“Aaron, just called again. We’re supposed to bring home milk and ice cream.”

John smiled as Hannah continued, “So stop here at Food Lion first. I’ll just run in.”

“I’ll come with you.” He said as he pulled in the parking lot. “Did he tell you again about how many balloons he has blown up?”

Hannah smiled, “Yes, as a matter of fact he did mention that. He has now blown up twenty-one. He thinks Aunt Marla is a genius for buying that tool to blow up balloons. She is just thrilled he is doing the work. I did hear her say in the background, “is that Hannah? Get off the phone – she pays by the minute!”

They had arrived to the front of the store and Hannah started to the refrigerated section. John said, “I can grab the ice cream. What kind of ice cream should I get?”

Hannah stopped dead in her tracks, “No, we never buy ice cream here!” an employee at the check-out looked over at her. She stepped closer to John and grabbed his hand leading him toward the aisle for milk. “Aunt Marla has a carefully orchestrated routine for grocery shopping. I’d never go back with her groceries all from Food Lion. Plus the ice cream from Rutters is really good.”

John had a suppressed smile growing across his face and in a patronzing tone he asked, “Then why not just buy the milk there too, save us this stop?”

“Because it is thirty cents cheaper here.” Hannah responded indignantly and then stopped walking and laughed at herself. “I can’t believe it! I’m turning into Aunt Marla. I remember asking her the same thing six months ago?! And here the argument is my own. I really think it would be terrible to spend thirty extra cents unnecessarily.” She looked to John’s face full of amusement. With a punch to his arm, she continued on toward the milk cartons, “There are worse habits I might acquire.”

John stood still just watching her in amazement. “You even talk like her!” after a pause he asked, “How ‘bout breakfast. What do you eat for breakfast?!”

Hannah returned with the milk and headed toward the register. “What are you going on about?” She asked, a little annoyed with the smug look on his face.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and stopped her, making her look at him face on. “I’m very serious about this question, Hannah, I need to know. What did you eat for breakfast this morning?”

Hannah realized she had no idea what this line of questioning was about, but that John wanted an answer. And there were a house full of guests arriving soon and Aunt Marla was expecting them back. So she chose the path of least resistance and started her breakfast list, “I guess I started with coffee and then had a piece of whole wheat toast and a bowl of Raisin Bran.” When he still didn’t release her shoulders, she said, “Oh, and I followed that with an eight ounce glass of water.” His eyes were sparkling with laughter and she added, “tap.”

John continued the dead pan look and said, “I was so worried prunes would be on the list. What a relief!”

“John! You are a nut!” and Hannah pulled away from his grasp and paid for the milk. Shaking her head and laughing under her breath.