August (The Year of The Change Book 2) (7 page)

My eyes went wide. “I’ll do everything I can.” A thought occurred to me. “What if he gets up in my window, again?”

Dad opened the door. “Not to worry. Steve, his boss, isn’t letting him on the scaffolding. Cy’s keeping a close watch on him, too.”

I stepped inside. “Poor Zach.”

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The painters were back and I cursed myself for staying up so late. The mystery I was reading finally picked up speed and was more interesting than I first thought it would be. I groaned as I rolled out of bed.

Huh?

I wasn't in bed. I was lying on the floor under my back window, again. It was open and the morning breeze was wonderful. How did I get here? I’d finished my book and gone to bed after turning out the light. I’m sure of it. Huh. This was getting weird. I reached up and pulled the sash closed.

On my knees, my legs communicated in detail about the aches from the hike. You’d think after two days, they would stop complaining. With some effort, I climbed to my feet with a groan and turned the lock on the window. My legs didn’t want to work, so I hobbled to the bathroom where I made sure that window was closed and locked, too. The thought that someone could climb in at night made my heart stampede in my chest. Drew’s memory led the charge.

A couple of guys climbed onto our third story roof to take the scaffolding apart. They saw me and worked faster. The window was locked and I pulled the curtain for privacy. It was awkward doing my business knowing those guys were just outside.

They were done in front, finally. Relief that the scaffolding was coming down calmed my anxiety. With relaxation exercises, I took my time and dressed for the day. I wasn't in a hurry to cross the lawn and be out in the open where I could cause trouble. To top it off, I was dreading the day with the Petersons. Not that I was getting tired of them, quite the opposite. Being together this much, I just knew Destiny was going to get tired of me, real soon. I wanted to prolong our certain split for as long as I could.

Breakfast was the same old, same old, gluttonous morning ritual. Tim eagerly waited for me to break another record, but I wasn't in the mood. The poor kid was disappointed when I pushed away from the table and there were pancakes still on the platter. My stomach also couldn't believe I would deny it those few tender morsels.

There was plenty of time before I had to leave, so I meandered back to my room for my sketch pad. Still wary, I took my time to check both windows again. Satisfied all was secure, I turned the light off and sadly tromped down the stairs. Even though I was glad I didn't have to sit in the stuffy attic, I really hated being driven from it.

The sod crew arrived to measure the lawn as I peeked out the front door. There were four of them varying in age from maybe twelve to forty. A father and his sons, maybe?

Destiny was probably at her house right now drooling over the two that looked to be in high school. If it hadn't been for me, she probably could’ve flirted to her heart’s content. Richard wouldn't have liked it, but she would’ve been in heaven.

Just as I was about to make a run for it, Zach came around the corner from the driveway, carrying two five gallon buckets of paint. I pulled my head back in and closed the door. He looked up as the latch caught with a click. Pressed flat against the wood frame, I peered out the small glass window, my breath held as I waited to see what he would do. He stood still for a moment, staring at the door as though he feared a big hairy monster would burst out at any moment. Slowly, he edged away before he turned and dashed for the side yard. It was a good thing the buckets had lids, or we would’ve had a white lawn. I continued looking, long after Zach was gone. I didn’t know what to do.

From what I could tell, the painters were on the east and west sides of the house and the sod crew were in the front yard. The only way out was the backyard, but there was no way out of the backyard except by the gates on the east and west sides. I was trapped. I paced around the living room not knowing which way to go. I couldn’t go near poor Zach and I couldn’t see where he was to avoid him.

I would’ve walked the living room all day if Richard hadn’t come to get me.

As soon as we stepped in the house, Destiny begged Richard to take us with him to practice. He said, and I agreed with him, that it wasn't a good idea. She pouted and even stomped her foot when he left shaking his head no.

I wished I could explain The Change to Destiny, so she could understand why being around guys was the last thing I should do.

But I couldn't explain it to her or anyone else for that matter. Only my father, Sue, Tim and Tam could know what was happening to me. Not that they fully believed everything. Dad had really come around, but still had doubts. The twins thought it was cool. I wouldn't have called it cool. Sue didn't believe, even after all the weird things that kept happening. She preferred to ignore it and pretend life was normal. Life was anything but normal.

Destiny and I spent the morning making raspberry jam with Emma.

I wouldn’t have much to email Donny tonight.

Today promised to be more interesting. Emma and Cara agreed to take Destiny and me to a couple of thrift stores. They used to be called junk shops, but that name turned people off. So someone, with public relations savvy, renamed them thrift stores. Now people feel thrifty not junkie.

The first thrift store was a small house converted into a quaint little shop. Most of the inner walls were removed. Now, piles of stuff made up the walkways. Paths took you from room to room. Everything was stacked to the ceiling. It was rather overwhelming at first. All I saw was clutter, until Emma pointed out individual items. To see things instead of piles opened my view to a whole new perspective and possibilities.

Around a corner of yellowed Tupperware, a table jutted out from under two lamps and a dozen small vases. If the small table were covered with something it would be okay to set beside my rocker. All I needed was a place to put a drink or a book. I could make do with it. The finish was in need of repair. I asked Emma what she thought of it.

She looked at the table for a moment. “Is this what you’re looking for?” She didn’t sound any more certain than I felt.

I scrunched up my nose. “Well, not exactly. I wanted one a little bigger and in good shape. I could paint this one to make it look better.”

"I am not a painter of fine wood furniture, but this piece is beyond hope. Yes, you could paint, or you could wait until you see what is at the September flea market.”

My ears perked up. “Flea market?” Ever since Destiny had mentioned them I’d been curious to go. “There’s a flea market next month?”

Emma looked over at Destiny, who blushed. “You have not yet invited Sylvia to go?”

