The Fellow Ship Of The Cupboard

"It's…. uh interesting… what is it?" I said looking down at the gift presented to me.

My new "apartment" warming party was in full swing and the night was young. All of my family was there and it was gift givin' time! Too bad for me my crazy Aunt Delilah had decided that a family gathering wasn't truly a gathering until she had bum rushed it. Now don't read me wrong, I lover her dearly, I really do… but her presence at parties is always… well interesting…like her gifts.

I was sitting in my new fluffy green lazy boy courtesy of Uncle Kurt with crumpled bits of blue, green and yellow wrapping paper scattered about my feet when Aunt Delilah plopped a large box on my lap. It was covered in a metallic green paper and had merry pink bow with curly cues crowning the top. It was fairly heavy and I gave it a tentative little shake. Whatever it was, it was large an undoubtedly obscure. That was always a given with Aunt Delilah's gifts. I took the box top off and peered cautiously over the edge of the package…

"It's a cabinet!" she exclaimed looking very pleased with herself, she was obviously very proud of her find. "oh," I said thoughtfully. I lifted the cabinet out of the box and set it carefully on the floor. Truth be told it was indeed a cabinet, an old cracked scrap of wood with a rusted copper keyhole. However the little piece did have some character so I picked it up placed it on my new mantle and gave my aunt Delilah a big smile. Taking that I was happy with her gift she gave a short hoot of approval as customary in my family and sat back down merrily.

I resumed opening my gifts after that. A coffee pot from aunt Cyndi; some flower arrangements and wreathes from mom, a picture from my little niece Miranda for my fridge and a couple closet organizers form the king of organization Uncle Kurt.

After the gifts had been opened and dinner served we commenced to partying complete with cocktail weenies and pina coladas. Well everyone else save Miranda and I were parting with the coladas. A two year old and a 19-year-old sitting on the couch drinking grape juice… wow I'm too cool.

Anyway it was growing late and everyone was preparing to leave, well everyone except aunt Delilah. Three sheets to the wind and two drinks from death she swaggered over to me. "Hey psst Jennifer, that cabinet over there…" she closed on eye and pointed over to the mantle. ".. that cabeen that cabinuh.. The thing is verrrrrrrrry special-shhhh!" I gave her a look and she opened her mouth again to speak.

Unfortunately before she could squeak out another word mom and uncle Kurt started over to her and began ushering her out of the door. "Hey no no I hafta' tell her something about the cabinet….hey.." She slurred. All of a sudden she stopped her struggle and thrust her hand in her pocket. After fishing around for a moment she seemed to grasp something. As she removed this object from her pocket both mother and uncle Kurt began pushing her out into the hallway in tandem. Just as aunt Delilah set foot into the carpeted hallway she threw the object to me. I caught it easily, slapped it down on the counter without looking at it and saw everyone off with big hugs and thank yous.

One they had all left I returned to the kitchen to clean up a bit. Once the excess food and plates were thrown away I went to inspect the object my aunt had been so insistent in her drunkenness to show me.

"It's a key," I said to myself picking up and turning it around in my hand. It felt cool and smooth against my palm and the tarnished copper gleamed softly under my kitchen light. I placed the key back onto the counter and gave it one last lingering glance before I headed off the bed.

As I turned down my sheets I looked around my new apartment and for the first time since my arrival and felt a bit lonely. The house was so quiet…so unlived in. I found myself wishing for first time in my life that there was someone-anyone around who would disturb my "peace and quiet" with quiet living noises.