by Kathi Daley
“Would you like some eggs?” Pepper held up the pan of eggs she was scrambling.
Brooklyn looked like she might vomit. I certainly hoped it wasn’t too late for those birth control pills she’d requested.
“Is the flaxseed gone?” Eve asked when she joined us and began preparing a bowl of whole grain cereal, which I knew she’d top with fruit and soy milk.
“It may be,” I answered. “Add it to the list and I will stop at the market this afternoon. If anyone else wants anything specific now would be the time to write it down.”
“We’re out of nonfat yogurt,” Brooklyn commented.
“Add it to the list,” I instructed.
“Is that what you’re wearing today?” Brooklyn looked at me as she jotted yogurt on the list.
Suddenly I felt like a self-conscious child again as I looked down at my outfit. “I planned to.”
Brooklyn frowned. “I don’t mean to be rude, but don’t you want to fit in?”
“Fit in?”
“To the twenty-first century. You have such nice features. Your hair is gorgeous, your skin is flawless, and you have an almost perfect facial ratio.”
“Facial ratio?”
“You’re a babe,” Pepper supplied.
“You just need a little makeup and some less stodgy clothing and you’ll have Mr. Danner drooling all over himself,” Brooklyn declared.
“Mr. Danner? What makes you think I’m interested in Mr. Danner?”
All three girls rolled their eyes.
“How about it, girls?” Brooklyn asked. “Should we help Ms. King out?”
Pepper and Eve agreed they should.
“Oh, I don’t know. I do have a certain reputation to uphold.”
“Nonsense.” Brooklyn took me by the arm as all three teenagers in my life escorted me back up the stairs. Brooklyn worked on my makeup and Eve took my hair down from its serviceable bun and brushed it out, while Pepper rummaged through my closet. The transformation from old maid to modern-day woman, amazingly enough, took only minutes.
“Wow,” I said as I looked again in the full-length mirror.
My makeup was lightly yet expertly applied, my conservative skirt and blouse had been replaced by dress slacks and a soft cashmere sweater that made me look professional yet approachable, and the conservative bun I’d worn for most of my sixty-two years had been replaced by soft curls trailing down my back that had been pulled back in a large clip at the back of my neck. I looked at least ten years younger.
“Wow is right,” Brooklyn agreed. “You look beautiful.”
I smiled. “Thank you. All of you.”
I could see the three teens were proud of what they had accomplished. It really was an amazing transformation. I almost didn’t feel like myself.
“We’d better go,” Eve said. “I wouldn’t want to be late.”
After Pepper and I made sure Charlotte and Annabelle were settled, the three girls and I gathered backpacks and supplies and headed out to the garage where I kept Lizzy, my 1955 Cadillac.
“You’ve heard about the hole in the ozone layer,” Eve scolded as she surveyed the car my father left me.
“I am aware of the fragile nature of our environment and I don’t often take Lizzy out for a spin, but my father used to take me to school in this car and I’ve taken myself to school in it on the first day of the new school year every year since he passed and left it to me. It is a tradition.”
“Well, I love it.” Pepper hopped into the front seat before any of the other girls had a chance to respond.
“It’s a convertible,” Brooklyn commented.
“Yes, dear. It is a nice morning, so I thought we’d arrive for our first day in style.”
“I spent twenty minutes getting my hair just so. Riding in that thing is going to destroy everything I worked so hard to accomplish. Why can’t we take your Volvo?”
“Because it is the first day of school,” I insisted. “I always take Lizzy on the first day of school.”
Brooklyn just looked at me.
“We can put the top up if that helps.”
Brooklyn climbed into the backseat as I raised the top.
I looked at Eve, who was still staring at Lizzy like she was going to singlehandedly prove to be responsible for the downfall of mankind.
“It’s just for today,” I encouraged.
Eve shrugged and climbed in beside Brooklyn.
I slowly backed out of the driveway.
“So how exactly is this going to work?” Pepper asked.
“You will each attend classes at the public high school in the morning. I will pick you up after third period and we will all head into town, where Mr. Zimmerman has rented a building to temporarily house the Zimmerman Academy. Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. Danner, and I, along with some part-time staff, will provide additional classes catered to your individual needs.”
“What about clubs and afterschool activities?” Brooklyn asked.
“We will try to accommodate any extracurricular activities you might have,” I promised. “I know Dezil plans to join the football team. Is there something in particular you are interested in?”
“Nothing particular, but I like to keep my options open. You never know when a hot guy is going to ask you to hang.”
“I want to be a cheerleader,” Pepper stated.
“You’d be a wonderful cheerleader, with all your energy. I’m sure Mr. Denton can tell you how to go about trying out. How about you, Eve? Are there any afterschool activities you might be interested in?”
“I’d like to be on the school newspaper, if they have one.”
“I’m certain they do. I believe there is a new staff adviser this year. Be sure to ask about it when you pick up your schedule.”
I pulled into the parking lot. Normally, I’d just be dropping the girls off, but I wanted to be certain they received their class schedules without any problems, so I pulled into a parking space.
“You don’t need to come in,” Brooklyn announced when she realized I was parking.
