A Really Big Can of Worms
Originally posted on December 2, 2007
Kohana: What’s all this, Asher?
Asher: A really big can of worms.
Kohana: (smiling) Are you planning to go on a really big fishing trip in the near future?…….. You’re not joking…..…. what is it?
Asher: I’m sorry, Sweetheart. It’s been another confusing day. I’m not sure how it happened but it seems I’ve taken on a house guest – someone else to squeeze into these cramped quarters. Good thing Eli is away for a while or I’d have to move out.
Kohana: A house guest?
Asher: My brother Jeremiah is staying until sometime in January. Guess you haven’t seen Kaida yet, hmmm? She met him and Gideon down at the theater today. They just popped in out of the blue for a little visit. Gideon came with an offer I couldn’t refuse.
Kohana: Oh dear, Asher. What have you agreed to?
Asher: That Jeremiah can stay here, while Gideon is away for a couple months. In exchange I get all the information he has about my father, and maybe answers to some of my questions. He must have known I’d be a pushover – he unloaded all that (indicates the boxes) just before he drove off. Looks to be years of household and personal papers, but it might just hold some answers for me.
Kohana: I imagine he could have just answered many of the questions for you……and now you have a total stranger to deal with. What are you going to do?
Asher: My best, I guess. It’s all I can do. I kinda feel for the kid, you know? He might be a stranger to us, but we’re all strangers to him, and he just got dumped here without any warning.
Kohana: Where is he now?
Asher: Down the hall, setting up his computer. Tells me a good internet connection is all he needs and he won’t be any bother. I just don’t know….
Kohana: What are you going to do about your boxes of bait?
Asher: I was hoping you’d be able to stay a while, help me start sifting through it.
Kohana: I can do that. Did you want to get right to it?
Asher: No, I had a little procrastination in mind.
Kohana: Asher, I find it’s often best to begin such tasks without delay; just because it might be unpleasant is no reason to……
Kohana: Oh… that kind of procrastination. Well, that’s all right then.
Jeremiah: Oh. Sorry.
Asher: Hey, no problem. Jeremiah, come on in. I wanted you to meet Kohana anyway. She’s Kaida’s older sister, and someone very special to me.
Jeremiah: Yeah? Um…. Hi…. I….. Good to meet you.
Kohana: I’m pleased to meet you as well, Jeremiah.
(uncomfortable silence)
Asher: Uh, how’s the cable setup going? You get connected okay?
Jeremiah: Yeah.
Asher: You need anything?
Jeremiah: Just came to look for something to drink.
Asher: Help yourself to anything non-alcoholic in the fridge. And Jeremiah?
Jeremiah: Yeah?
Asher: I’m real glad we have this chance to get to know each other, so I’m pleased to have you here visiting - even if it was a last-minute thing, okay?
Jeremiah: Yeah, okay. (Jeremiah leaves)
Asher: Poor kid.
Kohana: Don’t feel too sorry for him.
Asher: Why do you say that?
Kohana: Because even though you’re virtual strangers, I can tell you already care about him. Whether he was expected or not, he could not have landed in a better place than here with you.