Peculiar Treasures

by Robin Jones Gunn

  Katie ordered the gordito-sized chimichanga burrito. And she ate all of it.

  Then she and Rick took Max for a walk around Rick’s apartment complex. They practically had to pull the huge, old dog around by the leash. Max definitely wasn’t interested in learning new tricks.

  Katie would have opted for something fun to do afterwards like bowling or going to a movie, but she hit a wall. Yes, she knew the truth: the burrito was what stopped her. However, her reasoning to Rick was that she was at the end of her energy after kicking out all week for finals. She told him all she wanted to do was crash and try to catch up on her sleep, so Rick took her back to the very empty dorm.

  “What time do your summer school classes start tomorrow?”

  Katie groaned. “Do we have to talk about summer school already? Can’t I at least sleep off the remains of last semester?”

  “Don’t you mean the remains of your burrito?”

  Katie ignored Rick’s comment.

  “Call me tomorrow when you get up,” he said. Then with a grin he added, “That is, if you feel like you can reach your phone by then.”

  Katie was too wiped out to even give him a smirk. All she wanted was her bed. And maybe a couple of antacid tablets.

  9

  As Katie tromped across campus to her art appreciation class at eleven on Monday morning, she still felt full from the burrito. Note to self: A celebration is only a real celebration when you still feel happy about it the next morning.

  Katie’s phone chimed, letting her know she had missed a call. She checked and saw that she had missed three calls. Two from Rick that morning, but he hadn’t left a message.

  It’s just as well. He would have asked how I was feeling, and it would have been impossible to lie about my state of fullness.

  Katie then listened to the message left by the third caller and perked up. It was Christy. She and Todd were back from their honeymoon.

  Katie waited until class was over and she was back in her dorm room before calling Christy.

  “Hello? Is this the Mrs. Spencer?” Katie quipped.

  “It is indeed,” Christy said. “How are you?”

  “Better.”

  “Were you sick?”

  “No, not really. But I’ve made a vow never again to eat any burrito that is the size of a small ferret.”

  “Oh, you went to Casa de Pedro without me!”

  “Rick took me yesterday. Hey, are you going to be home for the next hour? I could swing by on my way to work.”

  “Sure, come over. It’ll just be me. Todd isn’t home. I’m trying to organize our wedding gifts. We opened all of them last night, and I can barely walk through the maze of boxes.”

  “I’ll bring a machete to help blaze a trail.”

  “Just bring extra trash bags if you have any. We have an explosion of gift-wrap. Oh, and I bought a little something for you in Hawaii.”

  “You didn’t have to get me anything! You were on your honeymoon, you know.”

  Christy giggled with a sweet softness. “Yes, I know. But you haven’t seen what we bought you so you don’t have to thank me yet.”

  “I hope it’s not one of those grass skirts with the coconut top.”

  Christy went silent on her end. Katie hopped up from the edge of her bed and paced the floor, backpedaling her comment as quickly as she could. “Because, you know, if it is one of those hula skirts, I’ve always wanted one, but I’m pretty sure they have them here at the Bargain Barn, and I would guess the price would be much better at Bargain Barn than in Hawaii. And besides, since it’s always been my dream to have one of those hula girl outfits, well, I don’t know if I ever told you this, but I was kind of hoping I could wait and get one when I actually had the chance to go to Hawaii myself. Someday. That way I could buy the complete set, you know? The silk flower lei and the hibiscus for behind the ear and — ”

  “Katie, you can stop now.”

  “Thank you. I was running out of breath.” Katie rummaged in her closet for a more comfortable pair of shoes to wear to work.

  “I have to tell you the story about why we bought the hula skirt.”

  “Go ahead. I’m going to put you on speaker so I can get ready for work.”

  “Todd and I saw them in Lahaina at the grocery store, of all places, and I said, ‘You know who needs one of these?’ and Todd said, ‘Katie,’ and so we bought it because we both thought of you immediately. We thought it might come in handy next year for all your wild RA-hosted events.”

