A Different Memorial Day
Monday, May 29, 2006
Memorial Day – and it would be one of the few Memorial Days in Collette’s history where she would not be with extended family.
Meanwhile, she wondered about the kids, and thought that it was rather funny how they presumed to act so indifferent about the guys or gals that they “liked”, in public that is. Collette knew that some of them thought they had found their soul mates for life, already. And looking back over her own experiences, she recalled her similar amusement towards her own classmates. The slumber parties where Diana, Marigold, and Crystabelle would chat hours over popcorn and soda about the various guys at TFC – who they liked, who they might like, who probably liked them, etc. The “special talks” all the girls would have amongst each other, the sly sideways glances, whispering, giggling, passing of notes in choir – and, oh, so secretive! (or at least the seemingly outward attempt). Collette remembered finding it very humorous at the time, and found it even more funny the lengths people would go to, to keep it secret that they liked someone else (at least secret from the group of the opposite sex) – and yet at the same time, (if they knew that their parents didn’t mind – which they did mind), they wouldn’t mind spreading the news to everyone. But on the other hand, there was Snuffy Friendly, who didn’t seem to mind that the whole world knew that he would like to marry Diana English one day. Yes, they were “the item” of the choir for many years, until he turned eighteen. And, oddly enough, (or perhaps not so oddly), the same trend seemed to have continued to the next generation. One might think at times that they were secret agents and not high school students, attempting to cover their trail so that no one might ever guess for whom their hearts pounded a little faster upon meeting again. But they weren’t fooling anyone. It was a silly, growing-up thing. But alas and alack, such things were inevitable in life. Perhaps they kept the journey a little more exciting, in the end.
Meanwhile, on the way to play tennis the day before, OLeif, Collette, Rose, and Molly passed the whole English clan on the highway while Mrs. English was talking to Diana on the phone.
“Say hello to Diana!” She called out to them at the stoplight, holding the cell phone out the window.
“Hello, Diana!” They shouted back.
“She says hello too,” Mrs. English called out, as the light changed green.
And Dad, Mom, Frances, and Linnea were getting back from the campground – likely had come back the evening before – and had also attended Travis’ going away party in New Town. Uncle Hilario had grown his hair into a ponytail. Amanda’s boyfriend seemed to be a nice fellow from Virginia, although no accent. Travis suddenly found himself a girlfriend that his parents did not even know about until they saw him holding hands with her at the party. He would leave for South Carolina on Tuesday and they would hear nothing more from him till September, except for a 30 second phone call upon arrival and a letter to his parents, giving addresses, etc. For Monday, Joe and Rose were going to Pooch and Aristotle’s graduation party at the park. And Magnus wanted to move to Scotland.