| General Fiction posted January 10, 2023 |
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a short story
Could I Get a Cup
by Bill Schott
Jon is in his family’s old neighborhood for business and stops in at his aunt and her new husband’s apartment.
“Jon, would you like some coffee?” asks Phil, Jon’s new uncle.
“Sure, Uncle Phillip.”
“You don’t gotta call’m uncle, Jonny,” says Jon’s aunt Phyllis. “Phil will be fine.”
“Sure, Aunt Phyllis."
“I don’t mind if you call me Uncle Phillip, Jon – uh , Jonny.”
“Miles is his uncle, Phil; not you,” says Phyllis.
“Oh yeah?” returns Phil. “I guess HE can get HIS nephew a cup of coffee.”
“Don’t be a schmuck, Phil,” says his bride.
“I don’t need coffee, Unc – ah – Phi – sir.”
“He’ll get you coffee, Jonny. It ain’t like he bought it. He ain’t got no job!”
“It’s only temporary, I told you.”
“I have business,” says Jon, noting the time.
“Not until Phil gives you a cup a coffee, Jonny. Phil! Coffee!”
“I’ve had it with you, Phyllis!” yells Phillip, brandishing a wooden spoon.
“It’s a gun!” screams Phyllis.
Jon looks, with a mix of emotions, at the wooden spoon and his non-uncle.
“What is going on?”
Phyllis begins laughing as Phil casually returns the wooden spoon to a utensil keeper by the stove.
“Improv, Jonny!” chimes his aunt.
“It’s what we’re doing this summer at the community theater,” says Phil.
That reminds Jon about the business he is here to do.
“Aunt Phyllis – Uncle Phillip, I am not here to just visit, though, I have to say, it was – dramatic. I represent Crazy Joe, Jr., and he asked me, personally, to come here and collect on the loan he extended to you.”
“No kiddin’, Jonny?” says Phyllis. “You’re collectin’ for Crazy Joe?”
“No, Aunt Phyllis. Crazy Joe passed a couple of months ago. Junior is running the business now. He wants all accounts up to date.”
“It’s a small world – ain’t it,” says Phyllis.
“Well, as soon as this next season is over, we’ll have enough dough to pay off the loan and –”
Jon puts up his hand to halt Phillip’s talking.
“Up to date, Uncle Phillip. He wants them paid off.”
“We ain’t got it, Jonny,” says Phyllis, looking at Jon with saddening eyes.
“What can we do, Jon?” asks Phillip.
Jon makes eye contact with both, then smiles.
“How about a cup of coffee and we call it square.”
With bursts of laughter all three hug and sit for the best cups of coffee ever.
Jon is in his family’s old neighborhood for business and stops in at his aunt and her new husband’s apartment.
“Jon, would you like some coffee?” asks Phil, Jon’s new uncle.
“I don’t mind if you call me Uncle Phillip, Jon – uh , Jonny.”
“Miles is his uncle, Phil; not you,” says Phyllis.“Oh yeah?” returns Phil. “I guess HE can get HIS nephew a cup of coffee.”
“Don’t be a schmuck, Phil,” says his bride.
“I don’t need coffee, Unc – ah – Phi – sir.”
“He’ll get you coffee, Jonny. It ain’t like he bought it. He ain’t got no job!”“It’s only temporary, I told you.”
“I have business,” says Jon, noting the time.“Not until Phil gives you a cup a coffee, Jonny. Phil! Coffee!”
“I’ve had it with you, Phyllis!” yells Phillip, brandishing a wooden spoon.“It’s a gun!” screams Phyllis.
Jon looks, with a mix of emotions, at the wooden spoon and his non-uncle.“What is going on?”
Phyllis begins laughing as Phil casually returns the wooden spoon to a utensil keeper by the stove.“Improv, Jonny!” chimes his aunt.
“It’s what we’re doing this summer at the community theater,” says Phil.
That reminds Jon about the business he is here to do.
“Aunt Phyllis – Uncle Phillip, I am not here to just visit, though, I have to say, it was – dramatic. I represent Crazy Joe, Jr., and he asked me, personally, to come here and collect on the loan he extended to you.”
“No kiddin’, Jonny?” says Phyllis. “You’re collectin’ for Crazy Joe?”
“No, Aunt Phyllis. Crazy Joe passed a couple of months ago. Junior is running the business now. He wants all accounts up to date.”
“It’s a small world – ain’t it,” says Phyllis.
“Well, as soon as this next season is over, we’ll have enough dough to pay off the loan and –”
Jon puts up his hand to halt Phillip’s talking.
“Up to date, Uncle Phillip. He wants them paid off.”
“We ain’t got it, Jonny,” says Phyllis, looking at Jon with saddening eyes.
“What can we do, Jon?” asks Phillip.
Jon makes eye contact with both, then smiles.
“How about a cup of coffee and we call it square.”
With bursts of laughter all three hug and sit for the best cups of coffee ever.
 Recognized |
© Copyright 2024. Bill Schott All rights reserved.
Bill Schott has granted FanStory.com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
