So Rosalie and Clifford Gildersleve invited Ruby and Sidney Hilhorst over for a casual dinner. Nothing fancy; just a few drinks, a light meal, and a how-do-you-do conversation.
About quarter of an hour before they arrived there was a power outage. The whole street went dark. Rosalie’s exquisitely prepared “casual” meal was only half done. A few candles were lit. The guests arrived. The power cut was a definite ice-breaking talking point. Drinks were served. Was there any better way to fill in time while waiting for the electricity to come back on?
Before not very long Sidney Hilhorst was screamingly drunk. He’d clearly had a few before coming over. Ruby Hilhorst was getting louder and louder. She was becoming more and more incoherent. “It’s the drugs, honey? The drugs! Have you got any food?”
Clifford Gildersleve decided to get out the barbeque. But there was no gas, and the sausages were frozen solid. There was really nothing left to do than to have another drink.
The evening finished a little earlier than intended but amicably enough. Ruby and Sidney Hilhorst returned home. In the long run all agreed: it was a fairly good way to get to know the neighbours.
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