by Kim Pritekel
"Hey there." I brows drew as I looked up, knowing that voice.
"Hi."
"How are you, Kendall?"
"I’m fine. How are you, Haley?" I smiled, stood.
"I’m doing great. Is Andi here?"
"Hello, Haley." Her eyes darted up from the girl, and she smiled.
"Hey, stranger." It always amazed me how her entire face lit up when she smiled. "Where have you been?"
"Around. We’re pretty busy in the lab, so I’ve been spending my entire day in there." Haley tsked at me.
"All work and no play? That’s not good. So," she smiled down at Kendall, "I had come by hoping to snag you, and head shopping. But," she smiled at me, "I can see you’ve got company, so I’ll leave you two alone."
"Can we go, Andi?" I looked down, surprised to see hopeful eyes staring up at me. "Please?"
"What about our game? And what about piano, missy?"
"She can do it later." I looked up, incredulous. Haley was grinning evilly, and I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face. I nodded.
"Okay. We’ll do it."
"Yay!" Kendall jumped up and down. "I’ll get my wallet!" she bellowed, and ran to her room, footsteps stomping all over the house. I smiled, shaking my head.
"Cute kid." Haley crossed her arms over her chest, leaning against the front door. I sighed, nodding.
"Yep. That she is."
* * *
I have to admit, it was odd, driving the twenty minutes or so to the Rochester Mall, Haley sitting at my right, Kendall behind me. Who would have thought? My two passengers talked excitedly about summer break, and how excited Kendall was, not having to go back to school until late August.
"Well, what do you plan to do for another month and a half?" Haley asked, turned in her seat so she could see the girl. I looked at Kendall in the rear-view mirror. She shrugged.
"I’m not sure. I’ve already read all my books for the summer reading club at school."
"Yeah? Tell me about it."
"Well, the kid who reads the most books wins a prize."
"She’s won the past three years." I glanced over at my old friend, a smile of pride on my face. Haley’s brows raised in surprise.
"Really? Wow. I’m really impressed, Kendall."
"Tell her what your prize was last summer, Kendall." Our eyes met in the mirror, and I saw the smile spread across her face.
"I got to pick out ten books from Barnes & Noble."
"Wow! That’s quite a prize. Good for you." Haley turned to me. "You must be proud, obviously you’ve done a good job." I looked at her, my brows drawn. "Well, you’re her mentor, right?"
I saw Kendall’s mouth open to speak as she sat forward a bit on the leather seat.
"Hey, look. Here we are." I pulled the Jeep into the parking lot.
"Yay!"
"She’s already quite the little shopper." I explained to Haley.
"Ah. I see you’ve taught her a great deal, eh?" She grinned, I glared, which got me an even bigger grin.
I parked outside of Dillards, knowing it was the easiest place to find your car, and I was horrible at that. I never paid close enough attention to where I had left my baby, no matter how much I tried to drill it in my head.
Kendall walked between us, her dark hair bouncing as she nearly skipped. Her childish excitement always amazed and grounded me, never allowing me to get too serious. Lord knows I have that problem enough as it is. I sometimes wondered where my fun side had gone. I know I used to have one, and Haley was always good about dragging it out of me. I remember that.
"So, where to first?" I turned to see Haley staring at me as she reached for the large, glass door of the store, holding it open for Kendall and I.
"I don’t know. You’re the one who had the shopping idea, so what are we here for?" She looked at me like I was crazy, following us into the expensive department store.
"Andi. I’m disappointed in you. Do you really ever classify shopping as an event where you’re trying to find needed items?" She grinned, and I heard Kendall chuckle.
"Alright, alright. Guess I’m not up on my shopping etiquette."
* * *
I had no idea a ten-year-old could be so much fun, and with that added Haley’s kid-side, I was in stitches. All day I heard "lighten up, Andi," as I’d roll my eyes at their antics, and childish conversations. They picked out ugly clothes that people had on, or hairstyles.
"You know, Haley, you’re really not teaching her much."
