Gene's Story or How I Gained a Cousin A novel by Karen Lockhart Copyright 2016

CHAPTER 51

We went to a cute little diner just down the snow covered road from Steve's condo. Even at 7:30 AM the place was crowded with skiers hoping to get as many runs in as possible before they have to return home.

After waiting 20 minutes we were seated at a window booth. Actually, it was worth the wait, what a view, it looked like a Currier and Ives pen and ink drawing.

Tina and I went for the 'Lumberjack' breakfast, a short stack of pancakes, home fries, bacon, sausage, and three eggs. Ginny ate like a girl, she had a Western omelate and toast.

Somehow, Tina finished before Ginny, I was still working on my pancakes. Maybe I should herring bone up the hill to work this meal off. Yeah, off my hips.

Tina paid the waitress, and left her a nice tip. While I waddled and Ginny walked back to the condo, she ran to catch us. Can you believe it? She ran ! Even after eating enough for two.

We loaded ourselves into the Explorer. Tina's and my skis were already on the roof rack. Imagine doing that at home? 500 dollars worth of skis and bindings left out in the open. What's that movie? “Gone in 30 seconds”.

We waited for Ginny to get rental skis and boots, before getting on the chairlift. Today Ginny decided to stay with us on the intermediate slopes. The three of us had a great time kriss-crossing over each other's trail. The best part was Tina and I attracted some male attention, three pimple-faced teens wearing baggy pants on snow-boards.

Ginny sounded like a burro, giving us the he-haw laugh the rest of the way down slope. To make things worse, the three boys got on the chair-lift behind us.

After maneuvering ourselves off the chair-lift, Tina waited for the boys. She walked over with a big smile and said something to the tallest one. All three turned bright red, got on their boards and took off, without a look back.

After exchanging looks, Ginny asked what she said to drive them off like that.

Tina smiled and said, “ I asked the tall kid if he knew how to please a woman, or was he a virgin like his two pals. I think he peed himself.”

“What would you have done if he said yes?” I asked

She just smiled, “He had joy-stick callouses on his thumbs, or at least I think they were from joysticks.”

Now Ginny turned red, I laughed so hard I had hiccups.

We finished before dark, about 4 PM. The thing I dislike about this time of year is it gets dark so early. Ginny returned her boots and skis, while Tina and I secured ours to the roof rack. We returned to the condo to the aroma of turkey stew. Somehow my 'cousin' found a crock pot in a cabinet under the counter. It's been slow cooking all day.

We headed for our rooms to cleanup and change, Tina and me in jeans and a sweatshirt. The fashion plate in a pair of tight fuchsia slacks and an angora sweater. She reminded me of Mary Fran in the Bob Newhart show about a B and B in Vermont, always wearing tight sweaters.

Ginny quickly opened two Pillsbury French loaves and put them in the oven. We'll eat at about 6 PM. She said.

“We played too long, now we won't be home until Midnight.” Tina remarked, “Hope no one's doing an early surgery tomorrow.”

That got me laughing, “I thing Ginny will still be able to do her nails, I'm not sure I'll be able to function though. Oh drat, I have to call Steve's lawyer tomorrow, I'd forgotten.”

Tina's ears perked up, “A lawyer? Who's being sued?”

Shoot, how to blow this off? “Steve has a permit to be submitted on the site near the Community College. No big deal.”

Just then Ginny called us to supper, great timing!

We feasted on fresh bread, a garden salad, and a wonderful turkey stew. I don't care if she gets married, I'm following her. What can you add to a stew? This is great!

Since I was driving home I had diet cola while the others had wine. I guess I'll have the radio for company on the ride home. I'll put on the Christmas carols I've been resisting for two weeks.

The suitcases were packed and loaded into the back of the Explorer. Soon all I heard was soft snores and “Rocking around the Christmas Tree.” soon the mellow tones of Gene Autrey was telling us about the discrimination poor Rudolph faced. I loved every one of them.

Just a few minutes before Midnight I pulled into Tina's driveway, waking up the two sleeping beauties. They got out and stretched, Ginny helped get Tina's skis down, then hopped back into the SUV. A quick kiss, and Tina was off to bed.

We pulled into my driveway, parking beside her CRV. I took down the skis while Ginny got both of our bags. She wanted to talk, but I just waved and hopped into bed still dressed but for my boots. I was asleep in minutes.

One good thing, when the GD alarm went off , I was dressed, no shower for me today, I'll use my 'shower in a can' as my college roommate called Secret deodorant.

After a minimal washing, I stumbled into the kitchen for coffee, wishing I could get it in an IV drip.

Ginny came out all smiles and good cheer, Giving me a big “Good morning”.

I could have broken her neck.

Two quick coffees and I was ready to leave, Ginny drove today, I dosed until we arrived at the security gate to the site.

With a groan, I mounted the stairs to the office, removed the padlock and went inside. With little miss Sunshine behind me, yammering about something. I think she wanted to put up Christmas lights in the office.

As predicted, No one showed up to work except the foreman of the grading crew. He came in and made a cup of coffee, asking if it was worth it for him to start up the small bulldozer and do something.

That got a laugh from me . I said “Tim, have a ball, do what you want, leave when you want. Did you and the kids have a nice Thanksgiving?

“Yeah, I took the boys to the Swampscott verses Marblehead game. Big Blue won, if they hadn't I never would have lived it down. My wife went to Marblehead High, you know.

He and Ginny made small talk before he headed out to do some grading before the ground froze too hard to move.

She looked around the office and smiled. “I'm going to run down to Walmart and pickup a small tree with lights. It'll look great in the corner by the copy machine. Do you want to come with me?”

No, you go, I'll stay here and man the fort. Also, I better call Steve's lawyer, before he goes to Aruba, or Puerto Rico, or some warm place.

Hey, I read a good lawyer joke in the paper last week. A man was putting a bumper sticker on the rear of an ambulance, a second man leaned over and started reading, “If you can read this, you must be a lawyer.” I started to giggle, Ginny looked at me funny, and said, “I thought I had a strange sense of humor.”

With that, she got in the Honda and headed for Walmart.

Finally, peace and quiet! I turned, faced the wall, and nodded off.