Monday, April 20, 2026

What I Learned on Spooner Street

Special Edition: 4/20/26
 
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Ron, trailed closely by Laura, knocked on the Griffins' red front door. He brought a burnt pan of meatloaf, drizzled with a cheap instant gravy mix from the local Mini-Mart. As Brian Steele opened the door, Laura's periwinkle floral blouse fluttered in the soft, warm breeze alongside her blonde hair.
 
"Hello my baby," Brian said upon seeing Laura, before adding: "Hello, Ron," as he welcomed them in.
 
Ron set the meatloaf pan, charred to a rocky rubble, on a wooden table adjacent to the entryway. "So, how was the drive up here?" asked Brian. He led them to the dining room, table already set but lacking anything of edible substance.
 
"It sucked," Ron replied plainly. "Priuses are the worst."
 
"Oh, word?" Dreaming in a world of his own, Brian continued, "I wouldn't say I'm a hero specifically for driving a Prius, but I really am."
 
"Yeah, I still hate Priuses."
 
In the kitchen, Ron pulled out a chair for a giggling Lois, just before setting down the tin of meatloaf. He sat down beside her, and glanced around. A large painting of the Badlands Range, framed by bronze gilded edges, stuck out above a small table, flanked by an empty vase. He was seated next to the man of the house, Peter, as well.
 
"You're a nice looking guy," said Peter, resting his bubbly chin on his hand. "Tell me your secrets."
 
"What?" Ron said, befuddled.
 
The little dinner party included most of Spooner Street: Joe, Bonnie and Susie; Quagmire; and Laura, Greg Gutter, as well as the usual cast of Griffins. They were all squished around the table, teeming with dishes of all sorts, crowded around the centerpiece: a perfectly golden turkey, made by Lois.
 
After prayers, Ron started to carve the beautiful turkey. He sliced off steaming chunks with a silver serrated knife, holding it in place with a wooden roast fork.
 
"Wow, Laura," Meg scooted her chair over closer. "You're really beautiful."
 
Peter said, "Meg, I refuse to believe you will ascend," in between mouthfuls of preservative-laced cranberry jelly.
 
"Lois," Jessica, Brian's girlfriend, took a seat. "You didn't have to make a whole feast for me." Brian smiled, just before landing a peck on her lips.
 
"It's the least I could do," Lois replied.
 
Bonnie dunked her spoon into the mashed potato bowl, scooping some out for both her and Joe. They bit into the clump on the single spoon, a sign of their unwavering love.
 
"What did you do at school, Chris?" Peter asked, filling up his plate with food. He added, "Anything fruitful, as you're my only heir?"
 
"Dad, what the hell?" Meg interrupted angrily.
 
Eyes beaming with joy, Chris replied, "I got a pet monkey."
 
He opened his cupped hands, nearly throwing them open midair, setting the chittering monkey loose. It leapt and sprinted down the length of the table, dodging in between glasses of wine and beer, and plates, tearing up the light pink tablecloth. Every time the creature chirped, Brian barked and howled.
 
"To five hundred years of me and Lois!" Peter toasted, grinning as he pulled out a bottle of champagne.
 
With the flick of his thumb, the cork flew off, shooting Stewie in the eye. "You dick!" the baby screamed, flailing his arms. Brian leapt from his chair, knocking it over as he jumped to the cupboards at the sound of the cork. He racketed around the room, clinging, swinging, yowling, and clawing along the cabinet doors, trailing the monkey.
 
"This food is so fucking good, Lois," Bonnie muttered over her own chewing.
 
"Oh, okay," Lois trailed off as she looked around. "Wow."
 
Jessica asked, "Has anyone seen the recent polls?" Gutter raised an eyebrow in annoyance, scribbling away with a Sharpie on a lone, stained napkin.
 
"Yeah," Brian smiled. "It looks like Proposition 420 is going to pass." With anger, Joe wiped his mouth and slammed his fist on the table. "That's just what we need on our streets," he said sarcastically.
 
Chris muttered, "Well, at least there would be something to vape." He continued, "Dope's always good in the lungs."
 
"Caleb, I'm not sure you've seen the horrors of the hood," Joe replied calmly.
 
"It's Chris. You don't know my name?"
 
"I can't believe you're eighteen already," Quagmire commented, slinking an arm around Meg. "Time really flies."
 
Gutter dunked his Sharpie in his empty glass. "What polls, Jessica?"
 
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Written by Jerry Zervas w/ Brian Steele on 4/20/26. 
Set One of the FG Trilogy.
Twentieth Century Fox Television and Fuzzy Door Productions reserve all rights.
DO NOT USE UNLESS GIVEN PERMISSION BY ME (i.e. email me)

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