Taming Mrs. O'Reily

1- Welcome to Shady Oaks

The only way to unpack and start arranging furniture all alone is to do so with music. Loudly.

She had to blast it especially since it was the only other love of her life singing his heart out to her. Her hips had to pop along, her long black bouncing curls hopping in the air. It was first the kitchen, Gina wasn't so sure where she wanted to put anything. She wasn't much of a cook and the kitchen was only good for eating in.

She did her best to sweep and mop the tiles, her feet swinging in a one sided swing, the broom acted as her guitar and barely touched the ground.

She moved to the dining room, scooching the table while shimming her shoulders. Under heavy breaths she sang along to the brash lyrics. A simple vase of daisies picked from the mess of the backyard was placed in the center.

The feathered duster moves like a flapper's skirt across the old wood bookcases. Gina had to run and slide on the wood paneled floor when the guitar did the shift, her socks carried her right to the blue loveseat propped up against the couch.

Pushing in what seemed like a dead run, her strenuous work finally brought the armchair in place. After the couch and loveseat sat comfortably around the brick fireplace, Gina had to give a victory shimmy. The radio host's voice came on to enthusiastically announce the next tune he would delight Gina with and she smiled wide as a slick guitar delighted her ears.

"I'm home!" A smooth tenor voice came from the opened front door. Steve O'Reily ran into the living room to scoop up his wife and give the only kind of greeting a newly married man would give his wife. Once he let her down, they begin to dancing to the clapping of the loud radio.

"How was your first day of work!?" Gina had to yell over the music.

"Swell! Met some good fellows in accounting and got to know the mail boy!" He gave his wife a twirl right into his arms. "The house looks great, did you move all this by yourself!?"

"Please, like its hard." Gina laughed. With another twirl, the couple slipped and fell on the love seat. The radio host declared the last song a instant hit. Steve laughed with a wide smile. Gina rested her hands on his chest, her own smile forming at the sight of her husband's delight.

Mr. Steve O'Reily and Mrs. Gina O'Reily were at the tender age of three months married, fresh out of college and living their dream in Shady Oaks Suburbs of New Jersey. Only twenty four, Steve already got a prominent position in advertising. He was always stuck in a suit, his chestnut hair slicked back. He was good at professional but even better at cheerful and charismatic. There was never a complaint to be had about Steve, he was easy going and easy on the eyes. He never seemed to hold an attachment to one group or kind.

He was a people person and it made him desirable. He was unattainable as far as girls were aware- good for dating but not pursuing. Most friends said he was never too close but always had a friendly ear willing to listen.

It wasn't as surprising about him getting married as it was about Gina.

She was truly a tyrant in her adolescent life. She had a problem with authority and thought skirts were only good for dancing in and demanded wearing pants in every other circumstance. Her looks averaged on beautiful but no guy wanted to go after a stalwart stubborn soul. She never wanted to just park or drive or smooch. Gina demanded, a lot... all the time.

So how was it that these two became happily married? Isn't that the way it always happens?

"Say Steve, did you remember to-" Gina drew circles on Steve's chest.

"Do you mean..." he interrupted her lifting to Coca Cola's from his briefcase. Gina giggled and pulled him up. She dragged him out to the backyard to sit on a old rusty bench left from the previous owners among a sea of weeds. He opened the drinks and with a clack of a toast, the couple took their first sip of carbonated dreams and fantasies.

A ring of the door bell cut the couple's kisses off short and they made their way back into the house to answer the door. As Steve turned the door knob, Gina silenced the radio and stood by his side with short breaths as the door opened.

"Hi!" A couple on their doorstep spoke at the same time. A woman with a blonde bob, a spotted dress, and pearly whites stood by a man with slicked brunette hair and clean shaven chin stood in front of them. The woman carried a  casserole dish filled of some kind of desert.

"We heard there was a new couple in the neighborhood and we had to come say hello neighbor!" The woman waved and started laughing.

"Oh, thank you!" Steve accepted the food and the couple glances at each other.

"We're the Tanners. Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Tanner." Bryan reached to shake Steve's hand and didn't even regard Gina as present.

"We're the O'Reilys, I'm Steve and this is Gina."

"Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Tanner." Gina snorted, "And what is your first name?" She turned to Mrs. Tanner. Mrs. Tanner seemed a little flustered by the comment, as if she forgot her first name when she was married. Then she gave her husband a look and started laughing.

"Oh I get it! It's a joke!" Mrs. Tanner's blue eyes squeezed with delight, "Just call me Barbra!"

"Nice to meet you Barbra." Gina and Steve shook her hand.

"Phil said you work for the company." Bryan turned to Steve and Steve nodded.

"Started today."

"Good environment, would you say?" The way Bryan said it as if it was an obvious statement.

"Those boys really know what they're doing." Steve agreed.

"Steve was just telling me the company is among the top in the state, what do you do for them Mr. Tanner?" Gina crossed her arms, leaning against the door frame.

"I work with associates and business partners, mostly board stuff. But I'm sure a pretty little thing such as yourself doesn't know much about that."

"I graduated with a bachelor degree in business relations." Gina's flat tone was met with silence. Whatever grin Bryan did hold faltered and it felt as if he was actually glaring at her. Steve shifted slightly in discomfort.

"Oh, Gina!" Barbra gave a friendly slap to Gina's arm, "You are a hoot! Say, I happen to be the founder of Shady Oaks Homemakers Association. It sounds all official but really it's all the ladies getting together. We have weekly meetings and host block parties and it's a great way to get to know all the ladies in the neighborhood. You should come!"

"Homemaker Association?" Gina tried to smile and her husband nudged her, "sounds like fun!"

"Great! Our next meeting is this Wednesday and we are exchanging recipes so bring your best dinner spread!"

"I can brag about your bacon broccoli casserole." Gina grabbed Steve's arm.

"His casserole?" Bryan chuckled, "you make casserole?"

"Well, not often." Steve shrugged, feeling embarrassed of the many casseroles he created in courting Gina.

"It's a joke sweetie." Barbra whispered loudly. Gina had to wonder if Barbra thought everything out of Gina's mouth was a joke. "It was so scrumptious to meet you both! Welcome to Shady Oaks. We live in the blue shutter house if you need any help." Barbra pointed to the house on the corner.

"I'll see you tomorrow Steve." Bryan nodded and the Tanners left as soon as they had come.

"Nice neighbors." Gina scooped frosting with her pinky and plopped it in her mouth.

"You didn't have to be so sour to them." Steve muttered as he closed the door.