What They Left Behind

Gennie was having fun at Page’s house. It was like having an extended sleepover. The only problem was talking into the night was causing both of them to get to school late. Surprisingly, Page was more worried about it than Gennie. Since leaving Malcolm and Colleen’s house, she was thinking about living on her own. She was considering dropping out of school and getting a full time job. She had already decided she wanted to fix cars for a living. There really wasn’t a need to have a high school diploma to do that. Besides, if she wanted to get her GED in the future, she could. Even if she did stay in school, she definitely wasn’t going to college. She couldn’t afford it and there was nothing there she was interested in. Besides, from all the brochures Page showed her, she got the impression that college was filled with stuck-up preppies. She had enough of those kids in high school to last her a lifetime.

  She decided to finish out her sophomore year before leaving, though. She didn’t make her plans known because she knew everyone, especially Page, would be against it. Page was gung-ho on going to college and her heart was set on Berkeley. It was only twenty miles from home and there was a great ‘vibe’ going on there, whatever that meant. Page insisted that Gennie go to Berkeley with her, but Gennie had no plans to do that. She knew Page would be upset when she told her, but she would get over it eventually.

  Otherwise, Page seemed oblivious to the signs that Gennie was no longer concerned with her schoolwork. If she didn’t ask for help, Page didn’t give it. Gennie thanked her lucky stars that Page was the type of person who had to be hit with a brick before she realized the building she was standing in front of was crumbling. It made putting off telling her all the more easier.

  It was Friday night. Gennie and Page were working on a book report that was due on Monday, Gennie putting minimal effort into hers, when someone knocked on the door. Page was about to get it, but sat back down when her brother reached it first.

  “Oh, hi!” he said. Gennie could tell by his voice that a ‘hot chick’ was at the door.

  “Who the heck is he talking to…Jayne Mansfield?” Gennie asked Page.

  “It’s probably our next door neighbor’s kid, Dot. She’s only twelve but she already has huge breasts, so naturally my brother wants to go out with her.”

  “He’s such a pervert,” Gennie replied.

  “I know.”

  “You want Gennie? Are you sure you’re not looking for me, Sweetheart?” her brother said loudly.

  “Oh my god, he’s coming on to Colleen! Doesn’t he know she’s thirty years old?”

  “He doesn’t care,” Page said. “Even though he’s only fourteen, he’s desperate to get laid. I’m surprised he hasn’t shagged the neighbor’s dog yet.”

  Gennie chuckled.

  Danny approached the kitchen doorway. As usual, he was leering at Gennie.

  “It’s for you,” he said.

  “Is Ben with her?” Gennie asked him.

  “Nope, you have her all to yourself,” Danny said, his voice getting husky. “Is it okay if I watch?”

  Gennie rolled her eyes and stood up. Danny was partly blocking the doorway and she pushed him away in order to get by. He smiled in response.

  Gennie was shocked by who was standing outside. No way! What would Charlene want from me? Her closest guess was to tell her brother to stay away from her. He probably did something stupid and Charlene didn’t want anything to do with him anymore.

  Gennie approached Charlene tentatively. She was impeccably groomed, as always. She wore a beige cashmere sweater over an apricot dress, a cute little hat with a long ribbon on it and a matching handbag. Gennie could only imagine what she thought of this place.

  “Hi,” Gennie said.

  “Hi, Gennie,” Charlene said in a receptionist friendly voice. “How are you?”

  “I’m okay. How about you?”

  “I’m doing great. You’re probably wondering why I’m here, since we don’t really talk to each other that much in school.”

  That’s the understatement of the year, Gennie thought. “Yeah, I was wondering that.”

  “Well, you see, I have a little proposition for you. I heard you liked fixing cars and that is exactly what my brother is into. He’s on the outs with his girlfriend and I’ve been trying to find someone who would be compatible with him. I thought you would be the perfect person.”

  Gennie thought she had gone insane. She imagined her brother was just like her, perfect in every way. If he was into cars, he probably wore a pure white jumpsuit and leather gloves and managed never to get either of them dirty.

  “Who came up with this idea?” Gennie asked.

  “It was all mine,” Charlene said proudly.

  “This isn’t some sort of prank, is it?”

  “Oh no! I wouldn’t do that to you. This is one hundred percent real. I know how hard it is to meet a total stranger, so I decided Johnny and I would go too. It’ll help you two to get to know each other better.”

  Gennie didn’t believe a single word she was saying, but she was curious about this whole scheme. She wasn’t expecting anyone to show up on this make believe double date.

  “Is Ben involved with this?” Gennie asked.

  “Not at all,” Charlene said, flashing a camera-ready smile. “He doesn’t know anything about it.”

  “By the way, how is he doing?” Gennie said.

  “He’s doing very well. Did you know our play is next week? We’re going to be putting on two shows, one on Friday and one on Saturday. We’d love for you to come.”

  “I’ll think about it,” Gennie replied. “So, has he said anything about me?”

  “Well…he says he misses you, but he understands why you won’t talk to him.”

  Gennie wondered if Charlene knew all the details. Probably not. “Okay.”

  “Is there anything you want me to tell him?”

  “Uh…well, I miss him too, but it’s probably for the best that we not talk to each other right now. And…I’m sorry I said all those mean things.”

  Charlene nodded. “You would be so proud of him. He’s doing a fantastic job playing Romeo. Yesterday, I even talked him into getting his permit, so maybe he’ll be able to drive soon.”

  “Well, that’s great,” Gennie said. “So, about this date? What place and time?”

  “How about the Bella Cucina? Do you know where that is?”

  “Yeah, I happen to work there.”

  “What would be a good time for you?”

  “I get off at eight o’clock, so how about then?”

  “Oh, that’s great! Well, I’ll see you there. I think you’re going to really like Foster.”

  Foster? That’s an uppity name if I ever heard one, Gennie thought.

  “I hope so, too,” Gennie replied half-heartedly. “I’ll see you there, Charlene.”

  Gennie closed the door and turned around. Danny was on the stairwell staring at her.

  “You girls look so sexy together,” he whispered.

  “Shut up,” Gennie said, walking past him into the kitchen. She couldn’t wait to tell Page about this. Hell must resemble a large skating rink by now, Gennie thought.

  Chapter 21: May 2