Tam’s List

a short story vocabulary practice

Tam, like most people, often felt compelled to start things but never finish them. Today however was different in the fact that now he felt the need to cross a few things off the “to do” list for once. This particular list was an old one that had been pecking at his conscience for months. “All right let's get serious now” Tam mumbles under his breath while unfurling the paper. “Number one-” Suddenly a knock is heard at the front door. Immediately tam remembered who’d be arriving today and was overcome with an apprehension that this individual would severely antagonize his efforts to be productive. The door opens to show just that person. Standing 2 and a quarter feet higher than Tam, was his classmate Comnir. He wore knee high socks and shorts, a plain white shirt with a pocket protector. With this description he fits the stereotypical nerd look. However, contradicting the stereotype nerds are smart, out from the protector hangs a necktie he could never figure out how to tie properly. So it just hangs there like the tail on a sullen dog.

“Good morning Comnir” replies Tam to his presence. “Hey” he returns. Reluctantly Tam shuts the door, trapping himself inside with this person who, without a doubt would surely be a cantankerous irritant as he always is. “What’s that list? Is it for right now?” asks Comnir sincerely. “No, it's for next week, that's why i'm reading it over” retorts Tam sarcastically. “No need to be rude” is the response.”The first thing on my list is to help my neighbor build a dog house” reads tam slowly as to fully let this responsibility soak in. Tam and Comnir walk over to the neighbor’s house to find a dog house, completely built and structurally sound. “Looks like you're late on that one” remarks Comnir. “But that's impossible! Just yesterday this was nothing but lumber and paint! How’d this get built so easily?” perplexes Tam as he slumps to the floor in astonishment.

“Don't worry man, I got you” says a newly armed Comnir toting a sledge hammer from the yard’s garage. “Oh no” is all Tam has time to say before, with one swing of his friend’s arms, the former dog house is reduced to splinters and rubble.

“My final verdict- this dog house is now no more” says Comnir, with the hammer on his shoulder covered in dust. 

“Why would you do that? Now I have to build this thing for real!” stutters Tam. “What if there was a dog in there?”

“There was” says Comnir, calmly

“THERE WAS?” says Tam, not so calmly

“At some point I'm sure, but not today” replies Comnir while scratching his head.

“Oh, what a relief. The last thing I need today is a squished dog” sighs Tam in response.

“Would you, LIKE a squished dog?” jokes Comnir.

Aggravated, Tam begins to grasp at the various planks and nails, trying to put anything together. “This’ll take forever to finish! Everything is ruined!” says Tam, defeated.

“Hey, Comnir, do you have any tools to help out?”

“Well I do have this sledge hammer.” he replies

It was inevitable that this would happen, thinks Tam. As he adds to his to do list:

Find better friends.