Doris and Peter – A Love Story

Here’s a short story I wrote about a young couple named Doris and Peter.  I hope you enjoy.

In early May, Doris woke up one morning and she knew it was time.  She looked at Peter and gave a slight nod.  Peter looked at Doris and nodded right back.  They said nothing more.  They were in love.  The work began immediately.

Doris and Peter spent what felt like an eternity looking for the perfect spot to make it all happen.  They searched independently for a while, and then came together to review each other’s selections and make a choice.

In the end, it was Doris’ intuition that prevailed.  She had found the prefect spot; so much so, that Peter didn’t bother arguing that it smelled a little too much like the previous tenants. 

Above all, it was quiet, isolated and intimate.  It was the perfect spot for the two of them, away from prying eyes and interruptions. 

They worked hard to convert their spot into one worthy of a family.  They gathered everything they needed to make their house a home. Expectedly, Doris and Peter spent most of their time on the bedroom.  It was, after all, the most important room of all… for reasons that were obvious, intuitive and natural to them both.

It felt like an eternity before it was perfect, but in reality, it only took a few days. 

When they had finished, they again looked at each other.  Doris nodded at Peter.  Peter, ever the jokester, shook his head vigorously and even gave a little whistle.  They both knew it was time. 

They consumated their relationship that night.

Doris’ instincts were unflappable.  She knew immediately that there would be more than one.  More than one mouth to feed.  More than one heart to mind.  More than one soul to keep from the dangers of the world.

When the day came, and she found herself caring for 4 little ones, she wasn’t surprised or even daunted.  She was proud, caring, and she worked incredibly hard to provide for all 4 of them.  She was after all a working Mom with no time to slow down.

Peter, to his credit, worked equally hard to provide for his family.  He shared in the preparation of meals, and was a vigilant and aggressive protector.  No harm would come to his family.

Then, one Saturday, their world was nearly rocked to its core.  An intruder attempted to break into their sanctuary… in broad daylight, no less.  The intruder carefully opened the door to their home, but much to the surprise of Peter and Doris, it was the cries of their children that frightened the intruder away.

After this incident, Doris and Peter knew they would have to leave, and soon.  They worked hard to make sure the kids thought nothing of the attempted break-in, but it was clear to them both that they would all be moving on in the near future.

Doris gave it a week, at most.  Peter gave it two weeks. 

Two weeks, thought Doris.  They had worked so hard to make their house a home.  It seemed unfair to move on so quickly.  Peter, on the other hand, always knew their time in their home would be short.  Sure, he had hoped they’d be able to stay longer.  But he never lost site of the realities of life. 

Neither Doris nor Peter knew that the would-be intruder was still watching.  waiting.  Wishing they would leave sooner rather than later so he could FINALLY BBQ FOOD FOR HIS F’ING FAMILY!  DAMN BIRDS!  GET THE HELL OUT OF MY BBQ!  SERIOUSLY!  BABIES – GROW UP AND FLY AWAY ALREADY SO I CAN RECLAIM MY BBQ AND MAKE A NICE STEAK, MAYBE SOME SHRIMP… MMM… SHRIMP… DORIS, PETER, I HAVE BEEN MORE THAN ACCOMODATING!  IT’s TIME TO PACK UP AND GET GONE! 

I’VE EVEN WRITTEN A BLOG POST ABOUT YOU NOW.  YOU’RE FAMOUS.  ARE YOU HAPPY?  F-OFF AND GET OUT OF MY BBQ!

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Shawn’s update – the birds have gone.  The BBQ is ours once again.  Photos below.  A Dad’s work is never done.