Days of Wine and More Wine
Days of Wine and More Wine
December 23, 2021
New York Stories
“Metropolitan is much better than Manhattan.” Annalee Birdcount says. “It’s a much better movie, overall, and a better New York movie, too.”
“You’re only saying that because it’s about Christmas, and this is Christmas,” her sister Willow says as Annalee pops in the DVD. “If this were summer you’d feel differently.”
“Maybe.” Annalee shrugs. “Maybe. But it is Christmas and so, we watch Metropolitan.”
The sisters clink their wineglasses as they sit on the couch, the light of the Christmas tree flirting with the TV screen as the film comes to life.
“By the way,” Annalee asks, “I never did ask you how you did at the record store. Did you find some good Christmas .45s for Dad’s jukebox?”
Willow wrinkles her nose.
“Just one. And it’s not even really a Christmas song. Something about a blizzard. But it’s sponsored by Sprite and Coca-Cola. Close enough, right.”
Annalee drinks her wine.
The movie they are watching is older than them. It’s about rich kids in New York City long ago who, even then, seemed like they were doing things from long ago.
They went to parties. They drank. They smoked. They talked about books. They wore nice clothes.
“Nobody has a damn cellphone,” Willow says aloud, practically reading her sister’s thoughts. “Everyone in the room is really, really in the room.”
The sisters sip their wine. The presents are all bought and wrapped and under the tree. The movie plays. The old world awakens anew, two days before Christmas. --TK
Thursday, December 23, 2021