Chapter 9

We sat down together to distribute food and eat. Dad offered a blessing. Alice and I started with our soup. Mom and Dad had picked won-ton for their soup.

After the four of us finished our soups, we moved to our entrees. Alice and I shared from our plates. My parents had ordered the same entrees and kidded each other that they didn’t need to share since they liked the same thing.

I had been teased by my parents before though not about a girl friend. Alice looked over the bait they offered and decided to ignore it. We just enjoyed our entrees and shared bites eating romantically. I don’t think either of us had done that before but it was fun.

When we finally finished eating supper, we carried dishes into the kitchen. Alice and I cleaned the few things we had used and loaded them into the dishwasher. It may have taken longer but was great fun. We kissed more than once. The last time we kissed in the kitchen, we were plastered tightly together. My mother came in and said, “Now, I know why it’s so hot in here. Would you two consider ice cream for dessert?”

Alice grinned. “Yes, Ma’am. We’ll use it to cool off.” With Mom’s help, we dished out four dessert cups of ice cream. Mom carried hers and Dad’s. Alice and I each carried our own. Once in the living room, Mom said, “I’m glad it isn’t all melted. Those two were clean but generating a lot of heat.”

Alice giggled. “Jerry is so-o hot!” Neither Mom nor Dad wanted to touch that line. We all ate our ice cream. Mom and Alice took the empty cups to the kitchen and put them in the washer. I heard it start as they came out. Alice sat beside me on the couch snuggled in tightly with my arm around her.

Shortly thereafter, we went to our beds after kissing in the hall.

In the morning, I woke thinking that it’s Thursday, our last full day here. I tried to figure if there was any special thing that Alice and I could do today other than being together. I was dressed putting on clothes without really thinking about it. I opened the door and met Alice walking down the hall.

I smiled, “Good morning, Alice. It’s a marvelous day.”

She smiled back, ‘What’s so good about it?”

“I get another day with you. Each one has been special. I look forward to this one.”

Hand in hand, we walked to and into the kitchen.

My parents were there drinking coffee before cooking breakfast. We walked in and I said, “I’m hungry. How can I help?” I grinned.

Alice said quietly, “I will be glad to help also.”

Mom said, “Thanks, Alice. I appreciate the competent help. Jerry, set the table and check the coffee pot.”

Alice smirked, “You have other redeeming characteristics, Jerry.” She moved to help my mother without speaking further. Neither of my parents asked for a further description. I grinned and set the table.

We had a nice, enjoyable and quiet breakfast. Once we were finished, Mom saw Dad off to the courthouse. She came inside and asked, “What do you two plan for today?”

I smiled. “It’s our last full day here together. I thought we might get in a walk and swim. The hot tub will probably come into play.” Alice smiled and nodded.

Mom looked at Alice, “What are Jerry’s other redeeming characteristics?”

Alice smirked. “He’s reasonably intelligent, a good swimmer, and a generally nice guy. What were you thinking I might know about?”

Mom blushed. “Those are fine redeeming characteristics for him.”

Alice’s smirk became a grin. “There are others that I can describe”

“That’s all right. There are some things about my son that I probably don’t want to know.” She smiled. “I think I will quit teasing you two for a while.”

We both smiled at my mother. We headed out the door holding hands and walking very closely.

“Jerry, I enjoy being here with you. I will enjoy you being with me at the farm, too. I will be lonely while you are at the football tryouts.” She smiled at me. “We really haven’t talked beyond Sunday, have we? I think we should.”

I smiled. “I look forward to a future with you, fair Galadriel.”

She grabbed my arm pulling her body closer. Our walking wasn’t fast but now it slowed down some more. “I like that idea, Jerome.”

I said, “The tryouts are for five days, Monday through Friday, assuming I don’t wash out or get washed out. That means Friday afternoon will find me on my way back here. I would like to stop by and see you. There is, right now, a week off between the end of tryouts and the beginning of classes. I would like us to be together as much as possible during that time. I will need some time to pack for school so will need to be here some.”

Alice said, “I would like to see you more before classes start. I, too, will have to pack but I’m going to think about what I’m taking. I don’t want to load too much. Mom and Dad would take me but I hope you will come by and let me ride to school with you.”

“Alice, I think we’re assuming that we will be together. I like to operate under that assumption. I know that I hadn’t planned to pack heavily. I will pack some for the colder weather that we will have but men’s clothes can be easily stretched to cover many different situations easily. What I’m saying is that I would be glad to provide you with my personal chauffeuring service.” I smiled.

I figured I was on a bit of a roll. “I would like to stop your farm any time I’m traveling to see you, too.”

She grinned at me. “I don’t know if I should let your time be so tied up. After all, I’m just your roommate’s girl friend’s roommate.”

I said, “Fair lady Galadriel, you will never be ‘just’ anyone to me. I’m glad we met and even more glad that you’re willing to spend time with me.”

She leaned to me and lightly kissed my lips. “Jerome, you’re a good guy. It’s always been you who have appealed to me. I’m looking forward to riding with you tomorrow and have you spend time with me at my parents’ home. I think they will continue to like you and understand my attachment to you quite easily.”

I stopped us and pulled her into my arms. “Fair Lady, I would like to be your exclusive guy.”

“And I will then be your exclusive girl.”

“That would work for me. That would work very well.” We kissed. It wasn’t a long kiss but was emotional. We then loosened our embrace and then resumed our slow walking.

Walking was slow with our arms around each other’s waist. We did finally reach the end of the driveway. “Fair Galadriel, if we’re really going to walk, we need to hold hands and go. Otherwise, we can remain like this and wander back to the house.”