Gossip Interrupted by Evercaptivating (the little red hen read aloud .txt) 📖

“I never would have thought or imagined anything like that.” Natalie spoke into the phone with a tall glass of iced tea in hand, ignoring Tom and Lucy’s argument at the door, and listened to the latest gossip from Susan as she turned the doorknob.

“Now, how did the cable guy get involved?” Natalie asked as she opened the door and walked into the Carolina heat. The children shot out past her, their disagreement completely forgotten and they sprang off the porch into the yard like little rabbits into a garden. The sun was beating down through the large maples and dogwoods shading the front lawn. Tom and Lucy began to throw a baseball back and forth while Natalie sat on the porch appalled, and strangely energized by the latest gossip. “She didn’t?”

“Oh! He walked in on them?” Natalie’s mouth hung open for a moment. “It’s always the quiet ones…”

“Tom! Get off the hood of Mr. Johnson’s car!” She pulled the receiver away from her face as she yelled. Tom completely ignored her and continued to pound his fist into the hood.

“Sorry about that Susan, go on.” Natalie said as she pulled the phone back to her ear and listened for a moment. Soon after, a hardy laugh flew from her lips and she replied sardonically. “Yeah, I bet it took three hours for him to install the cable.”

Natalie’s laughter came to a halt as she turned to her daughter and growled through her teeth. “Lucy Marie, do not pick up that stick and hit your brother. Put it down, NOW!”

“Anyway, what did her husband do when he found them together?” She asked calmly, taking a sip of her tea and sitting back into her wicker chair.

“He threw… are you kidding me? That’s crazy.” Natalie shook her head in disbelief and finally noticed Tom back on the car. “Hold on…”

Like a volcano erupting, Natalie’s voice roared through the yard, echoing off the porch. “Tom, I said get off that car! I will not say it again. Don’t jump! What is wrong with you? You could bust your head open.”

“Sorry about that Susan. So, lamps were flying at the naked cable guy…” She listened for a few minutes, staring at the ice in her glass and swirling it with a small shake of her arm.

“What was she thinking? She has three kids, a great house, and a husband that works hard for her…” Before she could finish, Natalie abruptly changed key. “Oh my God! Get off that car Thomas Lee Greenwood! I have told you for the last time. You could fall and bust your head. Do you want that? Do you want to leave a mess for Mommy to clean up?"

She inhaled a labored sigh as she returned to the phone and listened to Susan. “No, I can talk. I just need something stronger in my tea.”

The End.

Text: Cover Art by CaptivatingStamper with Stampin' Up!
Publication Date: 07-07-2011

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