Preston Greens

9. Fighting for More Letters

Mom was going on a trip to Houston. The mayor wanted her to get some lawyers or something. She was going to be gone for about three days. It's been a while since she went on a business trip, so I wasn't really prepared. Mom was always there to make me waffles in the morning and buy me my needs dad can't. I know I'm going to survive, but I just wasn't sure.

Belinda was at my kitchen table. We were working on a project for history. I'm someone who gets down to business, but Belinda was the opposite. That was one thing we didn't have in common. Leslie was just like me. She wants to get everything she hates over with. Lisa is sort of in between.

Mom was putting her bags near the front door, ready to be picked up by the mayor to take her to the airport. I was saying goodbye and hugging her. Belinda said goodbye while she was finishing her text to Ethan. We had just finished the project, and she was staying for dinner. Dad was making some hot dogs, something he makes when mom isn't around (hot dogs don't sit well with her).

I hadn't seen much of the man on the sidewalk as much anymore. The moaning man wasn't gone but wasn't moaning as much. I wondered if the two men were connected. Like I said, a lot goes through my mind when I sit down for my 45 minutes of thinking every day. I just sit on my windowsill and think. I look at the birds and wonder why they fly, why people have to hurt other people, and why Vicky has to be Vicky.

Over the past few years, I have learned you don't always have to be occupied and that sometimes you need to get to know yourself a little better. I ask people what their parents do for a living, and some of them don't even know. Thinking also helps me think of the right questions to ask. You can't get the right answers if you don't ask the right questions. My mom was only gone for ten minutes and I already missed her. It was crazy, how close we were. I could be attached to her like a chain and a ball.

Belinda was cursing under her breath for some reason. I don't really curse, because apparently I'm a "Goody two shoes." I don't mind being a goody two shoes, because life seemed easier following logical rules.

"What's wrong Belinda?" I ask her.

"Stupid Ethan told me he couldn't go to the dance with me."

"Why not?" I asked.

"He says he already asked Vicky and she said yes."

"I'm so sorry to hear that. Vicky doesn't deserve Ethan. You're prettier, smarter, and a lot nicer. Just remember that." I told her with a wink.

Belinda's smiled warmed. Her face was pink. "That meant so much to me Carly, and to think I have bigger problems." I smiled too.

Dad sat at the table with a newspaper, reading the comics section. He had his reading glasses on, concentrating on Charlie Brown's mild humor. Belinda and I snuck out of the kitchen and went into the front yard. We had those old fashioned lights with the three big sphere bulbs. Belinda swung on one of them, waiting for me to get the mail. I giggled.

"What's up?" Belinda asked me.

I smiled. "Bobby sent me a letter."

Belinda seemed shocked. He sent me letters all the time, mainly because he didn't like coming to my house and it was too awkward over the phone to spill his thoughts. I was joking around with Belinda. She didn't know what kind of relationship we had. She looked at me with raised eyebrows. I started laughing my head off. It felt good, being here with my friend in my front yard, laughing about something so random. The breeze blew the hair out of my face, and the leaves from the trees from nearby fell on Belinda's face. Belinda had a nice smile, glowing cheeks, nice soft and full brown hair, and the prettiest eyes. They were bright blue. Her nose was perfectly arched. I was too busy admiring her facial features to notice her smile fall and her eyes turning toward something else.