Holiday cheer is certainly something we should aspire to. It's probably good to be purposeful about it. It lets us practice doing things we should be doing more of, anyway.
Generosity, kindness, fun and togetherness are some of these qualities. If you don't try to practice those things, at least once in a while, it's hard to get very good at it.
I think most people do their best to practice goodwill. Of course, sometimes it's hard to do.
The Bitterman family certainly knows how hard this can be sometimes.
***
It was about ten o'clock in the evening.
Mrs. Wonders and I were engaged in various kinds of mundane household activities. I was looking for the cap to my pen. It had fallen between my desk and a bookcase. Somewhere in this gap, it had lodged itself in a spaghetti-like mess of computer and printer cables.
Mrs. Wonders was sifting through the lights on our Christmas tree.
She'd heard on the news about a recall on such decorations. Apparently, a particular brand may explode into flames at any moment and put a terrible damper on your holiday season.
Mrs. Wonders wanted to know if we were "in the clear."
Although we were on different floors of the house, both of us gradually became aware of a persistent car horn out in the Sack. From our respective windows, we could see a domestic matter unfolding.
Another Bitterman meltdown was underway.
***
The Bitterman car was parked in the driveway with its lights on.
There was someone sitting in the car. This was the person leaning on the car horn. It turned out to be Mrs. Bitterman.
Mr. Bitterman was at the front door making a waving motion at his wife. It seemed like he wanted her to come inside. Clearly, she was having none of this.
***
Mr. Bitterman started down his front steps. It was bitterly cold outside and he wasn't wearing a coat or gloves.
His wife wouldn't open the driver's door. He went around to the passenger door, but she still wouldn't let him in. She just kept on honking the horn.
It looked like Mr. Bitterman was trying to talk to her through the passenger window. Eventually, she unlocked the door and he got in.
***
They stayed in the car together for a few minutes.
Finally, they both got out of the car. Mrs. Bitterman was dressed in a bathrobe and winter boots. She was wearing a toque on her head.
Mrs. Bitterman still seemed very upset. It looked like she was giving Mr. Bitterman a very big peace of her mind. He looked like he was just trying to calm her down. His arms were out and he had his palms down.
Eventually, she let him get closer and they walked slowly around the car together several times. Gradually, he took her gently by the arm. Then he steered her up the porch stairs and into the house.
***
Looking across the road, I could see silhouettes in a number of front windows. A good crowd had turned out for another episode of Sack street theatre.
Gordon had his hands on his hips. This means he's not very pleased about something, but isn't sure what to do about it.
Oscar could be seen with a phone to his ear. He was talking to Mrs. Wonders. She tells me he was giving her the "play-by-play" of the Bitterman affair.
He said Mrs. Bitterman was probably wearing a housecoat and winter boots because of her menopause. It has been making her sweat so much, Oscar thinks she just went outside to cool down for a while. She was just wearing the boots so her feet wouldn't get wet in the snow.
This doesn't, of course, explain the incessant horn or the toque.
***
No one is sure about what transpired at the Bitterman house. We can only guess what might have lead to the driveway scene.
Britney Bitterman, currently pregnant and involved with the employment-challenged Maxwell, was nowhere to be seen during the incident.
It was about half an hour later when she made her first appearance. A taxi arrived in front of the Bitterman residence and sat idling for a few minutes. Finally, the driver tooted his horn a few times. The front door of the house opened and Britney sprinted down the steps. She was carrying a small duffle bag with her.
Even from my vantage point, you could tell she wasn't in very good cheer.
***
It is likely that Mr. and Mrs. Bitterman have learned about Britney's pregnancy. Maybe they know about Maxwell, too.
At first, it seemed like Britney was leaving to stay somewhere else. But Oscar tells me he saw her in the Sack today. She went into the house, but he doesn't know if her parents were home. The Bitterman car certainly wasn't there.
Either way, a vaguely truthful story will soon emerge in the Sack. Norma goes to the same bingo night as Britney. Maybe she'll hear something there.
Oscar says he might open his side window if the temperature starts to go up. He lives next to the Bitterman family and likes to listen to them when the weather is warm. He says it's better than digital cable.
It's still very cold in the old town, so I don't think Oscar is likely to do this.
He also said he could try to chat up Mr. Bitterman the next time they meet on their driveways. But Oscar and Mr. Bitterman only have a "driveway relationship." Complaining about the weather is usually the most you can get from one of those. You're not likely to hear very much about someone's domestic woes.
***
So a Bitterman meltdown has occured. Oscar predicted this some time ago. He said it would happen before Christmas and he was right.
Of course, I won't remind Oscar about his prediction. I won't need to. He's always very good at reminding me of his predictions when they come to pass. When his predictions are wrong, he tends not to talk about it very much.
On a positive note, I am happy to report that our Christmas lights are not of the blowing up variety. Apparently, we are in the clear.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the Bitterman family.
***
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