The Cherry Trees

Chapter Six: 2014

"That went well," I said to Lexi sarcastically.

"Well, what did you expect?" she asked innocently.

"What did I expect? Something better than what happened," I said.

"Well, I twas being nice at the end at least. Technically it was her fault."

"True."

"Whatever. I don't like her anyways."

"I liked her. What's not to like?"

"She stole my brother for two years. She saw him more than I heard about him. Plus, you didn't have to sit down and eat an intense dinner with Leslie," Lexi sneered.

"I was close enough."

I thought back to their dinner together. I had to go home, so Lexi had insisted that we use our walkie-talkies so I could listen in. It hadn't ended well.

-

"So, Leslie," Ms. Lotter said, "what college do you go to?"

"How could she get into college?" I heard Lexi whisper under her breath.

"I'm at UGA," I heard Leslie reply. "I'm studying economics."

"Really? Is that going to be your major?"

"I believe so," Leslie said.

"Good, good."

There was a moment of awkward silence.

"So, how'd you meet my brother?" Lexi asked, sweetly enough.

"Well, we met at a football game and the after that he asked me out and now we are going to get married," Leslie said, happily.

""Don't remind me."

"Lexandra Noelle Blackwell!" Ms. Lotter scolded.

"Sorry."

"As you were saying?" Ms. Lotter asked Leslie again.

"Um, you know I'm going to go to the bathroom real quick," Leslie said, excusing herself from the table.

"Lexi," Tommy hissed,"behave yourself!"

"I'm just trying to get a feel for her. She is easily intimidated. Now we know that. She cares what other people think about her. Now we know that. She wants to live a high life, by marrying you and becoming an economic-something-or-other. She also probably saves all her money, so she can probably pay for a good portion of your wedding. Now we know. Just saying," Lexi said.

I could practically hear Ms. Lotter roll her eyes. "You need to stop watching that Mentalist show," she said.

"You let her watch that?!" Tommy cried.

"Yeah?"

"She's in fourth grade!"

"So?"

"Wow. Just, wow."

"Tommy, I don't want to hear anything about 'wow', okay?" Ms. Lotter snapped.

"Fine."

There was another awkward silence, and the only sound were the forks hitting the plates.

"You know?" Ms. Lotter said, suddenly breaking the silence, "I don't see you for, what, almost two years and suddenly you come home, with a girl I've never met and you expect me to let you stay the night and pay for your wedding? No, I'm not doing this. And Lexi doesn't need this either."

"Mom, I'm not asking you to pay for anything, like Lexi predicted, Leslie can pay for a good amount, and so can I. Dad agreed to pay for some, and so did Leslie's mom."

"I haven't even met her parents!" she cried.

"I brought her here so you could meet her!" Tommy said.

"It would have been nice to meet her before we all knew you were getting married, instead of you just dropping all this on us!" Ms. Lotter said.

"Dad didn't have a problem with it," Tommy said.

"See, and that is why we divorced."

"At least he wouldn't let Lexi watch the Mentalist!"

"Shut up about my parenting! And quiet down before Leslie comes out and decides to run!" she said.

"Isn't that what you wanted all along?" Tommy asked, clearly upset.

At this point, I was wishing that Lexi would just pull the tape off the button of her walkie-talkie, because I did not want to hear anymore of this.

I guess Leslie walked out from the bathroom at that moment, because everyone got quiet. Just hearing the conversation, I could fell the tension in the air.

"Hi Leslie," Lexi chirped.

"Hey?"

I could almost see the confusion on her face.

"Fresh start. Hi. I'm Lexandra. But I hate that name, so you can call me Lexi. And your name is Leslie. Is that short for anything?"

"No?"

"Are you sure? You sound a little uncertain."

"I-I'm sure," Leslie replied.

"Okay. Do you have any pets?"

"Yes, but the college dorms don't really allow pets, so all I have is a goldfish."

"Awesome! I have a hermit crab. Actually it's Anne and my hermit crab. Anne was here earlier, you may or may not have noticed her. She's kind of quiet. But she's my best friend. She lives right there."

I assumed Lexi was pointing to my house. I smacked my forehead.

"Cool. My best friend used to live right behind me, too," Leslie offered.

"Hey! I have an idea! Why don't you come outside with me and see our clubhouse. Sheldon lives there. That's our hermit crab."

"Okay, sure."

The walkie talkie made a rustling sound, and I knew Lexi had put it in her pocket, because suddenly the voices were muffled.

"So, you're in fourth grade?" Leslie asked.

"Yep! I used to have this really mean teacher. But then I annoyed her so much that I had to get transferred to a different class."

"Oh."

"Yeah! And then in third grade I punched this kid so I got suspended. Now the principal and I are pretty good friends."

I heard her backdoor open, and then Lexi let out a sigh.

"Aww man!"

"What?" Leslie asked.

"Our sidewalk town is ruined from the rain!" Lexi whined.

"It's okay. Maybe we can draw another one tomorrow."

"Okay!"

I heard the crunch of leaves beneath their feet, and then the thud of the wooden planks as Lexi and Leslie climbed them to the tree house. Then I heard a screech and a louder thud.

"Leslie? You okay?"

Leslie groaned. "Ow. My leg hurts. Can you go get Tommy?"

Turns out she slipped on the step and broke her leg. Great. Just great.