Good morning Boys and Girls,

Here's Snippet two from the new book.

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Helen Meeker tugged her coat on and spoke over her shoulder to husband Del who was finishing up in the bathroom. “Don’t forget to listen for the timer. It’ll go off in about twenty minutes. You’re not going to eat it right away, so just take it out of the oven and you can heat it up later. You don’t need to put it in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat, just put it back in the oven for ten minutes at... say, three twenty-five. Make sure you turn the temperature down before you reheat it though. If you leave it at 400, you’ll burn it.”

Del flushed and opened the door while he washed his hands. “I got it Helen. I’ve done this a couple of times before.”

“I know, I know. Have fun. I’ll be at Gwen’s.” She walked over and kissed Del on the cheek just as he exited the bathroom. “Oh Del, for goodness sakes, use some spray in there would you?” And she left.

Del found some spray in the linen closet and after a couple of quick bursts, used the door as a fan, waving it back and forth to disperse both the spray and the odor he’d created. He considered leaving the spray on the vanity for any of his buddies who might use the john tonight, but decided the risk of them over-spraying with the flowery air freshener outweighed the risk of them stinking up the place with their own natural emanations.

He walked out to the kitchen and checked the timer, then opened the oven door a crack to look at the pizza. It was just starting to brown.

He looked around and made sure the table was set up to his satisfaction. Del was especially proud of the new green felt poker overlay, Helen had given it to him for his birthday last month. Tonight would be the first time they’d use it. It looked great, a real poker table complete with all the appropriate markings and a padded rail with seven drink holders molded right in. The chips sat ready next to his seat. He’d be the banker tonight since he was hosting. The chips were new too. No more of the red white and blue plastic jobs in the old brown revolving bakeolite rack.

The two new boxes of genuine clay chips Helen ordered special had come in three muted tones. He loved them; finally, real clay chips with the words “Meeker’s Millions” printed on each and every one .

Helen. God he was lucky to have found her all those years ago. Del knew it very well, even though throughout their marriage he been far too sparse with his praise. Why was that? He’d have to change that; he owed it to her. This was the third or fourth time this had come to mind in the last week or two. Enough. From now on, he’d make sure she realized how much he’d needed her over the 43 years they’d been together; how much he appreciated her.

He had taken her for granted far too often, sometimes for years at a time. No more. He was so thankful she’d never found out about the few times he’d been unfaithful; especially the relationship with Susie, his one time secretary with whom he’d slept off and on for half a decade. He couldn’t dwell on that. Not now. There was too much good stuff happening now. Besides, that had been years ago and Susie was gone.

As for the chips and the felt overlay? -Helen had refused to tell him how much they cost, and he didn’t really care. He’d made the expected noises about her having been too extravagant, but in truth, he knew very well they were set just fine, and no matter how much she’d spent, there was no way he’d even notice it within the context and framework of his - their - overall financial picture. Thinking about that fact made Del prouder than just about anything else in his life. He’d done extremely well, and he intended to enjoy his retirement, something he was just getting used to since it too was new to him and had begun even more recently than his last birthday. This was, in fact, week number one of his retired life, and just day number five.

The doorbell rang, as the first of six visitors arrived.

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Be good to everyone...