Waiting

Nothing could be more surprising than a string of coincidences. Even the two books I read today where pointing me in a certain direction. The hero's first name was Allan in the first book I devoured and the hero's last name in the second was Green. Sometimes I wonder if subtle signs from above weren't so subtle anymore...

It began when Allan was my TA in my language class. He was nice enough and helped me understand quickly and encouraged me when I wanted to give up. I had to pass Portuguese 102 to get into the English program. We had several pleasant exchanges and went our separate ways. I never knew what happened until I came back from my mission to Brazil and saw an opening for a TA for a graduate student. Little did I understand the drama that was to come.

I timidly knocked on the door and pushed it slightly open, searching for my new boss. The small room with cubicles was only occupied with one person and my breath caught in my throat before I could get a word out he called out, "Jess! How in the world are you? What are you doing here?" His dark hair looked slightly disheveled as he adjusted his glasses on his nose while giving me a big grin.

"Good!" I replied. I'm looking for... Mr... oh, I think I'm looking for you for my new job." Allan beamed at me. You are my new TA? Excellent! How did you come to speak sufficiently for the job?" He gave me a questioning look.

"I just got back from my mission to Brazil. While your tutoring was good, it didn't nearly make me fluent. Ha."

He laughed, "Yes well I would like to think I was that good but I know better now."

...

The keys were no where to be found. The books weighed heavily in my arms as I dug through my backpack, sweat started to collect on my forehead. "Fine!" I grumbled and set them on my car to continue the search. Seconds later, I triumphantly cried "yes! and slid into the car and rolled down the windows. As I approached the stop light, I did a quick double take. I felt a little silly after the time we had spent together and had no desire to do an awkward drive by wave from the car as Allan crossed the street. I jerked the wheel and came to a stop before  turning to see paper slowly drifting by my open window. "No!" I cried as I quickly stepped out of the car to grab the books and papers scattered around. I glanced up from the ground just in time to see Allan's look of amazement followed by a slight grin and a shrug. He stood helplessly kitty corner from me. I felt my face warming up as I once again slid into the car and drove away. My mind was racing as I stared at the piece of paper precariously stuck against my windshield wiper.

My phone dinged at me and saw the words, We picked up the rest of your stuff :)

Could I embarrass myself anymore?

Untouchable

Kathy refused to understand what I was trying to tell her, "Chiclets are real gum." I calmly explained again. Sprawled across the sofa she lifted her head and flicked one at me. "No. They're not." "Yes. They are." I stated a little more earnestly.

A knock sounded at the door and we both jumped up to get it. "Oh hey Aaron." Kathy tossed her blond hair smoothly while hiding me from view. I could see his wirey frame through the crack of the door. "Hey Kathy... Is Christine home?" Ah ha! I gave her a triumphant look and pulled the door open wider. "Come on in friend!" Aaron nervously stood at the door, "well I just wanted to make sure the activity was still good for tomorrow." I tried to not show my disappointment, "yeah it's all good to go!" I mean how hard is it to buy a few Popsicles. "Well great! See you later then!" I stared at his back as he turned away down the steps.

"Give it up Ti. He's an untouchable"

"That's exactly why we belong together!" I exclaimed. 

Unexpected

The coffee pot was briefly considered as an object that would nicely connect with my head before Betsy reconsidered and carefully set it back down. Life had advantages from being a Mormon. Betsy was a suspicious woman and knowing my abhorence of the drink, she thought twice.

Not that I don't like coffee. I love it. Well loved it before I found a religion I felt a connection with. A difficult part was giving up my daily energy booster but I found other ways to cope the last 2 years.

"Now Betsy. Is that really any way to treat a long lost friend?" I smiled.
She snorted, "By friend if you mean someone who goes away for 4 years and never returns any Christmas cards or Birthday letters, yes."
"My dear friend. You know I never forgot about you. I just... have a tendency getting involved."

My Awesome Life

Sometime in my life I had learned that 1 plus 2 equals 3 but somewhere in the confusion I was coming up with 4.

            “Didn’t he…” Janice began.

            “…Most definitely ask for my number then asked Morgan out?” I finished. “Yup.”

            “What a trash bag!” she exclaimed.

            I was too exhausted from the weed pulling I had done that day to care anymore. Not only was my back killing me but my skin felt like a hot burner from hours in the sun.

            “I’m going to sleep now Janice, okay?”

            “But, what, I…” she trailed off.

            Taking the steps painfully slow, I walked toward my room. Nothing would interrupt my zombie-like sleep tonight. Even boys like Evan who thought they had the world eating out of the palm of his hand couldn’t keep that from me. Or so I thought.

I could tell something was wrong when my whole body started shaking. Sure there was an earthquake I threw my covers off me as I sat straight up in bed. Muffled noises beneath the duvet indicated what had caused the tremors.

“What are you doing!” Janice struggled to detangle herself from my three plush blankets.

“I thought there was an earthquake,” I sheepishly replied.

Janice giggled then recovered a sober face quickly, “Morgan hasn’t come back yet.”

My bleary eyes squinted in the dark, “Janice, it’s only 12:05. I’m sure she’ll be back any…” We heard the front door slam shut and the lock click into place as I gave Janice an “I told you” look. She sighed and walked into the hallway in her rubber ducky pajamas her grandmother had made her.

“You’re late…” she began lecturing.
            “I know.”

“Well do you want to talk about it?”

Morgan sighed, “Janice, there is nothing to talk about. Really. Now go to bed while you still can. I’m sure you’ll have enough teenagers to practice on in a few years yourself.”

“Well, I have never!” stammered Janice.

I sighed and turned to wrap the blankets around me once again as I faced the wall. Morgan was not in a mood for a lecture and my achy body screamed for more rest. Morgan cracked open the door and slid in quickly before too much light entered in. Good, I thought, at least she has the decency to let me rest a little after tricking me into pulling weeds at her grandmother’s house all day.

As I contemplated the pain in my rear end and other tight muscles, I noticed that my breathing wasn’t the only strange sound in the room. Through the dark I saw Morgan on the edge of her bed, little sobs shaking her body.

Not feeling sympathy I breathed out a large gust of air and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, I didn’t know you were still up.”

“You came in after curfew. Janice got me up.”

“Oooo.” The sobs started again.

Now really alarmed, I pushed myself up in bed and asked again what the matter was.

Bad Day

Nothing could release my grip on the hairbrush clutched in my hand.

"Stay back!" I warned.

The spider crawled closer.

"Ahhhhgg!" I jumped over the couch. 

"What in the world is going on?" James called through the door.

"It's attacking me!" I responded, balancing on the cushions. "Whoa!" I swayed then ungracefully fell into a heap.
"You look like you've had a tough day." James remarked noting at my dishelved hair, and oversized t-shirt.
"You have no idea." I responded.
His eyes crinkled just a little around the edges when he smiled, "Well I have something that will make it better."