"Winter snuck in on us last night! If I’d been paying attention to the weatherman, instead of running my mouth all day, I might not have been lying there freezing with only one blanket on the bed. It was too cold to get up and too cold not to. Winter around here comes and goes with a will of its own. There are signs, of course, if you’re paying attention. But there’s also the drama going on, playing out in ways you could never imagine and taking your mind off important things like the weather.
"Like what Cousin Betty said yesterday. She claimed she saw Jimmy B. going in the back door of Sally’s trailer. This, in itself was not so suspicious - except it was two o’clock in the morning! Well, this was too good not to share, so I got on that telephone and burnt up the lines! Told everyone what was going on except Jimmy B.’s wife, that is. I would never do that. In fact, I was hoping he would keep on slipping around there so I myself could see what was going on. It wouldn’t be too difficult to stay up a little later than usual and just happen to take a notion to sit out on the porch after midnight.
"Got a good view from there. The old bat across the street leaves her porch light on all night, whereas I do not. This is gonna be better than my favorite soap opera, which I never miss. Jimmy B. thinks he’s so hot with all the women and he never gets caught flirting around by his wife. Sometimes I think she doesn’t care, anyway. I mean she’s always at the Women’s Club or the Bridge Club and always buys frozen dinners at the grocery store. It’s a wonder Jimmy B. has all that flab out front. You’d think he’d be starving for some real food by now! And he’d look a lot better if he’d cut off some of that wild, curly hair and trim that nasty looking thing he calls a beard. But I guess some women like the cave man look. Evidently Sally does or she wouldn’t let him in, in the middle of the night like that. Wonder what he looks like naked. Probably like a buffalo. In fact, the more I think about it, the clearer that picture is in my head.
"Guess I’d better fix us some food. And before I forget, Sally was down at the liquor store today buying some of the good stuff. Guess she figures she’s got to prime ole Buffalo Boy up! There she is, too, out in the yard in shorts, with a lawn mower, in this weather! And near as I can tell, there ain’t no grass to cut, that’s for sure. And wouldn’t you know it - there he is, driving by in that ratty piece of junk he calls a truck, eyes popping out of his head!
"Would you get up offa my rocking chair? You know I always sit there to read the newspaper. Okay - I’ll sit in the swing, but only for today.
"And listen to this! Cousin Betty says she thinks Jimmy B.’s wife has a huge insurance policy on him. She thinks he’s gonna get caught with the wrong woman one night and get himself shot! I’d sure rather have the money than that big ole ape myself! And won’t you look at that! A Cadillac just drove up to Sally’s place. And here she comes in a red dress that barely reaches her knees. And they’re driving off. Buffalo Jim may be out of luck tonight!”
Meanwhile, later next door, Sally and her date sat out on her front steps, watching the stars. “Looks like my nosy neighbor finally fell asleep on her porch swing.” Sally observed.
“She must be crazy. She’s been talking to herself all night.” her gentleman friend remarked.
“No, she doesn’t talk to herself, but I think you’re right about the crazy part.” Sally smiled.
“Who’s she talking to? She’s been running her mouth ever since we got back from dinner,” he questioned in confusion.
“Fluffy,” she answered with a grin, “her cat!”
