Retired(Darrell Case) Opening his eyes, he looked out the open window. His internal clock told him it was close to 9 AM. The poor slobs were laboring at their jobs. But he John B. Jorge’s was retired. No more rat race. He could stay in bed all day if he liked. His wife appeared at the bedroom door dressed. She smiled.

“Well sleepyhead. How does it feel to be retired?”

“It feels great. I think I’ll just stay in bed all day.” He said, putting his hands behind his head and stretching out.

“Ok, I’ll just give your eggs and bacon to the dog.” She said, turning toward the stairs.

“Don’t you dare,” He said, throwing off the covers.

She laughed. “See you downstairs."

He felt like a shirker. The entire world was working and yet here he set on his front porch at 10:30, drinking his third cup of coffee. His wife Nancy joined him. She set down in the other rocker.

‘So Mr. retired man, what do you have planned today?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing. I planned this day a thousand times.” He looked out over the expanse of lawn. They bought the place five years ago in anticipation of his retirement. A hundred acres in farm country. They planned the house with two beds and a bath. The living room kitchen took up the bottom floor. A large front porch. A three-car garage, even though they only had one vehicle. The rest of it was an office for the books he planned to write. The builder completed it a few months ago. A small white house it set 5oo feet from the gravel road.

 “Maybe I’ll run out the mower. Be ashamed to let this beautiful day go to waste.” He said, heaving himself up out of the rocker. He handed his coffee cup to her. Ten minutes later, she heard the mower start. She watched from the kitchen window as he happily mowed the first few rounds.

“Knew you couldn’t relax without something to do.” She said, smiling, as she washed up the breakfast dishes.

At noon, he shut off the mower and joined her at the picnic table under the elms. After he prayed, they ate cold cuts with pickles’ tomato and mayo. “Honey, this is great. You know how many times I dreamed of this.”

“I love you. The lawn looks great.” She said, taking a bite of her sandwich.

“Thank you. I love you too. What do you have planned for this afternoon?” He said, sipping from his frosty glass of tea.

‘I’m going to work in the garden until I get too hot. Then the flower beds on the east side of the house.”

At four o’clock, they stopped working. Taking turns, they showered and dressed in clean, causal clothes. She made a salad, he grilled pork chops and potatoes. They dined at the same picnic table, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. Afterward they walked to the country road and back holding hands.  

At the end of the day, the couple set on the porch eating ice cream, watching as the shadows lengthened. Tomorrow would be another day. A great day to be retired. 

---