by Anne Key
“Yes, ma’am. I found a pretty little dress today, and I’m excited to see if dances are the same here as back home.”
“Lots of loud music, cool lighting, and flat soda?” Eli said. Pretty little dress? He was so happy Mom took him shopping. “Did you know, Mom, they told us on Friday that there’s a no-grinding rule?”
Dad sounded like he was choking on something. “What?”
Eli nodded. “I’m so serious.”
“I was so embarrassed when they announced that! I mean, OMG!” Sammy was bright pink.
“Seriously. Like I needed a rule.” Eli wasn’t so much embarrassed as annoyed. But, then again, it was rule that definitely worked in his favor.
“Well. The days we live in.” Mom sipped her wine. “Oh, Sammy. I talked to your father about curfew. He said he would pick you both up and take you for coffee after the dance and bring Eli home by eleven thirty. He’s going to stay at the coffee shop, though, if that’s all right.”
Eli absolutely wasn’t going to argue. He was being allowed to go; he figured he better not push it.
“Yes, ma’am. It wouldn’t be very fair to ask him to leave just to come back again. This way he can get a fancy coffee too.”
“Hm. Maybe I should have told him I’d pick you up.”
“It’s an addiction, Ellen. I’m telling you.” Dad smiled, and Mom giggled at him.
Mom sipped her wine and set her glass back down on the table. “So, what are you doing for Spirit Week tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow is, um… just school colors, I think? Is that right, Sammy?”
“It is. I have a pretty sweater to wear. I’m looking forward to Weird Wednesday.”
“I figure I’ll just go as me that day,” Eli said, snickering.
“Yeah, really.” Becky grinned at him, and Eli shot her a look.
“Hey, is everyone done? I made some cookies for dessert. Eli, why don’t you and Sammy go sit in the living room and I’ll bring them out. Becky, you can help me clear.”
“Mom!”
“Come on, Becky.”
“Are you sure, ma’am? I’m happy to do dishes. Supper was so good.”
“Aren’t you sweet, Sammy, but no thank you. It’s Becky’s turn, anyway.”
“Come on, Sammy.” Eli hopped up out of his chair.
Sammy followed him and sat next to him on the couch. As soon as they settled, she whispered, “Am I doing okay?”
“Are you kidding me?” Eli knew he looked shocked, but how could she even ask that question? She had to know. “You’re amazing.” He started to reach for her hand, but Mom walked in with the cookies.
“White chocolate macadamia and raspberry rugelach. Let me know what you think. I’m experimenting for the holidays.”
“Mom’s rugelach is the best.” Eli went right for it.
“Rugelach.” Sammy grinned and took one. “I don’t think I’ve ever had this before, but ‘white chocolate macadamia’ anything sounds great and these look amazing! Are you a pastry chef?”
Mom laughed. “No, I just like to bake. It’s… relaxing.”
Eli reached for another one. They were so good. “Mom gives these containers of cookies to all her friends for Hanukkah.”
“Or Christmas, or… whatever their winter holiday happens to be.”
“So yummy.”
“Very cool. I used to bake Christmas cookies with my momma.” Sammy’s face turned pink, and she blinked real fast. “These are great. Thank you very much.”
Mom leaned across the coffee table and gave Sammy’s shoulder a squeeze. “That’s a great memory, Sammy. You hang on to that.” Eli had seen that look in his mom’s eyes before, when Grandma Lily died last year. Mom and Grandma Lily had been really close. “And any time you get the baking bug, you’re welcome. I’m at it pretty much every weekend from now until New Year’s.”
Mom winked at Eli. “I’ll give you guys a few minutes,” she said before leaving the room.
“Sorry. Sorry, you have to think I’m just a total dipwad. Just sometimes it surprises me. Just when I think I’m cool.”
“I don’t think that at all, Sammy,” Eli said, covering her hand with his now that his parents weren’t around. “I bet your mom was neat. She sounds it.”
“She was. She was a little prissy sometimes, but she was fun too. So, the dress I bought for the dance—it’s green with silver trim. Is that going to be okay?”
Eli nodded. “I can’t wait to see it! I have gray pants and a black vest. Mom said a tie would be too formal. What do you think? I mean, I can get one. And my vest has silver pinstripes in it, so that will be cool.”