"Well, that’s what her parents are for." She grinned. "That’s the great thing about taking kids out; you can be a nut with them, get them all wound up, and then drop them off at home."
"Do it often, do you?" She put her hand on her hip.
"Listen, lady, I had a very dear friend back in California who had a four-year-old son. Dillon and I had more fun than his mom and I did." I smiled, knowing that was probably very true.
"Come on, you two nuts. Let’s go to the toy store."
"Really?" Kendall smiled huge at me, her eyes shining with hope. I nodded.
"Yes!" She jumped up and down, yelling.
"Kendall, not so loud."
"I can if I want to." I stared at her, shocked at the change of expression; from pure joy to total discontent. Not sure what to say to her increasing back talk, I looked at Haley. She was already looking at me. Mrs. Torrini had told me that she was getting worse. She thought it was the kids at school, and also the fact that she was growing up.
I sighed. "Kendall, please don’t talk to me that way." She looked down, ashamed.
"I’m sorry," she said, looking up at me with her puppy-dog eyes. How could I ever stay angry?
"Come on. The toy store awaits." The smile returned to her pouting lips, and so did mine.
Haley and I followed behind her as she looked at everything, exclaiming how she’d seen this or that on television, and how she was asking for that for her birthday, or for Christmas.
"Ah, to be so young and carefree again." I turned at Haley’s voice, seeing the soft smile on her face, thumbs tucked into the back pockets of her shorts. As I looked at her, I realized just how beautiful she’d gotten. When I thought of her back in school, I had always thought she was the most beautiful person I’d ever seen, and quite frankly she was, but I had no idea how much more her genes were capable of. She had matured, her facial features had lost the softness of being just barely out childhood, all the softness growing into fine, chiseled lines, making her almost look like a sculpted piece of art.
Haley had always been taller than me, and she hadn’t grown much since last I’d seen her, if at all, but her legs somehow looked longer, more defined, incredibly shaped. Her voice was still the low, smooth tone it always was with a smoky quality to it.
I turned back to see Kendall walking toward us, the newest Barbie in her hands.
"Bet you ten bucks she’ll want me to buy that for her," I muttered to Haley. She chuckled.
"Andi?" Here it comes. "Please?" She held the pink box up to me to examine. I took it, looking at the doll, her surf board and bathing suit included. I looked at the girl, chewing on my bottom lip.
"How much you got, kiddo?" She reached into her pocket, tongue barely sticking out of the corner of her mouth as she felt around, then her eyes opening wide.
"Oh, no!"
"What is it?" I asked, immediately concerned.
"I can’t find my house key! Mom will kill me."
"Hang on. Before you get upset, check all your pockets." Kendall shoved her hand into every pocket, including the smaller coin pockets at her hips. She blew out a breath, placing her small hand over her chest.
"Found it." She brought it out of her back pocket, just a single key.
"Kendall, why don’t you put that on a key chain? It would be a lot easier to keep track of." She shrugged.
"I forget to buy one."
"Here, Kendall. My treat." I looked up, as did the girl, and immediately my brows drew. Haley held a key
chain in her hand, which is all fine and good, but at the end of it was a brightly colored Koosh ball. She grinned and winked at me. "Come here," she beckoned Kendall to her, which of course she went, and whispered something in her ear. I watched, suspicious.
"Cool. Thanks, Haley!" Kendall looked at the key chain, rubbing the soft ends on her cheek. "So? Can I get this, Andi?" She held the Barbie up.
I sighed, looking at the girl again. Without a word, I dug into my pocket and got my wallet out, grabbing a twenty, and handing her the money and the doll. "Yay!" She took it, a double treat as she was getting to the point where she loved to buy things herself, feeling like an adult to hand the clerk "her" money.
Haley and I followed her up to the register, standing back to give her room to do business.
"What did you tell her?" I asked, glancing at Haley.
"Oh, nothing. Just that Koosh balls used to be your favorite toy as a kid." I turned fully to her.
"What? You didn’t." She grinned, evil. I shook my head, tucking my bottom lip into my mouth.
"You’ll pay." She grinned wider. "I need to get her home." I checked my watch.
