Page 44 of The Leaves In Autumn
“Morning all!”
“It’s twelve fifteen!” Dove says as she heads back inside the house.
I motion for Barbra to give me the Krispie squares, and I place the cupcakes on top.
“I’ll take them in.”
Walking toward the kitchen, I am greeted by my huge, hairy paramour. Margo locks eyes with me, like lovers right before they tear off their clothes. There is only a moment to steady myself against the hall wall.
“Okay, no, no, Margo! Stay down!”
As the command leave my lips, Dove’s voice calls over the patriotic music.
“Margo!! Leave Aargon alone!”
She makes it to the dog, before I get rushed or the cupcakes and Krispie squares go flying. Margo is not happy at the interruption.
“Damn dog! Sorry!”
From inside the kitchen, Nobel hollers. “That friggin’ animal cannot be trained!”
I keep walking and they follow. Lucky for all of us, Dove has ahold of the collar. As soon as I put the dishes on the counter, she lets go.
“Come here, girl. I got some lovin for you.”
“See, you encourage her!”
“I’m not going to ignore that face!”
Van and Nobel continue stacking plates and gathering silverware. Dove takes a barstool and a sip of some blue concoction.
“Hey, brother. Good. You can help with this.”
“What do you need?”
“Glasses. Put the red tall ones on the table.”
“We’re going to need the short blue ones too. They’re all in the crystal pantry,” Dove adds, pitching her thumb behind her.
Before attending to my job, I give Margo a big kiss on her snout. A long, wet tongue returns the favor.
“Is Barbra coming?”
“She’s here. I picked her up.”
Van’s head turns.
“You came together?”
“Not together. Her car is at the shop. Okay, I’m getting the glasses.”
Mom’s voice carries in from the entryway.
“The parade’s going to start! Come on!”
“I want to see this,” Parrish says, dropping the kitchen towel on the counter.
“Let’s go.”
