Patty stopped smiling, I noticed.
Camille nodded, "Yeah, Kris. You know him?"
Kristen shrugged. "He tried talking to Lynette last year, one of the girls I used to hang around with. She shot him down completely. He apparently has some sort of reputation and the word is to avoid him. I wonder what he was doing hanging around the school. He was a senior last year."
Camille said, "I think he might have been in summer school; maybe he didn’t get his diploma yet."
Patty said, quietly, "Freddy Furst? The quarterback from last year?"
Kristen answered, "Yeah. You know him?"
Patty nodded, and added quietly, "I, um… sort of dated him once in tenth grade."
Camille said, "Oh. I’m sorry, Patty…"
Patty forced a smile. "No big deal…"
Kristen looked confused, and Camille shot Kristen a look to tell her to drop the subject.
It finally occurred to me that this Freddy Furst might just be the guy that had almost destroyed Patty’s life a year and a half ago. I felt my blood run cold. A thousand scenarios ran through my mind and I contemplated what a person with a ticket could do to this guy. I could make him…
Oh, fuck! Here I was, twenty four hours after virtually promising myself that I would never take my anger out on anybody using the tickets again, and I was conveniently forgetting that very promise the first chance I got.
Luckily, the topic of conversation had changed. I saw Patty’s eyes, and she looked a bit fearful at me, as if she knew the dark thoughts that had just recently occupied my mind.
I smiled at Patty; a warm smile that hopefully told her that I wasn’t thinking of lighting matches under a certain boy’s toenails. I think she got the message; she smiled back.
I had, in fact, been thinking about lighting them underneath the boy’s testicles…
Wendy and Camille had plans for the afternoon. That left Patty, Kristen, and me.
Then Patty smiled at the two of us, and told me that she’d pick us up at my house at seven that evening. She left Kristen and me, giving us both a knowing smile.
"My car is at Patty’s," Kristen said. She looked around. "I guess we’ll be at the mall for a few hours. Where should we go?"
I smiled. "I think that Patty has already told the two of us: we’re going to my house."
Kristen looked a bit uneasy as we walked in the direction of my house.
I assured Kristen that my mother would understand and that my step-father would not be any problem.
Still, Kristen seemed quite nervous, even more nervous than what she exhibited in the food court when the two of us were alone, and I was trying to figure out how to talk with a member of the opposite sex.
Once again, Kristen held my arm as we walked together, and we finally turned into the sidewalk that led to the front door of my house.
I opened the door and let Kristen in. Merry was in the living room, watching T.V.
"Hi, Merry. I’d like you to meet Kristen."
Merry looked at Kristen, and smiled. "Do you have a car, too?"
Kristen smiled at Merry’s precociousness. "I have a little red Camaro," she answered.
Merry’s mouth opened. "Camaro? Really? Is that the car that’s made of plastic?"
I giggled. "I think you’re thinking of a Corvette. And it’s vinyl, not plastic. Not quite the same!"
Kristen shrugged. "My older brother has a 'Vette. He’s constantly tinkering with it. At least my Camaro stays on the road and is ready when I need it."
Merry ran to the window. "Is it here? Can you take me for a ride?"
I laughed. "Kristen’s car is parked at Patty’s, Merry."
Kristen smiled. "Don’t worry, Jim. I’m used to people wanting a ride in my car. Merry, I can’t take you right now, but I promise I’ll take you very soon. OK?"
Merry looked disappointed. Then she said, "So… where’s Patty?"
I said, "Patty has other plans. She’ll be picking Kristen and me up later. After supper."
Merry said, "Oh! Is Kristen staying for dinner?"
I answered, "I need to ask Mom, Shortcake."
At one time, Merry hated the name "Shortcake." But I had been using the term more and more often, especially when Merry was being her cute little self. I tended to use it when I was happy with her, and I could sense that she was growing to like it. My use this particular time in front of Kristen actually brought a smile to her lips.
"Mom’s making spaghetti," Merry reported. "There’ll be enough, I promise. You know Mom."
I laughed.
My mom was actually making a salad in the kitchen when I brought Kristen into the kitchen. I could smell the spices simmering in the sauce.
"Jim, is this a new friend?" my mom asked, giving my blonde girlfriend a friendly once-over.
"Yes, mom. This is Kristen."
"Kristen?" Mom repeated.
"Kristen Swift," Kristen told her.
My mom put her lettuce aside and brushed off her hands, taking Kristen’s in hers. "Miss Swift, I’m happy to meet you!"
Kristen looked a bit uncomfortable with my mother’s reaction. "Please. Call me Kristen."
"Thank you, Kristen. You can call me Margaret, or Mrs. Cummings," my mother said.
This was weird; this was the first time my mother ever had suggested that a friend of mine refer to her by her first name.
"Mrs. Cummings," Kristen said, "You have a very lovely house."
My mother blushed. "Well, it’s nothing like you’re used to, of course…"
Kristen rolled her eyes.
It hit me that my mother knew Kristen’s parents, if only by reputation.
"Mom," I said, coming to Kristen’s rescue. "Kristen is my, um… friend. I was wondering if she could stay for dinner."
"Dinner?" my mother said. She smiled and said, "We’re making macaroni and gravy tonight. There’ll be plenty for all of us, including Kristen, with enough for leftovers. Of course Kristen can stay. Does she need to call her parents?"
Kristen shook her head. "My parents give me pretty much a free reign. If I’m not home, it just means that the cook has one less meal to prepare."
I said, "Mom… do you mind if I take Kristen upstairs to listen to some albums?"
Expecting one of my Mom’s suspicious looks, I found myself surprised when she smiled and said, "Sure, kids. Have fun."
I looked at my mom for a moment and then led Kristen upstairs.
Kristen picked out a Carpenter’s album that I had forgotten that I had even had (maybe it was Merry’s), and I put it on my turntable.
"Your mother seems nice."
"She knows your family, obviously," I pointed out.
"Yeah," Kristen nodded. "I’ve seen that reaction before."
I laughed. "I guess you have."
There was a bit of a pause as neither one of us was figuring what to say next.
"So, this is my room," I said, gesturing toward the walls.
"I saw it… earlier," Kristen pointed out.
"But the light’s on now," I grinned.
Kristen sat on my bed. She had a determined look on her face, and I knew she wanted to say something important. I gave her the opportunity.
"Jim…?"
"Yes?"
"Patty told me about your relationship with her. I want you to know that I understand."
I nodded. "Patty’s my friend…"
"Jim. I was here this morning. I know she’s a bit more than a friend. And I want to be your friend, too."
What was Kristen saying? She wanted to visit with Patty? Or did she just want to be a friend? Her statement could be taken quite a few different ways, and I didn’t want to mistakenly infer some connotation that she didn’t intend to imply.