POTHOLE PERILS

I just got back from a trip to the Netherlands and not ONE pothole to be found anywhere I went. Now that I'm back in the States...

“I swear I'm going to be pulled over for drunk driving!” I cried as I stormed into the house.

My husband, Steven and son, Alex both stopped what they were doing and looked over at me. Steven looked mad. “Are you kidding me?”

“What?” Now I was confused. I looked at Alex, who just looked disappointed in me. “Wait! No, I wasn't drinking!” I cried. “And I certainly wouldn't go out and drive if I did!” I dropped my coat on the chair and went over to give Alex a hug. “I'm sorry I scared you.” I looked over at Steven. “It's the damned potholes! I've been swerving all over the roads trying to miss them!”

Steven gave a sigh of relief. “I know! They've been crazy this year!”

“Every day on my way to work, I see a new one.” I sat down on the couch and began to rub my jaw.

“What's wrong?” Steven asked.

“Every pothole that I didn't miss I realized I would grit my teeth as my poor car slammed in the hole. I've been gritting them so hard, for the past twenty minutes, I swear I think I've chipped a tooth!”

Steven shook his head. “I know what you mean. There are roads I won't even take because they're so bad.” He went into the kitchen and came back with a bottle of water for me.

“Thanks.” I unscrewed the cap and took a sip.

“I wonder when they're going to start filling them?” I took another sip from my water bottle.

By now, Alex had gotten bored with our conversation. “Let me know if you need any help starting dinner.” he said before he left the room.

I looked over at Steven. “Did he just say he'd help make dinner?” I whispered.

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “I'm pretty sure that's what he said.”

“Hey, Alex!” I called.

He came out of his room. “Yeah?” He came back into the living room.

“Did you just say you'd help make dinner tonight?” I asked. I couldn't help but smile.

He hesitated for a moment. “Um, sure. What were you planning on making?”

“I was thinking pasta.” I pointed to the kitchen. “I've already defrosted the sauce, the pasta's down in the pantry and there's salad stuff in the refrigerator.”

“Okay.” He started to go into the kitchen, but then stopped and turned around. “Do you want me to heat up the sauce or go get the pasta?”

“I thought you said you were making dinner tonight?” I couldn't help but smile.

“I said I'd help.” He held up his pointer finger as he corrected me. “And I only did that because you usually come right home and start to cook. But you're pothole story was getting you so aggravated I thought dinner might be backed up.” Now it was his time to start smiling. “It was just my way of giving you a gentle reminder, because I'm starving!”

“Well, you're stuck helping now.” I got up and went into the kitchen. “You go get the pasta and I'll start the salad.”

Steven came into the kitchen. “Anything I can do?”

“Sure, you can put the water on.” I went cabinet and pulled out a bottle of red wine. “Now that I'm not planning on doing any more driving today, I think I'll have a nice glass of this with dinner.” I put the bottle on the counter as Alex came back with the pasta.

I turned and looked at Alex as I reached into the cabinet for a glass. “This way I can finish my pothole story while we're eating dinner!”

Alex gave an very unenthusiastic, “Yeah.” as he put the pasta box down on the counter.