and left a rather lengthy message….
News to me. “Sorry, Daddy.
I didn’t check the machine.”
Really. And here I thought you’d
made it your mission….
What the hell does that mean?
Maybe he knows more than
he’s saying too. I apologize again.
“Sorry. I usually do, but I was
all excited about writing my term
paper.” No need to mention why.
His eyes say, yeah right, but his
lips say, Ahem. Okay, well, your
mother is coming home to watch
the election returns and expects
to host a large party here. It’s
a big deal, as you can imagine,
and you’ll have to help me pull it
together. We’ve only got a few days.
And with Manuela unavailable,
I’m not sure what to do.
A devious thought crosses my
mind. Do I dare? Oh, why not?
“Maybe Hannah from down
the street would help out.”
H-Hannah? he sputters, eyes filling
with uncertainty. Why Hannah?
How much do I know, Daddy? Not
as much as I’ve guessed, but enough.
But I don’t say that. Instead
I shrug. “She’s always seemed
pretty friendly, and she looks
like she knows how to party.”
He Has No Idea
What I mean, or what to say.
His jaw drops, spittle pooling
in the corners of his mouth.
His eyes blink like some annoying
spore has found its ocular target.
Tears puddle, reflect something
like rising denial. No worries,
Pop, I won’t tell, as long as
you be nice to me. (Pretty please be nice.)
One thing for sure, his reaction,
silent as it might be, makes me
know my instincts were right.
Somehow, some way, that hurts
more than it should. After all,
he’s not married to me. Still, why
not twist the knife a little deeper?
Kind of fun to make him squirm.
“Do you want me to talk to Hannah?
I don’t mind. Unless you’d rather
do it yourself?” I ask, all innocent
eyed. “I’ll help too, of course.”
Finally Daddy snaps out of
his trance. That’s okay. I’ll talk
to her. Good idea. She’ll be great.
He stands, hands on his hips, looking
a lot like Wyatt Earp, facing down
bad guys at the OK Corral.
Guess what that makes me.
Better holster my six-shooter.
I’ll break out the shotgun later.
School Totally Drags
Tricks and treats are put
on hold in favor of tests
and ineffectual lectures.
Teachers can be so heartless.
At lunch, I’m still deciding
who to get witchy with. I’m
wandering, foodless, when
I hear someone call my name.
Ms. Gardella? One minute!
Would you please honor
me with your presence?
Lawler, sounding all teacher.
So why does a little chill
shimmy all up and down
my spine? I’ll honor him
with more than my presence.
I turn toward his classroom,
extremely happy that I shaved
my legs and wore a very,
very short skirt today.
Lawler Definitely Notices
Not only that, but he doesn’t
hide the fact that he’s noticing.
His eyes fall to the source of my
swishing stockings, stay there until
he closes the door behind me.
How’s the paper coming?
Hope I was able to help.
I turn and he’s very close
behind me. In fact, we’re just
about nose to nose. I smile my
most vampish smile. “You’ve
helped me more than you know.”
His turn to smile, revealing
perfect white teeth. How so?
God, he smells good. I so
want to get lost in him. “You
treat me with respect. Not
many teachers do that for their
students. Power trips, I guess.”
You deserve my respect.
Not many students do.
I must be totally schizoid. As
much as I like having his respect,
I wonder what it would take to
earn his disrespect. My eyes tell
him that. My lips say, “Thank you.”
Welcome. So I was wondering
if you have plans for tonight.
Plans? Holy shit! Stay cool,
Raeanne. Leave the drool
where it belongs—inside your
mouth. But wait. Do I have
plans? Answer: “Not really.”
I realize it’s Halloween
and you might be busy….
“No!” Easy now. Don’t want
to look like you’re undateable
or something. “I mean I really
haven’t got anything definite
planned.” Breathe in. Breathe out.
I was hoping you might be able
to come over to my place and…
Yes, Yes, and…?
Okay, I know he doesn’t dare
say what I want him to, but
what he does say surprises me.
…answer my door for an hour
or so. I have an appointment
and don’t want to leave the house
empty with all the little tricksters
running around. I know it’s late
notice, an imposition, but you were
the first person who came to mind.
A deep breath brings several
positives to mind. One: I’ll
have my foot, quite literally,
in his door. Two: He probably
doesn’t have a girlfriend, unless
she happens to be his appointment.
Three: what might happen after
he gets back from his appointment.
Four: I was on his mind.
What can I do but agree?
He Gives Me Directions
To his house, which isn’t far
from mine. Need a ride?
A ride would be nice,
considering it is chilly
outside, but I don’t think
I should chance it. Oh yeah,
just think about explaining
that one to dear old Dad.
I shake my head. “Maybe
a ride home. What time
do you want me?” I am
queen of double entendre.
Lawler shows his dimples.
My haircut is at six.
Can you get there around
quarter to? I should only
be gone a little over an hour,
so you won’t be tied up all night.
Okay, vamp, ramp it up.
“How about half the night?”
The Rest of the Day
Crawls along even slower
than the first half did. Lawler
got my “tied up” joke and even
gifted me with an easygoing
laugh.
I’m pretty sure he’s got more
than an abbreviated house-sitting
job in mind. Wonder if he wants
what I do—to wrap ourselves up
in each other, make love until we
cry
with pleasure. Pa
in. Both. More.
But to go there, I need to catch
a buzz, which presents a problem.
It’s
one thing to ask Mick for bud,
then “reward” him after. But to
get my head, then ask him to drop
me at Lawler’s? He would not
appreciate that at
all.
Eek! Have I backed myself
into a corner? No Mick, no bud.
No Ty, no better buzz, and he’s
much more difficult to manipulate.
Dopeless sex? That could not feel
good.
Could it?
Kaeleigh
The Bus Seems Slower
Than usual today, and that’s
okay by me. Sitting here,
listening to ever