Little Ann

by M. L. Humphrey

  "That's for luck" I said. "Maybe we'll meet again." Now why had I done that? Brenda gave me a smirk and did the same thing. I think that's what really got to him.

  Over by the door I saw the shocked look on Bob's face. I jabbed Brenda and pointed toward him. "I think he's actually jealous"

  "Oh poor boy" she said to me, "I think I'll just let him stew with that. I want another cookie. Did you make the peanut butter ones? Those are just yummy." We slipped over to the table with all of the cookies and grabbed a couple.

  "I think I like the brownies, the ones with the frosting. Did you make those?"

  "No, I did." We turned around as Joey was standing beside us. "I'm really going to miss this place." He looked around the room which was quite crowded as Miss Riley's class was in here too.

  "Where are you moving to Joey?" Brenda asked him.

  "Oh, some little town in northern New Hampshire where Grandad and Granma live. Grandad's almost ninety, Granma's eighty eight, and Mom wants to be near them. The house is all packed up and the moving van will be here tomorrow." He took a sip of his drink as he looked around the room. "We're going to take a long vacation and drive across the country and see the sights. I'll send you a post card."

  Brenda passed him a card that we'd all pitched in to buy. Inside it were our names and addresses. "Make sure you write" she told him sternly. He smiled at her then turned and walked away.

  We watched as he went over to say goodbye to Mr. Babcock. They shook hands and then Joey left. By then it was time to head home for the summer. For the rest of our class it would be the last time we would be here.

  I don't remember much from that summer. We still had to watch little Hank and he was turning into a handful. He may have short legs but he could get from one place to the other without seemingly taking a step, and he didn't like naps anymore. Three year olds can be so full of energy.

  Chapter 14 - High School

  All too soon August rolled around, summer was over, and school was about to start. I had become very comfortable staying in one place at the same school. Now we were going to another school and it would be like starting all over again making new friends.

  It was about twenty miles to the high school in Durango by bus. It would pick us up just down the road from the old school house and drop us off here again at night. We rode the bus for nearly an hour as it went around picking up all the kids from our area.

  Once there we each had our own locker but had to furnish our own combination lock. All you had to do was remember the numbers, I wrote mine inside my math book. The front office also wanted the combination in case you forgot it. Just for kicks I gave them the right numbers but in reverse order; I guess they never checked it.

  That first morning the hallway was completely jammed with kids. All kinds, big ones, short ones, skinny ones, even a couple with dark colored skin and black hair. There was even one little short girl from Japan. She spoke with an accent I hadn't heard before.

  "How many kids in our class?" I asked Brenda.

  "I think I heard it was thirty" she replied.

  "That's way too many. How do we get to know them all?"

  "Don't worry girl, we know a few more than you think. Look over there." She pointed off to the other side of the hall. I did recognize a few of the older students from our old school but I didn't recognize who she was pointing at.

  "I don't know who that is. All I see is a tall dark haired kid with long hair. I thought he was a girl at first." I looked again. He did look familiar though.

  "You need your eyes tested, that's Jeremy Buxton." Brenda had a strange look on her face.

  "No way!" I replied reaching into my locker for my math book..

  "No way you're blind, or no way he's standing right behind you."

  "What!" I blurted as I turned around to see him smiling at me. Real up close.

  "Well, well. You finally graduated from that little tool shed to a real school." His smile was infectious. "Welcome to Durango High School" he beamed.

  I didn't know what to say.

  "Where have you been the last few years Jeremy?" Brenda asked sweetly. "We've done quite well without you.

  "I thought your father sent you off to a private school?" I added.

  "Only for a year then I started High school back here" he replied. "Where's the rest of the class?" he asked looking around, "I haven't seen Joey Brewster yet."

  "Joey's family moved to New Hampshire right after school." I told him.

  "Oh" he said, "I was looking forward to seeing him again." For some reason he looked disappointed.

  "How did you feel about going to high school, Ann?" The voice gently asked.

  "I wasn't to sure about it at first" I replied absently. "High school is the total opposite of the close little two room school I had become accustomed too. Back there we had four grades in a single room. Here we have multiple rooms for a single grade. And we're constantly moving from one to another, a different teacher for each class and each class in a different room. Each day was setup differently, with one schedule for Monday Wednesday and Friday and another for Tuesday and Thursday. What a nightmare!"

  "There were several subjects like English, Math, and Science required for every semester, but we got to choose two electives to go with them. Aunt Margaret told me I had to take advanced math as well as Physics and Chemistry, but my guidance counselor told her I would need to take at least one foreign language and history. So I added two semesters of French, Latin, Spanish, and World History. Brenda took the regular math and science courses but the same electives so we could have at least a couple of classes together."

  "You're evading the issue" the voice gently reminded me.

  Somehow I knew he was looking for something. Or did he already know what it was and wanted me to find it?

  "Remember that you came to me looking for help" he continued. "If we are to get through this you need to face the problem before you."

  "I didn't come to you!" I blurted out. "I was told that I had to come here."

