Three Wishes: This didn't go as planned!

Not Census People

The green was still embedded in my heart when returned from that empty field to the kitchen.  I walked to the living room, still clean, still almost barren in comparison to how it was when my grandparents lived, and lay down on the couch.  Jeanie set about making dinner in the kitchen, Chris tagging along.  Kate came and sat on the floor beside the couch, arms folded tightly.   She put her head on her knees.

"That was beautiful."  She said. 

"So?"  I asked, smiling. 

She frowned at me, then questioned me with her eyebrows. 

I shrugged. 

She looked away.  "I never thought I'd feel that... peaceful again."

I studied the plaster ceiling.   

"But, why just a field?"  Kate asked.  "We could have gone to Dublin, at least-- and you've always wanted to go to Rome."

I opened my mouth to respond, but there came a knock on the door.  

Sighing, I rose.  "I'll get it."

"Okay."  Kate said tiredly. 

The front door creaked unhappily as I opened it.  Beyond it stood two men in suits and sunglasses.  One was pudgy and short, the other tall and wavering.  The short one stared at Abel like a Pitbull getting ready to fight.

The tall one cleared his throat gently.  "Hello."  He said.  "We're from the census bureau.  We have a few questions for you today."

Census people had come to my door before.  They wore polos and dress pants.  They did not wear suits or sunglasses. 

"Hello."  I replied mildly.

"How many people are in your household?"  The Pitbull-man asked.

"Oh, we're in flux right now."  I said truthfully. "Say, two to three?"

"In flux?"  The tall man said politely. 

"Oh, you know."  I waved my hand dismissively.  "Somewhere around that number."

Pitbull-man grumbled.  "He asked you what was in flux."

I looked at him disbelievingly.  "Our household.  My grandpa just died--"  I sniffed.  "And we're still sorting through everything.  My sister and I were raised by my grandparents, you know, and my grandma passed just a year ago..."  I wiped my eye.  It honestly wasn't hard to tear up about this stuff, and Pitbull-man must have sensed my genuine emotion, because he looked away.  "Anyways, everything's a little crazy right now."

"Well, I'm terribly sorry for your loss."  The tall man said.  "We only have a few more questions-- do you mind if we come in?"

"Actually, everything is a bit of a mess right now."

"It's cold."  The Pitbull man grouched.

"You have jackets."  I replied. 

The tall man eyed me.  "Well, would you mind giving us your name and phone number?"

"Yes.  I would mind."  I gave them a false smile.  "Goodbye."  

I closed the door in their faces.  Striding across the room, I found Kate standing.

"Who was it?"  She asked. 

"Not Census people."  I replied.  "Draw the curtains."