August (The Year of The Change Book 2) (17 page)

When the cashier handed me the receipt, he tried to hold my hand. I snatched the strip of paper that tore in half and shoved it into my purse. The other half was left dangling from his trembling fingers. Richard snagged it. I was glad Eli and Casey weren’t there to see that. I didn’t know how much more embarrassment I could take today. Grabbing my bags, I hightailed it for the door with my face as red as a Sooners flag.

Barely making it before the automated sliding glass closed, I dashed through and into the open air. Outside, I remembered how far away we’d parked and wished my big brother had parked closer. Two guys, standing by the exit, followed me into the parking lot. Richard grabbed them by the collar and warned them off. My friends followed at a trot and we all piled in before anything else could happen.

We pulled out and past the front of the store where the young deputy in his patrol car watched us go. He looked a little confused. Now that he’d regained his senses he probably couldn’t figure out why he was so attracted to me. I shook my head and settle back into the seat.

I really should be quarantined. I was a danger to everyone.

What to do Today

I woke to the memory of the semi-failed shopping trip and knew I wouldn’t get the pleasure of
the hunt
again until the New Year.

Donning my old jeans and a pullover top, I tromped downstairs to breakfast.

Sue yelled up. “You aren’t an elephant. Walk quieter!”

As I tiptoed off the stairs, I noticed a couple of catalogs on the hall table and picked them up.

On the way to the table, I thumbed through the shiny pages. “Hey Sue, do we get very many catalogs in the mail?”

She looked up from the stove. “A few. Why?”

I held up the glossy advertisements. “I figure this will be the extent of my shopping experience for the duration of this year.”

She nodded and went back to the oatmeal she stirred. “Yes, I guess all those annoying mailers will become your best friends.”

A snort escaped as I grabbed a bowl. Last night I’d told her and Dad about what had happened at Target. Well, everything but Eli and Casey.

“I’ll try to remember to keep them for you.”

“Thanks.”

The first catalog had all winter clothing. I stared at a picture of mukluks.  Hmmm, so that’s what they look like. “I didn’t get a chance to find a new bra yesterday.” Not with Eli there and his ever watchful eyes following me. “But I doubt this winter apparel or the camping gear catalog will be much help with that.”

Sue snickered. “No, I guess not. I’ll see if I can find a Penney’s catalog for you. If not, we can go online to order one.”

“That would be great.”

The winter gear was overwhelming and I feared how cold it would get here. “Uh, Sue? Are we going to have to wear all this stuff just to go outside this winter?” I turned the catalog around, open to a page that looked more like clothing for a trip to the North Pole than going to school.

She looked at it and her brow furrowed. “I don’t know.” Her worried eyes looked up at me. “We’d better ask the Petersons.” Sue usually came up with practical ideas.

“Okay, after breakfast I’ll go over and talk to them. It seems weird bringing it up in August, but if the catalogs are already arriving, we’d better get our coats ordered soon.” I thought of something and my heart sank. “When does winter start in Alaska?” I hadn’t worn shorts since I arrived, the lake didn’t count.

Sue looked at me funny. “I don’t know.”

I could see her brain whirring into action. Today she would create a flurry of lists as she tried to catch up with what she considered as being behind. In Oklahoma, her winter lists wouldn’t have started until September.

I was quiet as my mind tried to wrap around the new calendar for seasonal changes. It was bad enough that summer didn’t have real nights, what was winter going to be like? My brain kept busy digesting the idea of an early winter and I finished my huge breakfast without really tasting it. Winter’s not my favorite season. Being a spring/fall person, I didn’t like the extremes of Oklahoma’s blistery cold winters and baking hot, humid summers. In the winter, I stayed cooped up inside unless my buddy Donny goaded me into going sledding when there was snow and paint balling when there wasn’t. I was betting the snow here would come and stay the whole winter and then some. They probably haven’t even heard of paintballing.

On the way out the door, I dragged the catalogs off the table.

Eddy let me in, but immediately went back to the book he was reading. I'd been around enough that I was no longer interesting. Now, if only older boys could be the same way…until next year.

