I know,” she said. “It’s all my fault. I just get carried away sometimes.”

“We still have to work together so no hard feelings?”

“No, you’re right. I’m sorry,” she told me sounding defeated.

It was one of the harder things I’ve had to do in recent memory. She sounded so brokenhearted. We said good night and Tracy said she wished she could give me a long hug goodbye.

“I’ll see you in the morning bright and early,” I told her. “We’ll talk more then.”

Most Emotional Music Ever: "Letting Go" by Tracey Chattaway

Time With Papa…

It is a Thursday. That means I drive over to my father’s house this morning after calling him and we spend some time together – mostly watching trashy TV. Dad particularly likes Maury these days.

He will still be in his pajamas and possibly eating breakfast when I arrive. Dad’s favored breakfast lately is homemade biscuits and grape jelly with a little butter added for good measure.

“Who’s my baby’s daddy?” he will say to me and then laugh and laugh.

We’ll migrate to Dr. Phil afterwards I am sure for some more serious fare.

I get to drink all the ice cold diet Cokes I want while I am over there. I usually only drink two, but they are delectable and delicious. If I bought them, I’d drink them all up in a day or two. This is my way of moderating my intake.

Andrew Almost Screwed Up Big Time…

We had bought my groceries and I needed gas after all my running around Opelika last night.

“Come on, we’ll do it now and then I will do my shopping,” Old Fuss and Feathers told me.

Dad insists on putting my gas on his Visa card.

I sped across the parking lot to Kroger’s gas station and swerved violently to the right to miss a light pole – tires screeching and everything. I just didn’t see it. My mirror barely tapped it and it didn’t do any damage except for just a little yellow paint that can be buffed off. I am just getting to where I can’t see to drive at night. My heart is still beating fast from that almost encounter which would have severely damaged my car. WHEW!

I spent a little more tonight at $59 dollars. I got a dual pack of JIF creamy peanut butter for $11 dollars and two $4.99 canisters of Mrs. Grissom’s chicken salad. A black lady remarked on my JIF purchase.

“Honey? You going to spend $11 on peanut butter?” she incredulously asked with a small child standing by her side.

“It’ll keep me from having to buy it again next week,” I replied. “And I save a dollar fifty.”

That’s what pushed my total up so high. No Jack of Speed trip tonight since I had to get gas. We left at 8:45 pm and I got back at half past nine. Forty five minutes was still a respectable time for driving to and fro and buying gas and groceries.

Earlier, Tuleana called me at eight. I got so excited when the phone rang thinking it was my father wanting to go early. What a let down! She just wanted to let me know she got her food stamps refilled and was all happy.

“I am happy for you too!” I told her.

She was putting out feelers to see if I could take them to buy groceries tomorrow. Out of gas was my excuse. They are persistent aren’t they? Tuleana doesn’t give up at all. That's the difference between a crazy person and a rational person.

A Good Time Was Had By All…

The date started auspiciously. 

“It’s not going to cost $100 dollars to eat at Jim Bobs!” my father exclaimed yesterday afternoon. “You two can eat for $20 dollars.”

“I just want enough cash in case I need it,” I told my father. “It will give me peace of mind. I promise to give you what is left.”

Dad reluctantly reached in his wallet and gave me five twenty dollar bills.

I arrived at Tracy’s apartment at seven sharp her time and knocked on the door. Tracy answered and welcomed me inside. Her apartment was so neat and not at all what I expected. House plants were everywhere,

“I am running late,” she said. “There is beer and Cokes in the fridge. Help yourself. I am going to finish putting on my makeup and then we will go.”

Of course, Tracy’s cat, Wheezy, parked herself in my lap just like my father’s cat always does. I’m always a cat magnet and I don’t even like cats. I was careful not to touch or rub my nose and eyes lest my allergies would act up.

Tracy stepped out of the bathroom and I was like WOW! She looked gorgeous all dressed up and with makeup on – not the same frumpy, t-shirt clad girl who works with me every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

“You look ravishing darling,” I said playfully.

She giggled and acted shy.

We ate at Jim Bob’s and talked and talked. We were mesmerized with each revelation about each other.Then it came time for drinks. It was already getting close to ten my time and I was yawning. I don’t know what possessed me in picking such a late time to go.

“Tracy, I am going to have to pass on the drinks,” I said. “I am an old man and not used to these late nights out.”

It had been many years since I felt a woman’s embrace. I took her home and she gave me a long, heartfelt hug at the doorstep and we said goodbye.

“This is nice,” she said as we were in our embrace. “You sure you won’t come in and stay awhile?”

“I better head home,” I replied.

“See you in the morning,” Tracy told me excitedly.

“I will be there at nine my time,” I replied.

Duty Calls…

I woke up very early this morning in a panic that my injection was due.

