The moving van pulled up in front of the white, two-story house with a little picket fence that surrounded the yard. The fence had fallen into disrepair years ago, but the lawn was kept up reasonably well. A large burly man with shaggy sideburns and a cigarette hanging out of his mouth crept out of the moving van and was shortly joined by his partner who was blond and much shorter in stature.
"1557 Gosling Road." the shorter man said as he squinted at the numbers on the curb.
"This is the place Wally. Let's unload the truck." the larger man said in a gruff voice without even bothering to take the cigarette out of his mouth. He headed to back of the moving van and called out to Wally, "What are you standing there for? Go knock on the door and let them know we are here."
Wally marched up to the front door and rung the doorbell. A few moments later Shannon opened the door.
"Uh, can I help you?" Shannon eyed the shabby looking man standing in front of her, "I don't have any money if you're looking for a handout."
"Listen lady, I don't want to be here either, but it's my job. We're the moving guys. Where do you want all your junk...I mean priceless possessions." he said sarcastically. Suddenly Nicole appeared at the door.
"Hi Wally. Just bring the stuff in and I'll can show you where to put it." she said with a smile.
Wally turned and headed in the direction of the truck.
"No respect, I tell ya." he grumbled.
"What did you say to him?" Nicole questioned.
"How was I supposed to know who he was? He looked like a beggar to me." Shannon explained.
"Sometimes I just don't understand you." Nicole shook her head and headed out towards the moving van.
Scene 5:Renee and Ted entered a cafe. Nothing fancy, but it is a very special place to them because it is where they first met. They said hello to some people that they know, before they were seated. In the back was a video arcade, where Chris and Ryan were playing games.
"10 more points, and you're buying!" Chris smirked to Ryan.
"Don't gloat so soon, I'm saving my best for last." Ryan responded. "YES! See, what did I tell ya?" Ryan exclaimed, as he scored another point, and the game was tied.
Chris looked over at the front of the cafe. "Hey it's Dean and his date! Whoa she is one fine-"
Ryan interrupted, "Where!?" and looks around. As he did Chris scored another point and won the game.
Chris laughed "You are such a sucker Ryan!"
Ryan was embarrassed, "Yeah yeah..."
"Hey and you're buying! And I sure am hungry after that game. Let's see what do I want?" Chris went over to the menu, near the front of the cafe. Ted spotted him.
"Hey Chris!" Ted called out.
"Ted, Renee, great to see you!" Chris ran over to them.
"Don't tell me you're here by yourself?" Ted asked.
"No I'm here with Ryan, but he's being a bit of a baby cuz I kicked his butt at a video game." Yelled to the back, "Hey Ryan quit pouting and get over here, it's Ted and Renee!"
Ryan ran over. "Hey you two, long time no see! How is married life treating you?"
"Wonderful!" Renee said with a glow. "Couldn't be better!"
Ted looked at Renee and said softly, "You know, I've always thought of Chris and Ryan as my younger brothers. Think we could tell them the news?"
"I think that is a fantastic idea". Renee replied.
"Guys, there's something Renee and I would like to share with you, some wonderful news we found out today." Ted said.
"Well we're always ones for good news, what is it? Chris asked curiously.
"Renee is pregnant!" Ted said with enthusiasm.
"Hey that's great!" Ryan said.
"Congratulations, you two!" Chris added.
The guys shook Ted's hand, Ryan hugged Renee, and Chris kissed her on the cheek.
"Someday you both will have a beautiful wife, and be starting a family." Ted said as he put his arm around Renee and pulled her closer.
"Thanks!" Chris replied. He then looked at Ryan. "And don't feel bad buddy, you can always get a puppy!"
Ryan glared and pushed Chris. The guys began to fool around and fight as Ted and Renee laughed.
Scene 6:"Helloooooo! Oh goodness, is anyone here?" an older woman stepped through the open door. Her hair was a curly white and tied up in the back with a bow that matched the frilly blue dress she was wearing.
"Well they just shouldn't leave the door open like this. I mean, who knows what kind of strange people will come in off the street. I'll just close it for them." she turned and slammed the door.
"Ouch!" a muffled cry and a crash sounded through the door along with a long stream of cuss words that would make a sailor blush.
"Oh dear." the white-haired woman opened the door and saw Wally's big, burly partner lying with his back turned to her on a now smashed box on the porch. "Humph, it's not very smart to stand in front of a door when someone closes it. Didn't your mother ever tell you that? Besides, I should wash your mouth out with soap for talking like that."
