Chapter 58

“Joe, thank god. I can’t believe she let me talk to you. I’m grounded until Christmas break. That sucks, doesn’t it?”

“I miss you. Are you sure you can’t get out early on good time? What did you do anyway? It’s got to have something to do with school, right?” I took a breath and smiled at my own rambling. I really did miss her and hearing her voice made me happy.

“I don’t think so, she seemed pretty serious. I’ve just been upset, and my mind has been all over the place. I haven’t been doing what I’m supposed to do. Yes, it’s something with school. I’m really sorry I messed up this time for us. It was stupid, but sometimes I don’t act right. That’s no surprise, is it?” Susan let out a defeated sigh. “There’s only one thing I want to hear you say, then I gotta go so I don’t get time added to my sentence.” Silence followed.

Without specifics, I had to follow my heart. “Susan, I love you, will love you no matter what.” It had been presumptuous, but it was the only promise I had made to Susan.

“Oh, you are my prince. I love you, too, and at midnight, I’ll throw down my long hair so you can climb up and plunder me.” The young girl’s giggling voice made me laugh more than her pornographic fairy tale.

Sleep didn’t come easy that night. I imagined all the ways things could go, and unlike my dream with me sandwiched between two happy sisters, I didn’t imagine an ending that was happy for everyone.

The next week, I sat on my bed, staring across the room at Kermit’s bitch. Ms. Piggy had been broken in several pieces. After years of putting green and coins in her, $447.47 came out of her. All my savings from allowance, lawn jobs, and birthday money amounted to less than $500. Well short of a corvette, yet plenty of cash for Jasmine’s birthday present. Cindy’s idea of a bracelet seemed better each day that I didn’t come up with something else. I wanted to make it the most wonderful birthday I could, but was limited without a driver’s license, a limited budget, and my cluelessness about what girls liked. Or, at least what they liked from the store.

When my mother dropped me off at the mall, I wished I was as old as the life style I was living. I wanted to be a rich man who could take Jasmine away on a plane, and make love to her for her whole birthday weekend. Yet, there I was, getting a ride to the mall from my mother, and I’d ride public transportation home.

Why are there three jewelry stores in one mall? My thoughts were interrupted by a screaming kid, or was it fifty screaming kids? As I entered the third jewelry store, I had all but given up hope that I was going to find the bracelet that told Jasmine how much I loved her, without depleting my money completely. Four baby strollers blocked my way, and reminded me how much I hated the mall. Actually, the amount I hated the mall was multiplied by what seemed like millions of Christmas shoppers, clogging the corridors. Note to self: next year get Jasmine’s present during the summer.

Even in all the aggravation of the holiday shoppers, I was excited about the idea of having a girlfriend to get something for, and the idea of making her happy. I was also wishing Cindy were here helping me, or at least Susan. The days not seeing Susan had gone by quickly, but with each passing day, I missed her more. I loved Jasmine more every day, but I didn’t love Susan any less, as I had expected.

“Gold, let me see the gold one, please,” I said.

The stunning college age girl behind the counter opened the display case and pointed. “This one?” She stood up from her crouched position and presented the bracelet at the end of her lovely arm.

Instantly, I could picture it on Jasmine’s wrist. It was bold, yet delicate. Every other link was the shape of a heart. Each heart was connected by three interwoven oval loops, and one large heart hung from the connection of hearts.

Someone said, “It’s beautiful.”

I looked up, and as if I hadn’t just seen the salesgirl, her flame-red hair, freckled face, and blazing blue eyes reminded me I was a horny boy. “You, um, it’s, it is.” The silk blouse bulged open between her hefty breasts, and her nipples looked like they were trying to poke through the material. “Do you like it? I mean if I was your boyfriend, would you like it?” Damn it, I just said that. “What I mean—”

“That’s okay, I know what you mean.” The beautiful young lady was obviously accustomed to people stumbling over themselves in her presence. “Yes, I would. It’s a wonderful gift for whoever the lucky girl is.”

I smiled like a crazy person, picturing the look on Jasmine’s face. “What would you like engraved on it?” The girl asked and stared at me like I actually had a brain.

“What, ah, engraved, what do you mean?” I had been reduced to a silly boy.

“You know, her name, or a message. Up to nine letters are free. We can have it done in an hour or so.”

I looked into the sea of freckles. Sweat formed on my brow. Without using my brain, I said the first thing I felt, “I promise, can you make it I promise?”

A sweet smile crossed her face. “Sure, we can do that. Lucky girl.” Her last words faded as she turned, but thundered in my heart. “Whoever the lucky girl is.”