Chapter 15

Surprisingly, once I stopped fretting over my relationship with Brenda, I was able to feel relaxed around her again. After dinner we all sat in the library, talking about money. I excused myself long enough to go in the kitchen and visit with Gerta and Hans. Gerta told me that Grace and Jane had driven to Bolling for the weekend, and that Mama had given them the keys to the apartment my parents kept there. For some reason, this seemed to upset both Gerta and Hans, and I didn't know why. Normally, I would have just asked Gerta what was wrong, but this time I didn't. It didn't matter that I didn't ask her though, because, after she saw I wasn't going to ask her, she told me why they were upset.

"I don't trust those girls up there all alone, Kenny. We don't really know anything about them. Suppose they decide to rent a truck and fill it up with all the art, and the nice furniture there? Or worse, suppose they decide to throw a big party for their friends?"

"I guess Mama trusts them, or else she wouldn't have let them use the apartment. Do you want me to say something to her?"

"I want to send Hans up there to see for himself. Not tonight, but tomorrow night, but I can't think of a good reason for doing it. A reason that would keep your mother from being upset with us."

"Gerta, just the fact that you're worried is reason enough for me. I'm asking you to see if you can have Hans stop by there tomorrow night, just to make sure everything is okay. If Mama asks you, that's your reason for doing it. In a way, they're my guests, and I feel responsible for their behavior." Gerta was smiling at me, and when she turned to Hans, I could see a triumphant gleam in her eye. Hans looked disappointed. This wasn't something he would enjoy doing.

When I got back to the library, Mama and Brenda were talking about the dance at the club the next night, and about the new dresses they were going to be buying for it. I hadn't known we'd be going to the dance, but I was all right with the idea. I wondered how the women were going to go all the way to Springfield and back, plus do all their shopping, and still have either the time, or the energy, to get back home and be ready for the dance. Mama explained that they were driving to Bolling in the morning, and would be taking the company plane up to Springfield and back.

"On the way back, let's stop off at the apartment to find out if the girls are doing okay. Maybe they'll want to join us for the dance?" I got up and went back into the kitchen, explaining to Hans and Gerta that Mama had already thought ahead to checking on the girls. This time, it was Hans doing the smiling. I was looking at Brenda when I got back from the library again, and I was struck with how comfortable she seemed, sitting next to Mama, listening to Dad talk about how well he thought the new business was shaping up, and how happy he was to be getting a good toe hold in the lucrative snack vending business. The way Brenda hung on his every word, you would have thought Dad was discussing making all that money for her. I looked at my watch, noticing it was after nine o'clock.

"Brenda, what time are your parents expecting you home tonight?" I watched as Mama and Brenda exchanged a look. Brenda lowered her head, allowing Mama to deliver the news.

"Brenda's spending the night with us, in the girl's room, Kenny. I thought you already knew that. Georgia's going to be meeting us here at seven, so there was really no point in taking her home, not when we'd have to bring her back so early."

Dad, Uncle Bunny and I were teeing off at ten fifteen the next morning. Mama had confirmed that with Dave by telephone, earlier in the week. Using the need for them to get up early the next morning, Mama and Brenda decided to retire early, standing up and excusing themselves as they left the room. Dad and I waited ten minutes before we too decided to turn in. As I had more than half expected, Brenda had managed to take a wrong turn at the top of the stairs, and had wound up in my bedroom. I proceeded to make love with her one more time, then we both fell asleep. I woke up suddenly, at five thirty, and my mother was standing at the foot of the bed, watching Brenda sleeping in my arms. Though she was smiling, I saw tears running down her face.

"Go back to sleep, sweetie, I just came to make sure Brenda was up in time to be ready when her mother comes over for an early breakfast. I was reminded so much of an earlier time, watching the two of you sleeping like this. This used to be my parents room, Kenny, and I often came in when I was little, to find them sleeping together, in the same position you and Brenda were in. I had forgotten how much in love they once were. I'll leave now. Wake her when I'm gone, and have her go into your old room to get herself ready. We'll see you this evening."

As soon as Mama let herself out, I shook Brenda gently awake. We kissed, and being teenagers, one thing led to another, until we wound up coupling with an insistent urgency. I was cumming inside her before I remembered that I hadn't used a condom. I hoped she hadn't forgotten to take her pills. When I asked her, she swore that she hadn't missed a single day. I looked out in the hallway before I let her run off to Grace and Jane's room, wearing my PE shirt from the Academy. Brenda never did return that shirt, although I have my doubts she ever had the nerve to wear it at home.

We had a great round of golf. I made six hundred dollars for one thing, and Uncle Bunny kept telling us these funny jokes the whole time we were playing. On the second par three on the front nine, Uncle Bunny hit a five iron right into the flag stick, and was unlucky to have it bounce back and roll fifteen feet away, to the fringe. Dad landed on the green, fifteen to twenty feet behind the flag. I pulled my shot to the right, but pitched to within eighteen inches for my par. Dad two putted, as did Uncle Bunny. It wasn't a stroke hole for any of us so there was no advantage to anyone. After he paid both Dad and I, Uncle Bunny was still celebrating that tee shot. He had saved the ball, taking it out of play after the hole was finished, and was talking about having it bronzed, then mounted on a plaque for his office wall. Even though he lost, Uncle Bunny still shot a respectable ninety two.

