My Name Is Venus Black(47)
I still wonder why. What do we have in common? I guess he thinks I’m pretty. And we do have an easy way of bantering. Our senses of humor seem to go together, and he says I make him laugh. When I admitted I love astronomy, he claimed that on any clear night he can find every constellation in view.
Of course, I didn’t offer up my astronaut dream. What a joke.
I should have realized that by asking him all those “get to know you” questions, he’d do the same to me. Sweating and awkward, I tell him a series of small (big) lies, like that I’m an only child. I graduated from Snohomish High School. I went to Everett Community College until I ran out of money. The being-poor part there’s no hiding, so why lie?
Once, I catch Danny looking at me in a gentle, probing way that makes me wonder what he’s thinking. At the Porters’ door, I’m nervous he’ll try to kiss me. Instead, he bows, reaching up to tip his hat—which isn’t there—and we both laugh.
* * *
—
OF COURSE, PIPER is waiting up for me and accosts me as soon as I shut the front door.
“So how fun was it?” she asks. She has on her same pink nightgown. “What movie did you see?”
“It was called Runaway Train,” I tell her.
“About a train?” she asks. “Did people kiss and stuff like that?”
“No, silly. It was a movie about criminals who escape prison and end up on a train that is out of control.”
“Oh,” she says. I can see the wheels turning. “Was it good?”
“Actually, I really liked it,” which is true. I wish I could tell Piper about the time I tried to escape juvie and failed—only I’d give her the funny version. She would love that story, especially the part where the fireman cuts off my hair.
I go to the kitchen and open the fridge, looking for milk. The wine at dinner has left my tummy feeling funny.
“Did you kiss?” She is right behind me.
“Piper! I told you we are just friends.” She looks disappointed. I pour a glass of milk and sit at the table.
“Did you hold hands?”
I laugh. “Piper, you’re a romantic, aren’t you?”
“What’s that?”
“Oh, nothing. No, we didn’t hold hands.” I take a gulp of milk. “We went to a movie and then for a bite.”
“What restaurant?”
“A place called Thirteen Coins.” I see her mind still working. She wants details but doesn’t know how to get at them.
“Are you going out again on another date? Is he your boyfriend now?”
I sigh heavily. “I don’t know, Piper. I think we will just be friends.”
As Piper and I make our way upstairs, I realize something. I had told Piper about Leo. And if I keep seeing Danny, someday the subject of Leo will come up. Then I’ll have to make a really embarrassing apology about not being an only child. How would I explain? That alone should be reason enough not to go out with Danny again.
* * *
—
A COUPLE NIGHTS later, I have the run of the house. Mike, in a highly unusual move, has taken Piper, along with Curtis, to see an early showing of Pinocchio. Maybe Curtis has some parental instincts Mike seems to lack. I hope so, for Piper’s sake.
I’m determined to maximize my Piper-free time, but instead I’m restless and there’s not much on TV. Around eight, the phone rings. When it turns out to be Danny, I’m surprised he called me so soon after our “date.”
“Annette,” he says. “How’s it going?”
“Okay, I guess.” Does he just want to chat? I feel like I don’t know how.
“Have you recovered from our date? I know I left you swooning.”
I let out a small laugh. “Not exactly,” I tell him.
“You’re hurting my feelings,” he jokes.
“No, really,” I assure him. “It was a lot of fun.”
“That’s great,” he says. “I can’t wait to get together again. How about this Friday? Do you want to bring Piper?”
“No, I don’t want to bring Piper! I want to escape Piper!” Then I realize he’s done it again, drawn out a yes from me, this time by implication.
“What grade is she in?” he asks.
“Fourth.”
“Ah yes, he says. “Fourth grade, Marcy Mayhew.”
“Marcy who?” I nervously curl the phone cord round my finger.
“Mayhew. I used to chase her around the playground. Sometimes I got close. But then I’d panic. I mean, what would I do if I actually caught her?”
“I remember that,” I tell him. “The chasing thing.”
“Did a boy ever catch you?”
“Yeah,” I answer truthfully.
“What happened?”
“I punched him in the mouth. I didn’t mean to. But I didn’t know what to do. I was afraid he was going to try to kiss me.”
“Uh-oh. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Very funny,” I tell him. “But, about Friday…” I’m about to worm out of that date when he quickly cuts in.
“I’ll pick you up at six. I have something special planned.”