Winter Solstice in St. Nacho's (St. Nacho's #5) - Z.A. Maxfield Page 0,37
and done, right? I’ve never really written a letter before. I’ve written thank you notes, but they were preprinted cards my grandmother kept in a box in her desk. I just had to write what I was thanking the person for, say how much I liked it, and sign my name.
This I’ll have to write cold. Here goes nothing.
Tug
Dear Luke,
We’re going to a community thing at a park in town, and there will be food. It’s at night on a Saturday so they can screen a movie for people with kids. Would you consider going with us?
I want to tell you all about chickens, which are my new favorite thing, and Horace the hound.
Since I don’t know your address, I’m sending this in care of your parents’ store. I hope that’s okay. You gave me all these stamps, and unless I find a time machine, I don’t know what else to do with them. Guess you don’t have to lick them anymore though. That’s a major improvement.
Sincerely,
Tug
P.S. I’m going to write Tug on the outside, so if you don’t want to tell your parents anything about me, that’s okay.
P.P.S. If you do want to tell them the things you know about me, that’s okay too. Don’t hide the truth from them if it makes you feel weird.
P.P.P.S. Do whatever you think is best.
P.P.P.P.S. You lie! The steering wheel on Dr. Franklin’s little truck is still on the left.
The second Sunday after my visit to Hope House, Mom called before I got out of bed. “Hi, sweetie. Do you work today?”
“Nope. I am a free man.”
“You got plans?”
“Not really. Housework.” I checked the time. Nine in the morning. “I haven’t vacuumed in I don’t know how long.”
“Why don’t you come by the house for dinner? I’m making that casserole with the chicken, stuffing, and green beans. It’s Thanksgiving in a Pyrex dish.”
“Oh, wow. Sounds great.” Fall could not come soon enough for me. “I can be there around six.”
In the background, my dad spoke. “Bring beer. We’re out.”
“Hush, you,” said Mom. “You don’t have to bring anything, honey. If your father wants beer, he can go out and get it.”
“It’s fine. I’ll bring some. See you then.” I disconnected the call.
My dad was one of those beers-around-the-world guys who couldn’t wait to try the latest, greatest microbrew. I enjoyed finding something new for him to geek out over.
The coffee I’d set up the night before was cooling since it normally started brewing at seven and turned itself off. The temperature was perfect though. I took it to the slider and looked out at my severely scorched garden.
We had finally gotten a reprieve from the extreme-heat advisories of the previous week. Of course, that meant instead of temperatures in the one hundred tens, the peak was only in the high nineties. Still pretty unbearable. There was no way to water enough to keep the plants healthy in weather like this. We’d lived in a drought for so long, I still felt guilty using the sprinklers. I had a tiny vegetable patch I hand-watered in the evening.
That would have to do.
I got my exercise by doing my chores to music, lost myself in a good book, and later, shopped for weekly groceries.
I bought Dad some Stone Ruination Double IPA, which touted itself as “A liquid poem to the glory of the hop.” I wouldn’t tell him I bought it because I thought the minotaur on the bottle was hot. He didn’t need to know how I picked beer.
At my parents’ place, I went through the garden gate and sauntered into their kitchen through the back door as always. Like a thousand other evenings, Mom washed dishes while Dad leaned on the counter waiting to dry. With her hands in dishwater, Mom tilted her head for a cheek kiss. Dad gave my shoulder a squeeze.
“How’s my baby?” she asked.
“Doing well.” I put the beer in the fridge. “Did you make a pie? It smells great in here.”
“I made pumpkin dump cake without using the oven.” She pulled the drain from the sink and wiped her hands on a kitchen towel. “Those pressure pots you and Chloe bought me for Christmas have come in so handy. I hardly ever use the stove anymore.”
“Remember how Chloe nearly imploded when Mom opened yours first?” Dad finished drying a pot liner and put it back into the machine. “I was sure you guys would come to blows.”
“It’s great having two. No lie.” Mom went to the refrigerator and