"Mind if I come along?" I looked at her, smiled, shaking my head.
"Not at all."
* * *
I watched from the car window as Kendall ran up the walk, her Toys ‘R’ Us bag in hand. The front door opened, and there was her mom. She waved at me, and I waved back, then pulled away from the curb.
"That is one smart kid." Haley looked at me, and I smiled at her, nodding. "How did you start seeing her?" I shrugged with a sigh.
"My mom knew of her parents, and we met."
"Oh."
"She’s great. I love the time I’m able to spend with her. She keeps me young." I smiled at Haley. She chuckled.
"Well, someone’s got to." I glanced over at her as I pulled to a stop at a red traffic light.
"Meaning?" She shrugged, then looked at me.
"It seems like your life is your work. You need some fun." She punched my arm. "Want to have some fun with me tonight? Grab some take out and watch a movie, or something?" I just looked at her for a moment, trying to decide if I wanted company or not. Finally I smiled, put the car in gear, and we drove on.
"Yeah. Sounds great. Have you eaten at Wong’s yet?"
"Are you kidding? Anyone with any sort of taste for Chinese food has."
"Okey doke. Wong’s it is."
* * *
I pushed the garage door open, holding it open for Haley who followed with a brown paper bag in hand, oozing incredible smells that made my mouth water. I set the packages of things I’d bought today down on the kitchen counter, and turned lights on throughout the house as I went, headed toward what had become Bunsen’s room.
The Pug came running out of the room, doing his little happy dance at the sight of me, and especially of Haley. He loved company, and expected them all to love him.
"Who’s this?" Haley asked, kneeling to grab the puppy up in her arms, trying to keep the squirming body from falling back to the floor, yet avoid puppy kisses at the same time.
"That would be Bunsen." Haley looked at me, her head cocked to the side.
"Bunsen?" I nodded. "As in burner?" Again I nodded. She chuckled, staring at the dog. "Only you, Andi." Getting the dog to calm down, she held him close to her chest, petting Bunsen’s head and back. "So, mind if I look around?" She wiggled her brows, eyes mischievous. I nodded.
Haley walked to the living room, and I flipped the lights over the fireplace on, revealing the sculpture I had on the mantle.
"Oh, that’s beautiful." She walked toward it, taking it in. "It’s two women, isn’t it? Their bodies entwined." She looked at me, I nodded. "It’s gorgeous. Very sensual, yet tasteful."
"I picked it up in New York a few years ago. I was there for a conference." She turned away from the fireplace, and looked at the rest of the room; the wood floors, brown suede furniture with rustic wood accents. Wood and glass tables.
"You like knick knacks, don’t you?" She asked, picking up the glass figurine from the coffee table. I stuck my hands in the pockets of my cargo shorts, suddenly feeling very shy. She smiled, and headed into the kitchen. "Oh, a whole wall with hanging utensils." She said, her voice excited. Putting Bunsen down to better examine things, she grinned at me, holding a utensil, pointing it at me. I looked at it, confused, then it came back to me.
Haley busted out laughing.
"I had no idea you could turn red, Andi." She hung the potato masher back in its little nook, and turned to the appliances. "Oh, I like your stove." I had a butcher block island, the stove was built in, just a stove-top.
"Yeah, it’s great. Saves on counter space." Suddenly Haley looked at me, a grin on her face.
"You know, this makes me feel so old."
"What’s that?"
"Us, standing here talking about appliances, and me going through your house. This was the furthest thing from our minds when we were friends, you know? Back in Winston? Hell, at that time we were talking about where we’d go to school, so excited to get away from that town." She chuckled, shaking her head, then headed out of the kitchen, patting my shoulder as she passed. I followed her down the hall, the main bathroom to the left, the three bedroom doors to the right. The first of the three doors was my home office.
Haley flicked on the light, and looked around, then burst into laughter. I looked around, trying to see what was so funny.
Oh. Hehe.
"You still have those?" Haley pointed to the cabinet that I had built into the wall, large, glass doors protected my collection. She walked into the room, headed straight for the Beanie Babies. "Do they even sell these anymore?"
