Getting Back to Normal (10 page)

“I may prepare some dinners. It’s better than eating that unhealthy junk food you keep on bringing home.”

That stops his silly jokes. We ride in silence the rest of the way to the supermarket.

I’ve nothing to do but run through my fight with Tammy. Visiting her this afternoon was one long bore. She didn’t want to do anything but sit in her room and talk about Archie. She went on and on about him, like he was some romantic knight who’d given up his life for the sake of the woman he loved. The more she said, the more aggravated I got, until my stomach was churning and I couldn’t stand it any longer.

“Stop turning him into a hero. The only thing Archie managed to do was knock himself out and die.”

She glared and said I was heartless, and the least I could do was help him.

“I don’t know what he wants me to do!” I shouted. “He hasn’t told me.”

Oh, you know all right,” was her smug answer.

That was the final straw.

“Tammy,” I told her, “you’ve been watching too many soaps. I don’t want to meddle in other people’s business and you shouldn’t, either!”

She sniffed. “I’m sorry, Vannie, but we need to help Archie fulfill his final wish so he can rest in peace.”

“We? I don’t think we’ll do anything of the kind,” I said sarcastically.

“Well, you asked me to help you. It was my idea to go to the library and find out what happened to him.”

“Right, and maybe telling you about Archie in the first place was one big mistake.”

I knew I shouldn’t have said that, even before the words left my mouth. Tammy ran from the room and locked herself in the bathroom. I waited a while. When she didn’t come back, I went down to the den and watched TV till Daddy honked for me.

We pull into the strip mall closest to MG. As we’re walking into the well-lit supermarket, I give Daddy the list.

“Here,” I say, and take his hand. Daddy smiles and squeezes mine back. I’m glad. Now at least I don’t have two people mad at me.

We grab a wagon and wheel it up and down the aisles. Daddy’s in a good enough mood. He doesn’t rush me when I study food labels to find out its nutritious value the way Mom taught me to do.

I stop at the meat counter. “Should we get some meat?” I ask.

“Why not?” Daddy asks.

“And some chicken?”

“Sure, okay.”

I giggle. “You mean I can buy anything I want to?”

“You’re the cook,” he tells me, “but remember, our freezer in the cottage is kind of small.”

Robby runs off and returns with two brands of cat food. “Which should I get, Vannie. This kind or that?”

I shrug. “Try them both. And get some dried food, too.”

“Okay,” Robby says, and he’s gone. Daddy, I notice, hasn’t said one word.

By the time we head for the checkout counter, our wagon is full. All the registers have long lines.

“Oh, no,” I grumble.

“What will you make for dinner tonight?” Daddy asks as we wait.

“I don’t know. Something easy.”

“Make the spaghetti-cheese omelet,” Robby says.

I laugh. “That’s easy enough.”

When it’s our turn, the three of us unload our stuff onto the conveyer belt. Outside, we put the packages into the trunk. We get into the car. Daddy turns on the ignition and asks Robby and me, “All right, you guys, how many minutes to the cottage?”

“Five!” I shout.

“Seven!” says Robby.

“And we’re off!” Daddy says, marking the time.

“Go faster!” I order.

“No, slower,” Robby demands.

Daddy laughs and says he’ll drive at the proper speed. We turn onto the MG road, drive past the empty booth at the entrance. When we reach the cottage, Daddy stops the car and looks at his watch. “Six and a half minutes,” he declares.

“I win!” Robby shouts. “I don’t have to help tonight in the kitchen!”

“What a gift for half a minute,” I complain. But I’m grinning in the dark. For the first time since Mom died, the three of us have done something normal.

*

“The spaghetti-cheese omelet tastes different,” Robby says as he eats the last bit on his plate.

“I put oregano in it,” I say.

“Leave it out next time,” Robby orders. “But give me some more.”

“Me, too, please,” Daddy says. “More salad, anyone?”

