seventeen
At seven a.m., I am jarred from sleep by a repetitive, resounding beeping.
Well, okay. Someone is backing up a big truck, it seems.
Fine. That’s okay. It means things are happening.
Then, a deafening thud from outside makes me jump.
“What the fuck?” I yell out.
It takes a lot for me to stumble downstairs at this hour, but I do, and I chug two glasses of iced orange juice before I start to brew a mad pot of coffee. When I’m on the back porch and enjoying the sound of the creek, my attempt to begin a day peacefully is further interrupted by another loud delivery. That must be the old-timey toilet and sink that I ordered for the bathroom. I am so not a morning person, but Paul did say eight a.m., so I’ll do my best to be a tolerant homeowner. Remodeler. Whatever.
I stay where I am and try to caffeinate a bit more while watching videos about poaching eggs and making hollandaise sauce. Eggs Benedict is on my list of things to conquer, but I’ll get the eggs down first before I attempt the lush sauce.
Soon, I hear more vehicles arriving and then unidentifiable noises and loud stomping on the roof.
Oh my God, this is going to suck.
Eventually, I slink inside and realize the annoying sounds are way worse here, so I walk out front to see what I’m dealing with.
A totally unattractive dumpster has been dropped out front, but when I back up to see what’s happening on the roof?
Not so unattractive. At all.
When I can finally tear away my gaze, I call Mary Ann.
“Hey? Need more eggs?” she asks.
I laugh. “Um, yes, if that’s okay. That would be great. And I’m paying you this time. But, Mary Ann? You need to get over here as soon as possible.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing,” I say with true delight. “Nothing at all. But you need to see this.”
“Callie, what is going on?”
Thank God it’s brilliantly warm this morning because I get to ask, “Do you have a bathing suit?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then, trust me. You want to be here. It’s going to be a day of swimming and gazing at the sights.”
There’s silence for a few seconds before she agrees. “Okay, fine. I’ll trust you. Better be worth leaving the house at this hour.”
“Oh, it will be. It will be.” I’m about to hang up when I get an idea. “Hey, is there a bakery in town?” I ask. “Like, can you get a loaf of stellar bread?”
“Yeah, sure, there’s an awesome one, but—”
“Also, do you have floaties of some sort? Rafts or tubes?” I ask. “Although the rowboat could maybe work if you don’t. But definitely bring a bathing suit.”
“Seriously, what in the hell is going on?” she demands with a laugh.
“Make sure you wear your hottest bikini! See you soon! Floaties—don’t forget!”
Shallots brushes against my leg, but my eyes stay fixed on the roof as I bend down to pet him.
“This is not a bad way to start the day, buddy, is it?”
