\u201cAlright Mikey, who is this by?\u201d Bryan asked as he switched from first to second gear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAgain, really?\u201d questioned Michael as he started to search his memory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The headrest speakers filled his ears with familiar lyrics but did not remind him of any Rockstar, only times and places. Another red light brought them to a sudden stop. Bryan\u2019s off-white 91 RX7 purred behind the stop line of the busy intersection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust guess,\u201d Bryan said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHall and Oates?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cForeigner?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDude\u201d\u2014Bryan stared in awe at his younger brother while waiting for the colored bulbs to change\u2014\u201c\u2019Hold the Line\u2019, by Toto.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The light turned green and with another smooth switch, the old Mazda twisted down 1st<\/sup> Avenue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat about this one?\u201d he continued, trying to keep the game going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael always thought of it as an endless battle, but it was pure pleasure for Bryan. Still, the older they got; the better Michael\u2019s guesses were. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPink Floyd?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n 3<\/em>rd<\/sup><\/em> gear<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bryan was disappointed by Michael\u2019s musical ear, \u201cAfter all these years?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe only time I listen to this crap is when I\u2019m with you!\u201d said Michael. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bryan dropped to second gear and took another winding turn around the autumn stained trees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Downshift.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Coasting.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Brakes.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n They came to another stop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are going to be late\u201d\u2014Michael checked his phone\u2014\u201dwe were supposed to help set up.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ll have time\u201d\u2014Bryan habitually smacked the CD player below the broken clock\u2014\u201cWhat about this one?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The carriageway was clear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n B<\/em>lock gear changed up to 5<\/em>th<\/sup><\/em>. <\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Strong gusts of wind filtered through the rolled down windows, messing up Michael\u2019s side swooped bangs but enhancing Bryan\u2019s long brown flow. He went from lane to lane, passing the traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll give you one hint\u2026 but it\u2019s a stretch.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re a stretch.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThink America.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust think!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard to hear when every bump makes the CD skip a beat.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow you\u2019re making up excuses and insulting me?\u201d asked Bryan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Coasting<\/em>.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another red light. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019ve had this piece of junk since you dropped out of high school, just get something new.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bryan shook his head admittingly. The RX7 he adoringly named after Lindsey Buckingham\u2019s better half had seen better days, but he still took good care of her. She was always clean. There wasn\u2019t much rust given all the winters she had seen, and it was obvious he gave her a good wax every three months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey man, Stevie Nicks the Speedy Quicks has never lost a race,\u201d bragged Bryan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah but you sure have,\u201d said Michael. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlright, one more hint\u2014Bryan adjusted the fishing lure that hung under his rearview mirror\u2014\u201cthink about our trip up north to Gram\u2019s cabin over the summer.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the fact that the last trip wasn\u2019t like every other year, this was still Michael\u2019s favorite place on Earth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBlue Oyster Cult?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo\u201d\u2014Bryan laughed at his brother\u2014\u201cthink patriotism.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Eagles!\u201d shouted Michael. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ________________________ <\/p>\n\n\n\n It was 3:00 p.m. The two brothers were neither late nor early as they strolled down South Oak Street. By this time, they were each tired of music and sat dulled in trance-like states. Michael observed the historical-style homes and admired the rows of old arboreal beauties on each edge of the road. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019re so empty,\u201d said Michael. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Bryan asked, after having his own deep thought interrupted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe sidewalks\u201d\u2014he wiped his runny nose\u2014\u201cthey were never this empty.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n They circled the cul-de-sac at the end of South Oak and parked in front of house 326. Bryan threw on his jacket and went straight for the door as Michael dug through the trunk for a poorly wrapped package crowned by a card. He grabbed the gifts and shut the trunk when, suddenly, his face was strangled from behind with a pinch on both ears. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t forget your mask nerd!\u201d Bryan said, as he hustled back towards the door. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After fixing his hair in the window reflection and adjusting his mask, Michael noticed his Great Aunt and Uncle parked right in front of Bryan\u2019s Mazda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Their car was still running. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael went to say hi, but heard the muffled sobbing of a man\u2019s voice coming from the red van and quickly turned around. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He met Bryan at the front banging on the door. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re supposed to go to the back,\u201d he said, \u201cstart reading the group messages.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n ________________________ <\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael opened the side gate to the backyard, a place he spent many days while growing up. In a glance, he noticed the changes. The old tire swing was now half a rope hanging from the lobbed leaved oak. Half of the wired fence was now seven-foot wood planks to hide the alley on the other side. The koi pond was emptied with a concaved leaf guard on top. The once prohibited firepit was now featured in the center of the yard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They were instantly greeted by their Aunt Autumn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHello, hello!