August (The Year of The Change Book 2) (12 page)

You Can’t Have One Without the Other

"Hi, Sylv."

This can’t be happening. "Hi, Danny. What’re you doing here?"

"Cory's mom said he brought his cousin over to meet you and I figured I'd come over and meet him, too."

"Uh-huh."

There was no use fighting it and I motioned for him to come in. He did so quickly before I could change my mind. Something I probably should’ve done.

What started out as Destiny and Richard to be a buffer between Sammy and me had now grown to a small party of seven, of sorts. Impromptu parties are not on Sue's good list. I was wondering how she was going to take this when, to my surprise, she showed up with a tray of cookies and chips. Tam, behind her, had a pitcher of Kool-aide and a stack of plastic cups. They set everything on the buffet and left without a word.

Wow, that was a first, a big first.

I introduced Danny to Stephanie. He barely noticed she wasn't a boy. He kept his eyes on me. The others had introduced themselves and pawed through the stack of boxes. Monopoly was chosen, which prompted Sammy to tell everyone —and no one —all about its history.

We rolled to see who would be banker and who would go first. Danny ended up banker with Sammy to his right as realtor and Richard would go first. Richard, sitting at the head of the table where Dad usually sat, looked right at home. He was a born leader and he should sit at the head of the table.

Richard rolled as the doorbell rang. My heart froze as I locked eyes with Destiny. Hers were wide, but a smile crept onto her face.

Just as I scooted my chair back, Tim yelled. "I'll get it."

I worked to breathe again. Richard chuckled and moved his game piece. He landed on the Reading Railroad. Sammy switched tracks to a nonstop discourse about the transcontinental railroad.

A guy with light brown hair appeared in the doorway to the dining room.

Destiny barely whispered, "Steve." For a second, it looked as though Destiny might launch herself at him. She obviously knew him.

Stephanie looked interested, too.

He wasn't as tall as Richard, but built solid and wore a letterman's jacket.

Richard looked up. "Hey, Steve, what brings you here?"

"I didn't have anything to do with practice cancelled, so I thought I'd see what you were up to."

"Hey, you're just in time to join us. We’ve just barely started. Everyone, this is Steve Trouter. We're on the football team together."

Everyone said hi except Sammy, who was talking about a gold spike. Anyway, Destiny looked around for a way to invite Steve to sit by her, but she was stuck between Cory and Stephanie.

Danny shoved Sammy over, and then scooted his chair as far from Sammy as he could. "Grab a chair, you can sit here." He indicated the newly formed opening between him and The Mouth.

Poor Steve got stuck next to the nonstop noise maker. He looked once at the chatter box then turned his attention to the game as Richard grinned at him.

It turned out Stephanie was very good with money and stayed ahead of the rest of us.

After an hour of Sammy talking non-stop, Steve had enough. He’d just missed Free Parking and really needed the large kitty sitting in the middle of the playing board, just like some of the rest of us.

"Doesn't he ever shut up?" He looked half crazed. We all shook our heads and he rubbed his palms across his face.

Richard took the question to the source of Steve's irritation. "That's a good question. Sammy, do you ever stop talking?"

Sammy was delighted that someone was paying him attention. "Yes, of course, there are times when I shut up and Mom says I don't talk in my sleep and I was taught very young not to talk with my mouth full …" Everyone handed him something to eat. "Of course, I take small bites so my mouth is never full …" Sammy continued on about when he didn't talk.

Richard caught Steve's eye and shrugged. Play continued and Sammy became background noise again.

Thirty minutes later, Steve was at the end of his patience when Sammy switched to how the stomach digests food and what is expelled. Steve wasn't the only one. All the guys shot The Mouth eye spikes.

“How ‘bout if I just throw him out the door?” Steve ground his teeth.

“Yeah, with all the rain we wouldn’t be able to hear a word he says.” Hope danced on Danny’s face.

“No.”

The others groaned, even Stephanie, who seemed like a very nice person.

I had to stay strong. “He’s a guest in our house. In the south, we treat our guests like family.”

“But we’re in Alaska.”

“No.” I frowned at Cory. I wouldn’t let them do that even though it was a nice fantasy that played out in my head for a few brief, but enjoyable, seconds. “No. Besides, technically we’re in southern Alaska.”

Another round of groans.

Danny’s eyes lit up. "Does anyone have a sock they would part with?" He was being facetious and looked at me with a smile.

"What do you need a sock for?" I had my suspicions.

"To put in his mouth." He laughed.

