Chapter 4
After Donovan left I picked up the phone and dialed Lorretta. It rang 6 times.
“Hello.” Betty, Lorretta’s mom said.
“Hi Betty!” I said happily.
“Well hello there, Alex. Let me get Lorretta for you.”
I heard her yell for Lorretta in the background.
“It’ll be a moment she said.”
I waited on the phone a few seconds and staring at my walls. They were filled with posters of various bands that I used to like. I didn’t really listen to them anymore. Yet, they were still important to me and I didn’t want to take them down. I wasn’t sure why they were important. I thought that maybe it was because they were a part of my past or something. Or maybe it was just the fact that my room would be bare without them. Both ways, they were there and I doubt I would take them down for a few years.
“Hello.” Lorretta spoke quietly shyly into the phone as she usually did.
“Hey! Whatcha doing?” I said enthusiastically.
“Oh, I’m just sitting here. I was on the computer. Why don’t you get on anymore?”
“I’ve been really busy.” I said sitting on my bed.
“What’s kept you so busy? Don?” She quizzed.
I smiled, “You could say that.”
“Well, elaborate. I’m curious.”
Man, I sure did hate it when people wanted me to talk about things that I wanted to talk about but couldn’t. I didn’t want her to view me rude. So I just decided to not say anything for a while.
“Oh…that.” She finally said.
I knew what she was thinking and I let her think that. It was easier than to say that I thought Don’s dad was a vampire.
“Yea.” I said. Thinking that that could mean just about anything. “What have you been up to recently?” I changed the subject.
She rambled about vacations and lakes. I listened but I wasn’t really listening. I said yea and no way at the correct times and I think she bought that I was really into her story.
“…And I met a guy.”
That brought me back.
“Who?” I said with much curiosity.
Lorretta was pretty and guys asked her out on dates very often. She always turned them down and the ones she did date were very different than what you would expect. Not necessarily in looks but action. They were always sweet but they had a different attitude towards life and such.
“His name is Albert Madders. Know him?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Yes you do.”
“Who is he?” The phone was beginning to get hot against my cheek so I quickly changed ears.
“Don’s cousin.” She replied sheepishly.
I thought for a few seconds try to figure which one. Don had lots of cousins it was hard to tell what one she was talking about.
“Describe him to me, please.”
“Well, he is tall, has glasses, dark brown hair, bright blue eyes, nice build, and hot. What more do you want?” She said with a smile in her voice.
“Oh! That one! I remember him.” I thought back to the last year in the park when he was always flirting with Lorretta and me. He was how I had come to meet Don. How could I have forgotten his name?
“Dur, you should!” She said giggling.
“Yes, I am eternally grateful for him! He introduced me to Don!” I said with a hint of sarcasm.
She caught on and we both laughed for several seconds.
“Are you going to that barn dance?” She asked after we stopped laughing.
“Um, when is it?”
“Not this weekend but the next.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’d have to see what is going on. I doubt I can make any promises but I’ll try.”
“Well, I was thinking we could all go together. You, me, Don, and Albert.”
“Yeah! That would be fun! I’ll have to see what is going on. I’ll get back to you…soon.”
“That’s cool.”
I looked at the clock it was 10 and I wanted to get rested up for tomorrow.
“Well, I am really tired. I think I am going to head for the bed. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay, that’s cool. I’ll see you later! Bye!”
“Bye.”
I flipped the phone shut and crawled into bed. I slept all night long and I woke up at 10 the next day.
It was rainy and cold I liked the rain. I just didn’t like waking up to it. It made it really hard to get out of bed. I laid in bed a few seconds and then getting up and stretching as I grabbed some clothes and jumped into the shower. I wanted to take a quick shower but the water was so warm and it felt good as it rolled down my skin. When I finally got out steam filled the room and made it impossible to look in the mirror above the sink.
Dressing quickly because it was cold. I wore my favorite pair of blue jeans and a tank top. I went into my room and brushed and blow-dried my hair. I took my hot iron straightener and ran it through individual sections of my hair until it looked straight and manageable. I ran the brush through it again and it frizzed out. Stupid humidity I said to myself as I went to the bathroom and ran the brush through some cold water and brushed my hair. The water eliminated the static electricity and it didn’t look so frizzy.
