“Yes, I wrote it to you and it was a love note in the sixth grade and it said
that I loved you.”
“That's very nice, Kate. Let's go up the stairs.”
She shook her head vigorously. “You said 'up' again. Don't say 'up.' I don't like 'up.' ”
“Sorry. Here we go.”
“Wait, wait, wait, Peter. Peter, wait.”
“What is it?”
“Can I tell you something?”
“Sure.”
She grinned broadly. “I wrote you a note.”
“You told me that already.”
Her bottom lip pouted. “I did?”
“Yes.”
“Well, what did the note say? Was it a good note?”
“I don't know…you never gave it to me.”
The grin returned. “I know!” And she whispered again. “It was a love note.”
She pointed it at the ceiling. “I found it up in my room.” She stopped, frowning.
“Oh, no, I said 'up.' ”
Peter shook his head. “Remember when I said alcohol wasn't the problem, it
was the solution?”
“Yup. That was my joke.”
“I was wrong.” He tried lifting her by her arms. “C'mon, now, let's get to your room.”
She suddenly pushed him away, stumbling slightly. “How dare you shup me
to my room up there? I don't hardly know you. Varlot.”
“Varlot?”
“Yeah. It's what they say in the old movies when a man was a varlot to a girl,
which you are. A varlot, not a girl. I'm the girl.” She pointed at herself. “I'm going to sleep on the couch if you don't mind, but I think that first I need to throw up.”
She suddenly pushed past him, through the narrow bathroom door next to
the staircase and slammed it shut. In seconds, Peter heard a bout of retching.
“Kate?” he called. His answer was another heave. He tried the door handle.
It was locked.
“Varlot,” she gagged from behind it.
A few seconds later, the toilet flushed. The door unlocked, then creaked open
as a bedraggled Kate emerged, looking like a wet puppy.
Peter quickly moved to her, put his arms around her shoulders. “Hey? You okay?”
“Is okay when the room is spinning like a sideways merry-go-round?”
“No.”
“Then I think I'm fine.” She looked over her shoulder. “You know, I've never
thrown up in that room before.”
“That's great. I'm so proud of you.” He reached behind her, grabbed a hand
