Fiction: Sock Hop

Kevin swallowed a mouthful of potato and said, “So, Dad, how was work today?”

Hugh Nelson stopped scooping up his peas and sighed. “Y’know, Son, I don’t really want to talk about it tonight. It’s just the same old nonsense from the same people. Tell me about your day instead.”

“Well, Mr. Mackenzie told me that when Vernon Morgan retires next month, he’s moving Pete Cooper up to the number two spot.” He looked around the table at his family and grinned. “And I will be the new paint department manager.”

“Oh, how wonderful,” Kevin’s mother, Betty, said.

“Good for you, Kevin,” said sister Karen.

Hugh nodded. “Now that’s the kind of office talk I want to hear around this dinner table. Congratulations, Kevin. That’s a quick promotion as young as you are, but I know you’ve earned it. You’ve proved your work ethic at the hardware store, and it’s paying off.”

“It sure is,” Kevin agreed. “With the raise I’m going to get, I can afford to buy a nice little house and start out on my own now.”

“Well, that’s just fine,” Hugh said. “Start living the American dream.”

Karen eyed her brother mischievously across the table. “And does that dream include Tina?”

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