"Very funny, Danny, I don't -"

Steve held up a pair pulled from the pocket of his letterman jacket. "I've got two, do you think that’ll be enough?"

The guys all laughed and prodded Steve to do it. I couldn't believe they were actually serious.

Sammy paused a moment to stare in silence at the white athletic socks rolled into a tube in Steve's hand. Everyone eyed Sammy. I thought perhaps this threat might do the trick.

No such luck.

"Are those one hundred percent cotton my mom says only one hundred percent cotton is for stuffing in the mouth and she should know with all the research she did and my dad says sometimes it’s necessary and …"

He continued and I sat there with my mouth open. Was he saying his mother puts a sock in his mouth? The boys looked at me waiting for my okay. I rolled the dice and took my turn. They moaned and slumped in their chairs.

I certainly couldn't condone them putting a sock in anyone's mouth … even Sammy's.

We ran out of Kool-aide, so Destiny and Stephanie accompanied me to the kitchen to make some more. When we returned, it was way too quiet. I scanned the room while I carried the pitcher to the buffet. I almost dropped it when I saw Sammy quietly counting his money, the red and blue bands of a white athletic sock dangled out of his mouth. The guys all looked away when I frowned at them.

"How could you do such a thing?"

I knew how they could do such a thing. I felt the same way about the talking, but they had the guts to do something about it, not worried whether they hurt Sammy’s feelings. But, on the other hand, those feelings didn’t seem to be hurt. Nonetheless, it was wrong.

Sammy looked oblivious to anything being incorrect, like this was completely normal. I had a feeling it was normal for him. And the funny thing was I couldn't blame his parents, at all, for doing it.

Richard struggled to hold back a smirk. "But he said his mom does it all the time."

"That doesn't make it right." It was very hard to reach up and take the damp sock out of Sammy's mouth. I was as bad as they were.

Steve stopped my hand. "Wait." He turned The Mouth around to face him. "Sammy?" It took a moment for the younger boy to focus on Steve. "Sammy, do you promise to stop talking?" Sammy nodded and Steve took the sock out.

"Of course, I'll stop talking I can …"

Steve shoved the sock back in and I winced. "Sammy if you don't want the sock in your mouth you have to stop talking, okay?"

He waited until The Mouth nodded before he slowly pulled the long, over the calf, sock until it all slid out and hung limply in his hand.

Sammy looked at us, but didn't say anything. Steve left the damp sock on the table between them as a reminder not to talk.

We turned our attention back to the board game. Play continued until it was Sammy's turn. He quietly rolled the dice and moved his playing piece. He landed on Stephanie's hotel. Without a word he handed her three one hundred dollar bills and she gave him change of two twenties for the rent of two hundred eighty dollars.

We all heaved a collective sigh of relief. Steve was about to roll when …

"You gave me too much change, here's your twenty because it was two hundred eighty and I don't cheat and my mother always taught me cheaters never-"

Steve stuffed the sock in Sammy's mouth. Oh well, I guess it had been too much to expect.

Richard got Sammy's attention. "When you're ready to be quiet you let us know and Steve will remove the sock."

After Steve's turn, Sammy tapped him on the arm and pointed at the material hanging from his mouth. I didn't like it there, but it was so much nicer without Sammy yammering on and on about nothing.

We continued the rest of the morning like this. Half of Steve's time was spent either putting the sock in or pulling it out. By lunch time, the sock was soaked.

Without being asked, Sue brought in sandwiches and more chips. Sammy started talking about the nutritional value of the food and Steve reached for the sock.

I leaned over Danny, who stiffened, and touched Steve's arm. Steve looked at me as he lifted the damp mound next to him.

"Let's let him eat." I felt sorry for Sammy.

Danny trembled and it was time I moved.

Steve grinned. "Okay."

As I straightened, Steve's eyes glazed and his smile broadened. Uh-oh, affected.

Danny sniffed my hair.

I jerked away. "Who's hungry? I'll get the sandwiches." I got up and pushed Danny back in his seat before he could get all the way to his feet and cause problems.

"Here, let me help you." I was too far away to stop Steve from getting up.

Richard only grinned. I wanted to throw something at him.

Cory jumped up. "No, let me help."

Danny rose. "If he's going to help, I'm going to help."

The boys crowded around and a few cups were knocked over in the jostling. They pushed each other out of the way, Steve had the upper hand. Sammy continued to talk nutrition from his chair that was out of the danger zone and safely away from the ruckus. It didn't take long before Richard jumped up and interceded. I ducked down and crawled under the table. Destiny peeked at me with a grin before she went to help her brother.

