Tanya's Chicken Coop

A large frame photograph of the family graced the living room wall above a huge, obviously antique sofa. In the picture, Tanya, her husband and their two daughters sat on that same sofa,. I thought that they were smiling a little too hard. Their pond was ridiculous, though, not fit for swimming. The kids were away right now, attending a tennis day camp. Pretty hard not to be in a house like this, I said, and bit my tongue. But fortunately, Tanya didn't hear the sarcasm in my tone.