“It's where they're having the Homecoming Dance in a few weeks.”
There it was. “Really?”
“Yes, the theme is 'Making it Rad in the Eighties,' and they're decorating it to
look just like it did in the eighties. You know anything about the eighties?”
“Yes, I believe I read something about them in a history book once. It was
some sort of decade, right?”
Carol never got her sarcasm. “Yes, well, they're having eighties music, and
everyone is supposed to wear eighties clothes and have eighties hair. It's all going to be very…”
“Eighties?”
“Yes.” Carol still sat with her hands on her lap, smiling, watching her.
Kate sighed. It looked like she was going to have to play this out or Carol would stay that way until February.
“Teachers are invited, you know. To the dance.”
“Really?”
“Yes. They're allowed to bring dates, too.”
“How nice.”
“I don't believe Peter has a date yet, though.”
“That's so very sad. But I'm sure some hometown girl will snatch him up soon enough.” She thought of Penny Fitch. Her temples pulsed harder.
“I think someone sounds a little jealous.”
“Don't be ridiculous. But someone is getting a little miffed at her nosy but lovable old friend who keeps dropping hints about her neighbor like slippery sledgehammers. I'm not interested. I have work to do. And I won't be around, anyway. I'll be in Chicago.” Her brow furrowed. Unless she had to come back to
do more follow-up for this proposal…
“All I'm saying is that you're here and Peter's there…” She pointed at Kate
and then out the window. “And as long as you're here and he's there…”
“As long as I'm here and he's there, we're going to stay right here and there.
Where we were. Or are. Or…” Kate threw her hands in the air. “You've been doing this to me all day. You get me all worked up, and then I do something stupid like asking him for a ride.” She stopped. “Well, I'm not a dopey little high school girl anymore, and I can take care of my own life, thank you.”
“He's fixing your tire.”
She'd forgotten about that. “He is?” She cranked her neck to see out the front
window. All she could see was the porch and the back of her car.
“Yes. I saw him go by the house with his tire-fixing thingy a few minutes ago.”
Kate jutted out her bottom lip, thinking. Maybe she should go out. Say thanks.
“Maybe you should go out and thank him,” Carol said.
Aggh! Mind-reader! Get out of my head.
Then stubbornness straightened her up. “No. We already said our goodbyes.
It would be awkward.”
Carol was silent, then put her fingertips on the table and stood, pushing her
chair back. “Maybe you're right. I'm meddling. You're a big girl now.”
She still had her smile, so Kate knew she wasn't angry. “Yes I am, thank you.”
“I'll start getting some supper ready. Do you like meatloaf?”
Not really. But her only other choice was going out. Which meant maybe Ray's or a frozen burrito from the Stop-n-Pop. Worse, she'd have to walk past her
wavy-haired neighbor with his tire-fixing thingy. “Yes. Meatloaf sounds great.
Thanks.”