The Petersons were done with breakfast when I arrived and my stomach got all cranky that it had missed out on leftovers. Stupid stomach. Material lay out on the kitchen table. Emma, Cara and Destiny were busy pinning pattern pieces to the silky maroon cloth.

I sat on a stool and watched. “What are you making?”

Cara glanced up. “Destiny’s dress for the Fall Dance.”

I looked wistfully at the shiny fabric. “That’s beautiful material.”

“Mom and Grandmother found it in Anchorage last week. It’s perfect.” It certainly was perfect for her hair and skin color. “Now, if I can just find the right shoes to go with it.”

Emma shook her head at Destiny. “You have a closet full of shoes and I am sure one of the many pairs would look very nice with this dress.”

Destiny pouted.

By virtue of it being called the
Fall
Dance I wouldn’t be going, so I changed the subject. “When does winter start here?”

Emma took the pins out of her mouth. “Officially, or are you talking snow?”

“Snow.”

“Snow could start as early as September first or as late as October fifteenth. Give or take a couple of weeks.”

“Oh.” I slumped back into the chair. “That soon, huh?”

They laughed.

Cara smoothed her hair back from her face. “It’s not so bad. There’s a lot to do here in the winter. You just dress warm that’s all.”

I held up the catalogs. “Yeah, so I’ve seen.”

Destiny stopped pinning. “Hey, you received the Shublik Mountain Winter Wear catalog." She whipped back to her mother. "Have we gotten ours yet?”

Cara looked at Emma. “I haven’t seen it, how about you?”

Emma grinned. “Perhaps someone should check Richard’s room.”

Destiny dashed off and the ladies went back to pinning.

“What do ya’ll wear for the cold?” I opened to the page that started my quest for information and laid it on the table for them to see.

Cara shrugged. “I guess you could wear that if you want to. I just like a good solid parka, gaiters —if I’m going to be outside for very long—with boots up to my calf.”

Emma positioned another pattern piece. “You’ll want to take extra time to pick out good mittens, a hat and scarf.”

Destiny returned with the catalog. “Oh, yes, the scarf and hat are the most important pieces. It’s the only thing to really make a fashion statement since it’s the only thing anyone’s going to see. That’s why I make my own.”

Cara sighed. “Warmth takes priority over fashion.”

I agreed with Cara. “I don’t care what I look like as long as I’m warm.”

Destiny shook her head. “I have my work cut out with you. That’s okay, Sylv, I promise to train you right.”

She was way too serious about fashion, something I doubted I would ever be. She winked at me and went back to perusing the catalog. Cara and Emma sat me down with a paper and pen and helped me make a list of have-to-haves and wants. Sue would be proud of my neat lists. I even put page numbers from the catalog so I could show her what each item looked like.

As I rose to leave, Cara touched my arm. “Tell Sue I would be glad to answer any of her questions.”

“I will.”

Reluctantly, I left their cheery kitchen and the amazing aromas. I glanced back to see Emma and Cara once again pinning the pattern pieces and Destiny lost in her world of fashion. My quick retreat wasn’t so I could get back to Sue — heavens, no. I left before anyone could ask me if I was going to the dance. The thought made my heart quicken and I walked faster. Dancing was one of my favorite activities, but there was no way I’d get to go. After the Target fiasco I wouldn’t even ask. Something else I had to give up this year. Four and a half months before I could be normal, whatever that would be.

I took the list to Sue and offered to go over it with her. She declined and suggested I should be outside on such a beautiful day. I made her even more nervous these days than I had in the past, so it really didn’t surprise me when she didn’t want to be that close.

The front yard was clear so I stood on the porch and looked around for something to do. What I really wanted was to go back to the Petersons where I felt welcome. They would probably want to talk about the dance I wouldn’t get to go to. Plus, I did spend too much time there. My welcome had to be wearing thin.

The seams in the sod were almost gone. When first laid, the rows looked rather rough and Sue worried it wouldn’t grow together right. Now the lawn was solid and evenly green. No more sapling sized weeds choking everything else out.