Mama, Brenda, and Mrs. Connor didn't get back until almost seven. Uncle Bunny, Dad, and I had already started eating before they came barreling through the front door, each of them carrying several full bags of clothes in their arms. They flew by us, saying they were running late, and that they had all eaten something on the flight home. They disappeared upstairs with their bags, right before Hans showed up carrying five or six boxes. I jumped up and ran to give him a hand, putting those boxes back down after Hans started back to the limo. I ran after him, telling him that I'd carry in the rest. It was a sign of how bad his back was that he didn't even try to protest, turning back towards the front door, and heading to his apartment.

It took me four trips, each time carrying a good load of bags and boxes, before I had everything carried inside. I stacked things up in the hallway, not knowing what box or bag contained which persons clothes. I went back and finished my dinner, then carried my plate into the kitchen, to let Gerta know that Hans had hurt his back again. She went off to their apartment, right after I told her, to look in on him. I went back to the dining room, and began clearing off the table. I could see that my doing that was annoying to my father.

I wanted to explain to him about why I left the table, and why I was clearing it then, saying, "Hans threw his back out again, and Gerta went to see if he's going to be all right."

Dad told me, "It isn't done like that, Kenny, you'll make Gerta feel bad. She can come back after she's checked on him. Clearing the table can wait." Uncle Bunny stood up and started helping me with the serving bowls and the remaining glasses and plates. He didn't say anything, but his actions spoke to how he felt about what Dad had said. Dad stood up and dropped his napkin on the table, telling us, "You aren't doing them any service by clearing off a few plates. I'm going to call Jack Flores and set up an appointment for Hans to be looked over on Monday."

Uncle Bunny paused, looking at my Dad, asking him, "Jack Flores the Chiropractor? How do you know him?"

"I've known him for thirty five years, Bunny. We were in junior high school together. Do you know him too? He gives me adjustments for my neck at least two or three times a month. That man has magic in his hands."

"I went out with Gloria a few times, before they were married of course. Jack helped me with my shoulder a few years ago."

"You dated Gloria Kessler too? I took her out when we were sophomores in high school. When did you go out with her?"

"Later than that. I think it was when we were juniors. Funny, she never mentioned knowing you, Tommy. You must not have made much of an impression on her."

Dad pretended to groan, saying, "She made an impression on me. What a tease!"

Uncle Bunny smiled, saying, "Really? Well, I guess she grew out of that by the time I took her out."

Dad looked a little enviously at Uncle Bunny when he said that. I had heard Dad complaining before that Uncle Bunny did better with girls than he did. Dad was a much better looking guy too, so I guess it was Uncle Bunny's money, and his personality. Bea had also said that Uncle Bunny was good at sex, and maybe that was part of the reason too. She hadn't given Dad very high marks for sex.

When we got to the club, Mr. Connor and Richard were already there. Mr. Connor looked like he'd already had quite a few drinks. Brenda and Mrs. Connor had come home in a real good mood, but it didn't take Mr. Connor long to spoil things for them. He made several very rude comments about his wife sucking up to Mama, and about him not wanting his wife and daughter spending so much time with Mama, pretending to be rich bitches.

Uncle Bunny tried to quiet him down, but it was obvious to everyone that he had come there spoiling for a big, angry scene with his wife. Mrs. Connor said something to him, trying to get him to quit yelling at her, but he stood up and came around to where she was sitting next to Mama. As soon as he reached out and grabbed her arm, lifting her up roughly, my father and Uncle Bunny got up and protested. I saw Uncle Bunny trying to separate them, but when Mr. Connor punched him in the neck, all I saw was my father moving right in front of Mr. Connor. It happened so quickly, I'm not sure what really happened, because I was blocked by my father's body. By the time I stood up and tried to move over closer to Brenda, to see what was going on, it was all over.

Mama had Mrs. Connor by her unhurt arm, and they were heading off to the ladies room, with Brenda trailing, but not too far behind. Dad was standing there with a big smile on his face, and Uncle Bunny was standing over Mr. Connor, yelling at him to stay down. Several employees of the country club had come over, and they were telling all of us we'd have to leave. I was looking at Richard, wondering if he had seen what had happened, and whether he'd tell me if I asked him.

It was at least another fifteen minutes before all of us left. Frank Thresher, the manager of the country club, came over to make sure that we were all leaving. He seemed very upset, not liking it at all that something like this had happened at one of his member functions. At one point, he whispered something to Uncle Bunny, but Uncle Bunny waved him off angrily. Mr. Thresher said something else, and Uncle Bunny looked at him.

"Frank, you better think twice about initiating any action without the advice of competent counsel. I doubt very much the membership would welcome the type of lawsuit that would be filed against this club if something like that were even proposed. Walt slipped and fell, and I was assisting him back onto his feet. We'll leave, but only because I want him to receive proper medical attention for his injuries. If I were in your place, I'd worry more about the club's liability for those injuries. They occurred as a result of him losing his footing on this very slippery floor."

Dad insisted on driving Mr. Connor and Richard home in Mr. Connor's car. Uncle Bunny called Hans to come pick the rest of us up in the limo. Poor Hans, running all around like that, with his very sore back. When Hans got there, we all piled into the back seat, except for Uncle Bunny. He chose to ride up front with Hans, telling him to drop by the Connor house to pick up Dad. Back home, Dad, Mama, Mrs. Connor and Uncle Bunny went into the library. I heard Dad telling Mama that he had already told Mr. Connor that his wife and Brenda would be spending the night in our guest bedrooms until he cooled off and came to his senses.