Pink Flamingoed Read Online Free PDF Page A

three songs, and then
Cora asked, “Lady Catherine, will Norman be joining us this evening?”
    “Alas, but fair Master Norman is slumbering below to
gain strength so that he can leave to collect his silver coins. But hark, let
us embark on our journey to the Mitchell’s and then on, on, on to the feast of
the gods.”
    “But Lady Catherine, the night is still young. It is
only 7:40 and Norman does not have to be at work until 11:00.”
    “So true. So true. But Master Norman must continue to
repose to maintain his strength for the call of the night.”
    “Hey, Amy. What happened to Mr. McPherson, or was
there ever a Mr. McPherson?” Brad whispered.
    Amy did her best not to laugh, knowing what Brad must
have been thinking.
    “I tried to warn you. Really I did,” Amy replied as
she suppressed a giggle  that wanted to emerge.
    “One other thing, Amy. Does Melanie know about Norman? After all, Norman is single, isn’t he?”
    At this point Amy could control herself no longer. She
laughed and then turned red as the group’s attention turned to her. Luckily, it
was dark enough that no one noticed that she was blushing.
    “Something you’d like to share with the group, Amy?”
    “Later, Cora. Later,” Amy replied.
    “Control yourself, oh fairest of the tour guides. We
still have one more house to go,” Brad reminded Amy.
    “Well, your comments aren’t much help. Luckily, we
will end our journey with one of the street’s saner couples, Jim and Kathy
Mitchell. Jim’s a salesman. He sells office equipment and travels extensively.
Fair Kathy hibernates most winter days and nights cuddled up with the latest
novel. When summer comes, she spends her days shopping with her newlywed
daughter, who teaches at an elementary school.  The two of them run around
looking for bargains at specialty stores and yard sales. And now, this
concludes today’s tour. You are now invited to the home of this year’s tour
guide for refreshments and a time of mingling with your new neighbors.”
    “Thank you so much, my lady. I accept your gracious
hospitality.”
    Once the group had sung to Kathy and a seldom-home
Jim, Cora made an announcement.
    “Okay, everybody, let’s head to Amy’s, put on a few
pounds, and visit with one another.”

A Heart-To-Heart Talk
     
     
    Amy exchanged her role as a tour guide for that of a
hostess. Now the leader of the group, Amy mounted the front steps of her home,
inserted the key in the lock, and turned to face the group.
    “Okay, everybody. We’re through singing. Now all of
you come in and get all of the food you can eat and something to drink.”
    “Come on Brad. I’ll race you to the Christmas tree
cookies,” Cora challenged.
    “How about if I just escort you in?” Brad replied as
he held out his arm for Cora.
    Brad entered Amy’s house and saw that she was quite
prepared for the season and the crowd. Mistletoe hung from the light fixture in
the center of the living room and from the door casing between the living room
and the dining room. Christmas trees stood in two corners of the spacious
living room. One contained lights of many colors, tinsel, and many ornaments.
Each ornament looked much different than any other. A tree skirt wrapped around
the bottom of the tree, and the first of what Brad assumed would soon be many
presents snuggled next to the tree out of the way of straying feet. A tree
which contained white lights and dozens of Chrismons stood in another corner.
    Brad turned and looked at tables containing many kinds
of food and drink. It took one table to hold each of the drink containers.
According to the cards placed in front of the urns, Amy had prepared hot
chocolate, spiced tea, three types of coffee, and eggnog. A much longer table
held sandwiches, vegetables and dip, and other finger foods, and a third table
held fruit and cream pies, and three cakes; red velvet, chocolate, and
applesauce raisin, and two types of brownies; chocolate walnut and
butterscotch.
    Wait