I yawn as I carry the pot of spaghetti-cheese omelet to the table. Daddy notices. “You’re tired, Vannie. I’ll clean up.”

“Thanks, Daddy.” When I pass the back of his chair I hug his neck with my free hand.

“Hey, don’t spill any of that on me,” he complains.

This strikes Robby as real funny. “Put spaghetti-cheese omelet on Daddy’s head!” he shouts again and again.

“Stop that, Robert, this instant!” Daddy yells.

I glare at both of them. The good cheer of our kitchen has vanished as quickly as Archie’s disappearing acts. We finish our dinner in silence.

I am tired, I realize as I go up to my room. Too tired to call Tammy and make up with her. I’ll fix things up with her tomorrow, I decide. First thing, as soon as I get to school. But homework is something else. I’ve no choice but to finish my math problems and read my social studies assignment.

When I’m done, I pack my knapsack then change into my pajamas and bathrobe. I go downstairs to use the bathroom. All is quiet down there, except for Robby’s little-boy snores. I find Daddy frowning at some papers on his desk.

“Night, Daddy.” I kiss his cheek.

He turns to me. “Vannie, I was thinking. Mayda’s been such a help to us, it would be nice if we invited her out to dinner—to show our appreciation.”

My heart pounds against my ribs. “Isn’t that like overkill? I mean, she’s coming for dinner Wednesday night.”

“That’s the least we can do, since she’s taking you shopping. And let’s not forget, we’re paying next to nothing for this cottage.”

“It’s worth next to nothing.”

His eyes narrow. “Young lady, your snide remarks are not appreciated.”

I stare down at the worn carpet.

Daddy clears his throat. “I want to take the four of us out to dinner somewhere nice. Do you think Mayda would like that?”

I shrug. “Sure, why not? She eats out all the time.”

“While you’re shopping tomorrow night, please ask her if she’s free to come out with us this weekend.”

I consider telling him that he should do the asking, since he’ll see her tomorrow the same as me. But he looks so uncomfortable, I don’t have the heart. “Okay. Good night.”

“Night, Vannie.” Daddy turns back to the papers that are making him frown and I go upstairs to my bedroom.

CHAPTER TWELVE

I’m wide awake now and too strung out to fall asleep. I tell myself Daddy can’t possibly think about Mayda that way. She’s not half as pretty as Mom was. And besides, if he wanted to take her out on a date, he wouldn’t ask me to make the arrangements and drag Robby and me along.

I go to the window to draw the curtains, but instead I stare out into the darkness. There’s no wind tonight and the branches of the big tree are as still as stone. I blink as the lights around MG go out, all in one shot.

I open a window and breathe in the bracing air. At least I don’t have to deal with Archie on top of everything else.

“Hello, Vanessa.”

Startled, I look up. There he sits, perched on a tree branch five feet above my head.

“Archie! You turn everything into a circus act.”

“I thought you’d welcome my innovative approach.”

“You’re lucky you’re a ghost and can’t break your neck.”

“Tsk, tsk. That’s not a very warm and friendly greeting.”

“Sorry, I’m in a bad mood. Why have you come? I didn’t call you.”

“I thought it was time we had a little chat and I explained what I’d like you to help me accomplish. But,” he quickly adds, “if you’re not in the mood to talk, we can—”

“I know what you want me to do—play cupid for my father and Aunt Mayda.”

He beams at me like I’m an idiot who’s suddenly discovered two and two equal four. “Why, yes, Vanessa. That’s it in a nutshell. How astute of you to have discovered my intent.”

“My best friend, Tammy, figured it out,” I admit.

“I see. Clever girl, Tammy.”

I take a deep breath. “Sorry, Archie, I can’t help you.”

“Ah.” Archie moves to a lower branch so we’re on eye level. He looks comical, with his long legs dangling down like vines. I try not to laugh at the way his face scrunches into folds when he frowns. Kind of like a shar-pei dog. I bet Tammy wouldn’t find him so handsome if she saw him now.

