Tuesday Tales: From the Word CELEBRATION

Good morning. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend. Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales. Our word today is CELEBRATION. I’m starting a new story, a romantic comedy called PUMPKIN SPICE. It will be part of my Cocktails for You series.

“Drinks up,” I shouted across the bar into the crowded room. With the weather still mild, the garage doors to the patio were open, doubling the capacity of The Gilded Griffon. Thankfully, there was only one more costume-themed weekend to get through this year.

If anyone were to ask me to name my least favorite time of the year, it would be the so-called Halloween season. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the colors associated with autumn, but the unnatural interest in ghost, goblins, witches, vampires, shapeshifters, and the rest of the undead left me cold. Maybe it was because I’d grown up in Salem, the town that drew curious tourists intent on learning all about the misfortunes of others, like my great-great-great-aunt Hester Colton who’d been arrested for witchcraft. She’d been one of the lucky ones, released and sent home after months of incarceration and torture, but her last years had been spent alone, waiting for a husband who never returned from the sea, shunned by family, former friends, and neighbors alike. Today, Cole Cottage, managed by my Great-aunt Selma Cole, was open to the public. While visitors trooped through the house all year long, this month was always the busiest, and I avoided the place the way I had everyone and everything at the height of the pandemic.

I reached for my glass of soda, took a sip, and satisfied that all of my customers were okay, I turned to the next chit of orders. Tonight’s special, the Pumpkin Spice Martini, was a big hit.

“Boy, will I ever be glad when tonight’s over,” Melinda said, pulling on the bowtie that was part of the Hugh Hefner styled bunny costume she wore. “This damn thing is intent on strangling me.” She hung another order chit on the carousel and reached for the tray of martinis I’d set on the bar. “If it weren’t for the tips … Next year, I’ll demand a say in the costumes we have to wear.”

I laughed. “I agree. If I have to hear one more comment about what a cute pussy I am, I swear I’ll scream.”

Melinda laughed. “Well, at least most of you is covered. If it were any colder out, I’d have frostbite!”

“If it were colder out, the patio would be closed, and it would be like an oven in here. The suit may cover more, but the rubbery material itches.”

That’s it. Stay safe and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales