Chapter 12

I looked at the receiver after I hung it up. Who stole my friend and replaced her with Dr. Laura? Well, maybe not. I don't think Dr. Laura would be too thrilled with my living arrangements. She would have spent the whole conversation trying to convince me to move back in with Daddy.

I'd never listen to Dr. Laura on my own. Well, maybe, if there wasn't anything else on. But Daddy made it a point to listen to her whenever he was in the car and she was on. And if I happened to be with him, I didn't get a choice.

We'd always make fun of the women who would call up who thought they knew everything and the way she would pound on them until they finally admitted they might not be acting rationally. Just like Wanda pounded on me. I knew she kept going a couple of times so she could try one more thing to get me to take a look at what I was too dense to see on my own.

Did I really believe that if I talked things over with Jack, he might not want me to be with him next year? The answer to that question was no, definitely not. I didn't have to think about it an instant; I knew he wanted to be with me forever just as much as I wanted to be with him.

So why did I skip talking to him about it? I could say it was because there was no reason to since I knew he would tell me to go ahead with it. But that's not the reason. It's actually pretty simple, really. Habit. I've found something that works and refined it over the years, and it was like looking before I crossed the street. It was so automatic, I didn't even think about it. I would figure out what was best for me and I would announce that's the way it was going to be. Oh, I might phrase it in the form of a question or a request, but that's what I did. I did it with Ms. Evans and I almost got everything I wanted from her. The only bug was I needed to get an OK from my father. She didn't say I had to get Jack to go along with it or I had to discuss it with Jack. It isn't that I avoided Jack, I didn't even think about going over it with him.

Wanda was right. It's not just me anymore; it's us. The first thing I should have done was tell him I was thinking about it, even before I went to Ms. Evans the first time. It wouldn't have been hard to get him to agree with me and then I would have had him working with me. Now it was like we were divided on the whole thing and it would be easier for Ms. Evans or Mom or anyone who wasn't 100% for it to pit us against each other.

That thing about Sara and Ms. Beevers was just plain stupid, and like he said, it wasn't fair. It was just the easiest piece of ammunition I could come up with when it looked like he was going to fight me on it, and I realized what an idiot I was the second the words were out of my mouth. If I'd just told him I was concerned about him being away for weeks and months first, instead of later, it would have made my point a lot better, with fewer problems. By the time I did, the damage had already been done.

Of course he took offense with my inference that there was something going on with both Sara and Ms. Beevers. Even though we'd been over the Sara thing time after time and I never said anything about Ms. Beevers until I hit him with it right between the eyes in front of everybody. And he was right. If he believed in spanking, I would have pulled down my shorts and assumed the position when we got home last night. What I should have done was punch him in the arm or step on his foot while we were dancing and he was drooling over her. The difference between yelling at Bozo when he's actually peeing on the tires or twenty minutes later.

When Wanda said I may as well go ahead and cut off his balls if I didn't trust him or his opinion, it really hit home. And something she said brought to mind the wife who brings up that time he looked at some woman fifteen years ago every time she and her husband have an argument. Was I turning into that woman?

Standing back and looking at it, Jack never said anything against early graduation or emancipation. He did say he wouldn't stray if he was away at college, and I think he really believes that. And it's not that I don't trust him, it's all those women at college. I know how calculating a woman can be when she sets her sights on some unsuspecting male. The guy never has a chance; it's like shooting fish in a barrel. First she's friendly, then she cries on his shoulder, the next thing you know, she bouncing up and down on his cock.

No, the big thing that got to him was not saying anything to him about it; not asking him what he thought, looking at me instead of us. It was kind of a new position for a spoiled little princess to be in. Not that I think I am, but some people might. And I was acting that way. If it looks like a duck...

Well, my nose was blown, my face was washed, my makeup was tastefully repaired and my hair was brushed. I was all ready to beg for forgiveness.

I went downstairs. Alex and Rudolfo had set up all the tables and Mary and Sara were spreading and taping down tablecloths. The guys were bringing in metal barrels that were cut in half to be used as barbecues. Nobody had seen Jack.

I went into the house and Mom was just covering a punchbowl of potato salad with Saran Wrap. She hadn't seen Jack, either. She put the bowl in the fridge.

"What's up, Doll? You don't look too good."

"I'll be all right. I just need a favor."

"What's that?"

"Can you take me to the store?"

"Sure. What did you forget?

"Nothing. I need to get some Reese's Pieces."

She held out her arms and I grabbed on. "Poor Baby. How bad?"

"He made me sleep alone."

"Oh, Honey. I'm so sorry."

"I didn't think. I knew he'd agree with me so I didn't even ask him what he thought."

"Men are like that. They have to feel important."

"I know. I talked to Wanda this morning and she tore me a new one."

"Do you want to cancel this afternoon?"

"No. I should be able to beg for forgiveness before everyone gets here."

"I know, but the best part of making up is what happens after."

"I was thinking a blow job and then we can really make up after."

"OK. But if you change your mind, I'll cover for you. Just make sure you don't spoil your dinner." She giggled.

"Maybe I'll stop when he's ready to come and tell him what you said."

"Don't you dare. Just because you're having problems with my son is no reason to make him mad at me. It's not my fault you don't know how to treat him."

"Hey, Mom. I'm just a little kid. I'm learning."

She hugged me tighter. "I know you are, Sweetheart. You'd be surprised how many women never figure out how to treat their men, not matter how old they are."

"I don't think I could take Jack being mad at me all the time. Or not talking to me."

"Jack's not your normal, everyday guy. He's not afraid to say when something's bothering him. You'd be surprised how many men are afraid to complain. I don't believe that women should be discriminated against or mistreated, but the way to fix it isn't to emasculate the men. But it's almost considered abuse if a man says his woman is treating him like shit. I want a man to be a man."

"I do too. It's kind of the difference between Bozo and the foo foo dog next door to my father."

"There you go. Let's get you to the store and get Jack's present."

"More of a peace offering."

"You know that, and I know that. But let's just let him think it's a present."

Mom checked with Alex and he said he could use some tongs for the meat, so we went to Wal Mart. I got a big bag of Reese's Pieces and June told me she had a box and a stick-on bow she'd let me use. "It's not like it's going to be full of candy that long," she said.

We went into Housewares and picked up a couple of tongs. June said we could each keep a set.

On the way out the door, some guy with a bucket came up to us.

"Would you care to make a donation to the poor?"

She stopped and stared at him. "Would you care to kiss my fat ass?"

She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the car. "Dammit, I hate that. Can't even go to the fucking story without being hit up for money."

Jack's car was in the driveway when we got home. Thank God. I almost asked Mom to block it, but it really was up to me to make sure he didn't want to go anywhere.

We went in the front door and June took me back to her room. She got the box and bow from the shelf in her closet, then pulled out a couple of sheets of tissue paper from a package of them. She put the paper in the bottom of the box and I emptied the whole bag inside.

She grabbed a handful, said "Don't tell Jack," just before she shoved them in her mouth.

"He'll probably count them."

"Oh, well." She grabbed another handful.