Crystal's lungs burned as she inhaled deeply before setting the remains of her joint on the e.g.of the ashtray. It was a beautiful day and she had her glass door open in favor of letting the warm breeze filter through the screen. On top of her dresser, the incense holder released the scent of lavender throughout the room. Seeing no reason to meet her roommate's family, she had decided to stay in her room and get stoned all day. She heard the faint sound of the doorbell followed by the sounds of people trading welcomes and striking up conversation. Oh goodie, John Boy and the rest of the Waltons have shown up. She had meant to stop smoking before Laura's family arrived but with each puff, her resolve faded. She removed a sheet of rolling paper from its package and reached for the sandwich bag and her dwindling supply of marijuana.
"I can't believe these are all for me," Bobby said as he looked at the table of presents." He stepped past his sister to get a hug from Jenny. "How's my favorite sister-in-law?"
"Ex-sister-in-law," she reminded him. "I can't believe how tall you've gotten. I remember when you were only up to here on me." Jenny held her hand level with her shoulder to demonstrate.
"I grow a lot in a year," he replied. Looking up into the boyish face, Jenny had to admit that it was true. More than just height, Bobby had grown in bulk, his muscles showing beneath the pressed white shirt. His respectably short blond hair was offset by his brown eyebrows, making him look much like a young Robert Redford. His face bore little sign of acne although his chin did show a nick from shaving. He was no longer the pimply faced fourteen year old that was more interested in Nintendo than girls.
"That you have, Tag-a-long," Jenny said affectionately. "Come see the cake your sister got for you." Grabbing hold of his elbow, she tugged him into the kitchen, leaving Laura alone with her mother.
"You didn't tell me she'd be here," Mrs. Taylor admonished.
"Jenny and I are still friends, Mom," Laura said. "Just because we're not lovers anymore"
"Well now," her mother interrupted, obviously wanting to change the subject. "You're going to have to come over and help your brother set up that computer."
"I will, Mom. Does he have a phone jack in his room so he can get online?"
"Online?" Mrs. Taylor frowned. "Now you know I don't understand all that computer talk of yours. Yes, he has a phone in his room. With the number of girls that call him, it's a wonder I get to use it at all."
"Hey Mom, come see my cake," Bobby called out excitedly. Laura and her mother entered the kitchen.
"That looks very nice," Mrs. Taylor said. "Did you get it from Henderson's Bakery? Marge Carmichael bought a cake there for her daughter Katherine's coming out party. It was beautiful. Of course that was just before Katherine ran away with Billy McCormick." Laura didn't bother to answer her mother's question, knowing that where the cake was purchased was immaterial. She nodded knowingly. "Uh huh." "I saw her at the VFW two weeks ago and she was very quiet when it came to what her daughter was up to. If you ask me, I think she's pregnant." Mrs. Taylor glanced at Jenny. "But that's what happens when families have loose morals, I suppose."
"Or are driven away by their overbearing mothers," Jenny muttered low enough that only Bobby could hear. The teenager snorted, drawing a dirty look from Jenny and a quizzical one from his mother.
"All you all right?"
"Just swallowed wrong, Mom," he replied, trying very hard to keep the smirk off his face.
"You shouldn't gulp. I've told you about that," she admonished, her fingers absently brushing over the countertop in search of dust. Noting none, she rewarded her daughter with an approving nod. "You see how clean your sister keeps her home? I don't understand why you can't keep your room looking as respectable."
"I have too much stuff for my room," he explained.
"Your father would never have stood for such a mess," his mother continued. "He believed in packing light and keeping only what was important. We never knew when he would be shipped off to another base and we would have to move quickly."
"Mom, we haven't moved since I was three," Bobby said. "You still have cowboy wallpaper in my closet."
"That's not the point, Bobby. There's just no reason to allow clutter to build up."
Laura decided it was time to change the subject. "Mom, have you seen Mrs. Reynolds lately?"
"I saw her just last week at the Commissary. Her son was arrested last year for burglary, you know." Laura opened her mouth to speak but her mother wouldn't stop long enough for her to interrupt. "I tried to get away without her seeing me but she has eyes like and eagle, you know. She was all smiles telling me about her daughter, Marcia. She married a stock broker and has two girls now."
"Good for her."
"Janice Crenshaw's daughter had a little boy just last week."
"I didn't know Susan got married," Laura said.
"She didn't. She was going with Captain Henry's son but once he found out that she was pregnant, he shipped the boy off on a six month training session in Saudi Arabia."
"Why did he do that? I always thought Susan was a nice girl."
"If she was a nice girl, she wouldn't be pregnant," Mrs. Taylor pointed out.
"And of course it's not the boy's fault at all, right?" Jenny asked in a biting tone. Laura flashed her a warning look but it was too late. Mrs. Taylor seized the opportunity to step up on her proverbial soap box and give her sermon.
"There was a time when a young woman prided herself on being able to keep her virginity until marriage."
"Mom" Laura tried but her mother refused to be silenced.
"No Laura. It's time someone stood up for decency." She said. "These young girls now days think nothing of hopping from bed to bed and if they get pregnant, so what? You and your feminist friends have put abortion clinics on every corner."
"Would those be the same feminist friends who made it possible for women to own property and vote?" Jenny ignored the warning look she was getting from Laura and continued. "To hold office?"
Laura hooked her arm around Bobby's and gave it a tug. "Come on, bro. Let's go see how generous I was with the dead presidents in your graduation card."
"Ah, money. The gift that always fits," he said with a smile.
"Now wait a minute," his mother said. "You have to open my present up first or your sister's gifts won't make any sense." Mrs. Taylor ignored Jenny's comment in favor of watching her son open his gifts. "And Laura I hope you didn't spoil him by giving him too much money."
The laughter and voices carried upstairs, much to Crystal's annoyance. She had given up on the television and the radio stations were also a disappointment to her. The pot had made her tired but she didn't want to waste the whole day sleeping. No, it's better to sit here locking in my room getting stoned, she thought as she reached for her pipe and lighter. The sound of someone coming up the stairs made her change her mind and put her paraphernalia away. The door to Laura's room opened and closed, followed a few seconds later by the sound of the sliding door opening. A brown haired woman stepped onto the balcony and leaned her arms against the rail. A bright, beautiful day, Crystal had left her vertical blinds pulled back, allowing her a clear view of the outside. Of course it also meant that anyone on the balcony could look in and see her. Damn, why didn't I think of that, the stripper mentally cursed. It was too late to do anything about it and much to her dismay the woman turned and spotted her. "Hello there."
"Hi," Crystal replied.
"I'm Jenny, one of Laura's friends."
"Crystal. I'm her roommate."
"Yes, she mentioned you." The therapists face was warm and friendly and the stripper found herself leaving the sluggish comfort of her bed and stepping out onto the balcony.
"Sounds like everyone is having a good time," Crystal said as she leaned her hip against the rail.
"I needed a break from her mother," Jenny said. "So Laura said you were a dancer, was it?"