7

hree months later.......

  Sam Stone came home to his wife, it was his regular quitting time at his garage, a little after 8pm. Lydia was at the stove getting supper ready. 
  Sam walked over and hugged her around the waist and gave he a peck on the back of her neck, "How's my little hot dog bun?" 
  "I'm real fine Sam, sit down and I'll get your supper and you can have a bath before bedtime." 
  "Ah, spaghetti cooked by a pretty Italian chick" said Sam as he dug into his meal and bread. 
  Lydia sat down to eat too but just sat there looking and listening to Sam. Sam was going on about how good the business was going. After a few queries about lawnmowers Sam had started selling them as well as roto-tillers and chain saws, he had sold 20 units so far. He hired on Billy the bum to work around the station and only gave him 50 cents an hour. Billy cleaned up the place, pumped gas and put the lawnmowers and stuff together. 
  Donald had the repair end of the business going real well, Sam and him had thought of another money maker, they started selling auto parts, both new and used to some of the old boys who did their own car repairs. They were thinking of selling tools too. 
  Yes business was good thought Sam as looked over at Lydia, she had a" far from me look" on her face, her aura was glowing. Sam asked "What's wrong dear?" 
  "Well Sam you know when I went to the bank today to deposit our money and make the loan payment, I stopped at the Doctor's and well Sam we're pregnant, baby." 
  Sam leapt up and swung around the table and kissed Lydia and then let out a scream of joy they could hear in the next county. "Lydia you have made me so happy, you, this business, being back in Paradise, having our own home, now a baby, I hope it's a boy." 
  After they settled down Lydia cleaned up the kitchen as Sam went to have his bath after a hot day humming Louie Lou I. 

  Lydia came over to the station with some breakfast for the boys and asked if Sam had told them all the good news, "no honey you tell them."
   "Well guys one day we are going to have to let one of you go, we're going to have a baby and in about 16 years or so he'll need a job" said Lydia. They all laughed till a customer pulled in. 
  Sam and Donald were shooting the breeze when Billy came in with the cash from a sale a gave it to Sam to punch into the till. Lydia put her arm around Billy's shoulder and led him towards the house saying she had some important work for them to do. 
  A foreign sports car pulled in and parked at the foot of old glory, the flagpole Sam had put in front of the garage. Sam went to the door of the office,  "Damn, it's Cathy." 
  "Well Mr Stone how have you been? I see every day your shop is doing real good. How come you never come over to the cafe?" Cathy asked with a grin. 
  "How come you don't buy your gas here?" asked Sam. 
  "Not my car, some guy's, I just hopped into it to come over her to ask 2 little things of you. I'm starting to have live acts at the cafe Fridays and Saturday nights, can I put up a handbill by that poster of an old rodeo? Sam, I would like to ask you and your wife to come over tonight as my guest and see my first act, since we're neighbors." she requested sweetly, like a one armed child. 
  Sam took the handbill and taped it up on the window and told Cathy he and Lydia would love to go as they had a little celebrating to do. Sam read the handbill and said who's this guy John Prine? "
  He's from Chicago or somewhere, pretty good, not bad I am told, he's got one LP record out already. Read that quote by Kris Kristofferson on the poster. 
"He's 22, sings like he's 102" read Sam. "We'll be there a little after eight" and he waved to Cathy as she sped away. He went into the house. "Billy, Billy" he shouted. 
  "We're back here Sam." responded Lydia. Sam walked out back of the house and Billy was pounding wooden stakes into the ground and Lydia had a big tape measure out. 
  "What all this?"  Sam wondered aloud. 
  "Bedrooms for Sam Jr. and little Lydia" beamed Lydia. "Billy is going to pump your fuel and your going to show me if your a good carpenter like your Grandpa." 
  Sam walked away muttering "it don't make much sense that common sense don't make no sense no more."

Lydia says "I can't complain"

7