“Ties are all choky. I think you’ll be fine, seriously. I just want to have a good time, laugh and dance a little. Did I tell you Daddy thinks he found a cheer class for me? They have a competitive squad.”
“Seriously? How cool is that?” That was one thing Eli really felt like Sammy was missing a lot. She liked to be busy, and she talked about cheer all the time. “That’s going to be great. When do you go?”
“He’s going to set up a few classes and we’ll see. I think it’ll be cool, though.” She leaned in. “I like your folks. They’ve been so friendly to me.”
“They’re good people. They’re parents, you know.” He shrugged. “But they’re pretty cool. And I’m not… the easiest kid.” He knew what it took—what it was taking—for his parents to figure him out. It was so simple to him, but they weren’t in his head.
“Dad was so ready not to like you too. He didn’t want me to… um.” Whoa, don’t say that. “He… was weird about the dance.”
“Is it your first one?”
Okay. So if he told the truth and said yes, wouldn’t Sammy think he was a total loser? There’d been dances before, at his old school, but he never felt comfortable enough to go, and even if he had, he wouldn’t have had anyone to go with. He’d have gotten laughed right out of the gym.
She’d been cool with him so far, so he decided he was just going to have to be honest. He nodded. “Yeah. I could have gone to other ones. I just… never did.”
“That’s cool. I’ve been to lots, I guess, but this one feels special.”
Oh. Oh wow. Okay.
“Well, yeah.” Eli smiled. “It’s my first one, and I’m going with this awesome girl that I met. It’s totally special.”
“Sammy, I called your Dad to let him know we were done with dinner. He said he’d be here soon.”
Eli looked up as his dad came into the room, a little panicked that he was still holding Sammy’s hand. He thought about pulling it away, but it was kind of way too late—Dad had definitely noticed. Sammy didn’t yank hers away, either, so Eli decided to just pretend he was chill.
“Thank you, sir. For having me and everything. Supper was delicious, and it was so nice to meet all y’all.”
Okay, Sammy was seriously a pro.
“Pleasure to meet you, too, Sammy. You let me know if this guy gives you trouble.” Dad winked at her. “Have fun at the dance.”
“Okay, give it up.” Eli turned and looked at Sammy after his dad left, laughing. “Do you have like, hypnotic something in your eyeliner or what? Because I have no idea who that guy was.”
“Is it working on you?” she shot back.
He thought maybe it was. No, it definitely was. Eli knew it wasn’t polite to stare, but Sammy’s eyes were this crazy kind of brown and kind of not and gold and just… pretty. “Uh. Yep.”
“Well good. I’d hate for you to discover that I’m just a nutcase and not this totally put-together superstar.” She rolled her eyes and squeezed his fingers.
Eli laughed. “You better duck. I think I see the paparazzi.” The doorbell rang. “Oh my god! They’re trying to get in!”
She started to laugh—not this fake girl-thing, either, a real, happy, belly-busting laugh.
“I hear my girl. Sounds like she’s having fun.”
Mom had answered the door. “She’s been a joy. Sammy is just lovely, Seth
. Eli? Time for Sammy to go, honey.”
Eli stood up, pulling Sammy up with him. “Red and black tomorrow.”
“Yep. I have a sweater. It’s fuzzy.” Sammy was so funny with her excitement about the cold.
“You’re funny. It’s only October. It’s not even cold yet.” Eli led her out of the living room and into the foyer.
“Hey, you.” Mr. Moore held out his hand to Sammy. “Did you have a good time?”
“I did! Spaghetti and garlic bread and roo… roog-lakes? Eli?”
“Rugelach.” Eli looked at Mr. Moore. “They’re cookies.”
“Oh, yum.” Mr. Moore shook Dad’s hand. “Thanks for having her. Sammy speaks very highly of Eli. I’m sure they’re going to have a blast at the dance.”
Dad nodded. “I have no doubt.”
“Excellent. You ready to come home, honey?”
“Yes, sir! Text me later?”
“You got it. Thanks for coming, Sammy. Thanks, Mr. Moore.” He could be polite too. So there.
