“It’s embarrassing! I can’t believe I’m going on a date and talking to my daughter about it. I’m old, for Pete’s sake!” Claire buried her face in the pillow.
“You’re not old. Thirty is the new twenty, Mom.” I tried to pry the pillow from her hands. “Who’s your date?” I kept struggling with her.
She mumbled something into the pillow that sounded like “Gopher Annuals”.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying. Take that pillow off your face and tell me! I’m dying to know!” I resorted to whining since speaking loudly didn’t work. “Mother!”
She pulled the pillow off her face. “I hate the whiney voice, Isis. You know I hate it.” She paused for a second and closed her eyes. “Okay, I’m ready to spill my guts.”
I threw the pillow to the other side of the room before she had a chance to hide her head in it again. “Tell me!” I demanded.
“It’s Christopher.” She waited for my reaction.
“
No?
!” I couldn’t believe it. “Judge Daniels? You’re lying to me, Mother!” I threw my hands up in the air. “I can’t believe it!”
Judge Daniels was a bachelor known for not dating women in town because of his position—at least, that’s what my mother had told me when I tried to push her to ask
him
out. She didn’t want to risk her employment.
“Did he ask you out, or did you ask him?”
“He asked me, of course. I would never have the guts to do something like that.” My mom jumped off the bed and opened her closet.
“What am I supposed to wear? How should I wear my hair?” She jumped on the bed and rustled around with the sheets. “Where’s that article?” She pulled a magazine, bookmarked with sticky notes.
“Cosmo, Mom? Really?” I looked at her agape. “You’ve never read Cosmo in your life.”
“I needed some ‘Tips for Dating in this Day and Age,’” she said holding the magazine cover up and pointing to the title of the article.
“Just how long have you been planning this young lady?” I pulled a typical Claire question on her.
“Well, he asked me on Monday, but I didn’t give him an answer till Wednesday. We’re keeping it very hush, hush at the office.”
She smacked her forehead with the rolled up magazine. “What the heck am I supposed to talk to him about that doesn’t concern work?”
“You’re supposed to get to know him out of the work environment. Even I know that. You can’t be this nervous about a date. It’s the most normal thing.”
“Says a seventeen year-old that picked up the new guy at the library—easy for you to say!” She laughed, throwing the magazine at me.
“I did not pick him up,” I said putting my hands on my waist. “And we’re talking about you, not about me.”
“So what should I wear?” Claire said, hopping up and down like a kid.
I walked over to her closet and laid out several outfits for her to choose from. She wasn’t too crazy about the sexy tops I chose. I waited in my room while she showered. Next we prepped her hair and makeup. By the time I was done with her, my mom looked like the hottie, hidden within the hottie, that she was.
The doorbell rang.
“I got it!” I yelled running down the stairs. I swung the door open and welcomed Judge Daniels into our house. The Judge, as everyone called him, was a tall, handsome forty-something year old man. He had a strong build and wore a cowboy hat and boots—very common for southern Texas. According to my mother he was in good shape for his age.
We waited for my mother to make her grand entrance down the staircase. It didn’t take but maybe three minutes for Claire to appear at the foot of the stairwell. She should have made him wait more.
The Judge’s eyes widened when he saw the transformation my mother had gone through. I was proud of my work and excited for my mother.
“Have a good time kids,” I teased as they walked out the door.
I locked the door and turned the T.V. on to see if anything interesting would catch my eye. It was past dinner time and my mom had left me some money for pizza. I retrieved my phone from my pant pocket and noticed an incoming call. It was Andy. My phone had been on silent mode all this time. I usually kept it like that at school, otherwise, I’d get in trouble. I hadn’t remembered to turn the ringer on.
“I assumed you went home sick, so I asked the nurse and she told me you fainted. Why haven’t you answered your phone? I’ve been worried about you all day.” Andy sounded very upset.
“I didn’t faint. I was just dizzy. I’m sorry I didn’t answer my phone, I didn’t know the ringer was off.”
“My dad wants to talk to you… hang on.” She transferred the phone to Dr. Jameson.
“Isis, are you feeling okay?”
“Fine, Doctor. I felt a little dizzy this morning, but I’m okay now.”
“Listen, I want you to suspend the medication for these next couple of days and see how you feel without it okay? The dizziness might be a side-effect of the medication and I don’t want it to affect you in that way—especially not at school.”
“Okay, Doctor Jameson,” I said gleefully.
“Call me if you experience insomnia or more dizziness. Here’s Andrea again. Take care.”
“Isis?” Andy was back on the phone.
“Yeah, I’m here.” I said looking at the magnets on the fridge searching for the pizza place’s phone number.
“So you’re okay then?” Andy wanted to be reassured.
“Fantabulous,” I replied.
“Okay. That’s all I wanted to know. I’ll text you later. We’re about to eat dinner.”
“Okay,” I said ending the call.
I turned my phone’s ringer on and started dialing the number to the pizza place. Before I was done dialing, another incoming call interrupted me. I didn’t recognize the number but I decided to answer anyway.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Miss me yet?” A male voice was on the other end.
“Who is this?” I ran to the front door to make sure it was locked and peeked out the window.
“Have you forgotten me already?” He laughed.
“David.” I recognized the voice and sighed. “How did you get my phone number?”
“While you were busy calling me obscenities in the car this morning, I dialed my own number from your phone.”
“Hmph!” I smiled while trying to sound bothered. “I apologized for that already.”
“Right. I was wondering if I can I ask a favor of you?”
“Is it illegal?”
“I’m being serious.”
“What is it?”
