Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 69
November 24, 2022
November 23, 2022
iPainting Dr Who Squared
If you’re a fan you get it lol
November 22, 2022
iPainting Frank Sinatra Von Ryan’s Express
An exciting World War II Movie With Frank Sinatra
November 21, 2022
November 20, 2022
November 19, 2022
Leaves For Thanksgiving
No I didn’t leave home for the holiday. Though if you’re reading this, I expect the title of this post finds you confused. It all started, not in November, but October. In the little town of Ancourt, the leaves say goodbye to their trees, the same time every year.
Forty years ago, Bob Ancourt, a descendant of the town’s original founder, had a brilliant idea. He pitched the idea to the Mayor, my Grandfather, of having an annual community “Leaves” festival. Councilman Ancourt was also the guy in charge of the department that cleaned up the leaves every year.
This way he was turning an expense into a profit for the city. Grandpa Allen loved the idea, but there was one problem. The adjoining two towns had festivals right up until the week of Thanksgiving every year. Grandpa Bob Ancourt would not be defeated by community schedules however.
“Why don’t we hold some of the last batches, just enough for decoration, til that week? We can have a three day festival, Monday through Wednesday. Bring in some revenue and guests into the town.” Everyone championed Mr Ancourt, and Mayor Linkous for finding common ground on something so wonderful for the town.
Before this, the two had been politically on different sides, but this one idea brought them together. It seemed to bring the whole town together. Local merchants made money, tourism increased, and a lot of people started spending their Thanksgivings in Ancourt.
You’re thinking, in stories like this, this is usually either the end of the story, or theirs a town crisis. “The festival in danger”, or something like that, but not in our situation. This story is much more personal in scope.
My name is Tom Ancourt, the grandson of both famous men. Mayor Linkous’ daughter married Grandpa Bob’s son. There’s a rumor in the family that the real reason behind the Leaves Festival was so Grandpa Bob and Grandpa Allen could save face. A lot of people we’re making fun of the town’s two big political rivals having children sweet on each other.
Mom says that’s silliness, Dad’s not so sure. It’s been a topic of discussion ever since I can remember. All of this is important, not because we come from some political dynasty, but personally. Each Grandfather we’re full time employees, and part time politicians.
The two of them worked for the same newspaper, and liked to argue, especially with each other. One was a sports writer, the other covered public interests. I didn’t inherit any of those traits, but I did end up fully, and completely connected to the Leaves Festival.
My professional job is as a Graphic Designer. Since I was a kid, my other job was designing the graphic campaign for the festival. This year, I had what I think was my greatest idea yet. The wonderful thing is, it snuck up on you.
To begin with, I chose the worst possible pun I could come up with, “Leave Your Troubles Behind, Come To Ancourt.” Yes, it was absolutely cheesy, and disarming. We hit everything with all cylinders, social media, tv, word of mouth for several months ahead of time.
Every hotel in town was booked for the big events we had planned. We didn’t just get a cheesy slogan, we got celebrities, rides, a new amusement park was opening the first day of the festival. An on everyone’s lips was “Leave Your Troubles Behind.”
I was extremely proud, and completely tired of hearing it by the Saturday before it started. By that night, I would have given anything to hear it spoken by someone. That morning, I had no idea what was ahead of me, as I was telling my coworker how tired I was.
Like a lot of people today, I work remotely. While I freelance some, I’m also on retainer with a firm in Chicago. Her Mom started it, but Molly runs it now. We’ve worked together for ten years. We actually have the festival to thank for it.
Her Mom and Dad vacationed here while I was in college. After seeing my work firsthand, Mrs Mitchell offered me a job. The Mitchells came back a few times, and Molly and I became friends.
We were never more than that. She’s pretty of course, but out of my league. I think she’s too involved in work to get married, but then so am I. Anyway she had heard me complain about it so much til I think she was sick of hearing it.
Molly didn’t say anything though, except that I needed to get some rest. “Tom, you’ve been working too much lately. When’s the last time you took a vacation?”
I made some smart remark about going to a three day festival every year, and she threw a stress ball at the computer screen. We finished our coffee, our work, and said goodbye. I was taking half a day to do some work on the old farmhouse I had bought.
What I didn’t know was, the floor in the attic was worse than I realized. So was the floor below. I ended up sticking in and out of the spare bedroom floor, with one leg dangling in the dining room downstairs.