Eli watched as Dad closed the door and then looked up at him. “Well?”
Dad snorted and shook his head. “Okay, you were right. She’s terrific.”
“See? I told you you’d like her.”
“I do. I like her a lot.”
Eli and his dad went into the kitchen to help Mom clean up. Mom looked over at him. “She’s a nice girl, Eli.”
“Why do you guys sound so surprised that she’s nice?”
Dad laughed. “She’s pretty, huh?”
“So pretty.” Eli sighed.
“And… you were holding hands.”
“Yeah.” In front of his parents. And nobody made it weird.
“You thinking of kissing her?”
“Wait, what?”
“Are you thinking of kissing Sammy? Simple question.”
Wait. How was that even a question dads were allowed to ask? Eli wasn’t going to answer that question, no way. He’d thought about a lot of things, but none of that was any of his dad’s business, was it? He felt like his cheeks were on fire. Thank god Becky had gone back to her room.
“Well… I, uh.” Eli looked at his mom, hoping she’d save him, but she was busy with the dishes all of a sudden. “Well, I don’t know.”
“Fair enough.” Dad ruffled his hair. “But we’re having that talk tomorrow after school.”
Eli groaned.
“SO? DID you have fun?” Daddy asked, and Sammy rolled her eyes but nodded.
“They’re real nice. Parents, you know? I think they might be Jewish. I’ve never met Jewish people before.” All she knew about Jewish people was that the boys wore funny hats on TV, and Eli didn’t wear a funny hat, but he’d said Hanukkah, and that was Jewish but… maybe they had friends that were Jewish? Maybe she’d ask. Or maybe not. It’s not like it mattered, or Eli would have said something.
She was just happy she could sleep in on Sundays.
“Not a lot of Jews in your neck of the woods? Trust me, you’ve met more than a handful since you’ve been here. You just don’t know it.”
They walked up the dark street heading home, and Daddy must have known she was chilly because he put his arm around her shoulders. “So, how serious are you about this boy, sweetheart? Just going to the dance with him for fun? Is it a bigger thing than that?”
She thought about that for a second. “Well, I don’t think I want to have sex with him or marry him today or anything, but I really like him. Like, ‘more than a friend’ like him. I think that I would be his girlfriend.”
“Whoa! Hold on there!” Daddy coughed and cleared his throat. “You… I didn’t hear that. I did not hear any of that. You are fifteen! I need to call Franny.”
“Oh, am I, like, not allowed to talk to you about that sort of stuff?” Momma always wanted her to tell her things, but boys were different.
“Well, it’s not that you’re not allowed to, it’s just… okay, look.” Daddy rubbed his forehead with his fingers, which probably meant she’d said something wrong again. “It’s cool. I want you to feel like you can talk to me. I just wasn’t ready… maybe you need to tell me, you know, where you’re at… with boys. So I know.”
“I’m still a virgin, Daddy.” God, so awkward, but Momma said if you can’t talk about it, you aren’t ready to do it, and the OWL class she took at church said the same thing, so she stuck it out. “It was close, but Momma said I had to get on birth control first, and Dylan didn’t want to wait for me to go to the doctor, and he broke up with me.” Dylan was a dick. “It was so… crappy, and I cried a lot, but Momma said that I did the right thing.”
See, Momma? All that time at the UU church and all the teasing I got for being all liberal and stuff? I learned something in the sex class. Go team me.
It never ceased to amaze her how often the right thing felt so bad.
Daddy nodded like a million times as they climbed up the steps to the house. “Good,” he said finally. She waited for more, but he was quiet until after he opened the door for her. “Your momma was right about everything. And if Dylan couldn’t wait for you, he didn’t deserve you.”
“Yeah. So, I’m not ready to ask to go on the pill, but Eli makes me feel… like… I don’t know. Like I’m real, but I don’t feel like I’m fake, so that isn’t it.” She shrugged and rolled her eyes. “Does it ever get easier, Daddy? Do you ever stop feeling like the world’s biggest moron?”
“Yeah. I mean, Jian and I have been seeing each other for a while now, maybe half a year? And I still feel… that thing you’re talking about a lot. But now, lately, being with him has been making me feel better about myself. So yeah. I think you do stop feeling that way eventually. I think the right person will make you feel… like you’ve got this.” Daddy laughed. “And that was hokey.”
