The College Reunion
Page 4
in 1973, the one 1975 and the one 1977”, Uncle Carl told him. Now you may ask why I only went to the air show every other year”.
“Well why did you only go to the air show every other year”, Sam Morgan asked.
“Well I’m glad you asked that question, young man”, Uncle Carle said, talking directly to Mr. Morgan, “the reason is quite simple, first of all the Paris Air Show has been held at the Le Bourget Airport in the districts of Bonneuil-en-France about seven miles from Paris since 1953. Also ever since 1949, the Paris Air Show has been held only on odd-numbered year, so there was no air show in 1974 for our friend Wendell to fly in. So basically Wendell I think you story is a load of…”
“Well I think that sums things up pretty well”, Mrs. Morgan said, “interrupting Uncle Carl before he could inject somewhat more colorful language into the conversation”.
Uncle Carl smiled, “I was going to say hot air”.
Everyone had been very quiet while Uncle Carl had been speaking and now all eyes were on Mr. Hapsboro.
“I’m sure Wendell can explain”, Mr. Hawkins said, “Ain’t that right Wendell”.
Mr. Hapsboro looked around at all the staring eyes, mumbled something under his breath, stood up and walked out of the backyard. For a long time no one said anything even the music had stopped.
Mrs. Morgan gave me a gentle poke in the ribs, “If your Uncle Carl’s smile was any bigger he’d need another face”, She said.
I think that at least part of that smile was because Mrs. Roberts’ hand was still holding Uncle Carl’s hand very tightly; he reached over and placed his hand on top of hers.
Suddenly the sound of music came booming through the speakers; “A Bad Moon Rising”, by Creedence Clearwater Revival filled the backyard. Bob Thompson, Joe Turner, Matt Hawkins, Sam Morgan and their wives were singing along with the music and began doing something, that I’m sure was considered dancing back in 1969.
Uncle Carl reached out and took Mrs. Roberts other hand, and helped her up, the two of them joined in on the singing, and dancing.
The party went on for hours; my dad told Uncle Carl that the party was great but we had to go and that he would come by tomorrow and help him clean up the backyard.
Mom gave Uncle Carl a kiss goodnight, “Now you kids be good”, She said.
“Be good”, Sam Morgan said while stroking his chin as if he were giving the idea some deep thought, “Now that’s something we never tried before”.
“There is a reason for that”, Joe Turner said.
“What’s that”, Sam Morgan asked.
“It ain’t no fun”, Joe Turner said.
Most of the people had gone leaving only Uncle Carl and his gang, their wives and of course, Becky-Jo, talking and listening to some of their favorite songs.
I turned to say goodnight; Uncle Carl and Becky-Jo were dancing to ‘The Look of Love’, by Sergio Mendes. I don’t think Uncle Carl even knew that there was anyone else around but him and Becky-Jo.
As Daddy had promised we all went to Uncle Carl’s house and helped clean up the backyard. In the light of day, it looked a lot worse than it did last night. We filled at least a dozen trash bags and the recycle bin.
As payment for all our hard work, Uncle Carl took us all out to lunch. Uncle Carl said that he had to meet someone after lunch so Daddy followed him in his car.
We talked about the party and the gang; Daddy asked if they planned to get together any time soon.
“Actually we are”, Uncle Carl said, “We were talking about maybe taking a trip to Las Vegas”.
“Las Vegas”, Mom said, “I thought you said you hated Las Vegas”.
“Well it’s nothing definite”, Uncle Carl said, “It’s some just preliminary discussions”.
“Will Mrs. Roberts be going with you”, Mom asked.
“Well we need to coordinate this trip you know”, Uncle Carl said, “You know, to make sure everyone can take the time off”.
“That didn’t answer the question”, Daddy said, sounding more like a detective than a nephew.
“Are you going to help clean up the yard or spend the day talking”, Uncle Carl said, trying to sound angry.
“Why Carl Phillips, I do believe your blushing”, Mom said.
“It’s a good thing I ain’t paying you people for this clean up help, or I’d fire the bunch of you”, Uncle Carl said.
