“It’s not the same.”
“Hmm. Oh, well. I guess you’ll just have to live with it,” Liv shoved a plate into his lap and kissed him on the forehead.
Jodie sat down with a plate to share, grinning from ear to ear but trying to hide it by munching on a nacho. She loaded up another nacho full of gooey cheese and meat and stuffed it in my mouth.
“Sorry,” She swiped at some sauce dripping onto my chin.
I opened my mouth full of nachos and said “I think I’ll be okay,” but it sounded more like “rah rah rah rah-rah.”
April 21, 2013
I have been playing phone tag with Mom for the last couple of weeks, so when I called and the phone rang three times, I was sure I was about to get voice mail again. Instead, she picked up.
“Hey, baby. How are you doing?”
“Hey, Mom. Good. How’s everybody?”
“Well, work is about the same. We had some leftover budget money, so I got a nice ergonomic chair I’ve had my eye on for a while. Harvey’s knee finally gave out, and he’s going to have surgery next week, but he’s holding up alright. Since he isn’t getting around well, we put Hailey in day care, and she loves it. Hannah has been doing better, and that’s been a godsend. The adoption is moving along smoothly. We’ve filed papers, and we’re waiting for Hannah, her mom, the baby’s father, and his family to be served. That’s the only scary part, but it has to go through all the channels before it’s official. How about you? How are your chicks? I saw the photo you texted me.”
“Oh, they’re huge. They are starting to get feathered in, but they’re crowding their brooder pen already. Did you raise meat birds when you were here?”
“Just for us to eat. Back then we were butchering them ourselves. It wasn’t fun, but we ate well.”
“I cannot imagine killing them myself. Elliot says there’s a butcher in the next town that we go to.”
“Well, that’s good. How’s Elliot doing?”
“He’s okay. He is here a lot more than I thought he’d be, working with the vet. Her name’s Frankie. I really like her. She took care of Frodo when he hurt his paw.”
“I remember that. So, how are you and Jodie doing?” She spoke in a sing-song tone.
“You know. I hate it when you say it that way. We’re doing great, actually. I went over to her house and watched some basketball with her and her dad.”
“You? Basketball?”
“Yeah, I know, but it was fine. It’s nice to see her in her home environment. Russ is a cool guy. He’s kind of like Harvey, but without the extra baggage.”
“Hey, I love that man!”
“You know, I do, too. I just mean I like Russ. He’s like six feet twelve but a big softy.”
“That’s good. How are your jobs going?”
“Oh, I heard from Alma at the internship, and they’re not going to be able to do the long distance thing after May. That’s actually a good thing, since I’m getting a lot of referrals around here, and the farm is eating more and more time.”
“That’s kind of how it works, sweetie. But you’re doing great. I would have been pulling my hair out by now.”
“I have been getting a little ragged, Mom. I rarely get eight hours of sleep.”
“Speaking of sleep. How are you and Jodie getting along?”
“Mom? You already asked me that, and I answered.”
“No, you sidetracked onto meeting Russ. Are you and Jodie getting serious? Have you done the deed?”
“Oh, geez. Do you have to know everything?” I breathed out a low sigh. “No, no, we haven’t. We’re trying to build something bigger than what either of us has had before.”
“I know, honey, but you can’t wait too long. You’ll make yourselves miserable.”
“I don’t think there’s any danger in that.”
Mom had to go check on Hailey and get prepared for the week, so I found myself with a few spare moments on my agenda. I flipped through an old copy of the local newspaper. One time when I met Jodie for coffee, I grabbed a random paper and tried to do the crossword. I’m so bad at them, but I always think I’ll do better. Anyway, I had thrown this paper on my coffee table to finish the puzzle later. I unfolded it now to see a title, New Emmett Library Board Named. There was a short article and a photo with the new board. It must look a lot like the old board, as the article stated former secretary, now Vice President, former Vice President, now President, etc. The new appointee was “Delilah Crabtree, a member of the Cherry Orchard Bible Church,” according to the description under the photo. One glance and I knew she had to be the one giving Jodie trouble. Her nose was all wrinkled up, and it looked like it pained her to smile for the photo. And that name, Crabtree, it sounds familiar.
I grabbed my phone and texted Jodie.
Is Delilah Crabtree the board member who is giving you a hard time?
After a few minutes. Yes, why, did you hear something?
No, I just saw where she was appointed to the board.
Oh, yeah. She came to a lot of meetings but never got voted in until Martha Hendricks resigned.
I didn’t know who that was. Oh.
The president had a talk with her and she has shut up for now.
Sorry, didn’t mean to bring up a sore subject. Whatcha doing?
We just got back from Sawyer’s Pond. About to fry up some trout. Wanna come over?
Russ okay with that?
Yep. He says Come on Bilbo.
I may bring some backup chicken nuggets.
You eat sushi!
Not the same.
In a few.
K.
