Learning Manners

“Well I’m so glad to be able to have this chance to get to know you, Mrs. Townsend!” Mom took a sip of tea and smiled at the red-headed woman sitting opposite her in our living room.

“Likewise, Emma!” the woman winked. “And it’s ‘Mary’, please.”

Mom nodded.

Mary went on. “Of course I needed a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how your family survives when I realized that you, too were the mother of . . . one of ‘those’ kids. Whose mere existence is a life-changing-event.”

Mom nodded sagely and took another sip of tea. “Of course I’ve had mine a bit longer than you’ve had yours.”

“How old is Sally?” Mary asked.

Mom sighed.

I broke in. “I’m quite sure she’s been with us for—oh—a thousand years or more, right Mom?”

She smiled. “At times, it seems so.” She looked at Mary. “Sally is eighteen.”

Mary pushed the fingers of one hand through her fiery hair. “Eighteen. And Gary is eleven.”

Mom smiled sympathetically. “You have lots to look forward to.”

Now it was Mary’s turn to sigh.

“By the way, how did your family end up here?”

Mary took a bite of a cookie and chewed thoughtfully. “It’s kind of a strange story, actually.”

Mom smiled and settled back in her chair. “I like strange stories.”

“Well, my husband, Emmett, had been out of work since the pandemic started. He’s an auto mechanic. A really good one. But with no one using their cars, his boss simply laid everyone off.”

Mom nodded sympathetically.

“Anyway, he sent his resume to a company here and apparently they liked his profile and it didn’t take much convincing for them to invite him here for an interview.”

“That’s pretty exciting!” Mom said, offering Mary another cookie.

“Well, when you’ve been out of work for as long as he has, with COVID and everything, it sure is!” She smiled. “He got all his ducks-in-a-row and came. Sadly, he didn’t get that job. And to top things off, his car literally laid down and died just after his interview. Transmission.”

Mom winced. “So what did he do?”

Mary smiled. “The tow truck took him to a nearby repair place and Emmett got to talking with the guys there, and, before he knew it, he had a job offer.”

“Well, I’m glad you ended up here. And even more glad you chose our neighbourhood!”

“We like it. And now with our Gary finding a kindred spirit in your Sally . . .” She frowned. “By the way, where did they go?”

Both women looked at me.

I shrugged. “They said something about teaching Old Man Smith’s dog, Tanner, some manners . . .”

Mom snorted. “Gwen! You rhymed.”

I shrugged. “Don’t worry it won’t go to my . . .” Something moved on the front lawn. I leaned closer to the great front windows.

“What is it, hun?” Mom asked.

“If I didn’t know any better, I would guess it’s Old Man Smith’s dog, Tanner. Running for all he’s worth. And crying . . .”

“And learning some manners?” I could hear the smile in Mom’s voice.

“Well, learning something. He’s got clothes on.”

“Clothes?”

“Yeah. He’s . . .”

Just then a small, flesh-coloured streak zipped across the yard behind the dog. “Taaaaner! Taaaaaner!” a boyish voice screamed. “Come back here. Bring me my paaaaants!”

Just then another, larger streak appeared. “It’s okay, Gaaaary! You can have miiiiine!”

Then the much slower figure of Mort, carrying something in a bundle. “Saaaally! Don’t give away your paaaants! Use mine! Use miiiine!”

I glanced back at the two women seated together in the front room. "Ummm . . . there are three people outside, none of whom are wearing any pants."

Mary’s hands were on the arms of the chair as though she was about to get up.

Mom reached for her tea and took a sip. "So, a normal day, then."

Mary settled back and took a bite from another cookie.

Today’s post is a writing challenge. Participating bloggers submit 4–6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once and all the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the writer will take them. Until now.

At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featuring this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they got and how they used them. 

My words this month? behind the scene ~ transmission ~ life-changing event ~ profile ~ convincing ~ ducks in a row

They were submitted by my good friend, Tamara at: Part-time Working Hockey Mom

Thanks so much, Tamara!      

Links to the other “Use Your Words” posts:

Baking In A Tornado

Wandering Web Designer

Part-time Working Hockey Mom

Climaxed

The Crazy Mama Llama