  Katie stopped mid-shoe and froze in place. “How did you know about the RA position?”

  “Doug told Todd.”

  “And how did Doug know?”

  “From Rick, I would guess.”

  “This kills me.” Katie hopped on one foot to put on her other shoe without unlacing it all the way. “I wanted it to be a big surprise when I told you.”

  “Just like I thought the grass skirt would be a big surprise for you.”

  “Oh, well.”

  “Yes, oh, well. Katie, I think our lives are just too well connected to leave room for many surprises.”

  “And let’s hope it always stays that way. I really missed you, Christy. You should know that it was a challenge for me to make the RA decision without you here to discuss every angle and option.”

  “You could have called me, you know.”

  “You were on your honeymoon, remember?”

  “Yes, I remember.” Christy giggled again with the same sweetness. “Oh, Katie, it was so — ”

  “Wait!” Katie interrupted her and reached for the cell phone. Taking the call off speaker, she said, “The direction I think you’re heading with this conversation is way too important for us to have it over the phone. I’m coming over right now. See you in a few minutes.”

  Katie checked the clock on the desk. If she left right now, she would have about forty minutes with Christy before she had to leave for work.

  Picking up the pace, Katie hustled out to Baby Hummer. The first thing she saw was a yellow piece of paper under her windshield wiper.

  “No! Don’t even tell me!” She jumped out and snatched the paper.

  “No!” she hollered to the air. “Come on, you guys! It’s only the first day of summer school. Give me a chance at least to get to student services and buy my stupid summer parking pass before you fine me the $25!”

  Continuing her tirade, she started up the engine of Baby Hummer and gave the gas pedal an extra vavoom. Just ahead on the narrow campus road she spotted a campus security guard in one of the university’s puttering golf carts.

  “Not so fast, buddy!” Katie laid on her horn, and the guy pulled over. He jumped out of the golf cart as if he were ready to spring into action for an emergency. He spotted Katie getting out of Baby Hummer in a fury, and his expression eased up.

  It was Goatee Guy from the wedding reception. He clearly recognized Katie and appeared pleased to see her.

  For Katie, the feeling was not mutual.

  Waving the yellow slip in the air, she said, “A little grace here, if you don’t mind. It’s only the first day of classes.”

  “Is that your Thing?” He still was grinning.

  “Yes, that’s my vintage, classic, 1978 Volkswagen Thing, and yes, she is a beaut. Now about this ticket. Don’t you think this is a bit premature? The day is barely half over. If today is the deadline, which I’m not sure it is, then I still have half a day to renew my parking pass.”

  “The cutoff was noon today. But sure, go ahead. Take the ticket over to Student Services.”

  Katie took her vigor down a notch. “Okay. So, you’re saying they’ll cancel the ticket if I go over there now?”

  “Can’t say for sure, but you could try.”

  “How about if I pay for my pass tomorrow morning? First thing. As soon as the offices open. I’ll be there with the money in my hot little hand.”

  Goatee Guy tilted his head and listened as if everything Katie was saying mattered. “You can try
paying tomorrow if you want, but you would be better off settling it today. I was told to start ticketing all unregistered student vehicles after twelve o’clock.”

  “Let me guess.” Katie punched both her fists into her hips and gave him an exasperated squint. “Today is your first day on the job.”

  The noncommittal expression on his face gave away the answer.

  “Come on, one more day. That’s all I’m asking.”

  He seemed unaffected. “I’m not the one to make those decisions.”

  Katie snorted. She meant just to make a huffing sort of sound, but an unflattering snort was what came out.

  “Fine,” she declared, trying to restore whatever dignity she could manage. “It’s your job, right? And you’ve gotta do your job no matter how you rank in the Mr. Congeniality Contest, right?”

  “The Mr. what?”

  “Mr. Congeniality,” she repeated as a driver in a car behind Baby Hummer honked. Katie turned to see that she had left her door open, making it impossible for the vehicle to pull around her.

