***
Andrew pulled in the driveway two days before Thanksgiving, just as I was finishing the evening chores. I laughed to myself; leave it to Andrew to still be arriving just as the work was done. The dust of the driveway clung to the shiny sides of his brand-new, black Land Rover. I was probably too excited as I waved to him, because he grinned coolly and lifted one stiff arm as though he could just as easily be shielding the sun from his eyes.
“What’s up, kid?” he laughed as he got out of the car, fixing his hair and his pants in one easy motion. “Damn, Caleb, when did you get so tall? What are you, you must have me beat by now.”
“Six four,” I nodded.
“Well, Jesus, stand up straight then, you look like a lanky sonofabitch all slouched over like that.”
“I’ve been milking for the past two hours, Andrew.”
“Eh, well anyway, when’s dinner? I’m starving.”
“Eliza’s making Shepherd’s Pie right now. Should be ready soon.”
“You’ve got her trained already, huh man?”
I turned towards the house, and looked behind me only once, to see Andrew curling his face at the manure on the sides of his shoes.
***
Andrew, Eliza, and I were sitting at the table when my father walked in. He did not acknowledge Andrew, but after we all began to eat, he asked, “What’s that car doing in the driveway?” My father loved to ask questions that he obviously knew the answers to.
“It’s mine,” Andrew said. “Company car.”
“Company car,” my father repeated, unimpressed. “Caleb, we’ll have to work on the tree stand some time tomorrow.”
“Yeah, sure. Anytime, really, since we don’t have school.”
“No school tomorrow?” Andrew asked, turning to Eliza and me. “So then, what are the big plans for tonight, kids?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “Zack’s having a bonfire at his place. Actually, didn’t you graduate with his older sister? She’s usually around. You should come.”
“Amanda?” Andrew laughed. “Yeah, maybe I’ll drop you guys off or something. Say a quick hello.”
“Don’t forget you’ve got to be up early, Caleb,” my father said.
“I know, Dad.”
“Don’t worry,” Andrew said. “I’ll take care of him.”
Eliza squeezed my leg gently under the table, and I covered her hand. My father stood up, mumbling. “Caleb’s decisions, I have never been very worried about.”
“What’s up, kid?” he laughed as he got out of the car, fixing his hair and his pants in one easy motion. “Damn, Caleb, when did you get so tall? What are you, you must have me beat by now.”
“Six four,” I nodded.
“Well, Jesus, stand up straight then, you look like a lanky sonofabitch all slouched over like that.”
“I’ve been milking for the past two hours, Andrew.”
“Eh, well anyway, when’s dinner? I’m starving.”
“Eliza’s making Shepherd’s Pie right now. Should be ready soon.”
“You’ve got her trained already, huh man?”
I turned towards the house, and looked behind me only once, to see Andrew curling his face at the manure on the sides of his shoes.
***
Andrew, Eliza, and I were sitting at the table when my father walked in. He did not acknowledge Andrew, but after we all began to eat, he asked, “What’s that car doing in the driveway?” My father loved to ask questions that he obviously knew the answers to.
“It’s mine,” Andrew said. “Company car.”
“Company car,” my father repeated, unimpressed. “Caleb, we’ll have to work on the tree stand some time tomorrow.”
“Yeah, sure. Anytime, really, since we don’t have school.”
“No school tomorrow?” Andrew asked, turning to Eliza and me. “So then, what are the big plans for tonight, kids?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “Zack’s having a bonfire at his place. Actually, didn’t you graduate with his older sister? She’s usually around. You should come.”
“Amanda?” Andrew laughed. “Yeah, maybe I’ll drop you guys off or something. Say a quick hello.”
“Don’t forget you’ve got to be up early, Caleb,” my father said.
“I know, Dad.”
“Don’t worry,” Andrew said. “I’ll take care of him.”
Eliza squeezed my leg gently under the table, and I covered her hand. My father stood up, mumbling. “Caleb’s decisions, I have never been very worried about.”
***
No comments:
Post a Comment