by Karen Einsel
“Dad hand me that wrench up there, please.” He squatted down and looked under the car at her.
“Who are you and what did you do with my Chris?” She looked over at him and smiled.
“Sorry”
He had the biggest grin when he told her, “No sorry needed. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. Thank you.”
Chris could swear she had seen a tear run down his cheek, but she never mentioned it. Looking back to when she was twelve, Chris never imagined her life could ever be this happy.
Brandon
Chris is sitting at her desk when Barb taps on the open door. Glancing up Chris smiles.
“Hi mom. Come on in”
Barb walks over and sits down on Chris’ bed.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m just trying to get everything ready for tomorrow.”
“I bet you’re ready to go back after being off for four days.”
“Not really… Mom, am I beautiful?”
“Of course you are Chrissy. I think you are very beautiful.”
“I know I am to you mom, but would a guy think I’m beautiful?”
“Of course a guy would. You have those big blue eyes, long brown hair, a beautiful smile, and a figure that most girls would envy. Why are you asking? Has a guy told you that you are beautiful?”
Chris rolls her eyes. “Only since the beginning of the school year.”
“What else does he tell you?”
Chris looks at Barb and shrugs her shoulders.
“Nothing”
“Nothing? So what do you say to him?”
“I’ve never talked to him. He sits behind me in my American Government class and every morning he tugs on my hair and says, “Good morning beautiful.”
“And you’ve never talked to him?”
“I don’t talk to anyone at the school mom. They are all upper class, high society snobs. Their daddy’s buy them fancy sports cars and they wear designer clothes. The girls make fun of my clothes or they put me down and the guys just don’t pay any attention to me.”
“So who do you hang out with?”
“Nobody, I usually spend my free time in the library or I help one of the teachers.”
“Well, who do you eat lunch with?”
“Normally…by myself. Every once in a while, that guy and a friend of his will come sit at my table, but when I’m done eating I get up and leave, because the other students will say things to him about sitting with me.”
Concerned Barb reaches over and puts her hand on Chris’ shoulder.
“Chris, why haven’t you told me about this sooner? I would have gone to the district. In fact I will go to the district, and get you changed to the other school with your friends.”
“No mom. This is my last year. We only have a few months left and my grades are good. I’m okay there.”
“Chrissy, do you like this guy?”
“Maybe...”
“Is he cute?”
Chris blushes and looks down at her hands.
“I think he is.”
“Hmm…Okay so tell me, what does he look like?”
“Well he’s got dark blond hair and its cut in that shaggy style like dads.”
Barb interrupts her,
“Is that what you call you dad’s hairstyle, shaggy?” Barb shifts her eyes towards the ceiling and thinks about it. “Yeah, I guess you could call it that. Okay, go on, tell me more.”
“Well…he has deep blue eyes. He’s about dad’s height and he plays football.”
“Oh, so he’s got muscles?”
Chris wrinkles her nose. “Yeah, but not all bulky like the other football players though.”
“What’s his name?”
“Brandon.”
“Chris honey, I don’t want to give you the wrong advice, but I think you are going to have to take a chance and say something to him.”
“But mom, what if he’s teasing me just to be mean? I mean what if I turn around and say good morning to him and he says, “Ugh, you’re ugly, turn back around” or asks, “What are you looking at?”
“Chris you’ll just have to be brave and tell him good morning and then if he does say something mean, I am going to transfer you.”
Chris is getting ready for school when there’s a knock on her bedroom door.
“Come in” Barb walks in and hands Chris a very pretty blouse. “Mom, I can’t wear that, it’s one of your favorites.”
“But I think it will look better on you. Try it on and let’s see how it looks.” Chris pulls off her t-shirt that she was going to wear and puts the blouse on. Barb nods, “I thought so. It makes your blue eyes sparkle.” She takes Chris by the hand. “Here, sit down on the bed. When you turn to look at him, do you turn to the right or the left?”
“I don’t turn to look at him.”
“Okay, well let’s say if you did, which way would you turn?” Chris glances over her right shoulder then her left.
“I think this one.” Barb makes one thin braid in Chris’ hair on the left side. Putting her hand under Chris’ chin she lifts her face up and looks into her eyes,
“Chris you are very beautiful on the inside and the outside and don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.”
“Thanks mom.”
“Alright let’s go have some breakfast. We don’t want your stomach growling and scaring him off when you tell him good morning.”
Walking into class Chris sees she’s the first one. She sits down and waits for the bell to ring and for the rest of the students to slowly start meandering in. Brandon walks by and taps his finger on top of her desk. That’s unusual, he’s never done that before. Now she’s even more nervous about talking to him. He sits down in his seat behind her, but for some reason he doesn’t tug on her hair or say good morning, maybe he’s finally given up on her. She listens as he talks to his friend Brent, that sits across from him. They must have had a good weekend because they are both talking and laughing about something that happened on Saturday. The teacher comes in, takes roll call, and has them open their book to chapter 9. About five minutes before the class ends, a student from another class walks in and hands the teacher a note. Their teacher stands up and walks over to the door. “I’ll be right back. Finish reading that chapter and if I’m not back when the bell rings, excuse yourselves.” The teacher walks out and Chris feels a tug on her braid.
