Pink Flamingoed by Steve Demaree Page B

“game shows.” He learned there was
an entire TV channel devoted to game shows, but Harry would never see it unless
Rachel decided to give him cable TV for his birthday. Harry had already spent
enough money to watch TV. He bought a TV big enough for a man his age to see
it, and he had to pay for the electricity it took for him to watch three game
shows a day. That was enough money to spend. A channel devoted to game shows
would have to wait. Harry rationalized his loss. He knew the channel would not
have the game shows he grew up watching. Or would it?
    Harry spent all afternoon on the Internet. He
reminisced as each website reintroduced game shows and panelists of his younger
days. Harry became so engrossed in reliving the game shows of his youth that he
missed his nap that afternoon. He did not realize what he had done until Ethel
called him to dinner. Harry paid for his oversight. He fell asleep halfway
through Wheel of Fortune.

The Ice Storm
     
     
    The Christmas holidays were a time of relaxation for
Brad, but once the holidays were over, it was time for him to get back to work.
It had been only two months since his latest book had come out, but Brad had
heard from people who had read it and told him how much they enjoyed this one
and how eager they were to read the next one. He had planned to begin writing
his next book by early January, and since early January had arrived, it was
time to get to work.
    Brad looked out his window and watched as the wind
blew the snow, thankful that he did not have to leave his house to go to work.
But then on Aylesford Place, very few people had to leave their homes each day.
    Once January arrived, Brad’s day consisted of getting
up early, fixing himself a bowl of oatmeal and some orange juice, enjoying it,
and then pouring himself a cup of coffee, which he took with him to the
computer. Brad needed silence to create. He never answered the phone. He
refrained from answering his doorbell. He was a disciplined writer. That’s why
he was able to crank out a new book by the time his publisher wanted it. Each
Monday through Friday, Brad worked until he needed a break and then took a
shower and got dressed. Then, he started back to work and continued to work on
his book until lunchtime. For Brad, lunchtime varied. He determined his
lunchtime by when he felt it was time  to  put his book away until the next
day. Sometimes Brad ate at noon. Other times, it was close to three o’clock when he turned away from his computer for the last time.
     
    +++
     
    Amy never disturbed Brad in the middle of his writing.
She let him call her or pop over and ring her doorbell whenever he was ready to
face the world, or at least the one person in the world he could not wait to
see each day. January was one of Brad’s busiest times of the year, but winter
was Amy’s slow season. Amy was not one to sit around on her hands. Cabin fever
hit her much sooner than anyone else on the street. When she knew she just had
to get out of the house at least for a few minutes, she crossed the street to
check on Allison. The only time they had seen each other recently was at
church. Amy put on her boots, bundled up to keep out the cold, and crunched
through the snow to see her best friend. Well, her best female friend near her
age.
    “Hello stranger. Long time no see,” Allison said, as
she opened her door with a smile.
    Amy bent over and hugged her friend. “Sorry I haven’t
stopped by lately. I’ve been so busy with the holidays and all.”
    “Yeah, and all’s kind of cute, huh? You
like him a lot, don’t you, Amy?”
    “You sound just like Cora.”
    “You’re avoiding my question,” Allison replied in a
smiling, melodious way.
    “Yes, Allison. I like him a lot.”
    “He seems like he’ll be good for you.”
    “I hope so. So, how are you doing?”
    “Pretty good. I had a good Christmas. I went to see
my  mom and dad for a few days and got to see my brother and his wife, too.”
    “Everyone