The lawn looked nice, but how did it feel? I stepped onto the green expanse and sank into the cushion of sod. The urge to lie down screamed at me, so I did. It was as soft and cool as it looked, and smelled like the grass back home. With my eyes closed, I imagined lying in my yard back in Oklahoma. The longer I lay there, though, the more I realized something wasn’t right. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something was messing up my fantasy. It hit me. It wasn’t hot enough or humid enough. The air was dry and it was too cool for mid-August in Oklahoma. It was just too darn nice in Alaska. My eyes opened and I sighed.

Someone walked across the lawn. “Hi, Sylvia. Whatcha doing?”

Closing my eyes I groaned to myself. “Hi, Sammy.” I rolled to my stomach. “Just enjoying the new grass.”

He plopped down beside me. “Yeah, it’s great grass, my dad says this is the best this yard has ever looked that he can remember …”

I smiled. It was good to hear the neighbors appreciated it.

“-… of course now he’s complaining because your yard makes our yard look shabby mom’s been making him do all kinds of stuff so our yard won’t be the ugliest on the block …-” he yammered on.

I chuckled at the thought that the neighbors were trying to keep up with us.

"- … Mom can't wait till the seeds … -"

I sat up and needed to find something to do or I’d be stuck here all day listening to him ramble on.

"…in 1887 Sir Reginald…"

Peterson’s house was out of the question, Sue didn’t want me inside and I couldn’t go anywhere off our property without someone to protect me.

"…that's how Brillo pads…"

Jumping to my feet, I paused only a moment. “I’ve got to go now, bye.”

I strode purposefully to the side yard, unlatched the gate and slipped through before Sammy could follow. I latched the gate in the locked position and hurried around back. I didn’t want to be rude, but I didn’t know how to get rid of him without being mean and I didn’t have a spare sock.

Our large backyard was a great place to pace. Unfortunately, there was nothing back there but grass, a tree and some bushes up against the house just outside the kitchen windows. Sue talked about getting rid of the bushes. I sure hoped she didn't get her way. The yard was too stark already.

On the third circuit around, I stopped at the five foot fence we shared with the Petersons. If I lifted up on my tippy toes or jumped up I could just peek over. I wanted a better look. I went to the garage and got our five-foot step ladder, brought it back and set it up next to the fence.

When I climbed up and sat on top, it amazed me what I saw. Every square inch of their back yard was gardens. There were plants and flowers everywhere. Their back yard was as inviting as their house. They had a raspberry patch in one corner, a fruit tree in the other.

“Wow.” I was in awe.

“You like our garden?” Emma stood up and I almost fell off the ladder. She reached over and grabbed my arm to help steady me. “I am sorry. I did not mean to startle you.”

I clung to the fence and ladder. “Oh no … I just … uh … I’m sorry I shouldn’t have looked over the fence.” I cleared my dry throat. “I just wanted to see your garden. Destiny mentioned ya’ll have one, but she didn’t say it was this big.”

“I have always had a large garden. It gives me great joy.” She took a step away. “If you come down, I will give you a tour of my sanctuary.”

I could’ve jumped over the fence, but was afraid of landing on her many plants. I looked over my shoulder at the gate, hoping Sammy wasn’t still standing there waiting for me.

“He is not there, so it is safe to go around.”

Emma’s tranquil face smiled up at me. This was a woman that nothing got past. I slipped through both gates before Sammy could get wind that I’d moved.

She welcomed me into her garden oasis. “This is where all my herbs try to escape from.”

She motioned to the pots and neatly planned beds spread out in perfectly organized rows. She had ceramic garden markers and I tried to read each one as we walked by. There was thyme, basil-sweet and basil-Italian. Parsley in a large half barrel stood nearby with garlic towering stately over the purple flowering chives. There was much more to see, but we were now on the edge of her tomatoes and bell peppers.

“Here is where the vegetables start.” Neat raised beds were crisscrossed with pebbles. “Each bed is two feet by eight feet, with two foot paths in between.” She bent down and pulled a lone weed. “I find the older I get, the higher I raise my beds.” She chuckled.

“Wow, your garden is amazing.” This place blew away the less tidy gardens my grandparents put in every year. I’d helped them tend their vegetables and had grown to appreciate the sweet smell of well-turned dirt and what grew from the seeds we planted. I bent over and pulled a weed that tried to sneak up between the garden timbers and the pebble path. I would never learn to appreciate weeds.

“I see you know something of gardening.”