Pink Flamingoed

by Steve Demaree

  “It does, so it pays to work quickly, as well.”

  “And just what am I to take from that comment, my dear Cora?” Brad asked, knowing full well what Cora meant.

  “Brad, Amy’s a good girl. Well worth getting to know,” Cora replied, suddenly turning more serious.

  “Am I supposed to read something into that comment, Mrs. Henderson?” Brad asked with his eyebrows raised and his smile still in place.

  “I would hope so, Brad. Otherwise, I’ve wasted my words.”

  “Oh, Cora. Any words coming from your mouth are never wasted.”

  “Then try these on for size. You’re not married, and she’s not married. Understand?”

  While Cora was not yet pleading, she was at least strongly suggesting.

  “I believe I do,” Brad answered, still unable to suppress his smile. “But tell me, Cora, why haven’t you been able to get her married before this? Could it be that she’s hiding a family secret? Any skeletons I should know about?”

  “No, it’s more because today was the first day a suitable gentleman moved into the neighborhood.”

  “An asset to the neighborhood. Isn’t that right, Cora?”

  “Oh, most definitely.”

  “Cora, you’re one in a million.”

  Only a plate full of food kept him from reaching out and embracing his new neighbor.

  “That’s what I keep telling Frank.”

  Cora looked around and noticed that everyone was having a good time, but then the residents of Aylesford Place always had a good time when they got together. After a while, Cora decided most of the people had had enough of a good time. If enough people left, only a group of two would remain, and a group of two was what Cora wanted.

  “Look how late it’s getting.” Cora yawned to get her point across. “Some of us older people need to get to bed,” Cora said, loud enough so everyone could hear.

  No sooner had Cora spoken than Harry made one more dash for the food to see what he could find to take home with him.

  “I’m glad I’m not one of the older people, Cora,” Melanie purred.

  “Oh, but I need you to walk me home, my dear Melanie. Frank doesn’t see so well at night anymore.”

  “Really, Cora, I didn’t know. But what I do know is that Melanie sees quite well. And do you know what Melanie just saw? She saw a man’s hand with no wedding ring,” Melanie said triumphantly.

  “It’s the new custom,” Cora replied, knowing that she had lost the battle.

  “Sorry, Cora, but I believe this hand is fair game.”

  “Not this one, Melanie. This one was made for Amy. Let’s you and I go look for the next one,” Cora begged, probably for the first time in her life.

  Melanie saw the pleading look in Cora’s eyes and shrugged.

  “I’m more inclined to let the man decide for himself, but I’ll grant you your wish for tonight. I’ll wait and see if Amy is the one for Brad, or if it’s someone else. If perchance they were made for one another, do you really have someone in mind for me, Cora?”

  “Not yet, Melanie, but I’ll be looking. I really will. I really do think there’s someone for you, but you’ll have to slow down long enough to let him catch you.”

  Next-Door Neighbors

  Cora ushered everyone out, said goodbye to Brad and Amy, and closed the door.

  “Thanks for all you’ve done. I know it had to be a lot of work,” Brad said.

  “Yeah, it was,” Amy answered, “but everyone always has so much fun. Each year, we schedule our caroling early in December before everyone gets too busy with other things. Since it was at my house this year, I wanted to make sure that I had my trees up and the house decorated.”

  “Well, I think you did a wonderful job,” Brad said as his eyes did a visible sweep of the room. “Would you like some help getting things back in order?”

  “Thanks for the offer, but I’m kind of looking forward to waking up in the morning and having a reminder of all the fun we had.”

  Amy made another mental note that her new neighbor realized that the mess did not go away on its own. He had acquired several plus marks in such a short time.

  Brad’s next comment interrupted her thoughts.

  “Well, I for one had fun. I never envisioned spending my first night on the street quite like this.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t wait until tomorrow to move in. Well, it looks as if it’s just the two of us. Would you like to sit down?” Amy asked as she motioned to the couch.