“Are you sure?”
“We’re sure,” Eve answered.
Pepper opened the passenger side door and the three girls climbed out.
“We’ll meet you in front of the school after third period,” Brooklyn declared, slamming the door behind her.
I watched as the girls walked toward the entrance. I hoped they’d have wonderful first days. They seemed so confident and unaffected by their new situation. I was nervous for them, but they didn’t seem nervous at all. I realized I could learn something from these remarkable young women.
After I dropped the girls off I continued on to the building that would house the Academy temporarily. Zak, Will, and I planned to have a staff meeting to discuss the division of labor for the first few weeks of school. Zak was going to teach a seminar in technology, Will planned to teach several accelerated math classes, and I was to handle literature and composition. While all of the students would be scheduled into all of the core subjects in any given week, Zak wanted to tailor each student’s curriculum to their own interests and needs.
Pi, Dezil, Abby, Dex, and Hacker had been admitted to the program based primarily on their strength in the area of technology, while Alex, Brooklyn, Pepper, Eve, and Chad showed overall intelligence in a number of subjects. Both Alex and Eve shared my love of literature and writing, so my plan was to spend extra time with the two of them in that area.
I took a deep breath after pulling up in front of the Academy. It was one thing to let the girls “sex me up,” but it was another to walk into a building where two of my male peers were waiting. Suddenly I was very sorry Zoe had been otherwise detained. Another female to divert the attention from the sweater I was suddenly convinced hugged my body much too snuggly would have been welcome indeed.
No guts, no glory, I whispered to myself.
I opened the door and prepared to exit Lizzy.
“This your car?” Will Danner suddenly appeared beside me.
&
nbsp; “Yes. This is Lizzy.”
This is Lizzy? Smooth, Phyllis
“She’s really fantastic. I love old cars, especially old Caddies. Are you the original owner?”
“My father was.”
Will ran his hand slowly over the fender, as if he were making love to it.
I felt my heart beat in my chest as I imagined his hand doing that to my body.
“I’d be happy to let you drive her if you’d like,” I offered. “After the meeting of course.”
Will’s face lit up. “Really? I’d love to take her for a spin. But maybe when we have more time to really take a drive. Are you free on Saturday?”
Was I free on Saturday? Now there was a loaded question if ever I’d heard one.
I knew I should say no. I was nothing more than a silly old woman with a crush on a younger man. Whatever was I thinking?
“I believe I am free on Saturday,” I found myself saying, almost against my will.
“Excellent. We can drive around the lake. I’ll bring a picnic. I found this awesome little spot near some seasonal falls the last time I was visiting the area. They’ll be little more than a trickle at this time of year but still beautiful.”
“Sounds nice.”
“Wear something casual. Shorts or jeans. And sturdy shoes. We might want to do some hiking.”
Shorts or jeans? I was going to need to go shopping.
“It’s been quite a day,” I said to Charlotte later that evening as I prepared for bed.
“All of the girls seemed to enjoy their first day of school.” I massaged night cream into my skin after I’d washed off the makeup Brooklyn had applied that morning.
“It looks as if Eve is going to be welcome on the newspaper staff, and it seems Levi managed to pull some strings to get Pepper included on the cheerleading team.” I slipped a flannel nightgown over my head and then began sorting the clothes I had removed.
“It seems Chad is a cheerleader. I don’t remember them having male cheerleaders when I was in school, but I guess it is now all the rage to have a coed squad.”
Charlotte didn’t say anything, but I could tell she was bored with my chatter.
“I wonder if I should ask the girls to help me get ready every morning. I have to admit their effort with my appearance had quite an impact, judging by the number of compliments I received today.”
Charlotte continued to ignore me. The ungrateful beast.
“I’ve decided to make more of an effort with my appearance. I even stopped by that boutique Zoe assured me carries the best-quality cosmetics and stocked up on everything I might need.”
Charlotte jumped up onto the counter in an effort to get my attention. I shooed her down.
“I couldn’t help but notice Mr. Danner noticing me today.” I smeared a nourishing balm onto my lips. “I even have a date with him on Saturday.”
Charlotte swatted at the hem of my nightgown.
“I know what you are thinking,” I added after I had decided I had done all I could with my face and removed the scarf from my hair.
“You think I am getting ahead of myself.” I began the first of my one hundred brush strokes. “You think Mr. Danner was simply being cordial today when he asked to sit with me during lunch, and he was just being neighborly when he asked me out on a picnic on Saturday.”
Charlotte yawned.
“I know you are probably right, but it’s nice to feel like someone—anyone—might notice how nice I looked. It’s been such a long time since I have felt like anything other than a stodgy old maid.”
I finished brushing my hair and began to braid it. “I agreed to house the girls because I believed I could help them, but so far it seems it is they who are helping me. I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt this alive. Between you and me, I actually felt visible today.”
Charlotte rolled over onto her back in a feeble attempt to divert my attention away from my monologue.
I ignored her.
“I won’t go so far as to say desirable. Oh, hell, I will say desirable. Today, for the first time in at least forty years, I felt desirable. Is that sinful of me?”
