It all started with a french poodle. Well not really, but he became the symbol, that transitional object, who was the pivotal point in starting a chain of events, which brought the whole affair to light.
His name was Noemi and Freddie’s friend back from
school was moving to a new apartment over Eastside, and the wouldn’t take him. He pleaded with them, but to no avail, they just wouldn’t listen to his pitiful ,
increasingly, almost hysterical entireties After all he was with her since puppyhood, and it was unbearable, even to think about letting go. The dog
must have felt something was up, he seemed edgy
and unlike his usual self.
It all started to unravel after they came back from
Europe, and she kept telling him she was no longer
happy and she wanted to be happy. Shirley was her name, a petite, filigrans woman not at all showing her 58 years. Elack, almost ten years her senior, showed the strain of these past few years, and as age caught up with him, with their 45th wedding anniversary in sight, felt cheated, by what appeared to be a calculated machine, trapped like an animal.
On Christmas Day, after the usual unwrapping , the 4 kids impatiently almost greedily, practically throwing one toy, only to hurriedly seeking to find something even better in the next carefully, bluish red, gold braided paper box, glimmering, as the colors off the ribbons revealed careful, and thoughtfully time consuming effort. But non such was visible on the children’s faces, they asked for more, much more, from Santa, and their obvious attempt to suppress their disappointment was very appearent.
After all, no one really knows Santa’s situation, one guest chided in, perhaps he ran out, but surely he will make up for it next year, that is, if you’re good.
That appeared no balm unto the fragile egos, but it was the best which could be gathered.