Aftermath

I sat on the couch in the living room, staring at the remains of last night's celebration. Paper hats and noisemakers lay strewn across the furniture. This, I thought as a got up to go into the kitchen for another cup of coffee, is the reason I don't like hosting New Year's Eve parties. I stopped at the kitchen door, sighed and then continued to the coffeemaker where I poured myself another large mug of dark, strong liquid courage. Then I went to the dishwasher, opened it, and stared, mouth opened, at its contents. Sitting on the bottom rack, looking up at me with its deep brown eyes, was Aunt Martha's Tea Cup poodle.

"Lovey," I said picking up the white dog, who immediately began licking my face. "How'd you get in there?" Turning around I started to go into the dining room.

"Stacie," Sam said, stopping me at the entrance and handing me the car keys. "Why don't you take Lovey back to your Aunts," he took his wallet out of his back pocket and removed five twenty dollar bills. "Then you take Aunt Martha and Lovey to Geno's Out Door Restaurant for lunch." He kissed me on the cheek and stroked Lovey's head, "I'll clean up this mess while you're gone."

I stood in the kitchen door for a few minutes, watching him rinse dishes and place them in the dishwasher. I suppose there isn't any use telling him he doesn't need to rinse them. Then placing Lovey on the dinning room table, I put the money in my purse. "This will be the best year of all" I said to Lovey as we left the house.