I would have called for help with the broken leg normally. Except my cell phone fell out between the attic and the bedroom. I could see it, but couldn’t reach it. That’s important because it was in pieces, which is why the voice assistant didn’t work.
According to the clock on the wall, about an hour in, I passed out. When I woke up, I remembered the smart speaker in the office downstairs. I made my voice hoarse trying to get it to here me. Why make a hard of hearing robot?
You’re probably asking why my parents hadn’t stopped by. They would have, if they weren’t finishing up a cruise. They were due back on Sunday evening in time for the festival, and a big family holiday.
By ten that night, I was beginning to come to grips with the anxiety I was feeling. Of being there until at least Monday when someone missed me. That’s when I heard someone break in.
I thought oh great, a robbery on top of this. I expected the flashlight I saw a few minutes later, but not the face behind it. It was one of local police officers, Sheriff Gardner, and Molly.
The Sherriff called for an ambulance. Within minutes he was helping them cut away the boards to get me out. I think I passed out again, because I don’t remember the actual lifting out. The next thing I knew, I woke up at the hospital, with Molly sitting beside the bed.
“Hi, you’re safe, the doctor says it’s a bad break, but is going to be okay. He said it could have been a lot worse, in a lot of ways. They have you on pain meds so you’ll stay a little groggy. Can I do anything for you?”
All I could muster was to ask for some water. She got it, and then fluffed my pillow. “I called your Mom and Dad, they’re catching a flight at about 3 am. It’s the soonest they could get.”
“My Mom said to let her know if they can do anything to help. Are you hungry? I brought up a couple of burgers from that restaurant before visiting hours ended.”
I didn’t end up eating, I passed out again from the medicine. When I awoke at about 4, Mom, Dad, and Molly were sleeping in chairs by the bed. I did my best not to wake them, as I began to realize a couple of things.
First, while it was an accident, I had caused Mom and Dad to cut their second honeymoon short. Then I thought I probably messed up Molly’s entire weekend. It was then that it dawned on me.
Molly was in Chicago, at home that morning. That night she was in Ancourt. Was she surprising us by flying in for the festival? Why didn’t she let me know? Also, why was she at the house with Sheriff Gardner?
I drifted again. When I woke up at 7 am, everybody was awake. Molly and Mom were laughing and talking. Dad was bringing in four cups of good coffee from a “proper” coffee place, as he called it.
“Hello everyone. I’m sorry about all this. I didn’t know the floor was that weak. My contractor said it was decent.”
Mom spoke first. “Yes I’m going to talk to your cousin Ira about his initial assessment. Though I think he said it was decent, but needed repaired at some point. Apparently it needed sooner than later.” Then she hugged me, and kissed my forehead as if I were five.
“Don’t apologize honey, we’re just so thankful you’re safe. Jim, why don’t you take Molly to our house, let her rest. No arguments young lady, you’re tired. Jim will stop on the way and get everything you need.”
Molly tried to say she’d grab a hotel, but Dad and Mom wouldn’t hear of it. Molly told me she’d be back soon, and to rest. Then followed Dad out.
Mom waited a few minutes til she knew they were on the elevator. She stood at the window til she saw them get in the car and waive. That’s when she looked at me and smiled.
“Tom Ancourt, you’re just as clueless as your Dad. Do you know what happened? How Molly ended up a few states away, without any luggage? I can’t imagine what she paid for a last minute flight.”
I told her I had no idea. “Everything is still a little fuzzy. I guess I thought she was surprising us by coming in for the festival. She knew it was a big one this year.”
Mom, still smiling sat down, and explained. “Apparently, though you didn’t tell me, the two of you text daily. She sent you some funny leaf cartoon, and a joke for next year’s festival”
“When you hadn’t read it in a couple of hours, she thought you were just busy. After a couple more hours, she called the local police. Sheriff Gardner drove by and said all the lights were off. He figured you were out.”
“Molly knew your plans were to work on the house, but she couldn’t convince the Sherriff. That’s when she left dinner with her Mom, drove to the airport, booked the last flight out, and landed two towns away. She rented a car, and drove to the police station, not knowing where your house was.”
“By then, Sherriff Gardner took her seriously. That young lady loves you son. She’s more than a coworker. How do you feel about her, you’ve always liked her I know.”
