sound jovial, but underneath I’m sorry I answered the door.
“Hi doll, Merry Christmas!” She leans in to hug me. “This is my nephew Ryan who I told you about.” Ryan is quite tall and he has light brown hair. He is wearing khaki pants with a white dress shirt. It actually still has the folds in it, which indicates that he took it out of its package this morning. I am not really in a position to judge, however, seeing as I’m not even dressed.
“Nice to meet you,” I say, extending my hand. Really, it’s anything
but
nice to meet him. It’s awkward, embarrassing, and I feel slightly sweaty under my pyjamas.
“You too. My aunt can’t stop talking about you.” His voice is awfully low, and it doesn’t make him attractive. It actually lessens his somewhat pleasant appearance.
I am not sure what to do or say next. It’s almost noon and I’m not dressed. My hair, one of my best features, is just tied on the top of my head. The smell of eggs can’t be contained in my apartment. I just want to shut the door and end this uncomfortable meeting.
“Can you come over to my apartment for dinner tonight, doll?” Rosanna really wants this thing to work between us. She’s sweet, but my God, Ryan’s a kid.
“Thanks for the invitation, but I’m busy.” I don’t expand. I don’t have a specific lie ready so this vague one will have to suffice.
“Okay, if your plans fall through, come on over.” I am surprised she is just leaving it at that, although I’m not complaining.
“Thanks so much. And good to meet you, Ryan.” I am sure when they get back to her apartment, he’ll be giving Rosanna trouble for suggesting that I’d be a good match for him. I can look attractive when I put in a little effort, but I definitely do not look it now. I am not wearing any makeup, giving me the appearance of being well into my forties, even though my pyjamas, having penguins all over them, may suggest otherwise.
When I go to eat my brunch, my eggs and coffee are lukewarm, which aggravates me. It’s the thing I have been looking forward to the most on this day, butI won’t let it get me down. I am alone with no one to bother me, and I don’t have any awkward dinners to attend. I can do exactly what I want to do today.
And that’s when I get the phone call.
“Hi, Tonya. It’s Jack.”
I get chills and feel anxious. I don’t answer.
“Look, Tonya. I didn’t want to call you. It’s Bob. He’s very upset today. I know you’re planning on coming down in a few days, but I just thought I’d let you know, in case you’d like to come earlier.” He waits. When I don’t answer, he says, “I tried calling Sandy, but she’s not answering.”
“Okay.” And I hang up.
I go into my bedroom and pack my bag and get ready to visit my dad. As I am about to leave I see my plate of half-eaten eggs on the coffee table. I discard them and throw the plate in the sink. As I leave my apartment, I realize that now if I see Rosanna, I am not a liar.
Fall 1989
“O kay, I’ve got it,” I call from my room. I pick up the phone and am a little disappointed when I realize it’s not Shane. He said he’d call this afternoon and it’s nearly four now.
“Hey Tonya. It’s me, Kait. Do you think your dad can pick me up tonight? My mom has to work and she said I’d have to find my own ride if I want to go to Derek’s party.”
“Yeah, no problem. We’re picking up Amanda at eight, so we’ll swing by after that. Hey, what are you wearing?”
“I think I’m just going to wear jeans and maybe my red sweater. I don’t think people are dressing up even though it’s technically a Christmas party.”
“Okay, see you later.” I hang up, hoping Shane didn’t get a busy signal while I was on the phone. Things have been going really well and I am looking forward to spending time with him tonight. It’s our two month anniversary.
Moments later, the phone rings again. I wait until the second ring as I don’t want to
“Hi doll, Merry Christmas!” She leans in to hug me. “This is my nephew Ryan who I told you about.” Ryan is quite tall and he has light brown hair. He is wearing khaki pants with a white dress shirt. It actually still has the folds in it, which indicates that he took it out of its package this morning. I am not really in a position to judge, however, seeing as I’m not even dressed.
“Nice to meet you,” I say, extending my hand. Really, it’s anything
but
nice to meet him. It’s awkward, embarrassing, and I feel slightly sweaty under my pyjamas.
“You too. My aunt can’t stop talking about you.” His voice is awfully low, and it doesn’t make him attractive. It actually lessens his somewhat pleasant appearance.
I am not sure what to do or say next. It’s almost noon and I’m not dressed. My hair, one of my best features, is just tied on the top of my head. The smell of eggs can’t be contained in my apartment. I just want to shut the door and end this uncomfortable meeting.
“Can you come over to my apartment for dinner tonight, doll?” Rosanna really wants this thing to work between us. She’s sweet, but my God, Ryan’s a kid.
“Thanks for the invitation, but I’m busy.” I don’t expand. I don’t have a specific lie ready so this vague one will have to suffice.
“Okay, if your plans fall through, come on over.” I am surprised she is just leaving it at that, although I’m not complaining.
“Thanks so much. And good to meet you, Ryan.” I am sure when they get back to her apartment, he’ll be giving Rosanna trouble for suggesting that I’d be a good match for him. I can look attractive when I put in a little effort, but I definitely do not look it now. I am not wearing any makeup, giving me the appearance of being well into my forties, even though my pyjamas, having penguins all over them, may suggest otherwise.
When I go to eat my brunch, my eggs and coffee are lukewarm, which aggravates me. It’s the thing I have been looking forward to the most on this day, butI won’t let it get me down. I am alone with no one to bother me, and I don’t have any awkward dinners to attend. I can do exactly what I want to do today.
And that’s when I get the phone call.
“Hi, Tonya. It’s Jack.”
I get chills and feel anxious. I don’t answer.
“Look, Tonya. I didn’t want to call you. It’s Bob. He’s very upset today. I know you’re planning on coming down in a few days, but I just thought I’d let you know, in case you’d like to come earlier.” He waits. When I don’t answer, he says, “I tried calling Sandy, but she’s not answering.”
“Okay.” And I hang up.
I go into my bedroom and pack my bag and get ready to visit my dad. As I am about to leave I see my plate of half-eaten eggs on the coffee table. I discard them and throw the plate in the sink. As I leave my apartment, I realize that now if I see Rosanna, I am not a liar.
Fall 1989
“O kay, I’ve got it,” I call from my room. I pick up the phone and am a little disappointed when I realize it’s not Shane. He said he’d call this afternoon and it’s nearly four now.
“Hey Tonya. It’s me, Kait. Do you think your dad can pick me up tonight? My mom has to work and she said I’d have to find my own ride if I want to go to Derek’s party.”
“Yeah, no problem. We’re picking up Amanda at eight, so we’ll swing by after that. Hey, what are you wearing?”
“I think I’m just going to wear jeans and maybe my red sweater. I don’t think people are dressing up even though it’s technically a Christmas party.”
“Okay, see you later.” I hang up, hoping Shane didn’t get a busy signal while I was on the phone. Things have been going really well and I am looking forward to spending time with him tonight. It’s our two month anniversary.
Moments later, the phone rings again. I wait until the second ring as I don’t want to
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