  "And what were you told would happen?" he replied. "You would have decided not to come?"

  "You think I had a choice?" I replied hotly.He didn't answer for a minute; I could feel he was going to try another direction.

  "Let's not plod through the mundane happenings of high school. You survived it and went on the college. Considering what you had been through you should have been here then, not several years later." I could sense the disappointment and under his breath he said something about stupid parents.

  "Let's go right in for the kill here, maybe the direct approach is what we need now."

  I heard him shifting a few things around on his desk. Where was I anyway?

  "Let's move to the next big event, tell me about the school play."

  Chapter 15: - The School Play

  It was the beginning of our sophomore year, and a poster on the cafeteria wall announced they were seeking students willing to audition for the fall play. Brenda dragged me along with her; she knew that Bob was going to be there.

  "I'm not trying out for a part Brenda" I complained, dragging my feet; but she was insistent.

  "Then come along with me for moral support. I need to get in this play."

  "You just want to do this because Bob is in it."

  "Yes he is and I want to be too. He's stage manager and working for Miss Granger. She's written a play and using the school to put it on."

  "Is that even Kosher?" I asked.

  "Who cares" as she dragged me through the door into the theater.

  Inside the theater it was a riot of noise and utter chaos; Jeremy was on the stage trying out for the lead part. Miss Granger wasn't pleased with him but needed every male she could get.

  "Mr. Buston, Mr. Buston" she chided. "Not like that at all. Haven't you ever watched a play before?" Before Jeremy could correct her she handed him another script. "Here! Read this slowly and in a normal voice. Go! Now!" as she sat back in her chair in the center of the fourth row.


  Jeremy did as asked. Miss Granger nodded approval. "Very good Mr. Buston. You have the part. Go sit down and wait.

  "Miss Stark? You're up next." She handed Brenda the script for the maid.

  Up on stage Brenda stammered a little at first but she read the part well. Miss Granger nodded approval and gave her the same instructions before turning to me.

  "What's your name child?" she asked me.

  I told her my name before even thinking about it. "Here, take this script and read it for me." She turned me around and headed me to the stage before I could tell her that I was just there to watch.

  I stammered a few lines before relaxing. Without thinking about it I added a little inflection from one of the shows I'd watched on TV. From the front row of seats I could see Brenda watching me with her mouth hanging open.

  "That will do Miss Lyndes" and she turned and wrote some things on a pad. "That fills all of the parts. Mr. Page?" she hollered to the back of the stage.

  "Yes Miss Granger?" he hollered back from the edge of the stage.

  "Herd the rest of the crew out here, I have some instructions for the cast and crew."

  We all gathered around her as she went over the schedule for the next two months. We would be doing this play three times. The first show was for a Friday afternoon class assembly. We would then repeat it again Friday and Saturday night for the community to watch. They would charge admission for the nightly shows and the proceeds would be used for promoting the arts in school.

  "OK everyone" she commanded, "take the scripts home with you and memorize them! First rehearsal will be next week. You can bring them for backup but I want you to be able to speak them without having to read them."

  "Did you enjoy doing the play Ann?" the voice asked.

  "Surprisingly, I did. Brenda got to be near Bob, but not as near as I was. I had the lead part opposite Bob." I said with a little bit of pride.

  "Did it cause any problems between you and Brenda?"

  "No. She was more surprised that I actually got the lead. We didn't find out till later that Bob was doing the lead male part. Not enough boys tried out so Miss Granger had told him to do it."

  "Was there any problem with Jeremy?"

  "Not then, that came later." I sat bolt upright. "Why did I just say that?"

  "Miss Lyndes, if you please. Calm down and relax." The voice commanded.

  I settled back down and tried to relax, it wasn't easy. Why wasn't it easy?

  "You're doing fine. Now let's explore your home life for a bit."

  When I came home with the news that I had the lead part in the school play Aunt Margaret just stared at me as if she didn't know me.

  "Why would you ever want to do a school play?" she asked me.

  "Didn't you ever do a school play when you were in school Aunt Margaret?" I asked her.

  "That was a long time ago and a small school. They didn't have plays or any of that stuff" she replied stiffly. "But if it makes you happy I suppose. Just don't let your other studies slip. I expect good marks regardless."

  In other words I could do the play if I could keep my marks up. Fair enough, I suppose.

  "I trust you kept your marks up as well?" the voice quietly asked.

  I didn't answer as he already knew that I had.

  "And the play went as planned?" he prodded.

  The opening scenes were a little rough mainly because the whole class was out there watching and judging us. Miss Granger prodded the right people and things calmed down. It wasn't too bad after I tuned out the audience and got into it. By the time we did the last show on Saturday night we had it down right.

  Bob hammed it up with a couple of lines "Oh Gisselle honey why are you looking at me like that?" Had the audience laughing along with us. I couldn't see Aunt Margaret as she was sitting near the back with Uncle Tom and Aunt Marty Sue. Their kids were a little unruly being up so late so they decided to stay back where they could leave if they had to.