I laughed. “Mom, she’s beautiful, and out of my league. She runs a firm, dates a lot of successful guys. She’s got a big heart, but I think I’d know if there was more than friendship there wouldn’t I?”
Mom just sat there for a minute, as if debating what to say. She told me later, she almost told me the story again of how her and Dad started dating. Mom decided, since I’d heard it more than a few times, it wouldn’t do any good.
Instead she asked me a question. “Would you have done the same for her, even if she hadn’t done this?” When I nodded immediately, and said absolutely, she said she knew what to do.
Naturally she didn’t tell me. Instead she picked up her phone, and text Dad. Apparently his response made her laugh hysterically, because she kept chuckling for a while. Then she looked at me. “I’m going to find a wheelchair, and tell the doctor I’m taking you home.”
It helps when you know half the town. The doctor agreed, as if he had a choice. In an hour I was propped up on the couch in the den.
Mom handed me a notebook. “Here, write down what you want so I can pick up a new phone for you. Also, I’m going to take Molly to get her some stuff. I’ve convinced her to stay for Thanksgiving. Her Mom and Dad are coming in Wednesday evening.”
The two of them left, and Dad came in with waffles and bacon. We ate, and laughed some, then Dad got serious. “I know you know most of the story about how we got together, but you don’t know it all.”
I must have looked skeptical. “Just hear me out. Did you know, the day we started dating, she was supposed to leave town? In fact, she was supposed to go on a date with another guy.”
“We had mutual friends, but our Dads were rivals. That morning, I saw her in the town square. A friend mentioned where she was going, and the guy she was meeting. I suddenly got extremely sick at my stomach.”
“It was the thought of the other guy, someone I ask knew, sweeping her off her feet. He was wealthy, good looking, and a great talker. I was worried, and I knew I had to do something quick.”
“I did the only thing I could think of. I sat on the hood of her car. I told her that other guy was not right for her. Also that I wasn’t leaving until she went out with me.”
“I was shocked when she said yes. I was even more shocked when she jumped in her car and drove off after I got down. She said, she started laughing, until she saw how crushed I looked. She doubled back, told me to never try that again. And we went out.”
I smiled. “You’re saying if I don’t do something I’ll lose her. Dad, I don’t have her. Also, there’s no other guy. Plus, if I wanted to go after her, I can’t move.”
He leaned in. “Son, if you want to be in her life. You’ll find a way, crutches, cane, or wheelchair. Don’t let anything keep you from falling in love.”
I was quiet til Molly got back. I’d seen too many holiday movies to let things go down. “Molly, can I talk to you?”
She sat down across from me. An odd look on her face. Before either of us said something stupid, I had a story for her.
“Did I ever tell you about fifth grade? I was up for a spelling tournament, best speller in school. I was terrified, it was an across county competition. My Grandpas showed up to see me, and looked at each other.”
“It was a few minutes before the tournament started. They took me aside. The two of them loved me very much, but they told me something. That I was about to let my fear cost me. I was going to let fear, stick my foot in my mouth.”
“I forced myself to clam down, and to really listen. Because of it, I won the competition. I think I’m in a similar situation here. Before saying something stupid, and costing me dearly, I need to ask a question.”
“I want to say something, but it’s pretty simple. If I were to something cheesy, and possibly stupid, I need to know. Would you stay, or go back to Chicago?”
She smiled over top of the “oh brothers” from my Mom in the next room. “It depends on the question. You better make it a good one from the sounds of the commentary in the adjoining room.”
I didn’t have a clever phrase. I didn’t want to be cute, desperate, or pathetic. Of course, sitting with a busted leg, I was already halfway there. “Please stay, and let me take you to the festival?”
She smiled. “I’ll stay, but from the looks of things, I’ll need to take you. Also, if I leave early, after getting my parents coming, I think we’d both be in trouble.”
It was the beginning of something wonderful. Thanksgiving, all of us laughed so much our sides hurt. When she had to go back to Chicago the next week, I thought my heart was falling out of my chest.
After I left the airport I went straight to the jewelers. At the extremely likely risk of being cheesy, I had them set the ring in a leaf pattern. I proposed at Christmas. The ring was in a bigger box, filled with dried leaves.
I was now able to get down on one knee. I whispered “Will you marry me.” Paused, and grinned. “Please say yes, Don’t leave me home alone.” She laughed at how pathetic it sounded, and so did I, as I placed the ring on her finger.
