Francis And The Saga Of Boys From Hazelville

Chapter Twenty Six

I lift it up and put it on top of the dress box. It's pretty big altogether, and I have trouble getting in. I almost trip over Hello Kitty.

Bunny shouts back, "Hey! When's it my turn?" She scoffs.

I rush up the stairs and into my room. I open the new box to find to my surprise and confusion... a Snoopy snow cone maker. Huh? My face deflates, but then I think it's kinda cute... okay, very cute. I go to the kitchen and make myself one. Bunny then wants one too.

"I really like this guy, Francis. I think I might be his secret admirer."

I laugh. "Stop it, he's mine. I'll fight you for him."

"I don't chase, Francis, I attract what's already mine. So if he doesn't chase me, I will throw him back into the ocean, and find a new fish!"

I look at the note the snow cone maker came with, and it says; come find me. Come find him where?

"Hello, Francis? Earth to Francis!" Bunny calls.

"What?"

"Snoopy is at the frozen yogurt shop."

"Oh my gosh, like the Dory cut out."

I rush off and get ready.

"Hey, what about me?" Bunny shouts back.

I ignore her and go back to the frozen yogurt shop. But Dubby sees me leaving and stops me. I tell him all about it. He wants to come too, so he tags along. But by the time we get to the frozen yogurt shop, it's closed. Dang it.

"We can go tomorrow," Dubby says.

But I feel deflated. It's okay, there's always tomorrow. Dubby wants to hang out and watch dating shows on TV, so we go to his basement. But I can't focus on other couples, only on Snoopy and mystery man. Dubby gets me to play chubby bunny, but I forget the game and just keep swallowing the marshmallows. He tells me to go home when he gets too frustrated with me.

I go to bed that night and think about what will happen with Snoopy and if this clue has been here this whole time or if he places them as he goes - does he have an end destination? Meeting me, obviously, as if channeling Bunny in my mind. I toss and turn and think about it all night.

Then, fresh and early the next morning, I'm pumped and ready to go. I knock on Dubby's door at nine AM. He's still asleep. I tell him I'll just go without him. I wait for no man. Except when he's my secret admirer, then I'll wait too long. Dubby gets up and pulls on a sweatshirt and his shoes.

"And off we go!" I say.

But then his Mom stops us and offers us breakfast. "I've already made it," she replies. Of course she has? We follow her into the kitchen and there's the table filled with eggs and croissants and jam and whatnot. Why has Dubby's Mom made all this? She didn't know I was coming, right? "Sure, the frozen yogurt shop doesn't open till ten, sweetie."

How does she even know that's where we're going? I shoot Dubby a look and he brushes it off like he doesn't know. Then he distracts me by ushering me to sit down. Maybe I didn't see it, but Dubby could be telling his Mom everything. He's a mommy's boy and a mommy's Dubby. I go to take some eggs, but Dubby has already put some on my plate, followed by a croissant. I don't care anymore what's up, I'll just enjoy it. Even if it is a bit odd.

Dubby's Mom even offers to pack us lunch. But I tell her that we are only going into the town. She waves us off. "Why's your mom being weird?" I say.

"What do you mean 'weird'?" like he's baffled I'd ask.

"She's being all attentive and nice and stuff."

"Francis, what are you trying to say about my mom?" he says defensively. "She's just being nice and motherly... like always."

"Okay." I think. "Did you tell her about the tapes and stuff?"

"It may have come up briefly in conversation. Maybe at one of our afternoon teas."

I think for a moment, but then conclude that it was sarcasm.

"She's just bored, that's all. My dad's been away on those trips."

His dad is a wildlife photographer, he goes on trips to Africa and Iceland and all sorts of places. Their house has walls lined with his photos. It's beautiful. Sometimes, if it's during summer, Dubby has gone too. "It's either this or an affair, Francis, which would you prefer?"

I don't say anything. I just keep walking. I feel bad for her sometimes, she's alone a lot with just pictures on the walls, of animals, not even of her family. People are always asking her about him. She must feel like she's fading away into the background. With only Dubby for company, of course she likes fawning over him then.

We get to the frozen yogurt shop just as it's opening. The clerk is like, "You're keen." I nod and smile. "Oh, you are her!" His face and voice is still deadbeat. But I like being her! I'm giddy. I go in, followed by Dubby and see the Snoopy cut out. He's holding a white board that says: Meet me at the lake @ seven on Friday!