I shook my head. "No. They’re a real bitch to find now."
"Do you have more?" I nodded, feeing the excitement inside bubbling at my near life-long hobby.
"I have to find most of them on the internet now, or even in antique shops. Imagine that. Talk about feeling old!" We both chuckled.
"May I?" She asked, her hand on the handle of one of the doors.
"Go ahead."
She opened the door, and carefully handled the toys, reading their individual labels, each one kept in its plastic cover to protect it.
"These are just too cute. How many do you have?"
"Oh, jeez. Let me think. Um, at last count I think three hundred and thirty."
"Wow!" She looked at all of them, then her brows drew. "Where’s the Kung Fu one?"
"Oh, Suki?" She nodded. I sighed. "I was dating a woman once years ago who liked to bring her golden retriever over, and well, Barney liked to chew." Haley looked at me, her face the portrait of pity.
"Oh, Andi. He didn’t."
"He did." I sighed, shrugging.
"I’m sorry." She put the Beanie she had in her hand back, and closed the cabinet door, turning to me. "Well, how about dinner? Hungry?"
"Famished."
A pile of knick knacks on the couch cushions, the closed backgammon game on the floor, open containers of Chinese food scattered, an uncorked bottle of wine sat on the table, nearly empty plates next to it.
"It’s certainly been an adjustment to get used to these cooler nights again."
"I bet." I sipped from my wine glass, the bitter liquid filling my mouth before sliding down my throat. We both sat on the floor, across the table from each other. "Tell me about your life in California." I grabbed the bottle of wine, filling my glass half way, and offering it to Haley. She handed me her glass.
"Well, I own a very small condo at the edge of the city. Everything is so expensive in L.A., plus just beginning, well," She smiled. "Doesn’t make for much money." I smiled, nodding.
"I understand that. Tell me more."
"Well, I live alone, well, except for my bunnies." I stared at her.
"Bunnies? As in Bugs?" She nodded.
"Just like. I have lots of friends still from college, as well as now from teaching. I stay pretty busy with them."
"Do you miss them?" She nodded.
"I do. I’ve been out there for so long, coming home just feels," She chewed on the inside of her cheek as she thought. "I don’t know. It just feels weird. Seeing all the places I used to hang out at, and I even saw Kelly recently. It just feels like I’ve grown up."
"You have grown up, Haley." She looked at me, smiled.
"I know. I can’t quite get used to the idea of being grown up at home."
"Do you mind if I ask about your marriage?"
"Not at all." I sipped from my wine, then put the glass aside.
"Well, tell me about Lonnie. What was he like? What did he look like?" Haley sighed, staring up at the ceiling for a moment, then looked at me.
"He’s very sweet, one of the most generous people I’ve ever known. He had considered the priesthood at one time."
"Wow. Not someone I’d imagine you with." She laughed.
"Yeah, me either. But, we started out as good friends. I could trust him, plus he was brilliant. He used to help me with my homework. After all, I didn’t exactly have your brain at my disposal." I smiled, resting my cheek on my hand. "We began to date, and it was a lot of fun. Then things started to get serious, though I don’t know how because we were both completely swamped with school. I lived in an apartment with a couple girls, and they loved to party and drink, and they both loved their men. It was horrible. I’d come home from class in the middle of the day, and one of them would be with some guy, right there in the middle of the living room!" Her eyes opened wide to emphasize her point. "It was horrible. So, I decided I’d had enough, and Lonnie suggested we get married. See, he wouldn’t live with a girl in sin." She smiled, so did I. "So, I agreed, we did. It was not fun. As wonderful as he was, we had very different personalities, and he hated how independent I was. Not that he tried to control me, he just didn’t like the fact that I wanted to take on the world on my own merit, and not that of a man."
"Oh, not fun."
"Yeah. So, eventually we realized that it just wasn’t going to work, so we got a divorce. I was always so ashamed that I was twenty-four, and already divorced. Some record, huh?" I shrugged, sitting back against the arm chair.