recognized the Perrys’ van as it approached, still moving way too fast for a neighborhood road. He saw Todd Perry behind the wheel of the van as it closed the distance.
I really hope he keeps going.
The van slowed as it pulled parallel to the Fletchers, the window already down.
No luck.
“Can you believe this shit?!” Todd yelled at them.
“What’s going on, Todd? Is everything all right?” Kate asked, almost sounding overly concerned.
“No. I’ve been all over Portland, and it’s the same story. I guess you have to get up at five in the morning to get groceries now,” he said, barely below the level of screaming.
“Yeah, I think from this point on, you might be right,” Alex said.
“What am I supposed to do, camp out with my entire family? Four kids in a minivan, just so we can fill up a cart full of groceries? They have to figure something else out. Not everyone can afford to sit around Hannigan’s all day,” he replied, his tone calming slightly.
“Todd, why don’t you have Susan give me a call? We can watch your kids for a few hours in the morning, and you can both head over really early. Take separate cars, get in line separately, then you can play a little catch up and get two loads of groceries. Don’t go together. They won’t let you grab two carts if they see you’re together,” Kate offered.
“ They? Who the fuck are they ? Some punk ass kids at Hannigan’s?” he said loudly.
“No, the police. Nancy Cooper saw the cops break up a couple trying to load two carts into one car.”
“Jesus. It’s a police state already. Hey, sorry to bite your heads off. I’m just a little frustrated by all of this nonsense. I appreciate the offer to watch the kids. We may take you up on it. I’m gonna have Sue call her parents, maybe they can drive down from Augusta tonight and help us out. Thanks. I’ve been so pissed off, I can barely think straight,” he said, calm now.
“Just keep us in mind, Todd. We’ve got nothing planned for tomorrow, so it’s really no big deal for one of us to head over and keep the kids company, or you can pack them up in their pajamas and herd them over to our house. I’ll feed them pancakes,” Alex offered.
“Thanks, guys. I’ll run it by Susan.”
“We might be out tonight for dinner, so leave a message and we’ll call you when we get back.”
“Thanks again, guys. I’ll give you a call later,” Todd said.
“See ya, Todd,” Kate said.
Todd accelerated the van to a reasonable speed and made a controlled turn toward his house. Alex and Kate started walking again.
“Loose cannon alert,” Kate said. “Susan told me he had a short temper.”
“Confirmed. Are you really gonna get up at the ass crack of dawn to watch their kids?”
“Oh, I’m not getting up. You are.”
“That’s what I thought.” He laughed.
They turned on Harrison Road and walked holding hands toward Everett Lane. A chilly breeze sifted through the towering maple and oak trees along Harrison Road, sending a cascade of dried yellow, red and brown leaves to the ground.
**
The Fletchers’ Subaru crossed the Casco Bay Bridge, headed away from Portland. Traffic was surprisingly light, and Alex took a moment to look left, across the oncoming lanes. He stared out into the Casco Bay. Lights sprinkled across Peaks Island were barely visible, giving the island a sparsely populated feel. Indeed, at this time of the year, the island held fewer than a thousand residents, and the number decreased every week as seasonal home owners retreated to the mainland for the harsh winter.
As their car continued on, the view of Peaks Island was washed out by the blazing deck lights of a massive petroleum carrier docked at the oil terminal on the northern tip of South Portland’s industrial waterfront.
Alex felt bloated from dinner. He could have stopped with a nice salad after the appetizers, but the allure of seared ahi tuna was too much to resist. Kate made a similarly
I really hope he keeps going.
The van slowed as it pulled parallel to the Fletchers, the window already down.
No luck.
“Can you believe this shit?!” Todd yelled at them.
“What’s going on, Todd? Is everything all right?” Kate asked, almost sounding overly concerned.
“No. I’ve been all over Portland, and it’s the same story. I guess you have to get up at five in the morning to get groceries now,” he said, barely below the level of screaming.
“Yeah, I think from this point on, you might be right,” Alex said.
“What am I supposed to do, camp out with my entire family? Four kids in a minivan, just so we can fill up a cart full of groceries? They have to figure something else out. Not everyone can afford to sit around Hannigan’s all day,” he replied, his tone calming slightly.
“Todd, why don’t you have Susan give me a call? We can watch your kids for a few hours in the morning, and you can both head over really early. Take separate cars, get in line separately, then you can play a little catch up and get two loads of groceries. Don’t go together. They won’t let you grab two carts if they see you’re together,” Kate offered.
“ They? Who the fuck are they ? Some punk ass kids at Hannigan’s?” he said loudly.
“No, the police. Nancy Cooper saw the cops break up a couple trying to load two carts into one car.”
“Jesus. It’s a police state already. Hey, sorry to bite your heads off. I’m just a little frustrated by all of this nonsense. I appreciate the offer to watch the kids. We may take you up on it. I’m gonna have Sue call her parents, maybe they can drive down from Augusta tonight and help us out. Thanks. I’ve been so pissed off, I can barely think straight,” he said, calm now.
“Just keep us in mind, Todd. We’ve got nothing planned for tomorrow, so it’s really no big deal for one of us to head over and keep the kids company, or you can pack them up in their pajamas and herd them over to our house. I’ll feed them pancakes,” Alex offered.
“Thanks, guys. I’ll run it by Susan.”
“We might be out tonight for dinner, so leave a message and we’ll call you when we get back.”
“Thanks again, guys. I’ll give you a call later,” Todd said.
“See ya, Todd,” Kate said.
Todd accelerated the van to a reasonable speed and made a controlled turn toward his house. Alex and Kate started walking again.
“Loose cannon alert,” Kate said. “Susan told me he had a short temper.”
“Confirmed. Are you really gonna get up at the ass crack of dawn to watch their kids?”
“Oh, I’m not getting up. You are.”
“That’s what I thought.” He laughed.
They turned on Harrison Road and walked holding hands toward Everett Lane. A chilly breeze sifted through the towering maple and oak trees along Harrison Road, sending a cascade of dried yellow, red and brown leaves to the ground.
**
The Fletchers’ Subaru crossed the Casco Bay Bridge, headed away from Portland. Traffic was surprisingly light, and Alex took a moment to look left, across the oncoming lanes. He stared out into the Casco Bay. Lights sprinkled across Peaks Island were barely visible, giving the island a sparsely populated feel. Indeed, at this time of the year, the island held fewer than a thousand residents, and the number decreased every week as seasonal home owners retreated to the mainland for the harsh winter.
As their car continued on, the view of Peaks Island was washed out by the blazing deck lights of a massive petroleum carrier docked at the oil terminal on the northern tip of South Portland’s industrial waterfront.
Alex felt bloated from dinner. He could have stopped with a nice salad after the appetizers, but the allure of seared ahi tuna was too much to resist. Kate made a similarly
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