The Perfect Couple

5

The way Kim stared at me and sputtered something unintelligible, I was sure she was going to rip my idea to shreds once she found her voice. But then with a little shake of her head she fell silent and I could see her turning my idea over in her mind, looking at it this way and that as she'd studied her new nail polish awhile ago.

Suddenly I was the one who couldn't stand the suspense. "Well, what do you think?" I leaned forward, holding my breath as if she were an oracle.

Finally the oracle spoke. "Your idea just might fly, at that . . . if Marcus comes through for you. It wouldn't work if he was a wimpy little guy, but he isn't. He's nice-looking and he plays on the football team, even though he isn't first string. Alan would notice any girl he went around with. The way I see it, Marcus is the only problem. As good-natured as he is, I can't believe hell go for such a deal. What boy would want to escort a girl around so she could attract another guy's attention?"

I brushed aside her question with a wave of the hand. "If that's all you're worried about, forget it. Marcus would do anything in the world for me, just like I would for him." I stuck my hand under her nose. "Look! I broke two fingernails the other day helping him change his bicycle tire. I'm always willing to go around looking at cars with him. All he has to do is whistle under my window and I go running out, ready for anything he's got in mind. So why shouldn't he do something like this for me?" "Umm," Kim said, her brow puckered in thought.

I could see my idea was beginning to take hold with her. She'd wished for a long time that I'd start dating. When she finally jumped up and began to rummage through my closet I knew she was going to help me. "Nothing!" She said emphatically after inspecting my wardrobe if it could be called that. "We'll have to do some shopping this weekend. There's your hair, too. Thank goodness you don't have it chopped off at your ears anymore. It's a nice length for one of those soft-body perms."

For about five minutes she stood over me, hands on her hips, studying meas if I were something on a glass slide. Her frown grew so deep I thought she'd decided I was hopeless. In the end, though, she gave a little nod and asked how early I could get away the next day.

I reminded her that I'd planned to go with Marcus in the morning to collect aluminium cans. "And I can't go back on my word. We never do that to each other. Oh, if only I hadn't said I'd go," I groaned. "We could be at the mall when it opens."