“Good morning beautiful. I like the braid.”
Chris bites her lower lip, takes a deep breath and turns around to face him. Smiling she asks,
“What do you want?”
At first, Chris smiles at the shocked look Brandon gives her, but her smile fades as Brandon clutches at his chest.
“Oh my God. I think I’m having a heart attack. You can talk.” He doesn’t say it too loud, but Chris sees the students closest to them watching. Out of the corner of her eye, Chris can see Brent is grinning. She faces forward and slumps down in her chair and listens to the snickers from other classmates. When the bell rings Chris is the first one up and out the door. Brandon jumps up to go after her and catches his foot on the desk, almost knocking it over. Outside the door Chris can hear everyone in the class laughing and quickly walks towards her next class. Brandon catches up to her and puts his hand on the wall in front of her.
“Where are you going in such a hurry?“ Chris leans her back against the wall and looks down at the floor. Clutching her books to her chest she doesn‘t answer. Brent walks up to them and hands Brandon his book.
“Thanks, I’ll catch up.” Brent walks off and Brandon tilts his head to the side and down, trying to get Chris to look up at him. “You finally talk to me, and then you run out the door, how come?”
Chris looks up at him. “Why do you talk to me?”
“Because… I like you.”
“Why, no one else does?”
“I can’t help that they are all idiots, besides I’m not “no one” else, I�
�m me. And just think how much more interesting our lunch conversations will be when you actually say something.” He gets a small smile out of her. “Come on, I’ll walk with you to your next class.”
Chris has been sitting in the cafeteria almost 15 minutes and Brandon hasn’t shown. Maybe it was all a joke on her. How could she be so naïve? When he left her at her class, he told her, “I’ll see you at lunch. Save me a place.” And she heard someone snicker as they walked by. Yeah right, like she really needed to save him a place, nobody ever sits at the table she sits at. Chris picks up her tray and just as she’s standing up, Brandon walks up next to her and whispers in her ear.
“Where are you going?” Startled Chris sits back down and looks over at him as he sits down. “Sorry I’m late, but I was tackled by the ugliest football player in school, so I had to take a shower before I came to have lunch with the prettiest girl in school. Hello beautiful. Did you miss me?” Brent sits down across from them and the two boys talk back and forth about football practice while Chris listens. After 10 minutes, without looking at Brandon Chris whispers.
“I’ve got to go.” Brandon stands up as she does and for once he’s tongue tied. Chris smiles and walks away.
Chris is waiting to get on the bus when Brandon pulls up and yells over to her.
“Want a ride?” Chris shakes her head no. He has the top down on his bright new yellow 1975 Camaro convertible and she can see Brent sitting in the back seat. Brandon asks, “You sure? I can give you a ride.” Shaking her head again Chris steps up into the bus. Chris watches out the window and sees Brent climb over the seat and sit down in the front before Brandon drives off.
Chris closes the front door and heads straight to her room. It doesn’t take long for Barb to knock and poke her head in.
“Did you talk to him?” Barb can see a smile tug at the corner of Chris’ mouth. “Ooh, I take that as a yes.” Barb opens the door further, walks into the room and sits on the edge of the bed.
“Well?”
Chris tells her what happened in class and then at lunch before adding, “And he offered to give me a ride home.” Barb goes to say something and Chris interrupts her, “I know. I didn’t. I rode the bus.”
“Okay. I don’t want you in a boy’s car and we haven’t even met him.” Barb stands up and gives Chris a kiss on top of her head. “Why don’t you come downstairs and do your homework at the kitchen table. You can keep me company while I cook dinner.”
“Okay mom, I’ll be down in a minute.”
Chris is sitting in class when Brandon walks by and taps on her desk before sitting down. Tugging on her hair he leans forward and whispers to her,
“Good morning beautiful. You smell nice.”
“Thank you.” Chris turns around to look at him and finds he’s right in front of her face. Normally after he tugs on her hair, he leans back in his seat. He grins at her and Chris quickly faces forward again. Brandon chuckles. After the bell rings Brandon waits with her until the rest of the students empty out. He gets up and takes her books from her.
“Let me carry them. How come you wouldn’t let me give you a ride home yesterday? Would you have gotten in trouble from your parents?” She doesn’t answer. “Okay, I guess you aren’t talking to me again. So if you can’t ride in my car, Can I walk you home?” Chris looks at him,
“You have a car. How would you walk me home?” Brandon stops and is just standing there. Chris stops, turns around and looks back at him.
“What?”
Brandon shakes his head. “I’ll have to think about that.”
While eating lunch on Thursday, Chris listens to Brandon and Brent talk about the different plays the coach has been going over. Brandon looks over at her. “Will you come to the game and watch me play tomorrow? It’s right after school here on the field.”
“I’ll ask my mom and see what she says. I’ll have to walk home afterwards and it might be getting dark depending on how long it lasts.”
“How far do you live from here?”
“It’s probably about two miles.”