Richard grabbed Danny by the collar, Steve had Cory and they forced them to the front door. Richard and Steve threw the two boys outside.

Steve turned with a big dopey grin to come back to the dining room, but Richard grabbed their coats and pushed Steve out the door.

Stephanie regained her senses and got up. "I guess I should go, too."

Destiny giggled. "Ah, do you have to go? We were having such fun."

Stephanie first looked doubtful, but then grinned. Watching a bunch of boys fight was more exciting than just hanging out with her younger cousin.

I crawled out from under the table and walked her to the door. "It was nice meeting you. I'm sorry it had to end like this."

She inhaled deeply as though she were going to say something, but exhaled instead. She took hers, Cory’s and Danny’s coats. I unlocked the door and she went outside where Richard was trying to convince the boys to go home. Danny and Cory were calmer, even Steve looked mostly back to normal. I wanted to help, but couldn't chance them getting another whiff of me.

Oh, well, I guessed I would eat lunch and then clean up the mess the boys made while fighting.

When I entered the dining room, I found Destiny putting away the game pieces. Sammy was still jabbering away about something or other. My nerves were too shot to concentrate on him. If I didn't know her so well, I would’ve thought she was intently listening to Sammy.

She looked up. "Shall we play cards now?"

"You want to stay?" I glanced at Sammy to get my point across.

"Yeah, I'm already here so I might as well." She grinned and winked at me.

"Thanks, Destiny." Wow, was she a good friend.

That was weird happening number four. The only question was whether she would come back.

Sammy was an okay card player, even with all his talking. We salvaged the sandwiches and chips. My stomach yelled at me, so I knew there would be no leftovers. The afternoon wasn't a complete washout, thanks to my wonderful friend. I sure was going to miss her.

Swimming

The day was beautiful and teased the senses with rising temperatures in the eighties. The air was clean from the rain yesterday and everything smelled sweet. The temp gauge in our van already read eighty-three and it wasn’t ten yet. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect. No painters, no sod guys, no Sammy, Cory or Danny. There would be just acres and acres of glorious water.

We arrived at Lake Louise and I was eager to swim. I hadn’t swum in over a month and was going through withdrawal. For someone who’d lived at the outdoor pool every summer and at the indoor pool in the winter, being landlocked for so long was harsh and unusual punishment. Now, I was much too dry and there wasn’t an inch of me that smelled like chlorine. It was all so unnatural.

Only having swum in a lake a couple of times, I wasn’t sure I liked the sand and pebble bottoms, although it was better than the mucky pond in Oregon. There was something secure and familiar about the cement floor of a pool. But it was time to quit whining. That life had been taken and I would have to make do with what I had. Even though I wouldn’t be getting a chlorine fix, at least I was getting to swim.

Richard pulled the Petersons’ big Suburban into a parking spot and Dad parked beside them. Only a dozen cars were parked around the asphalt lot, and not many people were in sight. Impatience yanked my chain. It was time to stretch my long neglected swim muscles. I grabbed my bag and one of the food baskets, and helped my dad with the cooler. We were quite the crowd as we made our way to the lakeshore. A good shady spot with a picnic table was found and I dumped my load, not waiting for Destiny.

The smell of water washed over me and there was no stopping now. Tim and Tam were as much fish as I was and dashed for the lake right behind me. Back in Oklahoma, we’d lived to play Marco-Polo from sunup to sundown.

“Take it slow!” Sue called after us.

“We will,” I called back. Probably not as slow as she would’ve liked, but it would be slow for me.

A few quick tugs had my shirt and shorts off and in a pile at the water’s edge. My racing suit felt just right. I’d convinced Sue I
had
to have a racing suit, to swim better, because it was like a second skin. It had been more expensive, but she gave in and bought it before Dad dropped the bomb that he would ruin my life and moved us to Alaska. I hadn’t worn it much. There were only five meets before Dad dragged us here, where there weren’t any pools. I missed my swim team.

I ran into the cold lake just as a shower of ice water splashed over me. Richard, now a few steps ahead, grinned and taunted me. That’s all it took to get my competitive juices flowing. No one beats me without a fight.

We dove in and raced out to the deep area. Just as I was about to pass Richard, I remembered Sue’s warning and stopped. I treaded water and looked for the twins. They were happily playing in the shallow area with Eddy. What a relief, as they usually tried to keep up with me. Sue was always worried they would get hurt following me. It was a good thing she didn’t know about
all
the close calls.