Charlotte rolled back over and meowed. She looked at me as if I’d lost my mind, then trotted out of the bathroom and into the adjoining bedroom.
“What would you know? You’re a cat.”
I followed Charlotte into my bedroom and began the task of straightening already perfectly straight books and knickknacks before opening my window just a quarter of an inch.
“I wonder if I should invite Mr. Danner to attend Sunday supper,” I asked Charlotte as I stacked the extra pillows on my white tufted chaise.
“He did ask me to join him on Saturday, so I would simply be returning the invitation. It’s the polite thing to do. Besides, he is new in town, and I imagine he would welcome a home-cooked meal.”
Charlotte jumped up onto the bed.
“It wouldn’t be as if I were asking him on a date. I mean, the girls will be here. No, it most definitely won’t be a date, any more than our drive on Saturday is a date.” I poured myself a cup of tea from the warming pot I’d brought up, then added a splash of brandy.
“I wonder if Mr. Danner would enjoy a nice roast beef with roasted vegetables. My mother taught me how to make a delicious roast with carrots and potatoes.”
I squeezed a dollop of creamy lotion onto my hands and rubbed gently.
“And it has been a while since I had the occasion to make a chocolate cake. Men enjoy chocolate cakes. I know that for a fact,” I informed Charlotte before I slid between my 1500-thread count sheets and settled in.
“Are you ready?”
Charlotte indicated that she was.
After placing my reading glasses on the tip of my nose, I adjusted the light and opened the hardcover book I’d chosen from the bookcase. Charlotte crawled into my lap and began to purr as I began to read aloud. Tonight we were reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. I opened the book to the bookmark. I was about to begin when Charlotte swatted at the page, causing it to turn. I decided to begin at that point. I had read the book so many times it didn’t really matter. That’s the thing about favorite novels; they become a part of your history as much as anything else you experience becomes a part of your history.
It does good to no woman to be flattered [by a man] who does not intend to marry her; and it is madness in all women to let a secret love kindle within them, which, if unreturned and unknown, must devour the life that feeds it; and, if discovered and responded to, must lead, ignis-fatuus-like, into miry wilds whence there is no extrication.
“Are you trying to tell me something?” I asked Charlotte.
Charlotte began to purr.
“I’m not looking to marry Mr. Danner.”
Charlotte tucked her head up under my chin. She often did this, I imagine, as a gesture of apology.
“You really are the most opinionated cat.” I set the book aside and gathered Charlotte into my arms. “But I love you. Don’t worry; your spot next to me in this bed is safe. I’m really nothing more than a silly old woman with schoolgirl fantasies.”
The First Date
How is it that a person can live to the ripe old age of sixty-two before having a first date? Am I crazy to believe that perhaps it is not too late for such things? I suppose there comes a point when your time has passed and you should simply accept what life has served as the only offerings you are destined to sample. Not that I am complaining. I’ve lived a full life. A purposeful life. My time on this earth has not been wasted. Still, there are times I wonder at the things that might have been.
“Oh, my.” I stood sideways in front of my full-length mirror and considered my rear. The girls had helped me pick out a pair of jeans—the first I’ve ever owned—for my picnic with Mr. Danner. When I’d tried them on in the store the lighting had been dim, so I hadn’t realized how truly form-fitting they were.
“I don’t think I can wear these,” I said to Charlotte.
My diva cat yawned and then rolled over, a clear indication that she didn’t care about my jeans or my rear.
I pulled the bright plum tank top the girls had selected for me over my head and then layered it with the matching cardigan I had insisted on. The sweater hung down to my hips, providing a bit of a barrier between my denim-clad sit-upon and the general public’s judging eyes.
“I just don’t know,” I debated. I turned to Charlotte. “What do you think?”
Charlotte hopped off the bed and headed toward the doorway.
The ingrate.
I opened the door to release my traitor of a beast at the same time Pepper was walking past on her way toward the study, where the girls were watching television.
“Wow,” she said. “You look great. And so different.”
“Different good or different bad?” I wondered.
“Definitely different good. You look young and carefree and approachable.”
“I don’t normally look approachable?” I asked.
Pepper screwed up her face. I could tell she didn’t want to hurt my feelings, but she didn’t want to lie either.
She grabbed my hand and pulled me into the hallway. “Let’s show the others.”
Part of me wanted to retreat to my room and slip into a pair of sturdy wool slacks and a proper dress blouse, but the rest wanted to see what the others thought, so I let Pepper pull me down the hall and into the study, where Brooklyn and Eve were watching a reality show.
“So what do you think?” Pepper asked after she’d escorted me into the room.
“Wow, you look great,” Brooklyn answered right away. I liked the fact that she didn’t have to take her time to come up with a reply. It made her compliment seem more sincere.
“You really do look great,” Eve added. “Those jeans fit you perfectly.”
“Are you sure they aren’t too tight?”
“Tight?” Brooklyn said. “If anything, they’re a little loose, but you wanted the relaxed-fit jeans, so relaxed fit is what we got.”
“And the color of the tank and sweater set matches your complexion perfectly,” Eve added. “You look beautiful, although we’ll need to do something about your hair.”