FRIDA' S LIST

Chapter 7 THE DATE

It was almost 10 pm and I grew more and more nervous. Anthony came to pick me up right on time. He was punctual, and my family too. Everybody was home, EVEN Louise! I was sure that she did it on purpose to embarrass me. Whatever, I couldn't avoid it.

Tony couldn't miss my apartment when he got off the elevator. All my tribe was waiting for him at the front door. Welcome abroad, buddy! That's what it's like dating me! I felt sorry for him. I was pretty sure that he didn't expect that.

"Hi," I said, waving to him.

He walked up the hall toward us.

"Hi," he replied with a sweet smile and THIS look that I COMPLETELY understood.

"Anthony, let me introduce you to my parents," I began, clearing my throat.

"Nice to meet you," he said.

He shook hands with them.

"And this is my sister, Louise, and my dog Princess."

"Crow, don't introduce me with Princess," Louise whispered in my ear, pinching my butt.

"Hi," he said to her.

He patted Princess's head, and she didn't protest! Actually, she seemed to be looking for something else, something more serious. She rubbed herself against his leg like a cat! For God's sake, she was a bulldog!

"Come on in," my father invited him with a manly voice that I had NEVER heard before.

I'm not saying that my father had a feminine voice. No, just that I didn't recognize THIS one. We followed him inside in silence. Anthony's eyes moved around the room.

"Nice living room," he said, shooting a glance at me.

I smiled at him. Something amazed me about him. He seemed confident as usual and comfortable with the whole situation. He was like a rock. Nothing seemed able to disturb him. I envied him. I was just dying, and dying over and over.

"Anthony, this is Grandma."

He bowed to her. Grandma smiled at him as if he were part of the family. She kept watching us quietly, with her hands crossed on her stomach.

"Do you want to drink something?" my mother said.

"No, thank you, ma'am," he replied in his usual soft tone.

He was charming. If he was my boyfriend, I would have been SO proud of his behavior. But he wasn't my boyfriend, and thanks to my family that was NEVER gonna change.

"A cup of coffee, or tea," my mother insisted as if she were deaf or something.

"Or a beer. You can drink beer, right?" my father asked, with the voice of a caveman.

I guess it was the subtle way he came up with to know if Anthony was an alcoholic or not.

"I don't drink alcohol, thank you," he replied with this warm smile and this confidence in his voice that drove me crazy.

My father nodded gravely and pursed his lips.

"So, Anthony, you're a senior, right?" my mother went on.

He looked at me. I flushed.

"Yes, ma'am," he replied with a sweet smile.

"So next year, you're going to college?" she said.

"Yes, that's the plan."

"Which one?" she continued.

"Paris 7."