“Maybe I got the dorkfish stuff from you. I like it.” Momma was great, but she’d always made Sammy feel like she was never going to be as classy, as smart, as real.
“Oh, you definitely got it from me. The dorkfish is strong with me.” Daddy chuckled.
She started laughing, and they both ended up in the kitchen and Daddy sat at the table. “You want something to drink, Daddy?”
“I’m good, thanks. You need to get to bed? School tomorrow.”
“Daddy! It’s like early! Are you going to meet Jian in the middle of the night or something?” Teasing Daddy about Jian was the most fun in the history of fun.
“No, Mom, I sent him home after dinner. Ah hell, hand me a beer?”
“Sure.” She poured herself a glass of milk and grabbed the Oreos, bringing the whole kit and kaboodle to the table. Hopefully, beer and cookies went together. “Jian was really cool helping with my dress, Daddy.”
“He had the best time. He talked about you a ton at dinner. He says you look great in it; I can’t wait to see.”
“It’s pretty. I hope Eli likes it.” It was a good dress—loose enough to dance in, but not so loose her boobs would fall out, shiny so it would stand out in the lights, and sparkly because… Eli.
“He’ll like it.” Daddy sipped his beer, but he wasn’t touching the Oreos. “What’s Mari wearing?”
“It’s this tight little sheath dress. Erik might die, for reals. I’m not curvy enough to pull that off, but she so totally is. It’s dark red and so hot. Mine is more ‘hey I’m a tumbler, and I have nice thighs.’”
“Ah, so your dress is short.” Daddy sipped his beer.
Sammy’s phone vibrated and she pulled it out of her pocket. Mari.
How was dinner? Did u play up the accent like u said? Did it work?
Of course! It was great. Send a pic of ur dress?
“I’m getting Mari to send a picture of her dress, and mine’s not that short.” She shot him an arch look. “Your boyfriend picked it out.”
“Yeah, that’s starting to worry me now.” But he laughed softly, so Sammy knew he was joking.
Y? u think I should change it?
Mari sent over a picture, not only of
the dress, but of her in it.
Just wanted 2 show daddy
“See, isn’t she pretty?”
Daddy put his beer down. “Wow. That dress is… a great color. I think you’re right about Erik. He might die for reals.”
“You want to see mine?” You want to tell me mine is even prettier?
“I absolutely do. Show me.”
“Okay!” She kissed his cheek before running upstairs. Hopefully Daddy liked the dress, and if not? Jian picked it out.
Chapter 15
“DADDY? DADDY, do I look okay? Hey, Jian. Daddy, where are you?” She’d had her nails, toes, hair, and makeup done. She was in her push-up bra, her dress, and a pair of glittery Chuck Taylors.
Now what she needed was Daddy to see and Eli to pick her up.
“In the kitchen, girl!” Jian called back. “Are you gorgeous yet?”
“Am I going to pass out?” Really? You’d think Daddy would maybe whisper.
“Don’t be so dramatic, honey. Trust me when I tell you, we went for High School Musical not Vicky’s Angels.”
“Would y’all just come on? God!” Silly Daddy. She rolled her eyes and stamped her foot. “He’ll be here soon.”
Jian kind of shoved Daddy into the living room.
“Ah! Look at you! You are head to toe the prettiest thing I have ever seen. We made a great choice on those shoes, didn’t we?” Jian had his phone out and was taking pictures.
Daddy just stared, letting Jian fuss, and then finally made his way over to her. “You look beautiful, sweetheart,” he said and kissed her on the forehead. “Eli is the luckiest date in town.”
“Yeah? Not too much? Cool, and a little I-don’t-care, but hip?”
“Not too much, just perfect. But what happened to the little six-year-old girl in the Belle costume?”
“Oh, Daddy.”
The doorbell rang. Daddy looked at it, and then at Sammy. “Who answers? Me or you?”
“You. You, and I’ll grab my purse and my phone.”
“And take pictures, honey!” Jian called to Daddy. “Of the kids together.”
“Right.”
Sammy hurried off to get her things, but she heard Daddy answer the door.