An antenna for communicating with aliens and bird-feeder squirrel blocker

John crosses Ocean Boulevard with his surfboard under his arm.Aunt Margaret is on the front porch and walking down the steps.

Aunt Margaret

What do you think

She gestures towards the birdfeeder which now has 5 sharp rods and a triangle metal hood on it.

Aunt Margaret

'That ought to stop the squirrels.'

John

'...and contact aliens.'

The metal edges glisten in the sun...like a razor sharp prison fence.

John

'Could a squirrel become impaled on that...and hang there..I don't know. I'm just asking.'

Aunt Margaret

'Oh God, I'd never hurt an animal. Help me take this down.'

John and Aunt Margaret take the metal squirrel blocker down and rehang the bird feeder. John walks up the steps and leans his surf board against the porch wall. He and Aunt Margaret go inside. Before the front screen door slams...the squirrels are back on the feeder. They win. Squirrels always win.

Inside the house is innaculate and something is cooking in the kichen. This is always dicey with Aunt Margaret because she was always a career-kinda-person...not domestic except when it comes to cleaning-Virgo you know.

Aunt Margaret

'I've made home made chicken soup. Your father's friend Sol Zemmel dropped the koscher chicken  off.'

John

"This fast? I thought it took a lot of time to make broth,'

John sees Aunt Helen is in the kitchen at the table with a bowl of soup.'

John

'Hey Aunt Helen. Is that good?'

Helen

'Nooo.'

Aunt Margaret

What do you mean?'

Aunt Helen

'I means yes...'

John goes over to the chicken pot.'

John

Oh, this chicken is pink. And it;s just in water....there's fat floating...'

Aunt Margaret

'The vegetables are boiled.'

John

'How 'bout we cook the chicken for later and ...they opened a Papa'a Johns across the bay.'

Aunt Helen

"That sounds good.'

Aunt Margaret

'Oh Helen...'

Aunt Helen to John

'I keep saying the wrong thing.'

Aunt Helen was the better cook, when she focused on lighting the gas piolet and not talking to Aunt Margaret AND lighting the oven.  That got her blown across the kitchen once.

The pizza looked more like a life saver to John the more he thought about it.