Sarah and I were taking in the beautiful early May sunset from our new home. The home was empty, bare hardwood floors and no memories hanging from the white walls yet- but it was our perfect blank slate, and we couldn’t believe that it was ours.
We stood at the patio doorway, looking over our small landing, thanking God we had our own outdoor space now. No ‘stay at home’ order could stop me from grilling my own burgers or keep Sarah from her gardening. As much as we loved the City before, that all seemed to melt in an instant, and we were so happy to be moving into our new house in just a few short weeks.
I loved Sarah more than anything in the world, but our moods seemed to turn to perpetual annoyance with one another, having worked from home and sheltered in place together out of our small apartment for the past several months. These trips to the new home would melt our tension as we imagined our future and took our mind off the news. We even became handy with home repair, each creating our own lists of customizations and fixes we needed to make before we moved in full-time. We would drive to the house from the apartment in the morning after our walk, and each get to work on our tasks and then show off the results to one another excitedly. We would then drive home tired, back to the tiny apartment, and then usually stay in separate rooms until it was time to sleep; only to repeat the process again the next day.
Today, Sarah and I hung our wedding photos in the house. We bickered over which ones to hang and where, what orientation to group the photos in, and whether they were level after we hung them. It was a stressful project, but we worked well together, and we got the job around 5pm.
“Wanna sit on the patio and have a glass of wine?” Sarah asked. I smiled and said “Yep” in a tone that revealed just how refreshing that would be. We lugged two chairs from the living room outside, and then filled up our glasses and cheersed.
S: “I cant wait until we can host our friends over here.”
Me: “Yeah, im thinking….July. We could keep the patio door open and let people flow in and out. OOH and we could park our car on the street and use the garage space too!”
S: “We could set up the beer pong table in there, keep all that confined to the garage, maybe we could splurge and hire a bartender for a couple of hours and rent some hightops for the livingroom and for out here.”
Me: “I bet people would chip in if we let them know thats what we are going for; everyones gotta be going crazy by now and if we can throw a party like that; i dont think it would be weird to ask them to kick in some money so we could do it right.”
S: “Just no red wine though! White only! I am not ruining our new rug over this.” Sarah laughed
We sat on our chairs and sipped on our glasses, taking in the sunset, and thinking about life when this all over.
Me:”Well, are you ready to head back? I can drive.”
S: “Yeah, Lets take the chairs in and pick up the tools”
A: “K sounds good”
We put everything back in its place, and both looked at the house longingly as we turned out the lights and headed to the car.
Me:”Can you navigate me though,I still dont know this area yet; just get me to the bridge then im good”
S: “Yeah, but you should know it by know”
Me: “Whatever”
I started up the engine and backed out of our garage and turned out onto the street. Sarah would occasionally chime in with “Left” or “Right” as I approached intersections.
S:”Know where you are yet?”
Me:”Why’d you have to show off and take me the long way and through all these neighborhood streets?” (she liked to make me pay for not yet learning the way home). No, just keep letting me know what to do.”
I kept my guard up and drove really slow as bikers and pedestrians have now taken over the streets and they dont notice or even care that cars are on the road.
S:”K make a right here”
I turned and saw a wide open neighborhood street in front of me. The only people that were out were two little girls playing a game with their dad in the front yard. The girls’ backs were to the street and they were standing at the foot of the driveway. The dad was at the top of the drive facing the street. They were kicking a ball back and forth to one another.
S: “Hey so what do you think about the sconces in the bedroom being [blah blahblah]
I am blocking her out on purpose, i have a wierd feeling about this. I start to slow down and I keep my eyes dead set on that father kicking the ball to his girls. It is looking like it is timing out perfectly that when i approach their drive, it will be the Dad who is kicking the ball. I get nervous.
I keep my eye on that Dad as we are getting near his drive; and he winds up and kicks the ball harder than he did the past few times. The girls scramble trying to retrieve it; but it gets past them. The ball dribbles only a few feet in front of the car and the Girls are chasing after it. I slam on the breaks and honk the horn. I come to a complete stop as the girls race right in front of my car.
They move past me.
Sarah and I look at each other wide-eyed. In disbelief of what just happened and how close we were to a tragedy.
S: ”What the fuck was that! Why would you be kicking a ball into the street while a car is coming?!! Did you see them?”
Me: “lets just get out of here, we had a drink before we left remember.”
The girls run back in front of my stopped car, giggling and throwing the ball back at their dad.
I put my foot back on the gas and start to slowly inch away; I turn my head and make eye contact with the dad. He smiles right back at me and waves to me and Sarah.
S: “I dont think people will be ready for a party by July.”
Me: “Me Neither”
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