Forever Friends by Lynne Hinton Page A

how I felt about things, and it was hard at first because nobody ever taught me how. I never knew a person could feel things so deeply like sorrow or anger or disappointment and then cover them up with indifference or frustration. I thought you grow up, you do the things you’ve been told to do, you go to work, you eat and sleep and make a life for yourself, and that the happiness, the fulfillment that everybody else seems to have, would just show up. I never knew you had to choose to be happy, choose to find out who you are in the midst of all those days of doing what you think you’re supposed to do. I never realized that peace is what you find when you’re able to sit withall the parts that are your life, all the fears and surprises and mistakes and regrets and all those fine, perfect moments of being loved and say to yourself, ‘This is a glorious life.’”
    Margaret shifted in her seat, hooking her feet around the legs of the chair. She knew the young woman felt accused, convicted, and she struggled with how to go on since the truth seemed like such a slippery notion.
    â€œNow, Lana, I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m no marriage expert, and I know that there are situations where it’s better to split up than stay together.” And here she stopped, trying to be careful. “But I don’t believe a person can know that without spending some time sitting with herself, alone. A person can’t figure those big things out if her head is full of distractions, even tall, dark, good-looking ones.”
    Lana fidgeted in discomfort, and Margaret worried that she had spoken too much and that she had only made things worse. She waited, trying to think of something else to say, but there was nothing.
    She stood up, preparing to leave, noticing the familiar cloak of discontent that hung about the young woman, the air of misery and the uncertain glaze behind the eyes.
    She hesitated a minute and then spoke. “Well, I’m sorry to have gone on so long with my silly story. I know you’re needing your sleep.” Standing behind her chair, she placed her hands on the top of it. “But, Lana, I just want you to know,” and she said this very seriously, “if you ever need me for anything, to talk, to baby-sit, to ride with you to Memphis, youknow you can call me, anytime.” And she pushed her chair under the table and walked from the room to get her coat out of the closet.
    Lana waited and then got up from her chair just as Margaret was opening the front door. She held it as the older woman walked out onto the porch.
    â€œAnytime,” Margaret repeated to the young mother, who watched from inside the house, still silenced by what was shared.
    Margaret turned and walked down the steps and headed to her car. She stood beside her door and waved good-bye. Lana remained inside, holding up one hand as a greeting, and with the other she reached across her chest, covering the gaping hole that was her heart.

Six
THE PILOT NEWS
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    * AUNT * DOT’S * HELPFUL * HINTS *
    Dear Aunt Dot,
    I work in a place where there is a lot of cigarette smoke. I find that it’s in my hair and my clothes. Any ideas on how to take out that smoky smell?
    Butt-Tired
    Dear Butt,
    Maybe you ought to think about finding another place to work because the stains and residue you find on the outside are probably on the inside too. Read up on the dangers of secondhand smoke. OK, enough of a lecture: white vinegar is your answer. Put it in with your laundry and even your shampoo. It will take away the smell of tobacco smoke.
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    Y ou smoke?” Lamont opened the glove compartment and found the pack of cigarettes.
    â€œNo,” Charlotte replied, turning to see what the teenager was doing in her things.
    â€œYou used to smoke?” He pulled it out, noticing that the pack had been opened.
    â€œNo, never did,” she answered as she switched on the turn signal and changed