  “I guess I can stay a few minutes longer, but I need to leave soon, so I can get some sleep before the movers arrive.”

  The two sat down and looked at each other. After looking at Amy for a moment, Brad burst out laughing.

  “What’s so funny?” Amy asked, puzzled by his behavior. “Do I have some parsley between my teeth, or something?”

  “No, nothing like that. It’s Cora,” Brad answered.

  “What about her?” Amy asked, still puzzled.

  She hoped Brad was not going to say anything bad about her mother away from home.

  In his best imitation of Cora, Brad said, “Amy’s a good girl, Brad. Well worth getting to know. You’re not married, and she’s not married. Understand?”

  “She said that?” Amy asked.

  “Yes,” Brad answered, causing Amy to grin.

  “To Cora,” Brad shouted as he hoisted into the air his Styrofoam cup half-full of hot chocolate.

  “To Cora,” Amy replied, as she lifted her cup to touch his, careful not to spill anything on her sofa.

  For a few moments, the young couple drank their hot chocolate and drank in how their lives had changed in the last couple of hours. They looked at each other and smiled. Then Amy broke the silence.

  “Listen, I’ve been the tour guide all night. I’ve told you about everyone. Now, it’s your turn.”

  “You haven’t told me about everyone.”

  “Oh, no. Who haven’t I told you about?” Amy asked.

  “The tour guide remains a mystery,” Brad said, with a silly grin plastered across his face.

  Amy returned Brad’s grin with a smile.

  “Maybe so, but the tour guide’s taking a break. Now, it’s the new neighbor’s turn. All I know about you is that your name is Brad Patterson.”

  “Actually, you know less than you think. The Pattersons were my mother’s parents. My name, fair lady, is Brad Forrester.”

  “Yeah, right!” commented Amy.

  “What do you mean, ‘yeah, right?’” Brad asked.

  “Brad Forrester is a well-known mystery/suspense writer.”

  “Well, I don’t know about well-known, and I prefer to call them whodunits.”

  “You don’t mean to tell me that you’re the real Brad Forrester, the author, do you?”

  “Guilty, as charged, Dr. Watson.”

  “Oh my gosh! I’m living next door to a famous author.”

  “Don’t say that! I’m not famous. I just happen to write books, and have been fortunate enough that a few people have bought them.”

  “Yeah, right! Quite a few people, I’d say.”

  “Well, I’m able to pay the bills each month, but it’s not like I’m on the New York Times best seller list.”

  After he finished, Brad remembered that his latest book did indeed make it on the New York Times best seller list. It just did not make it as far up the ladder as James Patterson, John Grisham, and Mary Higgins Clark. And the latest Harry Potter book was off the charts. That reminded Brad. He hoped to work some of his magic on Amy.

  “Yeah, but you sell thousands of copies. It looks like my Mr. Holmes moniker was right on target.”

  “Well, I would say a poor man’s Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would be a little closer to the truth. Although my books more closely resemble Agatha Christie’s with a bit more action.”

  “So, how many books have you written?”

  “My fifth book came out about a month ago.”

  “So, you’re a pro
lific writer at an early age. Have you started anything else yet?”

  “No. I plan to take it easy until after the first of the year. Then in early January I’ll begin to develop some ideas for my next whodunit. But, enough about me, tell me about yourself, Miss, uh, Miss…. You know, I don’t know your last name, either.”

  “Amy Carmichael, at your service.”

  “And what does Miss Carmichael do to support herself, or does Miss Carmichael not have to do anything?”

  “Usually Miss Carmichael tries to support herself by keeping her feet planted firmly under her torso.”

  Brad shook his head. Cora had taught Amy well.

  “Do you think this street can handle you, me, and Cora all at the same time?”

  “I think this street can handle all of us magnificently,” Amy replied, smiling enough to reveal her perfect teeth.

  “But you still haven’t told me what you do.”