“Do not tell my mother what method I used to sedate you if she asks.”
“I’m assuming you just had that discussion she mentioned earlier?” I was more than sure I was right.
“Yes. It did not go over too well, and I certainly did not tell her about that… incident.”
“Can I ask why she got so upset?”
“I divulged some things that she did not want to hear.”
“Oh,” I said not wanting to pry more. “I’m sorry you argued with your mom.”
“No worries.” His voice was serene. “Well, I won’t keep you any longer, and thank you for the favor.”
I opened my mouth to stop him from hanging up, but then realized what I was about to do. What if Nyx was right about what she said and David did have a little crush on me? I’d be flattered, but that would be it because nothing else could ever come of it.
“Okay,” I said remembering his venomous kiss.
“Goodnight, my lovely.”
“Night,” I said, a little saddened the conversation was so brief.
I finally got around to ordering my dinner. I decided not to wait up for Claire, fearing the insomnia would set in again, but I did stay up a bit late. There was nothing to be afraid of now. I was happy I wouldn’t have to take the pills.
I noticed my journal lying on my desk, beside my laptop. I read the entries I had previously written and decided my journal should continue; maybe one day I’d write a book.
Journal Entry 5, 9:59 P.M.
Reality is not as it seems. You are real—skin, bone, tissue and blood. In but one brief day I’ve succumbed to your wit and charm only because of the virtues you were born with. I won’t fall deeper into this fascination, for it would be taunting an ill fate.
Tonight, I won’t dream of you because I know what is right and the difference between life and death. Good night, dream boy. May you give me pleasant dreams.
* * *
The sun’s rays snuck in through my blinds. I slept quite well without the pills. I was tired from having such a long Friday. I guess experiencing anxiety, fear, nervousness and excitement all in one day had really taken a toll on me. I didn’t even remember dreaming.
I took a quick shower, but remained in my pajamas. I checked the time on my mobile and found it was really early to be up on a Saturday morning.
I crept into my mother’s room where she was still fast asleep. “No sense in waking her,” I thought. My stomach urged me to feed it, so I silently closed the door to Claire’s room and fetched my laptop from my room. I made my way to the kitchen and whipped up some pancakes—my favorite.
I sat down at the kitchen table with my laptop and my pancakes, and I wondered if Andy was awake already. She was an early bird, so I decided to text her.
I Googled “Maserati” and “The Ebony Estate” while I waited for Andy’s text. Andy ended up responding an hour later asking if I wanted to hang out in the afternoon. I had nothing planned so I took her up on it.
Claire walked straight to the coffeemaker as I replied to Andy’s text.
“Morning. How’d you sleep?” She asked in a hoarse voice.
“Great,” I said with a sly grin formed across my lip. I pushed out one of the chairs from under the table with my foot.
“Have a seat, my dear Claire. Let’s talk about men.” I smiled and moved my eyebrows up and down continuously.
“Stop it.” She let out a giggle. “I had a nice time.”
“Really?” I leaned closer to her side of the table. “Did he kiss you?” I puckered my lips and made kissing noises.
“Stop teasing me, or I won’t tell you anything else.” Claire was moody before her coffee. She wasn’t alive until she’d taken a few sips. I loved taking advantage of that.
“So are you going out again?” I probed, as she would have done.
“Maybe.” She sounded like she was holding back on me. “Mind changing the subject? It’s too early for interrogations.”
“Fine,” I sighed.
Claire sipped her coffee while I read the news on several Internet sites. My mind started wandering as I scrolled through the articles.
I felt an itch to find out more about the Chios family. I thought about calling David, but remembered Nyx’s discussion with me. I didn’t want to be the reason for a dispute between Nyx and her son, much less have her dislike me. I didn’t want Nyx to have any reason to doubt what I had stated—being a liar wasn’t one of the characteristics I wanted to be known for, but I’d be doing an awful lot of it from now on.
I whispered the word “infatuation” several times as I thought about the conversation Nyx and I had, regarding David. I hid the smile that formed on my face from my mother. It was all probably in Nyx’s head. I mean, what could he possibly see in me? Deities were perfectly beautiful, from what I had already witnessed. I was just a girl. I shook the idea out of my head and thought it was silly of me to even think it could be possible for David to be infatuated with me. David was intelligent enough to know that it was a dead end street.
Later that morning, Claire headed off to get a manicure and pedicure in the neighboring city of Brownsville. She had asked me to come along because she wanted to buy some new blouses for work and wanted my help. Of course, I teased her about wanting to look good for The Judge. I really did want to go with her, but I declined, letting her know I had plans with Andy.
“Help a mother out!” She said waving two fingers in the air.
I laughed hysterically at her silliness.
“Sorry, Mom. Plans have been made,” I giggled.
Around twelvish, Andy called me to ask if it was okay if we hung out at my house instead of hers. We had a few slices of left over pizza and secluded ourselves in my room.
“I gotta tell you something,” I said biting my lips trying not to grin.
“Uh oh,” Andy said getting comfortable on the bed. “This must be good.”
“I met a guy.” I couldn’t restrain the broad smile from forming. “But I don’t like him or anything. He’s just… um… I don’t know.” I shrugged one shoulder.
“When did this happen?” Andy’s face showed confusion.
“Yesterday.” I forgot I was supposed to be sick, as far as she was concerned.
“Where?”
I hadn’t thought that part through before I opened my big mouth. I hated lying to my best friend but I couldn’t tell her the truth.
“At the city library. I went there after I came home from school.”
“What were you doing at the library if you were feeling dizzy? We don’t even have any projects due.”