I went to the kitchen and go something quick to eat. I went back to my room and finished getting ready. I made my bed and tidied up my room a little. Looking over at the clock again I realized was already noon. I went outside and took care of my animals. I let my two dogs out off of their chains. It was Carry’s job to take them from their kennels to the chains and mine to take them from the chains or outside to the kennels at night. I usually set them free and let them run a little bit.
They fought over food. The little one, Scrappy made quite a fuss about her food. While the bigger one, Pugsly just sat there and watched her. When Scrappy got bored Pugs usually jumped in there and ate his share. The two played for the rest of the day while I sat on the porch swing and read a book.
At about three that afternoon I realized that Don never told me a time he’d pick me up and I never did ask for permission from my parents. I snatched up the phone knowing he was off work and would probably answer I dialed the number. It rang 8 times and went to his voice mail. I went back to the porch and read for another hour. I finally got bored with my book and went into the house to go see what was going on there. My family was watching TV. I slipped by them and went into my room. I decided to try to call Don again. It rang 7 times.
“Hello.” He finally answered.
“Oh I didn’t think you would answer.” I said happily.
“Ahh, I was sleeping when you called before. Trying to get some before tonight.”
“Oh okay. That’s what I called you about. What time did you say you were picking me up?” I said shutting some drawers I had left open.
“Um. I don’t care. Up to you.”
“Well what movie are we going to go see and what time does it start? I don’t want to have to wait too long at my house for my parents to sleep because I might fall asleep.”
“Yea, that wouldn’t be good. Well there is a movie at 9 that is over at 11. We can piddle around till 11:30 and I can take you home and get you there by midnight.”
“Sounds great. I got to go ask my parents.”
I laid the phone on my desk and went to the living room where everyone was. I sat down next to my dad on the couch.
“Mom, do you think it would be okay if Don took me to the movies tonight at eight?”
She looked at the clock. It was 4:30 now.
“I don’t see why not.” She looked at dad as if asking for approval. He shrugged as if a silent okay.
“Thanks.” I said getting up.
I walked back into my room and picked up the phone.
“Back.”
“Took you long enough.” He teased.
“Well, I could have had you ask them.” I teased.
“True, true.” I could hear a smile in his voice.
“So did you know that Lorretta was dating Albert Madders?”
“Really?” He said curiously.
“Yea, she told me that today.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah. You know the barn dance?” I said lying down on my bed.
“Yea.”
“That’s next weekend.”
“Mmmmhmm.” He seemed interested and almost like he knew what I was going to say.
“Lorretta wanted you, me, her, and Albert to go together. I told her it sounded like fun.”
“Yeah, kind of.” He said quietly.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ahh, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“Tell me, there’s something wrong.”
“I don’t like Albert.” He blurted.
“Why?”
“He’s a jerk.”
“Oh. So you don’t want to go?”
“No, I want to go. I guess I can put up with him.” He sighed unhappily.
“Well, I didn’t tell her yes for sure. I don’t know if I even want to go.”
“I do. We should go together. I mean, yeah Albert’s a jerk. You’ll see that soon enough. So why let him ruin our fun. Plus, if you try to tell Lorretta why you don’t want to go she might get upset. So let’s go and have fun.”
“Okay. Sounds good then…”
“Alex!” I heard my mom yell.
“Oh hey, I think it’s dinner time. I need to get off of here and I’ll talk to you at eight! See ya then! Love you! Bye!”
“Love you too, babe. Bye.”
I went into the dinning room and helped Carry set the table. When we finished that everyone sat down and we talked about the usual things. When we finished I looked at the clock it was 6:30. I quickly helped fix the table and went to the shower immediately. Once I got out I blow-dried my hair, straightened it, and put on some make up. I tried on several tops and pants together. I finally decided on a pair of blue jeans with white pen stripes down and a tank top with a white base with purple, orange, and green hearts on it. When I was finally finished it was 7:55. Don should be here in 5 minuets. I sat down on my bed. I had this feeling in my gut and it wouldn’t go away. It was total and complete terror…
After Donovan left I picked up the phone and dialed Lorretta. It rang 6 times.