Mom kissed Uncle Carl on the cheek, “Mrs. Roberts is beautiful”, Mom said, “Good luck”.
“I make it a practice to never make the same mistake twice”, Uncle Carl said, “I let her get away from me once before, I won’t let it happen again. Now get back to work, the bunch of you”.
A few days had past since the ‘Class Reunion Part 2, Uncle Carl’s cookout’, and I was walking home with some of my friends.
Uncle Carl had just taken his car out of the garage; he was standing on the bottom of the step in front of his house, and wearing a suit and tie, which is rare for him.
“Wow”, I said, “Aren’t we looking dashing; what’s with your Sunday best on a Wednesday”.
“Just going out to dinner”, Uncle Carl said.
“It must be a pretty fancy place for you to be wearing a suit and tie”, I said.
“Well for your information I’m going to The Fountain Restaurant”, Uncle Carle said.
“Isn’t that that really fancy-schmancy place in downtown Philadelphia”, Patty asked.
“Yes”, Uncle Carle told her, “It’s in the Four Seasons Hotel on Logan Square”.
“Must be a really special occasion for you to get all dressed up”, Mary added.
“You know that it isn’t a felonry for a guy put on a suit and tie”, Uncle Carl said.
“Are you going all the way downtown to have dinner alone”, I asked.
“I said I was going to have dinner”, Uncle Carl said, “I never said I was going alone.
I was just about to say something witty when the front door opened. Uncle Carl walked up the steps, extended his hand, and out of the house stepped the very lovely Mrs. Becky-Jo Roberts wearing a very sexy little black dress.
It seems she had decided to stay in Philadelphia for a few days. Uncle Carl looked over at me, “Well”, I said, “that explains the suit and tie; are we going to another class reunion?”
Mrs. Roberts smiled, “You might say that, but on a much smaller scale”.
“And much more intimate too”, Mary whispered in my ear.
Uncle Carl smiled one of those goofy smiles like a boy in junior high that just got caught talking to a girl; I can’t be sure but it looked as though he was actually blushing.
“Good night ladies”, he said and his smile got even bigger, as he escorted Becky-Jo to his car. He held the car door open and helped her get into the car; he walked around to the driver’s side, and opened the door.
He turned to me and smiled again, “goodnight again ladies”, he said.
“You kids have fun”, I said. “And don’t be too late”.
“Uncle Carl just smiled, “Don’t wait up”, he said as he closed the car door.
Just in case you are wondering, Mrs. Becky-Jo Roberts stayed in Philadelphia for almost two weeks.
One night my Mom invited Uncle Carl and Mrs. Roberts over for dinner. Most of the conversation was about the good old days when Uncle Carl and Mrs. Roberts were in college.
Mrs. Roberts was almost as good at story telling as Uncle Carl, but most of her stories were about him.
“Carl was always telling tall tales and swearing that they every word was true”, Mrs. Roberts said. “Once he was sure that he had everyone believing him, he would say something like, Now if you believed that, I have this really nice bridge that spans the Hudson River I could let you have real cheap”.
“I guess some things never change”, I said, “Uncle Carl is still trying to get someone to buy that bridge”.
“When will you be going back to Florida”, I asked.
“I really don’t have anyth
ing keeping me in Florida”, Mrs. Roberts said, “So I was thinking that I might move back to Philadelphia”.
“That would be great”, I said.
“I’ve had my fill of palm trees and sand”, Mrs. Roberts said, “and I really do miss living in Philadelphia”.
“That would be wonderful”, Mom said, “wouldn’t that be nice Uncle Carl”?
“Yes of course”, Uncle Carl said.
“How soon would you be moving back”, Daddy asked.
She reached over and took Uncle Carl’s hand, “Actually Carl suggested that we leave at the end of the week and he would help me get my things packed up”, Mrs. Roberts said.
“Uncle Carl is so considerate”, I said, “always willing to help a friend in need”.
I looked over at Uncle Carl; there was a big smile on his face and a bit of a blush on his cheeks.
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