  “It means . . . oh, never mind.” Katie jumped in her car and drove off toward the Student Ser vices office. She looked one more time in her rearview mirror and saw that Goatee Guy still was staring at her, watching her go.

  “Take a picture. It lasts longer, buddy.”

  Katie hit number two on her cell phone, Christy’s speed-dial number. Their reunion would have to wait until after work. She wasn’t happy about that. Nor was she happy about the detour she had to take to Student Services.

  Zooming down the hill away from campus half an hour later, Katie thought, I am such a fraud! Here I make all these noble statements about how I love people, want to work with people, and study how to solve problems in humanity, and then I make a scene with some guy I don’t even know. What is my problem?

  Then, because she didn’t have an answer for her question, Katie turned up the music on her car radio and peeled into her parking space at the Dove’s Nest fifteen minutes late. She entered through the back door. Rick looked up as if he was going to say something. His expression wasn’t good.

  Before he could speak, Katie hijacked the conversation. “I know, I know, don’t say anything. I have a legitimate reason for being late. Several legitimate reasons, as a matter of fact, starting with a parking ticket that still makes me want to scream.”

  Rick looked surprised. He paused before saying, “I’m sure all your reasons are legit, Katie. They always are.”

  “Always?” she echoed. Her irritable edge escalated. She was ready to pick a fight right here, right now. “Always, Rick? Did you say always?”

  Rick’s jaw clenched. “Katie . . .” he glanced over the top of her head. She was aware that another employee had come within hearing distance of them. She knew how adamant Rick was about keeping the conversations at work limited to business topics and to save all their personal discussions for later.

  At that moment Katie could stop blaming the burrito for her irritability. She didn’t need to check a calendar to figure out why all her emotions were right on the surface.

  Aware that the other employee was still behind them waiting for Rick’s attention, Katie scrambled to backpedal yet another time that day. No way was she going to spend the rest of her shift with unresolved tension with Rick.

  “Hey, just erase that comment, okay? I’m a little edgy today. Okay, not a little. A lot. I’m very edgy. I shouldn’t have spouted off like that.”

  Impulsively, she put her arms around Rick’s torso, pressed her cheek to his chest, and gave him a hug. “Sorry.”

  The slightly stunned and not-so-happy look on Rick’s face told Katie she had made a poor decision. Again. Katie didn’t understand why a little hug should be such a big deal. Everyone who worked there knew they were almost a couple. Why couldn’t she give him a quick hug? Would her actions shock Carlos? Certainly not.

  Rick looked over Katie’s head again at the waiting employee. “Did you need something?”

  Katie turned to see not Carlos but Carley. Carley wearing a Dove’s Nest apron.

  “Sorry to bother you guys.” Carley’s airy voice flitted in their direction like a dragonfly. “Carlos wanted me to tell you, Rick, that ants are under the sink again.”

  Rick bristled. He moved past Katie and Carley, looking as if he were on his way to punch a wall.

  Katie stared at the new employee. “So, Carley, when did you start working here?”

  “Today. Rick was so nice when I came in and applied last week. This is so perfect. If I didn’t get this job I would have had to move back to Texas for the summer, and I really didn’t want to do that. Rick is the best, isn’t he?”

  “Yeah, I’ve pretty much always thought that.”

  “Always,” Carley repeated with a calculating grin. “You said ‘always’ again. That must be your word today.” She turned and walked away.

  Now Katie wanted to punch something. She retreated to the restroom and tried the cool-paper-towel-on-the-back-of-the-neck trick. It calmed her down a few notches. Returning to duty, she tied on a clean apron and spent the rest of her shift trying very hard to keep her mouth shut. More importantly, she tried even harder to keep her mind shut. She didn’t need to give space to the hurtful feelings that Carley’s appearance had ignited. What she needed to do was calm way down.

