Hoping he’ll test her promise, she buys the good meat now.
Lily kisses her cheek. “Thank you for loaning me May, Mrs. Kearns. There’s nobody I trust with my little brother more than her. I think it must be from all the time she spends helping babysit the kids you keep here.”
“That’s a dear, Lily, you give your mother my best. I do hope this time she’s able to stay… healthy.”
“Yes, ma’am, me too.”
We rush out, but not before I hear, “May!”
Poking my head in from the living room I say a nervous, “Yes, Mother?”
Please let me go.
Please let me go.
Please let me go!
“I’m sorry I wasn’t speaking to you today. That wasn’t my best behavior.”
Guilt dives into my heart. “Oh, um…that’s perfectly alright. I deserved it.”
Her smile comes quick, which just makes it worse. “It’s so like you to own up to your responsibilities. Go on now. Don’t keep Mrs. Marlow waiting a moment longer. Hospitals can be a lonely place.”
“Yes, Mother. Goodbye.” I head out, pause, and stick my head back in. “I love you.”
Her shoulders relax, and she touches her chest. “I love you too.”
Please forgive me.
Please forgive me.
Please forgive me!
Outside we hurry to Sable’s parents car. Lily dashes around to the driver’s side as I scoot in. My eyes go wide at the sight of Sable folded up on the floor in the backseat. I quickly fix my face to show no emotion what-so-ever.
“Gertie should be waiting on her lawn!” Lily announces, pulling away from the curb.
As we drive down the block, Sable hisses, “Lily Marie Marlow, if you crash this car I will never speak to you again.”
Lily turns toward the fair and laughs, “Oh stop, you would so!”
I smile, “How ya doing down there?”
“Stuff it!”
13
JERALD
I t’s Peter, Marvin, my brother Hank, and me again, strolling through a fair erected on an empty lot that only ever seems to serve this purpose. Each year since I was a boy the carnies come to town and set up shop right at this very spot. The rest of the year it’s dirt, dirt, and more dirt awaiting their return and all the excitement they took with them.
On this fine Saturday afternoon, sun shining through enough clouds to make it comfortable, the place is teeming with locals out for a good time.
Hank says, “Seems a lot of folks want to forget about the war.”
“I would hardly think so,” Marv objects, “A portion of the ticket prices go to the war effort, didn’t you know? By coming they’re doing their part.”
“Huh,” my brother nods, casting a wide glance around the place. “Got everything you’d expect, don’t they?”
“Same as last year,” Peter agrees. “Rides, games, and best of all — the freak show.”
“I like the bearded lady!” Marv grins.
“You would.”
He pushes Peter, who laughs, and nearly stumbles over his wide-legged pants. Righting his newsboy-cap, Peter tells us, “Darren wanted to come, but I told him he’d be a fifth wheel.”
My brother jokes, “Like this pal here called Ferris?”
Peter mutters, “Corny!” shaking his head.
The air is light and I’m enjoying it. I’m getting to feel like these are my friends, too, not just Hank’s. Guess the race to escape May’s father last night bonded us without my realizing it might.
Peter has one hand in the pocket of his high-waisted, wide-legged pants, brown and white wingtip shoes poking out the bottom. We’re all wearing pretty much the same thing he is in different colors, sweater vests over our button up shirts, too, with only two of us in ties and it’s not me and my brother. But Hank and Marv both have fedoras, while Peter and I wear different shades of sport caps, or newsboy caps, as some like to call ‘em.
They’re good fellas, not a bad egg in the bunch, and I’m including Darren in that even though I barely met him. You can tell a lot about a person just by shaking hands, most times. Strong handshake or no, looking at them up close gives you a feeling.
An instinct.
And mine feels at home with this bunch, despite my being older.
“Say, there are the girls now!” Peter jogs his chin, and I turn to see who I’ve been thinking about ever since I met her.
May is walking arm in arm with Lily who’s whispering something as they spot us waiting. Gertie waves, and Sable is chewing her lip, hands clasped behind her back as she follows her friends a few steps behind.
May’s three friends are in shirtwaist dresses with thin belts and hemlines bouncing just below their knees, none too flashy but all in fashion. May is cute as a button in polkadots with white sleeves, and I’m standing here like a fool staring at her.
Hank was right, the sun shines brighter when she’s around, and there’s no doubt in my mind that I’d give her the Moon. And all the planets in between while I’m at it.
This doll’s done something funny to me, and I sure am regretting having to leave in just a day and a half. Two if I’m optimistic and count Monday morning.
“Say Lily, what are you whispering about? Why don’t you share it with all of us?”
“Why Peter Tuck, wouldn’t you like to know!”
He grins, “Careful now. You’ve been hanging out with Sable too long, using my whole name and all. Don’t wanna elbow in on her game, do you?”
“I like your name,” Lily smirks, “And besides, I didn’t say the whole thing, now did I? I’ll leave that for her fun.”
Sable throws her hands on her hips. “Lily Marie Marlow! I do not say people’s whole names all the time!”
We all look at her like she’s bats.
She realizes what she just did, and has no idea what to do with herself.
Marvin steps up, “Would you care for some cotton candy, Sable? We can see the sights on the way.”
She hides her gratitude with a haughty, “That sounds mighty fine, thank