Destiny walked over. “I’m sorry, Sylv, it slipped my mind. I mean with all the guys around … you can’t blame me.” She grinned as she bumped my shoulder.

I laughed. “I fully understand your distraction.”

Emma shook her head. “Anyway, next month is the annual flea market at Trapper Creek. If you would like to go I am sure we can help you find the perfect table.”

“That would be great. I guess I’ll wait then.” It was actually a relief to not have to settle for the wobbly piece of furniture.

We wandered through the aisles until Destiny found a big, floppy hat she just had to have. After she paid for it we loaded in the Suburban and went to the next thrift store.

The second store was more appealing to me. It seemed better organized and definitely better dusted. Oddly, I found myself drawn to the linens area. All the intricately worked doilies and table clothes had me enthralled. My Grandmother use to crochet and embroider. I had a few of her pieces tucked away for when I had my own home and could display them. A twinge knotted my stomach as I thought of Gram. I missed her so much.

Destiny came up beside me with a large garbage bag stuffed with something. “Hey, Sylv, what do you think of these for your bedroom?” She opened the bag and pulled the contents out.

I looked at the white, gauzy material for a moment then blankly stared at Destiny. "Why in the world would I want sheers on my windows?" I was worried the dust had gotten to her brain.

Slowly a grin spread across her face and she giggled. "No, no, not for your windows, for your bed … To hang from the rafters … the canopy we talked about?”

The light bulb came on in my brain. “Ohhhhhhh. Hey they might work. Are they in good shape?” I hadn’t thought of sheers. I was just going to buy yards of material and break my bank doing it.

Cara walked up as we each pulled out a panel to check their worth. She pitched in. There were ten, all in fairly good shape.

She eyed the seams. “They wouldn’t be hard to sew together to make them long enough to create a canopy. You could sew a few sequins on to give it a little shimmer.”

So that’s where Destiny got it from. Cara didn't dress fancy so I hadn't realized she had a 'Bling Queen' hiding inside.

I bought the bag of sheers from a woman who was even more interesting than her store. She had long blonde hair piled on top of her head. From the white, puffy sleeved blouse, floor-length dark blue skirt and a baby blue, bibbed full-length apron over the top, she fit right in. It made her look turn of the century. She knew everything about the items in her store and chatted away, asking as many questions of Emma as she answered.

On the way home, Emma and Cara talked about what would be needed to transform the sheers into a canopy. I didn't contribute in the discussion because I didn't know anything about sewing. Sue was a good seamstress, but never had the patience to teach me. I’d wanted to take Home Ec, but was constantly struggling to catch up on classes that I’d done poorly in.

Sue always said, "If you can read, you can sew."

Technically, she was correct, but I didn't know where to start and was afraid to try. The image of Sue ripping apart everything I’d done, because it wasn't good enough, stomped through my head. Now was my chance to see sewing in action. Hopefully, I would learn something and not embarrass myself.

The Peterson women taught me how to thread a needle and make knots where they were supposed to be. They were all so patient. Once, Cara chided Destiny when my friend blurted out she thought everyone knew how to sew. In their world that was probably true. In my world I was lucky to know how to use a safety pin. The wonderful invention was my greatest tool whenever a piece of clothing needed mending. Eventually, Sue would find my temporary fix and mend it right. We whiled away the afternoon sewing the sheers together. Then we added gold sequins sparsely around the edges and a few scattered through the middle.

That evening, after the coast was clear, we went to my house to hang my beautiful, glittery canopy.

Sue brought in from the garage two of the old, heavy rods, which had been in the house when we moved in. She trailed behind the long precession. The rods were heavy and sturdy. I knew for a fact we needed to secure them well. I didn't want one of them to fall on my head, like what almost happened my first time in the house.

We took everything upstairs with Richard in tow, lugging a tall ladder. When done, the most beautiful canopy draped over my headboard and foot board. My bed looked even more special. Gram would’ve liked this, so would Aunt Betty.

I stood back with the others for a few minutes and admired how beautiful it all looked before the Petersons had to go home. Having these wonderful people as my friends made me the luckiest person in all of Alaska. Destiny still hadn't looked at me with the 'She's too crazy for me' look. Maybe she would last through most of August. I could only hope.

On the front porch, I couldn’t stop thanking them. As they walked across our yards, I leaned against the rail. With fresh paint, our porch looked really good. They reached their front door and I waved one last time.

Now I could go back to my room and enjoy my new canopy. Never before have I had a special room. Not even when I lived with my grandparents. That room, which I loved, had been filled with their furniture. I could see in my mind all the beautiful antiques and still remembered the stories that went with each of them. In my new room, I had the chance to slowly collect things that would have my stories to go with them. It made me feel a little grown up.

What I learned and did today made me proud, but I didn’t have anyone to show it to. Dad wouldn’t be home for another hour and everyone I knew in Alaska had been here when they were hung. All except for the myriad of affected guys … well, you know … that ain’t happening.

After a lot of begging I borrowed Sue’s cell phone and went to my room to take a picture and downloaded the photo to my computer. I emailed it with a description of how we did it to my buddy, Donny. It’s kind of a girly thing, but he won’t mind that I shared it with him. He’ll probably have some funny thing to say. At the least I knew he would roll his eyes. Any reaction would be better than none. It was good to have him to keep me tied to the real world.

There was something else to tell Donny tonight. I danced around the computer chair before I plopped into it. I couldn’t help but do the happy dance. The Petersons are going to Lake Louise Saturday and right before they left this evening, Emma invited my family to join them.

Swimming!

I would get to swim! Just the thought made me want to dance again so I popped in a Three Dog Night CD and danced around my room to 'Celebrate'.