George was extremely thankful that Vicki had gone to get the food.  It wasn't that he couldn't have done it, but it was just the sort of thing that he would have screwed up and he wanted everything perfect tonight.  It was going so well so far.  Connections were being made all around the room and everybody seemed happy about it.  Vicki and Fred were getting reacquainted and Fred was getting a new job and Beth was here.<br/><br/>Beth...every time he looked at her, she made him feel nostalgic.  The way her dad had treated him almost like the son he never had, had always made him feel good.  His own dad was working too many hours to be close to his son.  Beth had even acted like a bratty sister to him at times.  He could remember one day when she had come right up to him and asked him why he was always talking to her daddy.  He thought that she was just being silly, but it occurred to him now that maybe she had been  jealous of him stealing daddy-time from her.  He resolved to ask her about her about it sometime tonight.  But first, some fun...<br/><br/>"Vicki brought home the most delicious looking food today and I cannot wait to taste it.  While she is setting it up, why don't we decide on the game.  I have cards of course and we could play a little penny poker.  I don't want Fred gambling away his new paycheck before he even gets one, you know.  Or we could partner up and play Euchre or Hi-Lo-Jack?  Or for that matter any other card game.  Any thoughts, house guests of mine, since the guests get the vote."