Chapter 15

George and I went shopping with Aunt Prudie, Elvis and Grandma on Saturday. They love antique/junk stores; and we had a good time listening to them squabble with Elvis. He could hear Grandma, but Aunt Prudie had to relay his comments. George and I laughed ourselves silly the whole day.

He didn't eat supper at the house that night because his grandparents were coming to visit so it was just Uncle Bob and me out on the back porch after supper. The younger kids were entertaining Grandpa with a game of Monopoly, while Mom and Dad played Scrabble. Bob and I had chosen to take the Yahtzee to the privacy of the porch where we had a battery operated lantern to see by.

He told me about him and Chrissy at the pond, a detail left out in the version he shared earlier at the table when Dad asked him about the date. Grandpa had looked pleased as punch over everything and was ready to claim his prize money.

"I like Chrissy," I said as I rolled a full-house in one toss of the dice. I didn't need a full- house. I needed a large-straight. I kept a one and a three and rolled the remaining dice. "I sure wish you'd draw Tammy Sue's name next. So Grandma would be happy."

"Dad would have a conniption, if I did," he said, grinning. "And wouldn't believe that I didn't draw it on purpose."

I sighed, and not just because I missed the straight by one. Bob and I always have a relaxing time together. We flow even if we pick on each other and fuss about things. Tonight things were so strained between us, I felt like I was choking.

Throwing my pencil to the floor, I stood up and went out in the backyard. I looked up at the sky and tried to find the big dipper, but couldn't see anything for the tears in my eyes.

"Maggie?" Bob's arm came around my shoulders. "What's the matter?"

"I'm sorry." I sniffed. "For everything."

He laughed softly and pulled me into his arms. "That's an awfully big load."

"I was just trying to help. And now Grandma and Grandpa aren't speaking to each other. And you're having to have sex with girls you wouldn't have to have sex with if I'd kept out of your life. Things have even changed between you and me."

"Maggie, Maggie." He kissed the top of my head. "Mom and Dad were due for a hum- dinger of an argument. It's been over a year since their last one."

"Yeah." I sniffled. "That's true."

"As for me and the girls, I'll admit I'm not crazy about what Amy did to me, but it'll give me something to sit around and laugh about in my old age. Chrissy will be a nice warm memory, too. And I'll sit around and tell stories about my harem of eight girls and everyone will think I'm a mixed-up dirty old coot."

I giggled.

"And you and I were both bound to change, Honey. We're growing up."

"But why does it have to be so crazy?"

"Well, from what I've been able to determine from observing our family, it's in our genes."

"Dear Lord, we're doomed."

He laughed and took my hand. "Come on."

"Where're we going?"

"To play and hide-n-go-seek with the frogs."

We hadn't played that game in ages. All that was required was a flashlight, which we got from the porch. Walking to the barn and into the pasture, we stopped and listened. We could hear several singing out their prayers.

We spent the next hour or so looking for and finding frogs, and just goofing around; getting so involved in our play that we forgot about everything but each other. At one point the old owl that hangs around in our barn flew down to see what was up and scared me half to death. Bob thought it was the funniest thing since The Odd Couple and laughed 'til he had tears streaming down his cheeks.

The game ended when Dad bellowed out our names. Everything got so quiet you could have heard a pin drop on the grass. Bob answered him with a shrill whistle and we started back toward the house.

We were almost to the gate when I stumbled and he managed to get himself in front of me to catch me, which resulted in him going backwards and me landing on top of him.

"Bet we couldn't do that again if we tried," he said.

I giggled. "Are you okay?"

"Couldn't be better. A beautiful moon-lit night with gorgeous girl on top of me. What more could a guy ask for?"

"How about this?" I asked and kissed him. Not just any old ordinary kiss, either. A lip- lock that was nowhere near G-rated.