"Oh yeah, well you can take that door and...," he man gritted his teeth and turned his head to tell this woman exactly what she should do with that door when he was love struck by the beauty of her face and litheness of her body, "...close it on me anytime you want to."
"Hi Mamm. Nice to meet you. I'm Willard." he quickly stood up, brushed himself off and offered her a grimy hand. Then he flashed a large toothless grin, "and you are...'
"No one who should concern you." she twirled around and started to walk away in disgust when Nicole entered the room.
"What is going on in here?" Nicole was startled to see a strange woman in her living room and even more surprised to see that Willard was spitting on his hands and smoothing down his hair in an effort to look presentable.
"Hello. I'm your next door neighbor, the Widow Twanky. I was coming over here to welcome you, I am the head of the Welcome Wagon you know, when I was verbally absconded by this gentleman here...although I use the term loosely."
"I'm real sorry Mamm. Maybe I could make it up to you over dinner."
"I think not." Twanky said.
"Are all our things moved inside yet Willard?" Nicole said trying to change the subject.
"Uh yeah...except for that box out there. I had a little...uh accident. I won't charge you for that one."
"That's okay, it only had my sister's Elvis alarm clock collection in it. I've been looking to get rid of it for a while now."
"Thank you, I'll send you the bill then." Willard turned towards Twanky, "I hope to see you again dear lady."
"Well, yes, don't call me, I'll call you" Twanky called after him as he walked back to the truck.
"Hi. It's nice to meet you. I'm Nicole Conrad and my sister Shannon is upstairs
unpacking." Nicole shook Twanky's hand, " I hope Willard didn't startle you. He may look a little scary, but he's really not so bad.""Well, that mouth of his is going to get him into trouble."
"What can I do for you...uh...Twanky?"
"It's what I can do for you. I thought since this was your first night in a strange town that you might want someone to show you the sites. I know the most darling cafe to have dinner in." The widow looked at the jeans and T-shirt Nicole was wearing, "Then we should go shopping. You could benefit from someone of my expertise."
"I guess that would be okay. Do you mind waiting while I freshen up? I've been unpacking all day. I'll ask Shannon if she would like to come too."
"Oh course dear. Take all the time you need. You wouldn't want to go out looking like you have been through the meat grinder, now would you?"
"Uh...I guess not." Nicole wasn't at all sure what to make of this woman, but decided that it would be a good idea to start to know their neighbors, "Please, have a seat on the couch. I'll be back soon."
Twanky looked down at the dusty couch with the hideous 70's color scheme and turned her nose up in disgust.
"No thank you dear. I think I'll stand."
Nicole shrugged her shoulders and turned to walk up the stairs.
Scene 7:"Why are we going out with this obviously disturbed woman?" Shannon complained as she pulled her sports car into the parking lot of Sorbo's cafe.
"Because we need to start fitting in here."
"After meeting Twanky, I'm not sure I want too." Shannon laughed as she stopped the car.
"Yoohoo! Over here girls!" They saw Twanky waving her arms frantically from another spot in the lot where she had stepped out of her blue Slugbug.
"Come on. Let's get this over with!" Shannon put on her best smile and walked towards Twanky.
"Follow me girls. I'll get us a good table." Nicole and Shannon followed Twanky to the door of the cafe and walked in.
The inside had a cozy feel to it. The counter was against the back wall and in one corner there was a video game machine, which had been taken over by a group of 12-year-old boys. There were a number of tables and chairs set up around perimeter and a jukebox sat squarely in another corner of the room crooning out an old country tune. Twanky led them directly to the counter to order.
"So, what do you want, a boy or a girl?" Ryan asked Renee as they say at a table in the cafe.
"Ryan, that's a stupid question to ask. Give them some time...hey, who is that?" Chris elbowed Ryan as he looked in the direction of Twanky, Nicole and Shannon.
"I don't know. They must be new in town. Don't worry Chris, I'll leave one of them for you." Ryan smirked.
"How generous of you, seeing as how you would have better luck asking out an oak tree."
"Well, that one there is looking at me." Ryan waved to Shannon who had briefly glanced in his direction.
"No, no, no, no, no. She was looking at me dog boy. Admit it, I'm better looking." Chris countered.
"Uh...you guys might want to compose yourselves. They are walking this way." Ted said.
"Hello everybody. I'd like you to meet the newest additions to our humble town of Corinth. This is Nicole and Shannon Conrad. Let's give them a big Corinth welcome, shall we?" Twanky said as she approached the table.
"Absolutely" Ryan smiled as he looked at Shannon.
Chris immediately stood up and shook Nicole's hand. "Hellooooo!"