Richard swam back. “Hey, what happened? Why’d ya stop?”

“I had to make sure the twins didn’t follow.”

He looked to the beach. “They’re fine. Let’s swim to the island.” He tilted his head away from shore.

The small patch of land wasn’t too far and would be a good workout. “Where’s Destiny?” I studied him from the corner of my eye. He still didn't seem affected.

Richard snorted. “She’s still on shore.”

Yep, there she was in a floppy hat as she removed her gauzy white blouse over her two piece bathing suit. She flipped her beach towel across the sand, slathered on sunscreen and laid down.

“She’s a sunbather, huh?”

“Yeah.” He shook his head. “I failed with her.”

I, too, didn’t understand why anyone would just lie around when they could be up having fun in the sun. Forcing a tan wasn’t my style. I liked to earn mine. Richard and I had a lot in common. He was the big brother I’d always wanted.

“We’d best let my dad know I’m going that far out. Come on, race you to shore!” I took off with Richard right behind.

He was a good swimmer, but I was better and beat him by a good two yards. We raced out of the water, splashing the kids as we passed. I came to a stop next to Destiny where I dripped water mercilessly on her.

She screamed as Richard joined in with more of the wet teasing.

“We’re going to swim to the island, come with us.”

She tried to push him away. “No, thanks.”

I shook my hair at her. “Come one Destiny, it’ll be even more fun than tormenting sunbathers.”

She glanced down the shore. “I think it will be more fun here.”

Following her gaze, I saw eight problems throwing a ball around. Richard looked down the shore too and frowned. I could see the thought of not going to the island play across his face.

There was no way I was going to let him change his mind. “My Dad’s here, as well as your mom and Emma. They’ll keep her out of trouble,” if that’s possible.

He didn’t look convinced at first. “Yeah, you’re right.” He took another quick glance down the shore and back at Destiny. “Behave yourself.”

She put her hands up and smiled. “Don’t I always?” Her look of innocence was almost comical.

Richard didn’t laugh. “Come on, Sylv. Let’s go tell them we’re going to the island.” He stalked off.

I followed Richard to the picnic table, with one last look at Destiny, who watched the boys. It really would’ve been more fun if she’d come.

My father was setting up lawn chairs when we approached.

“Dad, Richard and I want to swim to the little island, okay?”

He looked at Richard with a frown. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”

“Ah, come on, Dad, it’s not that far.”

He looked at me, then at Richard and back to me before raising an eye brow. “I don’t think it’s safe.” He wasn’t worried about the water.

I knew exactly what he was thinking. “Actually, it looks surprisingly safe. `Sides, I’m a strong swimmer, I can out-swim any danger.” I poked my thumb toward my father’s concern. “I can even out-swim Richard.”

Richard straightened. “Hey, I let you beat me to shore.”

I smirked. “Yeah, uh-huh, sure you did.”

“I won’t be so nice next time.”

Laughter bubbled out of my chest. It was a long missed sensation. Dad even laughed with me, and it felt good.

He sighed. “If you think it’ll be safe-“

“If there’s even a hint of a problem, I’ll swim straight for shore, I promise.”

Another sigh escaped my father’s tight lips. “Okay.”

“Yes!” Richard and I high fived and then raced for the water. I would have to be on guard all the time. This would be a humongous test to see if he really wasn’t affected by me. I sure hoped for both our sakes he passed.

When we broke water and dove in, the kids raced over to us.

“Hey, Richard, ya wanna play Marco Polo?” Eddy’s hopeful face bobbed a few feet away.

“Maybe later. Me and Sylv are swimming to the island.”

“Oh, cool, we’ll go with you.” Tim dove after us.

“No way!” I stuck a foot down, barely touching the bottom with my toes and made sure all three were listening. “It’s too deep and too far.” I grinned inside as I prepared to hammer the final nail in the coffin. “`Sides, you haven’t asked Sue if you can go.”

“Ah, Sylv,” the twins chorused.

“Hey, it’s not my rule.” Sometimes Sue came in handy.

Eddy looked from twin to twin. “No big deal, we’ll be back before she even knows we’re gone.”

Tam kicked for shallower water. “Our mom knows everything and it’s not worth it.”

Tim’s punishment for following me on the hike last week must’ve been fresh on their minds. I was glad it was him and not me who had to clean the cellar with the one dull bulb for light. He wouldn’t admit it, but I know I heard his muffled scream more than once.

