Chapter 11

Saturday morning, after my weekly housecleaning had been completed, I went over to Jill's place to see if they had any plans for the weekend. Donna opened the door to my knock and reluctantly granted me entrance. We both filed into the living room and I was glad to see that Sandy, at least, seemed happy to see me. She jumped up from where she'd been seated on the floor in front of the TV, ran over and gave me a hug. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Donna rolling her eyes and making an unhappy looking face.

"Hi Sandy, it's great to see you, how have you been? Where's your mom?" As I was talking, I looked over to the staircase and saw Jill starting down the stairs with an armload of dirty clothes. When she saw me, she paused for just a second before continuing down the steps.

"Well, hello stranger, we sure haven't seen much of you lately. Where have you been?" When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she dropped the laundry at her feet and walked over and also gave me a warm embrace and a little kiss on my cheek. We both sat down on the couch and I filled Jill in on my week at work and my trip to Santa Barbara the weekend before. Donna interrupted me to ask whether I'd gone to Santa Barbara alone or with someone.

"No, I had hoped to take a friend with me but she decided that she'd rather not go at the last moment, so I just went up by myself. I had a good time by myself but it would have been nicer if I'd had someone with me to share the experience." I paused for a minute before continuing. "Which brings me, interestingly enough, to why I stopped over here to see you guys today. I'm heading over to Disneyland and I was wondering if any of you, or better yet, all of you, would like to come with me, my treat, of course." In half a heart beat Sandy was standing in front of her mom animatedly pleading with her whole being for her mom to say yes. Jill begged off from going, pleading too much to do and too little time to do it in, but said it was all right with her if either or both of the girls wanted to go. Sandy gave her mom an exuberant hug and dashed upstairs to change and get ready. I looked over at Donna and gave her a questioning look. She looked like she was having a hard time coming to a decision, but, in the end, she decided to come.

"Sure, why not? It should at least be better than staying here and watching the mold grow." And with that, she too bounded up the staircase. Her haste in leaving giving something of the lie to her pretended indifference. I couldn't help but watch as that gorgeous tush of hers scampered up and away. Within ten minutes both girls were ready and we were out the door. Jill seemed relieved that she wouldn't have to look after the kids and even said that now, maybe, she'd be able to get some things done around the house.