When I emerged from the bathroom she was putting her clothes in the dresser.
"Anita?" I asked her as I folded up the ladder.
"Yes. " She asked, turning towards me.
"You have Tracy coming over to baby-sit on Saturday, don't you?"
She creased her brow a little. "Yes," She nodded. "Your mother said she would. "
"Well," I said, carefully, "The fact is that Tracy had plans for that night and my mom kinda ruined them by volunteering her to baby-sit. "
Anita's face immediately turned to distress. "Oh my goodness. " She said. "I had no idea that Tracy had plans. If I'd of known that I never would have asked your mother. " She shook her head. "Your mother told me that she'd be happy to baby-sit. "
"Yeah," I agreed, "Mom's like that sometimes. "
"Well I'll just cancel my plans. " She announced. "I don't want to make Tracy miss her party. Especially after all she's done for me in the past. And you kids never accept any money for what you do. "
"Well, you don't have to cancel your plans. " I told her. "I talked to Tracy about it and I don't have anything to do on Saturday. I thought maybe I could take her place. That way both of you could go to your parties. "
"You?" She said doubtfully.
"Why not?" I said. "I like your kids a lot, and they like me. I can take care of them all right. We'll have fun. "
It took a few more minutes but finally I convinced her. Shortly after that I went home. But I wouldn't be home for long.
When I walked in the door Mom and Dad were both home. Mom was cooking up something in the kitchen. It smelled like steak. Dad was watching the news on television. I gave him a quick hello and headed directly for mom. She would be the authority on the subject I was about to discuss.
It took ten minutes and a phone call to Anita but I secured her permission to baby-sit Anita's kids in Tracy's place. She was doubtful about the plan and I knew she would probably call every ten minutes while I was over there, but I was able to wear her down.
With a smile on my face, I headed upstairs. I paused at Tracy's room and gave a knock on the door. From behind it came the sound of Rick Springfield again. The music turned down and the door creaked open. She looked at me.
"Looks like you're gonna be partying on Saturday. " I told her.
"You convinced them?" She asked in disbelief.
"Putty in my hands. " I assured her.
"Oh thank you!" She squealed, pulling me to her and giving me a big hug. She drew back and looked at me. "You know Billy," She said. "Sometimes you're not such a little asshole after all. "
"I'll take that as a compliment Trace. " I told her, walking away.
I entered my room as happy as I'd been in a while.
After dinner I went upstairs and took a shower, cleansing my body and making sure to brush my teeth and use plenty of mouthwash. I put on the tightest pair of pants that I could find, a pair that hugged my lower body like a second skin. I put on a clean sweater and combed my hair. I checked my watch. 6:40. Almost an hour and a half to go. I pulled out my books and began studying.
At 8:30 I had completed all of my homework and stowed it neatly away in my backpack. I went to Tracy's room and knocked on the door. She opened it.
"Can I use your phone a minute Trace?" I asked.
"Sure. " She said, waving me inside.
She had been doing her homework I saw. Her Biology book and a spread of papers were scattered on her desk. She was dressed in her jeans and sweatshirt still. Her Rick Springfield album was still playing on the stereo.
Earlier I'd looked in my mom's phone book and found Mike's phone number which, of course, I did not remember. I picked up her phone and dialed it.
His mom answered and I asked for him. A moment later he came to the phone.
"Hey dude," I said, "I'm telling my parents I'm coming over to your house tonight for a while. So don't call me. "
"You got it dude. " He assured me. "What's up?"
"Oh, I'm just going out for a while. "
"Doing anything cool?" He asked, fishing for an invitation.
"Naw. " I assured him. "Just gonna fuck off a little. "
"Whatever. " He said, disappointed, sulking a little, but at least I was safe from being busted via a telephone call from him. "See ya tomorrow. "
When I hung up Tracy looked at me questioningly. "Where are you going?" She asked.
"Out. " I told her.
"Just out?"
"Just out. " I said, my tone telling her she should mind her own business. I headed downstairs.
"Mom, I'm going over to Mike's for a little bit. " I said as I passed through the living room.
"All right dear. " She said absently, her attention riveted to the television. "Be back by ten. "
"I will. " I told her.
Three minutes later I was in front of Anita's house. I could see the light was on in the living room and the faint blue glow of a television screen shining through. I found myself nervous as I contemplated what I was about to do. Was this really wise? If I had misread her I could get into a lot of trouble. I might even end up talking to a shrink or something. But my little head told me I was doing the right thing. Even at thirty-two I still listened to him probably more than I should. I walked up her driveway. After another brief, fearful pause at the front door, I knocked.
The sound of her voice came drifting through the door. "Who is it?" "It's Billy. " I said, speaking only as loud as I thought I needed to in order to be heard.
"Billy?" She said, confused. A moment later the door crept open about six inches, revealing her. She was wearing a robe I saw, pulled tight around her body. Her face was void of makeup and a towel was over her head, allowing a few damp strands to peek out.
"Hi. " I said, embarrassed, not even faking it. "I was wondering if I could uh… well, talk to you about something for a minute?" "What is it?" She asked, immediately concerned. "It's kind of personal. " I told her. "Could I uh… come in?"
"Uh… " She hesitated for a second, leading me to believe I'd made a terrible mistake. Then she said, "Sure. "She opened the door, allowing me entry. I stepped into her living room and she shut the door behind me. Her living room was now absolutely spotless. The television was on showing a news program. A half-full wineglass sat on the coffee table near the couch. A glance into the kitchen revealed a half-empty bottle of white wine. My hopes perked up. She'd been drinking. "Sit down. " She said, looking at me. "Can I get you anything to drink?" "Oh, no thank you. " I told her, heading for the couch and planting myself near where she would sit.
She came over and sat down next to me, her robe riding up a little in the process and allowing me a brief glance of her milky white thighs before she pulled the hem back down. She picked up her wineglass and had a sip before using the remote control to turn down the volume on the television.
"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" I asked her nervously.
"Not at all. " She said, shaking her head. "I was just watching the news before Dallas comes on. What's wrong?" "Well," I started, "It's kind of embarrassing you know, but… " "Billy, what is it?" "Well," I continued, "You've been a good friend to me and I feel like I can, you know, trust you. " "Of course you can trust me. " She said. "But you're also friends with my mother. " I said. "I really wouldn't want to have her find out about what I have to ask. " "If you don't want me to tell her, I won't tell her. " Anita assured me. "Think of me as a doctor. "I paused for a moment, as if I was thinking it over. Finally I said, "Okay, well, you're younger than my mother and you're a girl and all, so I thought maybe you'd understand. " "Understand what?" She asked. "I've got a girlfriend!" I blurted. She smiled. "Well good for you. " She said happily. "What's her name?"