Tim took one last look at the distant island before he joined Tam. Eddy soon followed.

“Come on.” I kicked toward our goal. “We’d better be long gone in case they change their minds.”

Richard caught up to my easy stroke. “Telling our mom wouldn’t have stopped Eddy.”

“Yeah, but your mom’s nice.”

He frowned. “Is Sue mean?”

Oops! That was more than he needed to know. “Uh, don’t get me wrong, Sue’s okay, but very strict.”

When it came to the twins she was even stricter since The Change tore like a tornado into our lives. Me, she avoided

“Oh.” He was quiet for a few minutes. “You know what would be fun?”

I eyed him warily. “What?”

He laughed as he studied my face. “Wouldn’t it be fun if we had a three man raft and our sibs could come with us?”

“Yeah, that would be great. If it were bigger we might be able to get Destiny to come, too.”

“That’s a big if.”

“Too bad we don’t have a raft.”

“I bet I can find one for next time.”

“Will there be a next time?”

“Sure. We should be able to get in at least one, maybe two more swims in before it gets too cold.”

Most guys I’d known didn’t think twice about their siblings, they sure wouldn’t have gone out of their way for them. Richard was such a good brother, and definitely had the right temperament for being the oldest.

We made the sandbar of an island in good time. I could tell I was out of shape by how winded I was when we crawled up on shore. Disgusted for letting it get this bad, I promised myself I’d take up jogging to stay in shape. But where could I jog, my room? As for breath control, I didn’t know what I could do about that. If it hadn't been for The Change, I could’ve taken up kissing. I smiled at the thought.

Richard was in slightly better shape and helped me to a log where I dropped. We looked out across the wide expanse of water to where our families were enjoying the warm late summer day. Destiny still lay in the sun, bait for the boys who played football down the shore, oblivious to her.

We sat quietly, both of us in our own thoughts.

My thoughts were of Richard. It was interesting that he was probably the only boy in the world who wasn’t affected by me, but I wasn’t attracted to him at all. He was good looking with a great body, funny and fun to be around, but I could only think of him as a wonderful teddy bear brother. That was okay because this year I couldn’t have a boyfriend and it was best I wasn’t attracted to anyone.

Of course, I was attracted to Eli, which was not a good thing. He was a very good thing … the attraction was not. Sigh. I wasn’t so sure I’d make it through this year.

Richard nudged me. “I’m starved, you ready to go back?”

My stomach grumbled. “Yeah.” When wasn’t I hungry?

As I leaned forward to get up, Richard pushed me back down.

He jumped to his feet. “Race ya.” He took off for the water.

I jumped up and chased after him. “Cheater!” What a sneak.

One long dive through his wake and I worked my best breast stroke to catch up with him. When I pulled ahead, I paced myself so I would have the energy at the end to beat him to shore. My strategy worked, but I had to drag myself to land. I was embarrassed to be seen like that. Not that Richard did much better.

“I guess you need some endurance training. Maybe you should come to football practice with me.”

I looked up to see for myself whether he was serious. He was. “Oh yeah, I’m sure that would go over
real
well.” I could just imagine the affect I would have on twenty or so really big and strong guys. The memory of the sandlot football game flitted across my brain. I shuddered.

“You could run laps while I practice.”

That was yet another bad idea. “Nah, I’m not a lap type person.”

That was the truth. I much preferred going somewhere with my effort. “My friend, Donny, talked me into joining the Cross Country team with him, in Oklahoma this year, so I could stay in shape for swimming. Another plan squashed.” Sigh.

Richard laughed and yanked me to my feet. We leaned against each other and made it to the food table in search of anything the adults would let us chow down on. Emma tossed us each a bag of chips and we sat at the picnic table and ripped into them. I knew one bag wouldn’t hold me for long.

The adults had the barbeque going and the smell of hot dogs, hamburgers and teriyaki chicken made my stomach sit up and beg. The kids were getting hungry, too, and came looking for a snack. It was a testament to how much I liked the twins when I shared my chips with them. Emma brought out a bag of oranges. The juicy fruit hit the spot on my dry throat. Richard looked at me funny when I ate the peel as I peeled my orange.

“What? Don’t you know there’s more vitamin C in the peel than there is in the meat?” That wasn’t the real reason I ate the peel. Simply, I ate it to fill my stomach. I didn’t waste anything.

He scrunched up his face and placed a piece in his mouth. He chewed and I couldn’t tell if he liked it or not. He didn’t choke or spit it out, but he didn’t take another bite, either.