Close Quarters

2. First impressions and imprints

Burn or not to burn?... That is the question. Maybe she should give them away to third world countries, considering that it will probably be the only charitable thing Max will ever do in his life.

River glared down at the box full of Max and 'the plumber's' clothes from yesterday. After cleaning up the fridge and ordering a new one which should arrive anytime soon, River pulled on a blue rain poncho, stomped into her bright yellow wellies, donned on her Disney princess shower cap and purple swimming goggles. Then she went around her living room to delicately pick up the discarded clothing with neon pink tongs, that clashed horribly against her peach gloves, and unceremoniously shoved them in a large rubbish bag. Now, the dilemma was what to do with the said bag and its contents.

Before she could make this life altering decision, the tune of the Lion King's Hakuna Matata tinkered in the air. River stumbled over to her front door and opened it to face two shocked uniformed men hauling a sparkling fridge between them.

"Oh! You guys must be from King Lee's with my new fridge! Come on in, I'll show you where to place it!" Her face split into an enormous grin at the prospect of buying more ice-cream and melt-able sugary treats to place in her new fridge.

A pregnant pause followed her invitation and the length of the two men's soundless gaping was concerning. Furtively glancing around herself, she wondered why the two large men were looking at her so strangely. Suddenly she registered that she was squinting at them from behind a pair of swimming goggles and remembered the multitude of various 'protection from herpes' clothing she slapped on to tackle the cleansing of her living room before she opened the door.

"Have you seen Belle magazine? This is the newest household fashion for It girls." She nodded expectantly at the two men as if looking for an understanding expression from them. All she got was wide eyed stares and hesitant bobble head nods before they scrambled to fit the fridge through her door, connect it in her kitchen and grab her money before fleeing like a pack of wild dogs were trying to sniff their butt-cracks.

River gave them no thought, too preoccupied with the prospect of touring her new fridge after a shower to wash away 'Max and the plumber' germs. 

"I know you will never leave or betray me. I think we should stay life long partners, my love" She patted the top of the fridge before tripping up to her bathroom in the overlarge water booties. 

~~~

Decker looked around his apartment one last time before Jake clicked the door shut in his face. 

"Mate, stop. You've moved on and it's time to check out that new house of yours anyways, except I've got to pick up my new girl from the airport so you're going alone." Jake grinned as he steered Decker away from his now ex-apartment doorway.

 Decker rolled his eyes at the blonde whilst striding up to the elevator with a suitcase in hand.

"So when will the removalists move the rest of your belongings to your new house?" Jake asked curiously. "Because didn't you say that your new house had everything in it?"

"Yeah, that's what the last owner wrote on the contract," Decker replied.

"I'm surprised you didn't visit the house before you went and bought it. That's so unlike you, why so eager?"

"It used to be my old childhood home. I've always wanted to buy it and move in there again, so when I saw that it was listed for sale..." He trailed off softly as he imagined his parents' possible responses. "I want to be in there as quick as possible."

"Well you've done it dude, I'm sure your parents would have been proud", Jake pretended to wipe a tear from his eye. "You're making me so sentimental right now, I'm going to let out the water works now."