“Is my injection this morning?” I asked my father over his cellphone.

He said he was shaving when I called.

“It is due next week,” Old Fuss and Feathers said looking at the appointment card. “I am glad you are being aware of it though.”

I hadn’t been out of the shower for ten minutes when Mrs. Barbara called.

“Will you come in and handle the front end while I go to the dentist?” she asked. “I’ve had a filling come out.”

“Sure,” I said. “I will be down there in thirty minutes.”

She didn’t want to leave Tracy all alone.

All Tracy talked about was going out tonight and how excited she is. I was on the verge to cancel it to be honest. I am a nervous wreck today. Tracy’s exuberance dulled my desire to cancel somewhat.

“Now, we are going out for drinks afterwards,” she said. “I know a Mexican restaurant and bar that makes a killer margarita and they don’t skimp on the tequila.”

“I will drink virgin margaritas since I am driving,” I replied.

This should prove very, very interesting seeing Tracy after she’s had a few drinks in her. I can see it heightening her bubbly personality.

Mrs. Barbara showed back up two hours later and I headed to the polls. I mostly voted a straight Democratic ticket hoping to send a message to Washington about the Trumpster. The only Republican I voted for was Kay Ivey, our governor. She’s like having your grandmother as governor of the state. She can be kind of a maverick with regards to her politics as well. She doesn’t always tow the Republican party line.   

I had a relative called Little Daddy who was always mean spirited and boastful. He’d get hopped up on pain pills and go on a mean streak. Dad always laughs when I say we have Little Daddy in the White House. It’s true! Trump acts just like Little Daddy. He’d be just as xenophobic and mean about all those “Mexicans” trying to enter our country as well.

Just As Friends…

Tracy asked me out for dinner today as soon as I had arrived at the shelter this morning. I was taking off my coat and hanging it on the coat rack when she asked. It was like she just couldn’t wait.anymore and had to urgently get it over with. She had made up her mind. It completely caught me off guard and by surprise. We’ve gotten pretty close lately, but I didn’t realize it was to that point in our relationship.

“It doesn’t have to be fancy,” she said. “We will grab a bite to eat at a place of your choice. I just want to spend some time with you and talk.”

“Tracy, I was a 20 year old man when you were born,” I replied. “A May to December relationship may not be the best of things right now. You’re also still reeling from the breakup with Michael.”

“It is just as friends, silly,” she said to me smiling broadly and giggling like a little school girl. “We’re not going to rush home and get in the bed afterwards and have wild sex.”

“Well, okay,” I said. “Just as friends.”

“Let’s go to Jim Bob’s in Opelika and get their wonderful chicken tenders,” I told Tracy.

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Tracy replied. “Do you want to go tomorrow night? Or tonight?”

“Tomorrow would be fine. The weather is going to be iffy tonight. Let’s say I pick you up at 7 pm your time, Central time,” I said. “That will be 8 pm my time, Eastern time.”

For the rest of the day, Tracy’s and my heads were in the clouds. It was almost hard to concentrate on cleaning the kennels. It was so exciting to be going out with a friend. I’ve missed having a close comrade in my life. Tracy and I have grown closer and closer these past few months till we think we know everything about each other.

Look What the Cat Drug In…

Wait! I don’t have a cat! Charlie and Papa were extra early with supper tonight. Charlie came pulling up to the curb around 6:30 pm. It caught Maggie and I both off guard. Maggie put on a good show of affection once we realized Charlie’s car was here.

“The time change has gotten me all mixed up,” Charlie said. “Your daddy was ready to go so we just headed out early.”

Usually, they get here in between eight and nine.

“Maggie’s singing,” I told my father as he played the piano.

“You sing about Jesus, girl!” dad hollered at Maggie as he continued to play.

♫♫ Tell Me a Story About Jesus ♫♫

Maggie was just a howling away as my father played and sang a pious hymn.

Charlie was in my kitchen being a busybody gathering all my trash and empty mayonnaise jars. He also checked my heating and air filter to see if it needed changing.

“It will make your blower motor run hot and hard if you don’t change it regularly,” Charlie told me.

“I can’t believe you fixed that television,” dad said after he finished the hymn he was playing. “I’ve forgotten how good a picture it has.”

“I know,” I replied. “Doesn’t it look good? That’s the nicest television I have ever owned.”

I showed him the part I replaced and he told me to show it to Charlie as well.

“I told your brother yesterday that you could have made a good living doing that kind of thing,” my father told me.

Maggie and I were sad to see them go. The house goes from 90 miles an hour to dead quiet when they leave. It is as if the very essence of life is sucked out of my home. They both had meals to eat as well and we can’t forget Horsefly’s chicken tenders. That’s the whole reason we do this every Sunday morning and night.