Comeona his house

CHAIRLADY

 

After lots of tiring tramping thru furniture stores, I hit on just what I had pictured for our re-done kitchen that had miles to go from start to end. Our round kitchen table had to be donated to someplace or other. It's antiquated club feet were scuffed from years of using them for foot rests. I wanted more of an early American look without a butter churn in the corner. Joe, my usually adored, mate, took no interest whatsoever in my challenge. His wallet wasn't overflowing but he trusted me completely to stay within our limits.

 

'Joe, come with me Saturday. I love the chairs I found in Kopaks and a perfect table for our kitchen. Will you, will you?' 'Sorry, Babe, I have a golf date. Buy it if it's what you like.' That reply was unacceptable. My huff huffed. 'Either you go with me after your golf game or no anything nice for you at bed time.' My magic words worked.

 

Showered, changed Joe looked semi-happy. He wanted to go home from his golf game and just kibbitz around the house, do little things at his desk that have been neglected too long. 'Neglect them a little longer, Joe. Do you know where Kopak's is?' I asked. His face got a little pinkish when he barked at me, 'How can I not know? It's two blocks from my office.'

 

Inside, Mr. Jackson, welcomes us and leads us to the table and chairs I like. Joe is absolutely silent-not a smile, nod of his head, a yes or a no.'
'I assume , Joe, that you don't hate my choice. So, should we put a deposit down now? This time he winks an okay, leaves me discussing color, tax, delivery and looking for him to bring our charge card to the desk.

 

Two weeks later Mr. Jackson calls to set the delivery for the very next day. 'No good, Mr. Jackson. How's Thursday? I'll be here.' I contact Good Will to pick up the old set Wednesday A.M., work hard to clean away all signs of being used for ten years but the claw legs remain clawed. Watching out the front window I see Good Will drive past my house, phone them at once, and nobody knows anything. 'Be patient. They'll be there when they're there,' I'm told. The receiver clicks off. Thursday drags. The truck doesn't come

 

Friday our new table and chairs arrive at 10 a.m. Before they take the new set off the delivery truck, I hurry to them, explain that the old set hasn't been removed as promised by Good Will. The driver is less than pleasant. 'Where do you want this stuff?' I use my sugary voice and ask if he can come back later in the day and I will try to get Good Will here first. 'No can do. Your table and chairs are first off our truck. I can take your shipment into your house or back to the store. There will be an extra delivery fee.'

 

What a bloomin' mess! Nobody is nice. Nobody gives a rat's tail about anybody but themselves. A 45 watt idea comes to me. I call Mr. Jackson, explain what has happened and ask Mr. Kopak if their driver will put our old set on our lawn and cover it with a tarp, for an extra fee. 50 bucks and I'm in business. I get the furniture driver to tape the tarp several times around what was our kitchen set and bring in the new set. With my ingenuity at full mast, things are working out.

 

In the few minutes that our kitchen is empty, I notice the worn marks on the tile, scoff that off and wait for the new table and great looking chairs to come in. My choice was perfect. Joe comes home, agrees I did I nice job and goes to shower. I defrost a great dinner, set the table, add wine glasses and a bottle of Cabernet and sit down to wait.

 

Yikes! What the devil is in my back, pebbles? bricks? The round knobs in the back rest are miserably uncomfortable. I get a toss pillow from the living room and brace myself against it. First thing in the morning I am back at Kopak's making a big scene. He sells me a pad that fits over the pretty knobbed back and I ask for another one for Joe. He smiles and charges only $40. I never tell Joe.

 

In the morning I call Good Will and they tell me their truck was at my house at 8 a.m. There was no table/chair set on my lawn.

 

Somebody stole it for sure and I have a silly idea Joe has it stashed somewhere.