  “Amy Carmichael, photographer, at your service.”

  “And what kind of photographer is Amy Carmichael?”

  “Well, I’m prejudiced, but I think a good one.”

  “I should’ve known I’d never get a straight answer out of you.”

  “Nor do I expect to get one out of you. Okay, here’s the skinny. I take photographs, mostly scenery, but a few are of people. Then I sell them on my website and in a few stores. I’ve been doing it long enough that I have a regular clientele.”

  “Where do you take these photographs?”

  “Mostly around Hopemont, but, at some point, I plan to travel around the country and take photographs. I usually take new photographs at least once each season and try to capture the essence of each season in my work.”

  “I’d love to see some of your work.”

  “I’d be glad to show you, but let’s save it for another time.”

  The two grew quiet for a moment, and then Brad’s eyes started to tear up.

  “Did I say something wrong?” Amy asked, concerned.

  “Not at all. I was just thinking that when I go home tonight I’ll have to thank God for bringing you and all of these other wonderful people into my life.”

  “And we must thank Him for bringing you into our lives, as well.”

  Both Amy and Brad were relieved to know that God was a part of the other’s life, but then both of them expected as much.

  “Speaking of God, the day after tomorrow, He will be at The Church on Aylesford Place and I want to invite you to gather with us that day and meet Him there.”

  “I’d be delighted. But as for now, it’s getting late and the movers are coming early in the morning. I must be going. Until Sunday.”

  “Until Sunday,” Amy replied, realizing that she was doing a poor job of hiding her joy.

  +++

  Amy put on her flannel pajamas and hopped into bed. She slid under the sheet, wrapped the blanket and comforter tightly around her, and snuggled up to her pillow. After a few moments she turned over on her back, put her arms under her head with her elbows flailed out, and smiled at the ceiling. Amy knew she had decent looks and a personality most people found acceptable, but even though she knew times had changed, the closer she got to thirty the more she wondered if she would travel through life alone. For the first time in a few years, Amy smiled because she had hope. She wondered if she had just met the man God intended for her to marry and thought maybe she had. Amy blushed as she likened herself to a teenage girl who had encountered her first crush, but she didn’t feel the least bit guilty because of her thoughts. As Amy continued to smile and think, she wondered if the man next door was having as much trouble getting to sleep as she was having.

  +++

  The bottom of Brad’s shoes scraped against the snowy sidewalk as he left Amy’s house, but he did not know it. He made sure Amy had turned away from the door, then walked out into the street and took in a panoramic view. The snow had tapered off to an occasional flurry. Barely an inch had accumulated. But Brad’s mind was not on the snow. He did not leave his hometown a frightened, young man, wondering if he would get by and if he would get homesick. He left behind family he would miss, but he was mature enough and financially secure enough to know things would be all right. But he expected more of an adjustment period than he appeared to be experiencing.

  His new life meant more than a new house, a large house without a mortgage. It even meant more than a beautiful, young lady whom he wanted to get to know better. Much better. There were other neighbors who seemed genuinely interested in him. No, not Melanie, who merely wanted someone to love her, but people like Barney, Allison, and Frank who wanted him to know he was already one of the family. And then there was Cora. Brad could already see the love she and Amy had for each other, and the way Cora talked to Brad, it made him think that he was okay in Cora’s book.

  Brad wanted to open his mouth and shout, “Thank you, Lord,” but suspected that all but Amy were now asleep. Instead, he took one last look at his new street, turned, walked to his new house, and inserted the key in the lock. After that it was merely a matter of laying his pillow and blankets on the hardwood floor, thanking God properly, and sleeping quickly until the movers arrived.

  Settling In

  After a long day of cleaning, decorating, and cooking, Amy slept in the next morning. Finally, the ringing telephone woke her and she rolled over to see who was calling. “Hello,” Amy answered sleepily.

  “So, I woke you, did I? How late did he stay?”

  “You’re awfully nosy, Cora.”