“Hello.” Betty, Lorretta’s mom said.
“Hi Betty!” I said happily.
“Well hello there, Alex. Let me get Lorretta for you.”
I heard her yell for Lorretta in the background.
“It’ll be a moment she said.”
I waited on the phone a few seconds and staring at my walls. They were filled with posters of various bands that I used to like. I didn’t really listen to them anymore. Yet, they were still important to me and I didn’t want to take them down. I wasn’t sure why they were important. I thought that maybe it was because they were a part of my past or something. Or maybe it was just the fact that my room would be bare without them. Both ways, they were there and I doubt I would take them down for a few years.
“Hello.” Lorretta spoke quietly shyly into the phone as she usually did.
“Hey! Whatcha doing?” I said enthusiastically.
“Oh, I’m just sitting here. I was on the computer. Why don’t you get on anymore?”
“I’ve been really busy.” I said sitting on my bed.
“What’s kept you so busy? Don?” She quizzed.
I smiled, “You could say that.”
“Well, elaborate. I’m curious.”
Man, I sure did hate it when people wanted me to talk about things that I wanted to talk about but couldn’t. I didn’t want her to view me rude. So I just decided to not say anything for a while.
“Oh…that.” She finally said.
I knew what she was thinking and I let her think that. It was easier than to say that I thought Don’s dad was a vampire.
“Yea.” I said. Thinking that that could mean just about anything. “What have you been up to recently?” I changed the subject.
She rambled about vacations and lakes. I listened but I wasn’t really listening. I said yea and no way at the correct times and I think she bought that I was really into her story.
“…And I met a guy.”
That brought me back.
“Who?” I said with much curiosity.
Lorretta was pretty and guys asked her out on dates very often. She always turned them down and the ones she did date were very different than what you would expect. Not necessarily in looks but action. They were always sweet but they had a different attitude towards life and such.
“His name is Albert Madders. Know him?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Yes you do.”
“Who is he?” The phone was beginning to get hot against my cheek so I quickly changed ears.
“Don’s cousin.” She replied sheepishly.
I thought for a few seconds try to figure which one. Don had lots of cousins it was hard to tell what one she was talking about.
“Describe him to me, please.”
“Well, he is tall, has glasses, dark brown hair, bright blue eyes, nice build, and hot. What more do you want?” She said with a smile in her voice.
“Oh! That one! I remember him.” I thought back to the last year in the park when he was always flirting with Lorretta and me. He was how I had come to meet Don. How could I have forgotten his name?
“Dur, you should!” She said giggling.
“Yes, I am eternally grateful for him! He introduced me to Don!” I said with a hint of sarcasm.
She caught on and we both laughed for several seconds.
“Are you going to that barn dance?” She asked after we stopped laughing.
“Um, when is it?”
“Not this weekend but the next.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’d have to see what is going on. I doubt I can make any promises but I’ll try.”
“Well, I was thinking we could all go together. You, me, Don, and Albert.”
“Yeah! That would be fun! I’ll have to see what is going on. I’ll get back to you…soon.”
“That’s cool.”
I looked at the clock it was 10 and I wanted to get rested up for tomorrow.
“Well, I am really tired. I think I am going to head for the bed. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay, that’s cool. I’ll see you later! Bye!”
“Bye.”
I flipped the phone shut and crawled into bed. I slept all night long and I woke up at 10 the next day.
It was rainy and cold I liked the rain. I just didn’t like waking up to it. It made it really hard to get out of bed. I laid in bed a few seconds and then getting up and stretching as I grabbed some clothes and jumped into the shower. I wanted to take a quick shower but the water was so warm and it felt good as it rolled down my skin. When I finally got out steam filled the room and made it impossible to look in the mirror above the sink.
Dressing quickly because it was cold. I wore my favorite pair of blue jeans and a tank top. I went into my room and brushed and blow-dried my hair. I took my hot iron straightener and ran it through individual sections of my hair until it looked straight and manageable. I ran the brush through it again and it frizzed out. Stupid humidity I said to myself as I went to the bathroom and ran the brush through some cold water and brushed my hair. The water eliminated the static electricity and it didn’t look so frizzy.
