With the two young men being more than fond of craft beers, the large single bottom drawer of the refrigerator was just the right size for beer bottles, alternated cap to the back, cap to the front. A case of beer would fit easily, but the weight caused the drawer to pop off the track, until Brandon acquired drumsticks from their marching band neighbor. Laying the sticks in the bottom of the refrigerator, under the drawer, they rolled the beer in and out, smoothly.

Once the bottle fit and optimal storage arrangement was confirmed, the drawer became known as the beer-crisper. Ty and Brandon stocked it with many varieties from their favorite local brewpub, Bells Brewery: Double Cream Stout, Oberon, Two Hearted Ale and Consecrator Doppelbock. They also believed in the motto: ‘Friends don’t let friends drink Bud’, a running joke among their cronies. If you’re gonna drink beer, drink BEER.

Plus, whenever their parents stopped by, the fruit and veggies on the upper shelf always made a great impression. Their friends were impressed by the novel and creative way Ty and Brandon kept their beer a few degrees cooler than what one might find on an upper shelf.

Then, one day while Brandon’s mom was visiting, she decided to do some cleaning for the boys, wiping down shelves and putting away dishes. She thought the veggies should be in the crisper, but when she opened it, she found the beer and had some stern words for Brandon, only twenty at the time. But Brandon and Ty didn’t consider themselves to be future alcoholics or even lushes. They were budding connoisseurs. And besides, Ty was of the legal drinking age, with every right to purchase the beverages.

*

Whenever she could, Sally would stay nearby, to keep Tom company and offer a compassionate ear, while he waited for the replies from Ty. With communication lag-times of nearly ten minutes by this point in the journey, their ‘talk sessions’ could sometimes run into eight to ten hours at a stretch. On more than one occasion, Valerie found it necessary to sternly remind Tom and Sally to log off and get some sleep. “The email will still be there in the morning,” she would admonish.

But on the day Tom replied, “Yes, mom.” Valerie knew he would be OK and she could stop hovering. Having Sally around seemed to do him some good and he treated her more as a friend, than a subordinate. And right now, Sally also needed a friend. With her own sadness, spending time together was good for them both.

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