  Then it was over. After two months of work and, in what felt like a short moment, it was all done.

  "How did you feel when it was all over?" His voice was oddly subdued. I think he had something similar happen to him as a child but I didn't dare say so.

  "We stayed for the cast party after Uncle Tom and aunt Marty Sue left. I was having a good time talking with the other guys and Aunt Margaret was over by the door talking with Miss Granger" I replied fondly remembering how I felt back then.

  "Did you talk with Jeremy?" he coaxed.

  I jumped up and looked at him sitting behind his desk with his watch in his hand.

  "Calm down Miss Lyndes. We're almost there." He laid his watch down on the desktop and motioned for me to lie back down. Then he calmly went over what I had talked about so far.

  "You may not think so, but you've been holding this under for so long it will just need a little nudging to bring it out. Once we bring it out and examine it, you will be able to deal with it and put the whole situation behind you. Now where would you like to go now?"

  Now that he had mentioned it, I could see that there were some gaps in my memories dealing with Jeremy. I turned my head so I could see him. When I told him what had just occurred to me he just smiled and encouraged me to continue.

  So Jeremy was the problem as he had always been. Why had I suppressed it?

  I couldn't think of anything else to do so I started to talk about what happened after the play.

  There were only a few days of school left before spring break. Some of the guys were heading off to warmer climates to party or visit with relatives. The rest of us unlucky ones stayed home and played in the snow. Jeremy asked if I wanted to go with his family to southern California for the week. I was hesitant, but Aunt Margaret told me a flat No! Somehow I felt relieved.

  When I told him her decision he just smiled and said maybe some other time. I felt bad but there was nothing I could do about it; looks like it was going to be just me and Brenda, again.

  Mr. Babcock's family was going to Denver to visit relatives and wouldn't be back until after New Years. We'd probably go over to Uncle Tom's for Christmas dinner and just stay home for New Years.

  Correction! I was staying home alone for New Years. Aunt Margaret and Jake were going to a party at the Strater Hotel. Sorry, adults only. Aunt Marty Sue asked if I wanted to watch the kids while they went out, but I declined.

  Jessie Clark lived just two houses down from them and was glad to do it. Jessie was a Freshman and asked me if I'd let her do their babysitting. As I lived twenty miles away it didn't make much sense when they had someone right next door. Jessie thanked me for it and we're still good friends even after all this time.

  "That was nice of you to let her have the job" the voice spoke over me.

  "How long have I been here?" I asked.

  "Not that long. You're nearly done so let's continue."

  I was staying home alone for New Years. The Stark's were going to New Mexico to visit relatives and Brenda wasn't allowed to stay behind. I couldn't think of anyone else so I just had Aunt Margaret get me a couple of movies to watch until she got back.

  "Did you feel abandoned?"

  "No, not really. I was old enough to stay home alone and it was a part of growing up I guess" I replied. "Have you ever stayed home alone?"

  "Usually I do the questions, but to answer your question I stayed home alone quite a bit as a youngster. And yes, it is a part of growing up."

  I turned and watched him play with his watch again. He blushed a little when he saw me looking at him and motioned me to continue.

  "What happened in the spring?" he prodded.

  All I could see was blackness before me.

  "All I see is blackness before me. Why is that?" I asked.

  "Because that is where your underlying problem is. Your mind is afraid of it and doesn't want to go there." He paused as I thought about it.

  "Let's shine a little light on it shall we?" I thought he was going to turn a light on or som
ething like that. Instead he was playing with his watch again.

  "Why are you always playing with your watch?" I asked him.

  "The illumination I'm referring to alludes to what you must do next."

  I gave him a blank look then lay back down.

  I must shine a light on it? On what do I shine a light? What kind of a light shall I use? Multiple questions just to make light of it. I must have spoken out loud, I heard him chuckling in the background. Good for him, he gets to laugh at it.

  Chapter 16: - First date

  School was just as hectic after the holidays and there was nothing left to look forward to except the end of the semester. The school play was over and there wouldn't be another one until next fall. Brenda thought it was so funny that we got a ½ credit for doing the play.

  "With your marks Brenda you may need that just to graduate" I told her jokingly as we walked down the hall to our lockers. As she was about to counter, Bob stepped between us.

  "Excuse me Brenda, I've got to do this before I lose my nerve." then he turned to me and asked if I would go to the spring dance with him next month.

  I almost dropped my books. What do I say? "I'm sorry Bob. Aunt Margaret already told me I couldn't go." It was the best I could come up with. Besides it was true.

  I looked at Brenda but she didn't say a word. Bob looked so crestfallen she took him by the arm and slowly walked him toward the library. A little way down the hall they stopped and he brightened up.

  A few minutes later she came back and finished getting her books out of the locker before we headed off to our last class of the day.

  "What did you tell him?" I asked.

  "Just that I'd ask around" she sighed, "why didn't he ask me?" I thought she was going to cry but she buttoned it up. I couldn't think of anything to say so we headed off to Latin class.