Picket Fences! Part 3


The next morning Joy got a telephone call.

"Hello" she said.


"Joy, this is Mary Lou. What did you do at Rhys' house yesterday? You stayed in there an awful long time."

"We sit in his livingtoom and chatted while we had coffee", said Joy, "I'll talk to you later Mary Lou. I got to fix breakfast. Larry's getting up."

"Alright, bye" said Mary Lou.




"Who was that on the telephone?" asked Larry.

"Just Mary Lou" said Joy.


The schoolbus and Larry's carpool pulled up in front of the house at the same time.

Larry hurried out to catch his ride. He couldn't afford to be late if he wanted that promotion at work.


And Arlene ran out the door to catch the schoolbus. The busdriver was honking the horn like it was a matter of life or death.


After Joy cleaned up the kitchen and dressed for the day, the telephone started ringing again.

"Hello" she said.


"Hey beautiful! You want to meet me downtown at the coffee shop?" asked Rhys.

"I don't know if I should or not" she said.

"It's just a cup of coffee at a public place" he said, "What's the harm in that?"

"Well, alright. I'll meet you there", she said.


The taxicab arrived a few minutes later. With a still undecided look on her face, Joy was on her way to the coffee shop to meet Rhys.




Rhys was waiting in front of The Handle and Spout when she stepped out of the taxicab.

"Hey beautiful. Why do you look so nervous?" he asked.

"I feel guilty about being out with anybody but Larry" she said.

"You're just going to drink a cup of coffee with me. There's nothing wrong with that", he said.

"You're right. I'm just being silly" she said.


"Rhys have you ever wondered who your grandfather was?" asked Joy.


"That all happened a long time ago. My grandfather was just someone who used Grace and then threw her away when she got pregnant" he said, "I figure she wanted to make ammends to my dad by leaving everything she owned to me."


"I really should be getting home. If Larry was to call or if Arlene was to get sick at school nobody knows where I am" she said.


"You worry too much about stuff that hasn't even happened" he said.

"I'm just cautious" she said.

"I think you'll be happier if you 'threw caution to the wind' " said Rhys.



"I think I better go home now" she said.

"Anything you say beautiful" said Rhys.


Then Joy called a taxicab.


Rhys gave her a hug goodbye . . .


And she left to go home.



To be continued . . .