\u201d she said, while unfolding some extra chairs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI need you boys to go into the basement and grab the table by the boiler.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe table?\u201d–Bryan muttered\u2014\u201cwe\u2019re eating outside?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDude for real, check your phone once in a while.\u201d said Michael. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The two brothers went into the house from the back door right as their Great Aunt and Uncle entered the yard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFrank, Rosemary!\u201d\u2014Autumn went in for a hug but then held herself back\u2014\u201csorry, force of habit.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh it\u2019s alright dear\u201d\u2014Rosemary held up her right arm\u2014\u201cElbows.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFrank, I am so sorry for your loss, and thank you for coming.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t miss it\u201d\u2014Frank took off his mask and glasses to wipe his eyes and blow his nose\u2014\u201cfor the world.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCan I get you anything?\u201d asked Autumn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe cider is in that crock pot, it\u2019s probably about war\u2014\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCoffee, please.\u201d interrupted Frank. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael and Bryan had come out the door huffing and puffing from under their masks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGosh Aunt Autumn; you know they sell plastic tables nowadays?\u201d asked Bryan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The gate swung open again and rattled the half of the yard\u2019s perimeter that wasn\u2019t wood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ________________________ <\/p>\n\n\n\n The yard grew smaller. Each chair was six feet apart and filled by one body and then another. Some fifteen friends and family members had just got comfortable when the table was finally set. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A long white tablecloth met the damp grass and fallen leaves. Warm cider and pumpkin pie on the left side and gifts and cards on the right. In the center between two bottles of hand sanitizer was a chocolate cake topped with strawberries and candles that resembled an eight and zero. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone seemed to scoot their seats a little closer to the fire pit to warm up. Their masks became chin diapers when they started to sip and snack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Each age group was present, so there was an answer to every question going around. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the midst of their conversations, no one but Michael and Bryan had noticed, but their second cousin Karen had taken a scoop of bean dip straight to her face shield while everyone was catching up. Luckily, their masks silenced the repressed chuckles that slipped out of their mouths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael answered the questions about college. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s the same really, I just don\u2019t have to wear pants to class.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n His sister Molly and her fianc\u00e9 who started the impressive fire explained how their wedding would go in December. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, two rooms with fifty people in each\u201d explained Molly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut all the siblings and us will go from the ceremony to the reception\u201d her beloved added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n No one quite knew what they meant, but held sympathy for them and applauded their attempt at making the best out of a bad situation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bryan explained how the pandemic ruined the drop shipping model for his \u201cStrange Shurt\u201d company, and Karen gave a visual demonstration as to why she had to wear a face shield instead of a mask. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe masks give me migraines, but this is a safe substitution.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rosemary explained to Molly and her fianc\u00e9\u2019s parents that they had just came from Frank\u2019s best friend\u2019s funeral. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But it was Frank himself who had finally spoke up and asked the question everyone was really wondering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, where\u2019s my big sister, where is the birthday girl?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The clacking of a walker behind his chair answered his question. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A few moments later, they were singing that song that no one wants to hear. Especially for the 80th<\/sup> time of their life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The cake was covered with clear wrap and had two holes for the candles. Autumn gave Grandma Linda a squirt bottle to make her wish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, it started to rain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ________________________ <\/p>\n\n\n\n Several minutes later the party was divided into the porch, the living area, and dining room. By the time Michael, Bryan and Molly\u2019s fianc\u00e9 got everything inside, they were completely soaked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bryan dripped into the living room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey google, play My Sweet Lord<\/em> by George Harrison.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael saw his grandmother go back to the kitchen after using the restroom. He grabbed his gifts and card and followed. He noticed the cover of the card was slightly smudged, and the wrapping paper to his gifts were breaking down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGranny, Happy Birthday\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The front of the card had his grandmother\u2019s favorite question written in acrylic paint, \u201cHave I told you lately that I love you?\u201d<\/em> Inside was a poem of poor handwriting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of every day, I love you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAwe, thank you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n This was odd and not the reaction Michael expected. He thought that maybe she would go back and read it with her glasses later on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She opened the wrapping and found what were two gifts. The first gift was one of her Christmas cookies tins. Some crumbs still shook inside. The other gift was a Spanish Rosetta Stone boxset she gave him before he started school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWow. Thank you so much\u201d, she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She hugged him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI love you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael\u2019s stomach churned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This was a memory he knew he would never forget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI love you too.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/english.illinoisstate.edu\/euphemism\/16-1\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2020\/11\/image.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n