Assumptions

Monalisa smiles...

"Clay! Mark's here." Mom yells from downstairs. I hear him stomping up the stairs.

"You staying for dinner Mark?" Mom asks him.

"Is that Chicken Masala I smell?" Mark quickly asks. I had mentioned to Mom that he may be coming over. She knows it's his favorite dish and as she says, 'she misses her other son'. I remember rolling my eyes at her.

Mark used to be over here practically every day. But ever since we found out about Casey, he's been kind of scarce. I think he's afraid to look at him. Mark's an only child and only has his father who's away 90% of the time on business trips. So Casey is like his little brother too and he's always had a sweet spot for him. He must be really curious about Mara for him to break his absence streak to come here.

I told Mara about him and that he was going to be asking me about her. After about 10 minutes of no response from her, I figured she wasn't going to say anything at all. But right as we were dropping them off at their house and before stepping out of the car, she turns to me and asks, "Mark is your best friend?" I nod in reply then add, "Since kindergarten. He's like a brother to me."

She contemplates this for a minute. then finally breaks the silence with a sigh. "Clay? You think you can do me a favor?"

I'm surprised at her question as it's one I never thought would ever come from her. In fact, it doesn't sound right coming from her at all. I look over at her not being able to voice anything. I just nod. "Think you can introduce the new girl to some of your friends?"

Wow. Again she surprises me. I quickly close my mouth noticing the amused quirk of her brow and straighten myself out trying to save some semblance of cool I have left.

"I'd like that." I answer simply.

And then, she smiles.

Again, Wow.

And, my breath hitches. I'm very aware at how this affects me. Her smiling. It's like experiencing a big gulp of air. It's refreshing. And I finally realize what they mean when they say, "and Monalisa smiles".

It's like I'm breathing for the very first time.