  She had picked up on Rick’s choice of the word “always” because of a big argument they had had many months ago. Katie had picked the fight. A huge one. To her surprise, Rick was up to the challenge. He met her verbal blow for verbal blow. In many ways that argument was a breakthrough for them. They saw they could both be at their lowest point, take it out on each other, and still come away wanting the relationship to continue.

  Katie couldn’t even remember now what the argument was about. But she did remember that afterwards they had agreed not to throw assumptions at each other or to throw the words “always” or “never” into their disagreements. That Carley had thrown the word back at Katie was too much to swallow.

  Rick must have hired Carley for a good reason. Katie needed to trust him and believe that his rationale was logical and solid.

  That’s the real problem right there, isn’t it? You keep waiting for a reason not to trust Rick and his decisions. Katie expelled that thought as quickly as she could. Her thoughts, as well as her emotions, were out of whack.

  As the afternoon continued, Rick was too busy managing the ant problem to pay attention to Katie as she and Carlos prepared sandwiches, pizzas, and a lot of salad-and-sandwich combos. She watched Rick from across the back room and decided that anger wasn’t a good look on him. She couldn’t remember seeing his face so tight. His dark eyebrows seemed to be slanted permanently inward as if they were ready to slide forward, aimed for a head-on crash on the bridge of his nose. The worst part was the way he wouldn’t make eye contact with anyone.

  At least it’s not just me. I’m not the only one he’s shutting out.

  Rick had plenty of work-related reasons to be stressed. But Katie’s being late and snappy with him shouldn’t be enough to send him this far into Grumpsville.

  If he’s choosing to stay this mad all night just because I was late or because I hugged him and shouldn’t have, then maybe he and I have a few other issues we need to resolve.

  Nine o’clock came, and Katie clocked out. Instead of leaving, though, she lingered, waiting for a chance to talk with Rick. He was on the phone, and she could tell he was talking with his brother or his dad.

  Rick said, “Hang on just a second.” Putting down the phone, he looked at Katie and said in his unemotional manager’s voice, “Did you need something?”

  “Yeah, I think we should talk.”

  “Okay, I’ll talk to you later.”

  She nodded but didn’t add any words to the end of their conversation. That, she decided, was a good thing. Her mouth was way too unreliable today. Better to leave this day the way it was without any further foibles.

  After making
her way out to Baby Hummer, Katie kept the window rolled down to air out her frazzled emotions as she drove to Todd and Christy’s apartment. She and Rick had a long history of fresh starts. Tomorrow could be one more of those for them. A “mercy morning” she had labeled them a few months ago. Her theory was that if God could mercifully start fresh with us every morning, why couldn’t we start fresh with others and ourselves as well?

  Significantly calmed by the time she arrived at the apartment complex, Katie made sure she parked in the visitor’s section behind the apartments so as not to invite another ticket at the end of the long day.

  Rick’s apartment was in the same complex, but she knew he wouldn’t be home until after ten. Maybe they could talk then instead of waiting until tomorrow. Katie hated waiting. They could air out everything tonight, and the pieces would fall back into place. Their relationship and their communication would be back on the right track.

  Heading down the concrete walkway past Rick’s apartment, Katie thought of how she and Rick had walked this trail the day before, lugging Max behind them. Their time together on Sunday had been great. Why was today so awful?

  Despite all her positive “mercy” and “fresh start” thoughts, Katie felt the edginess return as she stopped on Christy’s doorstep and drew in a deep breath. She told all her rattled feelings to cool it as she rang the doorbell.

  No one answered.

  She rang the doorbell again. When that failed to produce anyone, Katie stood there, chewing on her lower lip, wondering if she should try to call or just leave. She looked down and noticed that the pot of daisies she and Christy had put there two weeks ago was still alive, even though no one had been home to water the little smilers for the past eight days.

  Katie made one last attempt to gain entrance; this time she pounded at the door with her fist.

  10

  Christy’s voice answered from the other side of the closed door.

  “Who is it?”