Sprung At Last

A funny thing happens over the next few days: my luck changes.

On Friday, to my surprise and amazement, I receive an annual performance review filled with nothing but positive comments and an upbeat outlook.

On Saturday, I attend a lineage society meeting, where I share my news with a few people: It’s over, I can stay in my house. The ladies are thrilled for me, and hug me, and one of them gives me a gift on the spot: A wine tasting party for 25 people at a local winery. She bought it at a fundraiser and it was about to expire, and who needed a party more than me, she said.

The certificate arrived in my mailbox two days later. That same week, another item appeared in my box – some old family photos from a distant cousin who had ignored my past requests for them, made it clear she didn’t want to deal with me. There was a letter along with them, which ended, “Please keep in touch, if you’d like to.”

I checked in with my neighbor about the rats, asking if they’d like to look at services or what we should do, and receive a reply: We’ve got a handyman who will deal with this cheap, he’s great – would you like us to send him to you?

Great, I say. Perfect.

I start to send out invitations to the wine tasting, and slowly receive replies: At first, people mostly view the evite and don’t reply, waiting to see who is coming. But then, slowly, a small crowd starts to form, and then a bigger one. I become bold, and invite a couple I haven’t see in a long time. Yes, they say, great to hear from you. I invite a new member of my lineage society who seems nice but I haven’t really talked to much. I have plans that day, she says, but I’d love to meet for coffee.

So we make other plans, and have a wonderful morning one day, and make still more plans.

And then, I muster up all the courage I have, and send an evite to The Lawyer.