Things Used To Be So Easy PG-13 Cham Challenge #167
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2015 7:09 pm
I do not own any recognizable characters, no copyright infringement is intended.
Anna was rocking on the porch of The Grand Hotel sipping an unsweetened ice tea. Damn old age and diabetes.
A very handsome young man sat next to her and was talking quietly in his IPhone. “I don’t want excuses, I want to know what technical glitch closed down the stock market for three hours. Not acceptable and heads will roll.” He turned his attention to Anna. “So are you enjoying yourself?
“Oh Josef, it’s amazing. It reminds me so much of that vacation we spent at Greenbrier in 1975.
He laughed. “If I recall you didn’t want to be separated from Pong and the Betamax machine for a week.”
She smiled. “I was getting used to luxuries I never dreamed of before. I never even saw color television before I moved in with you. I thought you were so rich.”
“I was and still am. So tell me how is the world treating you?
“Diabetes, morning stiffness and I pee every hour but it could be worse. It’s just old age.”
“You’re a baby.
“I’m going to be seventy soon.”
“A mere child when I was seventy….
Anna finished. “The telescope was new and Dom Perignon invented Champagne.”
“Speaking of which. He raised his hand and an elderly server sped over as if a man a third his age.
“Mr. Kostan what can I get you?
“Champagne for me and the lady.”
“I shouldn’t,,,,Anna said.
The server smiled. “Miss Anna you haven’t changed a bit since 1975.”
“Xavier, you’re a terrible liar.”
Josef turned his attention to the old man. “Please tell me Xavier that you aren’t working here out of necessity. If so I’ll have words with that nephew of yours.
“Mr. Kostan, that money you invested to get him started on Cabbage Patch Kids changed the lives of my whole family. I just love this old place. I only work a few weeks in the summer now.
Josef nodded and turned back to Anna. “What are you having for dinner tonight?”
“The fish.”
“You hate fish.” Josef said.
“Yes, but it’s healthy and….
“Anna, life is too short. I’m not saying be reckless but for the next few days…..splurge.”
Anna wondered how short he thought her life was going to be, she had heard that vampires could smell disease. She changed the subject.
“The sky is beautiful today. The girls should have a great croquet game.
He shrugged. “They will stumble over each other just like you and your friends. In the end they’ll have a good time.” “You’ll meet all of them tonight at my private party.”
“Josef, those girls weren’t even born when I served you. They don’t want to spend time with an old woman. I'm just happy you invited me on this vacation.
“Anna, if I recall you had to spend time with Mary who served during the depression. They’ll be thrilled.
Anna laughed. “Or else?”
“Exactly.
“I remember those days.”
“You were always in trouble.”
“Trouble found me.” Anna insisted.
“Fortunately not serious trouble. You wouldn’t believe what young people get involved with these days. I ordered takeout in Chicago last week and it was laced with Ecstasy.”
“That’s unbelievable. Agencies are supposed to screen….
“Tell me about it. Josef agreed. “Well, they won’t be serving food anytime soon. His phone vibrated. He glanced at the caller ID. ‘I need to take this. Laura, this had better be good.”
Josef listened quietly for about twenty seconds and then said. “Burn the cotton-poly blend, find my Armani suit and tell that tailor if there is ever another mistake it will be his last.”
Anna chucked. “Is that the same Laura?”
“There is only one. She wanted to eat the tailor but it’s not worth a cleanup unless she can’t find my Armani.
“Laura, was a newbie back in the day.”
“Yeah she was two when we went to Greenbrier. Now she’s all grown up, .but still terrorizing freshies. Anna shall we head out to see the match?”
She slowly tried to rise from her chair and his strong arm lifted her up like a baby.
“Things used to be so easy back in the day.” She said quietly.
Josef nodded politely, he had heard this lament from hundreds of old women but he knew the truth. The only easy life was an immortal life.
Anna was rocking on the porch of The Grand Hotel sipping an unsweetened ice tea. Damn old age and diabetes.
A very handsome young man sat next to her and was talking quietly in his IPhone. “I don’t want excuses, I want to know what technical glitch closed down the stock market for three hours. Not acceptable and heads will roll.” He turned his attention to Anna. “So are you enjoying yourself?
“Oh Josef, it’s amazing. It reminds me so much of that vacation we spent at Greenbrier in 1975.
He laughed. “If I recall you didn’t want to be separated from Pong and the Betamax machine for a week.”
She smiled. “I was getting used to luxuries I never dreamed of before. I never even saw color television before I moved in with you. I thought you were so rich.”
“I was and still am. So tell me how is the world treating you?
“Diabetes, morning stiffness and I pee every hour but it could be worse. It’s just old age.”
“You’re a baby.
“I’m going to be seventy soon.”
“A mere child when I was seventy….
Anna finished. “The telescope was new and Dom Perignon invented Champagne.”
“Speaking of which. He raised his hand and an elderly server sped over as if a man a third his age.
“Mr. Kostan what can I get you?
“Champagne for me and the lady.”
“I shouldn’t,,,,Anna said.
The server smiled. “Miss Anna you haven’t changed a bit since 1975.”
“Xavier, you’re a terrible liar.”
Josef turned his attention to the old man. “Please tell me Xavier that you aren’t working here out of necessity. If so I’ll have words with that nephew of yours.
“Mr. Kostan, that money you invested to get him started on Cabbage Patch Kids changed the lives of my whole family. I just love this old place. I only work a few weeks in the summer now.
Josef nodded and turned back to Anna. “What are you having for dinner tonight?”
“The fish.”
“You hate fish.” Josef said.
“Yes, but it’s healthy and….
“Anna, life is too short. I’m not saying be reckless but for the next few days…..splurge.”
Anna wondered how short he thought her life was going to be, she had heard that vampires could smell disease. She changed the subject.
“The sky is beautiful today. The girls should have a great croquet game.
He shrugged. “They will stumble over each other just like you and your friends. In the end they’ll have a good time.” “You’ll meet all of them tonight at my private party.”
“Josef, those girls weren’t even born when I served you. They don’t want to spend time with an old woman. I'm just happy you invited me on this vacation.
“Anna, if I recall you had to spend time with Mary who served during the depression. They’ll be thrilled.
Anna laughed. “Or else?”
“Exactly.
“I remember those days.”
“You were always in trouble.”
“Trouble found me.” Anna insisted.
“Fortunately not serious trouble. You wouldn’t believe what young people get involved with these days. I ordered takeout in Chicago last week and it was laced with Ecstasy.”
“That’s unbelievable. Agencies are supposed to screen….
“Tell me about it. Josef agreed. “Well, they won’t be serving food anytime soon. His phone vibrated. He glanced at the caller ID. ‘I need to take this. Laura, this had better be good.”
Josef listened quietly for about twenty seconds and then said. “Burn the cotton-poly blend, find my Armani suit and tell that tailor if there is ever another mistake it will be his last.”
Anna chucked. “Is that the same Laura?”
“There is only one. She wanted to eat the tailor but it’s not worth a cleanup unless she can’t find my Armani.
“Laura, was a newbie back in the day.”
“Yeah she was two when we went to Greenbrier. Now she’s all grown up, .but still terrorizing freshies. Anna shall we head out to see the match?”
She slowly tried to rise from her chair and his strong arm lifted her up like a baby.
“Things used to be so easy back in the day.” She said quietly.
Josef nodded politely, he had heard this lament from hundreds of old women but he knew the truth. The only easy life was an immortal life.