Wilson was standing in front of my desk talking to me. It was a pleasant enough conversation. Weekend plans, that sort of thing. It was Friday after all.
“We’re going to try to get a run in early tomorrow,” he said. “Then we have Rex’s appointment at the groomer. Dogs, I’ll tell you, they have the life —“
The line to pay at Greenies Veggie & Smoothie Bar was more than a dozen deep. The single employee taking care of the customers was frazzled and agitated, and clearly in over her head. The fact that she was slower than a snail probably had something to do with the long line.
Wilson came up alongside me. He was holding a small, clear cup with a mass of some sort of greenish, purplish goop. There was a small wooden spoon sticking straight up in the goop.
From the vault. Originally appeared January 20, 2018
The statement landed with a thud on the dinner table like, a too hot to handle bowl of mac and cheese. Bradley Ascot looked past his seven-year old daughter, and straight at his wife, Julie. Neither wanted to acknowledge what had been said, so little Madison decided it would be good idea to make her announcement again.
“What about Nana, can she go too?”
The question came from our twelve-year old daughter, Ashley. It was the last thing I needed to think about at the moment.
“Sure,” I said. “Why not? But for now, let’s just focus on enjoying this wonderful Thanksgiving feast. I mean, here we are, all gathered around the table. Thanksgiving dinner, turkey and all the trimmings. It doesn’t get much better than this, right?”
The first sign of trouble was when I clicked on the little “buy” button to purchase a pair of pants. One of those shadowy boxes popped up, the kind that bothers you to sign up for something, or subscribe to a website. Only this one wasn’t asking me to sign up for anything. This one had a message.
Your purchase has been denied. Thank you. Please don’t attempt to shop with us again.
The training for the world’s longest flight had been going smoothly, given that we were in an office tower. Wilson was nodding off next to me. He had gotten up after the imaginary seatbelt light went off, and retrieved his little puffy U-shaped neck pillow from his suitcase. After some adjusting in his seat, he was able to get comfortable and doze off.