The Mystery at Sag Bridge

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"You know what I think retired means?" Cora said, lugging china and serving pieces up the basement stairs-her fourth trip. She sighed. "I think it means tired all over again. I thought life was supposed to get easier after I quit work, but it seems nothing is changed."

"Why are you bringing that stuff upstairs?'' Cisco was reading the paper at the kitchen table. "Don't we have stuff up here you can use?"

"Yeah, well, all our good stuff is stored in the basement, and we never use it. We're going to go to our graves without using it."

"You'll have to wash it."

"Of course I'm going to wash it. Do you think I'm an idiot?"

She filled the sink with hot water and piled in dishes, shaking her head.

"You want some help?" he offered, looking up.

"No, I got it. I'd rather do this myself."

"You're your own worst enemy, you know. You don't need to get involved in so many things." Cisco turned his eyes back to the paper.

Yet again- how often does he have to remind me?

"I was afraid I'd be bored. I joined things so I wouldn't get bored." She glanced in his direction. "You think I went too far, huh?"

"You could say that. It'd be an understatement," he said, without looking up.

"I'm going to get it under control...after I finish a few things..." Cora started stacking washed dishes on a towel on the countertop.

"I've heard that before. You know it never happens," he said, eying her over the top of his glasses, closing the paper and adding it to one of several piles on the table.

"Well, I'm going to make it happen this time."

"Why should this time be different?"

"Because there are other things I want to do, that's why." They both laughed at the contradiction.

"No, I'm serious. I want to travel, spend more time with the kids, see if I have any writing talent. The things I retired to find time for," she said.

"So why are you volunteering at the library, the chorus, the historical society, and the book club? Why all the board commitments? Why aren't we traveling, spending time with the kids, or fixing up the house?"

"I like doing those things. Besides, the library and the historical society will help me write." Cora rearranged the accumulating stacks of clean dinnerware to prevent disaster.