“Please, Vanessa, I wish you’d let me explain the situation from my perspective. Perhaps you’ll change your mind when you fully understand.”

“No, you listen, Archie. My father’s just lost his wife. You have some nerve asking me, his daughter, to set him up with your granddaughter to ease your guilty conscience.”

Archie has a pained look on his face. “I get the definite impression your father appreciates Mayda’s company.”

“Right!” I shout. “As a friend. Not a second wife.”

“That could change, don’t you think?”

I scowl at him as my last conversation with Daddy flashes across my mind.

“Perhaps with your help, they can find happiness together. Please think about it, Vanessa. For everyone’s sake.”

My answer is to slam the window shut and draw the curtains. But not before I hear Archie’s plea to meet him at the duck pond tomorrow at five-thirty so we can continue our discussion.

“Vanessa, lower your radio, will you?” Daddy calls from downstairs.

I refuse to tell Archie if I’ll be there or not.

*

The next morning I wait for Tammy outside her classroom. When she sees me, she turns to Melissa Fox, who I know she can’t stand, and starts chattering a mile a minute. I pull out my assignment pad and write: “Saw Archie. He thinks you’re a clever girl.” I fold the paper, hand it to Tammy, and head for my room. Tammy’s beside me in less than a minute.

“You actually told him about me!”

“Uh-huh,” I say quietly, hoping she’ll follow my example and speak softly too. “I said you figured out what he wanted me to do.”

“Oh, Vannie!” Tammy gushes. She’s about to go into her hero-worshiping mode when she catches my expression and turns serious. “What else did he say?”

“Nothing new. More of the same. I told him he has some nerve asking me to set things up between my father and Aunt Mayda.”

Tammy takes my hand. “Are you upset, Vannie?”

I pull my hand away. “Of course not! I told him I won’t go along with his crazy scheme.”

“You needn’t do anything you don’t want to.”

“I know.”

“Still, it’s not a bad plan.”

I open my mouth to tell her off when the bell rings. “We’ll talk at lunch,” she calls over her shoulder.

*

All day I waver back and forth about meeting Archie. Yes, I’ll go and hear what he has to say. No, I won’t go because all he wants is another shot at convincing me to change my mind. Which I won’t. Daddy and Aunt Mayda are two adults. Archie has no business meddling in their lives.

Besides, I don’t think they’re suited for each other. And I certainly don’t want them to marry. Archie has no right to ask me, a sixth grader, to get involved in all this. But in spite of my best intentions, I’m curious. I wonder what he can possibly say that might make me see this in a different light.

With so much on my mind, I don’t pay attention to what’s going on in class. My teacher, Mrs. Weintraub, scolds me twice. The third time, she threatens to keep me after school if I don’t come back down to earth, so I try my best to follow our science lesson.

I take the bus home. The afternoon drags out longer than usual. I finish all my homework, including the essay that isn’t due until next week. When the sun goes down, I put on my jacket and head for the front door.

“Be right back. I’m going for a walk,” I call out, cool and casual, as I pass Daddy’s office.

“Sure, honey,” Daddy answers, his eyes never leaving his computer screen. “What time is dinner?”

“Around seven.”

I’m opening the door when Robby calls to me from the living room, where he’s watching TV.

“Vannie?”

“What!” It comes out sharper than I meant it to.

“Why are you mad at me?”

“I’m not mad, I just—” I step into the darkened room. “What’s up, Robby?”

“I don’t think Theodore likes me.”

“Of course he likes you. You feed him three times a day.”

“He still won’t eat when I’m around. And he doesn’t let me pet him. Not now, since he’s better.”

I sigh. “Theodore’s feral, Robby. He grew up wild. Maybe we can ask Daddy to get you a kitten that’s used to people.”

Robby scowls. “But I want Theodore, Vannie. I want him to be my pet.”

I look at my watch. It’s five thirty-five. “Maybe we’ll have Tammy come and take a look at him. Tammy knows all about cats.”