  “You didn’t answer my question. How late did he stay?”

  “Who says he’s gone?”

  “Listen, Amy. I know you. You’re just like me. There’s no way you’re going to let any man spend the night, no matter how much you like him.”

  “So, you mean Frank has to go somewhere else to sleep?”

  “You know what I mean, little lady. So, I assume you like this one. Do you think he’s a keeper?”

  “I’d say he’s good for a week.”

  “Only a week?”

  “Probably so. After all, what chance do I stand with a wife and four kids on the way.”

  “Oh, that reminds me. The jig’s up. Melanie noticed that Brad wasn’t wearing a wedding ring so we don’t have to go on pretending anymore.”

  “Does that mean I need to put on my boxing gloves and get serious if I want to keep this one?”

  “It wouldn’t hurt. You really like him, don’t you, Amy?”

  “Cora, if my first impression was right, then I’ve never seen any man as special as Brad is, but I’m trying not to get my hopes up too much until we get to know each other better.”

  “Amy, you don’t really get to know a man until after you’ve married him. That’s when the lights are brighter and it’s easier to see the flaws.”

  “Frank has flaws?”

  “Not many. God really blessed me when He gave me that man. But enough about flaws. You must be really tired. How can you sleep with the movers making so much noise next-door?”

  “So, they did come. What time did they get here?”

  “A little after 7:00. I know because Frank and I had just gotten up. Oh, by the way, I almost forgot the reason I called. How would you like to come over for dinner after church tomorrow?”

  “Sounds great! Will anyone else be there?”

  “Well, I was thinking about letting Frank stay, if that’s okay with you.”

  “You know perfectly well what I mean, Cora.”

  “You mean you won’t come if it’s just me and Frank?”

  “Of course I will, Cora. But don’t you think it’ll be better with four?”

  “I’ll check and see if Melanie has plans?”

  “You know perfectly well who I mean. Do you plan to make it a foursome or not?”

  “Well, I haven’t asked anyone else yet, but I do have an extra chair, and three is a crowd. I guess I’d better let you go, so I can see if I can get the barbershop quartet back together.”


  “You do that, Cora. Bye.”

  Amy hung up the phone, turned over on her back, stretched a few times, and lay there thinking of her new next-door neighbor. Then she remembered what Cora had said about the moving van being there, so she hurried to look out her upstairs bay window. Then, she traipsed downstairs and cleaned up the evidence.

  +++

  Cora didn’t want to go over to Brad’s and get in the way of the movers, so she sent Frank over to see if Brad could use any help putting things in order and to invite Brad to church and to dinner afterwards.

  Frank eased around the moving van, looking carefully to make sure he was not going to run into someone carrying a heavy load into the house. Brad spotted Frank through the window and got to the door as Frank was climbing the steps.

  “Why, hello Frank. What brings you over this morning?” Brad asked, with his hand stuck out to greet his new neighbor.

  Frank took Brad’s hand and pumped it.

  “Cora does. She sent me over to see if you need any help moving things around.”

  “Thanks for the offer, Frank, but I think between the movers and me, we have things pretty well in hand. You’re welcome to come in for a cup of coffee, though.”

  “I’d like that. Besides, there was another reason Cora sent me over. She wanted me to invite you to go to church with us tomorrow and to see if you’d be willing to come to our house for dinner afterwards.”

  “Well, I’ve already had an invitation to church, Frank, but the dinner sounds nice. Do you go to the church down the street?”

  “Sure do. We really like it there.”

  “Well, so does the person who invited me, so you can tell Cora that I’ll see her in church. Now, how do you like your coffee?”

  +++

  The movers finished before noon. By late afternoon Brad had his furniture in place and most of his belongings put away. He had always been an organized person. He looked around, pleased that his place was ready to live in in such a short time.

  I’ll have to invite Cora over to see the place and see if she likes it as well today as she did last night, Brad thought, smiling.