‘I want you to know that a Nitwitt sent me to you today!’ Then they’d pick out an azalea or dwarf gardenia or two and politely skedaddle. I wish we’d kept records, there were so many visits like that. And then your mother’s wedding out at Evening Shadows was quite a boon to us, too, Petey. But we really haven’t had a lot of repeat business. I wouldn’t say we have our financial hopes pinned on the effects of Caroling in The Square, but it certainly couldn’t hurt over the long haul.”
Petey gave Meta a gentle nudge as he checked his watch. “I think the time’s getting away from us. We’re staying out at Evening Shadows this trip down, and Miz Myrtis will be worried about us. It’s nearly lunchtime.”
Marc’s curiosity was clearly visible on his face. “You can’t beat Evening Shadows for hospitality, no doubt about that. But I’m surprised you two aren’t staying here in town.”
“Long, messy story,” Meta began, rolling her eyes. “My mother, bless her meddling little heart, has been next to impossible about our living arrangements for this trip. We haven’t even begun to fix up the second floor of our store, where we’re going to live. Anyhow, she wanted me to stay with her and for Petey to stay with his mother and Mr. Choppy. But we saw no reason to be kept apart at this time in our lives. We’re no moony-eyed teenyboppers, you know.” Meta’s facial expression became even more exaggerated.
“And even though Gaylie Girl did offer to put us up together, we decided that Mother might interpret that as taking sides early in the in-law game. Oh yes, that’s a train that’s hurtling down the tracks without an engineer. We just can’t see the headlights at the other end of the tunnel yet. Petey came up with the solution, though. He and his sister, Amanda, had such a spectacular time out at Evening Shadows earlier this year that he just gave Miz Myrtis a call and arranged everything. She’s not related to either one of us, so that makes her the Switzerland of the Nitwitts in this case.”
Marc was laughing out loud. “That makes perfect sense if you know the entire group. Michael can’t believe how complicated they can make their lives sometimes.”
“At any rate, we need to get going,” Petey added. “The food they serve out there is to die for, and we’re not about to miss a bite. Not to mention that I’m angling for Miz Myrtis to pitch a wedding tent for us this spring like she did for Mother and Mr. Choppy this past Labor Day.”
“Now that was a wedding!” Marc exclaimed. “Michael and I garnished it to perfection with our greenery, if you will. We supplied everything except those fireflies that showed up there at the end!”
It was supposed to be your everyday, superbly prepared, gourmet meal at Evening Shadows. Though it was only midday, Myrtis had chosen another of her stunning saris to play hostess, and Sarah had once again outdone herself with place settings fit for a state dinner at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Petey and Meta had arrived on time from their session on The Square, and at first it appeared that there would be nothing more taxing to contend with than keeping up with all the witty conversation that generally arose beneath the chandelier gracing Myrtis’s dining table.
Then Euterpe, who had become a permanent fixture at the bed-and-breakfast after nearly six months as a paying customer, appeared at the top of the stairs with Pan at her shoulder and struck a dramatic pose. Next, she began a strange, staggered descent. Norma Desmond had been less mannered for her final deranged take in Sunset Boulevard .
Once she had reached the others below, she took a very histrionic deep breath. “I’m usually a very resourceful person, as you all know,” she explained to the trio of bewildered faces standing before her. “But I may have met my match at last!”
Myrtis moved quickly to her side and put a reassuring arm on her shoulder. “Why, Euterpe, I’ve
Petey gave Meta a gentle nudge as he checked his watch. “I think the time’s getting away from us. We’re staying out at Evening Shadows this trip down, and Miz Myrtis will be worried about us. It’s nearly lunchtime.”
Marc’s curiosity was clearly visible on his face. “You can’t beat Evening Shadows for hospitality, no doubt about that. But I’m surprised you two aren’t staying here in town.”
“Long, messy story,” Meta began, rolling her eyes. “My mother, bless her meddling little heart, has been next to impossible about our living arrangements for this trip. We haven’t even begun to fix up the second floor of our store, where we’re going to live. Anyhow, she wanted me to stay with her and for Petey to stay with his mother and Mr. Choppy. But we saw no reason to be kept apart at this time in our lives. We’re no moony-eyed teenyboppers, you know.” Meta’s facial expression became even more exaggerated.
“And even though Gaylie Girl did offer to put us up together, we decided that Mother might interpret that as taking sides early in the in-law game. Oh yes, that’s a train that’s hurtling down the tracks without an engineer. We just can’t see the headlights at the other end of the tunnel yet. Petey came up with the solution, though. He and his sister, Amanda, had such a spectacular time out at Evening Shadows earlier this year that he just gave Miz Myrtis a call and arranged everything. She’s not related to either one of us, so that makes her the Switzerland of the Nitwitts in this case.”
Marc was laughing out loud. “That makes perfect sense if you know the entire group. Michael can’t believe how complicated they can make their lives sometimes.”
“At any rate, we need to get going,” Petey added. “The food they serve out there is to die for, and we’re not about to miss a bite. Not to mention that I’m angling for Miz Myrtis to pitch a wedding tent for us this spring like she did for Mother and Mr. Choppy this past Labor Day.”
“Now that was a wedding!” Marc exclaimed. “Michael and I garnished it to perfection with our greenery, if you will. We supplied everything except those fireflies that showed up there at the end!”
It was supposed to be your everyday, superbly prepared, gourmet meal at Evening Shadows. Though it was only midday, Myrtis had chosen another of her stunning saris to play hostess, and Sarah had once again outdone herself with place settings fit for a state dinner at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Petey and Meta had arrived on time from their session on The Square, and at first it appeared that there would be nothing more taxing to contend with than keeping up with all the witty conversation that generally arose beneath the chandelier gracing Myrtis’s dining table.
Then Euterpe, who had become a permanent fixture at the bed-and-breakfast after nearly six months as a paying customer, appeared at the top of the stairs with Pan at her shoulder and struck a dramatic pose. Next, she began a strange, staggered descent. Norma Desmond had been less mannered for her final deranged take in Sunset Boulevard .
Once she had reached the others below, she took a very histrionic deep breath. “I’m usually a very resourceful person, as you all know,” she explained to the trio of bewildered faces standing before her. “But I may have met my match at last!”
Myrtis moved quickly to her side and put a reassuring arm on her shoulder. “Why, Euterpe, I’ve
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