“Two miles isn’t bad. You could jog that in 20 minutes.” Chris furrows her brow. “Come on, you look like you are in good shape from what I can tell, even though you tend to hide it under those baggy t-shirts and jeans all the time.” The 10 minute bell rings letting them know they need to head to their next class. “Let me know tomorrow in class if you can stay, okay? And don’t forget to ask her.”
“I won’t”
Chris watches as Barb puts a forkful of potatoes in her mouth.
“Mom?”
Barb glances up at Chris with just her eyes.
“Hmm?”
Chris smiles and thinks. I timed this just perfect.
“Brandon asked me to stay after school tomorrow for the football game and watch him play.” Barb looks over at Brad who has a smile playing across his lips. Barb swallows her half chewed bite of potatoes and clears her throat.
“You’ll have to walk home.”
“I know.”
“Don’t even think of having him give you a ride and dropping you off around the corner.”
“Wow, I never even thought about that. Thanks mom. That’s a great idea!” Brad snickers and Barb gives him an evil look. “Mom, come on. I wouldn’t do that. You should know me better than that by now.”
“Yeah, Barb, just because you and I used to do that doesn’t mean Chris will.”
Chris’ mouth drops open.
“Mom, Shame on you!”
“What? It only happened once or twice and we learned from our mistakes. After we got caught, that is.”
“So is it okay if I stay and watch his game?”
“I guess as long as you don’t mind walking home and you get home before it gets dark.” Chris gets up and kisses Barb on the cheek.
“Thanks mom.”
Brandon sits down and tugs on Chris‘ hair.
“Good morning beautiful.” Chris smiles but doesn’t turn around.
“So are you coming to watch me play after school?” Chris nods her head. “Cool”
After class Brandon waits for Chris right outside the door.
“You look…different today.” Chris borrowed one of Barb’s pullover sweaters to wear instead of her usual baggy t-shirt and jacket. She went with the reasoning that it will be less cumbersome and will keep her warm on the walk home, but deep down she knows she really wants Brandon to see more of her curves and it makes her feel sexy.
They stop in front of her next class and Brandon hands her, her books. “I won’t see you at lunch. The coach wants us out on the field practicing the new plays, but you will be there after school, right?” Chris looks into his eyes, smiling she nods her head. “Okay, I’ll see you there. Don’t forget, right after school.”
Chris quickly eats lunch. There’s a book she wants to check out from the library and read before they go on Christmas break. She’s thinking she’ll stop by the field to see if Brandon’s there, because it is on the way to the library, well sort of and she smiles.
Chris stands outside the gate and watches the team practice. They aren’t in their uniforms. Some have on sweats, others have their P.E. clothes on and a few are running around without their shirts on. Squinting her eyes she’s not sure which one is Brandon though because they all have their helmets on. The coach blows his whistle and they jog over to him. Watching the one she thinks is Brandon, Chris watches him pull off his helmet and stick it between his knees so he can pull off his t-shirt. Chris sucks in her breath and whispers. “Yep that’s him.” Not wanting him to catch her here staring at him, she walks away and heads over to the library.
Chris is standing next to the field when Brandon walks up to her.
“You came.”
“I told you I would.”
“Y
ou can sit on the bench with us if you want.”
“No. I’ll sit over on the bleachers.” and Chris nods her head in that direction.
“Okay, but don’t leave right after the game’s over. Wait until I come out from the locker room, okay?” A look of anxiety crosses her face. “Don’t worry. I’ll hurry so you don’t wait long.” The referee blows his whistle. Brandon glances over at him and back at Chris, “I gotta go.”
“Good luck” Chris calls out to him as he jogs away. Brandon looks back at her and smiles. Maybe she should have asked dad what she was supposed to say. Good thing she didn’t say break a leg, Brandon would have thought she was an idiot.
Chris glances around and notices everyone is pretty much gone. Her heart begins to pound faster as she clenches and unclenches her fists. What if he doesn’t come back out? What if he’s just going to be like the other students? Brandon walks up behind her.
“Hey you ready to go?”
Surprised, Chris spins around.
“I told mom, I wouldn’t ride in your car.”
“I know, I’m going to walk you home.”
Chris furrows her brow and tilts her head.
“But how…?”
“Come on, I’ll show you.” They walk out to the parking lot and Chris sees Brent in the driver’s seat of Brandon‘s car. “Tell Brent where you live and he’s going to meet us there. But hurry, it’s going to get dark soon.” Brandon looks out at the horizon where the sun is starting to set before taking Chris’ books and tossing them in the back seat.
“Brent can bring those so we don’t have to carry them.”
For the most part they walk in silence. Chris can’t understand why she has such a hard time talking to him. She talks to mom and dad, Tim and Judy and her friends in the neighborhood with no problem, but when she’s with him she becomes tongue tied for some reason. The clouds have started to move in and they are about 2 blocks away from her house when the first few drops of rain start to fall. She looks up and one drops on her nose. Brandon smiles.
“Come on, time to start jogging.” While they are jogging Brandon turns around and starts making funny faces at her to get her to laugh.