I went to the kitchen and go something quick to eat. I went back to my room and finished getting ready. I made my bed and tidied up my room a little. Looking over at the clock again I realized was already noon. I went outside and took care of my animals. I let my two dogs out off of their chains. It was Carry’s job to take them from their kennels to the chains and mine to take them from the chains or outside to the kennels at night. I usually set them free and let them run a little bit.
They fought over food. The little one, Scrappy made quite a fuss about her food. While the bigger one, Pugsly just sat there and watched her. When Scrappy got bored Pugs usually jumped in there and ate his share. The two played for the rest of the day while I sat on the porch swing and read a book.
At about three that afternoon I realized that Don never told me a time he’d pick me up and I never did ask for permission from my parents. I snatched up the phone knowing he was off work and would probably answer I dialed the number. It rang 8 times and went to his voice mail. I went back to the porch and read for another hour. I finally got bored with my book and went into the house to go see what was going on there. My family was watching TV. I slipped by them and went into my room. I decided to try to call Don again. It rang 7 times.
“Hello.” He finally answered.
“Oh I didn’t think you would answer.” I said happily.
“Ahh, I was sleeping when you called before. Trying to get some before tonight.”
“Oh okay. That’s what I called you about. What time did you say you were picking me up?” I said shutting some drawers I had left open.
“Um. I don’t care. Up to you.”
“Well what movie are we going to go see and what time does it start? I don’t want to have to wait too long at my house for my parents to sleep because I might fall asleep.”
“Yea, that wouldn’t be good. Well there is a movie at 9 that is over at 11. We can piddle around till 11:30 and I can take you home and get you there by midnight.”
“Sounds great. I got to go ask my parents.”
I laid the phone on my desk and went to the living room where everyone was. I sat down next to my dad on the couch.
“Mom, do you think it would be okay if Don took me to the movies tonight at eight?”
She looked at the clock. It was 4:30 now.
“I don’t see why not.” She looked at dad as if asking for approval. He shrugged as if a silent okay.
“Thanks.” I said getting up.
I walked back into my room and picked up the phone.
“Back.”
“Took you long enough.” He teased.
“Well, I could have had you ask them.” I teased.
“True, true.” I could hear a smile in his voice.
“So did you know that Lorretta was dating Albert Madders?”
“Really?” He said curiously.
“Yea, she told me that today.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah. You know the barn dance?” I said lying down on my bed.
“Yea.”
“That’s next weekend.”
“Mmmmhmm.” He seemed interested and almost like he knew what I was going to say.
“Lorretta wanted you, me, her, and Albert to go together. I told her it sounded like fun.”
“Yeah, kind of.” He said quietly.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ahh, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“Tell me, there’s something wrong.”
“I don’t like Albert.” He blurted.
“Why?”
“He’s a jerk.”
“Oh. So you don’t want to go?”
“No, I want to go. I guess I can put up with him.” He sighed unhappily.
“Well, I didn’t tell her yes for sure. I don’t know if I even want to go.”
“I do. We should go together. I mean, yeah Albert’s a jerk. You’ll see that soon enough. So why let him ruin our fun. Plus, if you try to tell Lorretta why you don’t want to go she might get upset. So let’s go and have fun.”
“Okay. Sounds good then…”
“Alex!” I heard my mom yell.
“Oh hey, I think it’s dinner time. I need to get off of here and I’ll talk to you at eight! See ya then! Love you! Bye!”
“Love you too, babe. Bye.”
I went into the dinning room and helped Carry set the table. When we finished that everyone sat down and we talked about the usual things. When we finished I looked at the clock it was 6:30. I quickly helped fix the table and went to the shower immediately. Once I got out I blow-dried my hair, straightened it, and put on some make up. I tried on several tops and pants together. I finally decided on a pair of blue jeans with white pen stripes down and a tank top with a white base with purple, orange, and green hearts on it. When I was finally finished it was 7:55. Don should be here in 5 minuets. I sat down on my bed. I had this feeling in my gut and it wouldn’t go away. It was total and complete terror…
