Chapter 5

It was a long week without any more ice cream deliveries to Newark. My beloved sister noticed that I was staying home more, and thought she'd figured out what had happened.

"Annette finally realized she was out of your league," she said.

"What's this goddamned 'league' you keep talking about, anyway?" I asked. "Annette is Truly Fine, but she doesn't seem to think we're incompatible."

"The girl is probably just inexperienced," my beloved sister said. "She doesn't realize that you are just Lumpy, the Little Brother."

"Annette's an only child. She's the apple of her daddy's eye. She's been popular and beautiful forever. But, being the smart, discerning-type person she is, she realized instantly that I have qualities found in few other men."

"Oh, yeah? Like what qualities?"

"Never mind. It's not the sort of thing that a man brags about -- especially to his sister."

"Can you breathe through your ears, maybe?"

Maybe my sister was smarter than I'd thought.

"Annette's coming over to spend the day with me Saturday," I announced, changing the subject. "I have to work that afternoon, but only for four hours. She'll hang out at the bus depot with me, or she'll come over here and take a nap or something."

"This'll be your last weekend in town, before school, right?"

My sister knows my schedule! She cares!

"That's right. I'll be heading for Columbus a week from Friday."

"You taking that awful car with you?"

"Yep. It's the only awful car I've got. Last year, I had no place to park it on campus, but this year, I have The Fabulous Apartment. --And a real driveway to park in!"

"You and Annette going to go back to Columbus together on Friday?" my Dad wanted to know.

"Yes. I'm picking her up on the way. She's living in a dorm again this year. She hasn't got much stuff."

"You could take some furniture from here, 'make your new place better."

"Couldn't get much in the car," I said. Anyway, the apartment's furnished -- kinda."

"You could take your bookcase -- and that little portable refrigerator I've got out in the garage. It works, you know."

"Thanks, Dad. Maybe on a future weekend trip home. There won't be enough room, this trip."

"What you need is a pickup truck," Dad said.

"That would be nice," I agreed.

"Like that one -- out there in the driveway."

I looked out in the driveway and saw a red Toyota -- several years old -- sitting all shined up clean in our driveway. "Where did that come from?" I asked.

"Me 'n your Mom decided to help you unload Mariah, there." He was referring to my ancient rust-and-black Chevy Tudor.

"You bought me a pickup?"

"Yep. As you can see, it's got a little mileage on it. Actually, it's got 55,000 miles on it. But it's in good shape, and rust-free. I bought it from a friend, so I know its history.

"Jeez, Dad. It's perfect!"

"Well, when Annette comes over, you can tell her that she can expand her travel kit for the trip back to school, if she wants to. Space won't be a problem."