Together Again
Friday, May 13, 2005
Friday the Thirteenth – Collette was already tired that morning, and not greatly anticipating another eight and a half hour day in a warm office doing paper work.
But Thursday night, she, with Diana, Carrie-Bri, Eve, Annamaria, and Rose, went to the Chesterfield Mall for Diana to do some much-earned clothes shopping. For years she had pinched her pennies, and now she had received enough scholarship money to finish up Wheaton with almost no debt. It was a miracle… And even though shopping wasn’t top on Collette’s list, it was good to have everyone together again.
At American Eagle, Diana found a shirt:
“Look, guys, isn’t this just so cute?”
She held up the happy rose-colored shirt, emblazoned with a large bumblebee. It said – “Just Bee Yourself”. She was wearing it before the evening was over.
She also proudly displayed a giant bruise on her arm, which Tor had given her while pitching her baseballs, the previous day. Apparently, he had missed. Although he must have had some arm on him by then, with all his practicing. If he made it to the big leagues one day, Collette would hardly be surprised.
“Hey, guys, I should, like, walk through one of these stores with my cell phone, and be like, ‘No, I’m not coming back ever again. Quit hitting me!”
Diana laughed as she walked over for a sample from the steakhouse.
“Don’t grab,” the girl snapped at her and handed her a sample.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Diana apologized and snacked on her sample. “Oh, boy, is that good!”
She rubbed her tummy delightedly.
Meanwhile, Carrie had skipped over to another store.
“Oh, I want that shirt,” she said enthusiastically.
It read: “I think; therefore I’m single.”
“Oh, that’s great!” Diana agreed.
Unfortunately, they were all out of Carrie’s size.
Then they dabbled over the jewelry and such. Carrie found a lovely flower pin of amethyst-colored stones for Grandma Snicketts.
And then for dinner they dropped by the grocery store for cheese and crackers, Vienna sausages (for Rose), sodas and bagel bites, and a copy of “A Series of Unfortunate Events”.
Joe came crashing through shortly after it began, pulling up in the big green slug from Scouts. He marched through in his cool new clothes from the shopping spree. After changing into his red and white hibiscus Hawaii shorts, t-shirt, and sandals, he raided the bagel bite pan and snuggled up on the floor with a pillow and blanket. It was always a good thing to see how Joe behaved himself, even around a gaggle of girls. He didn’t change his attitude or try to impress; he just stayed himself.
While he was getting his soda in the kitchen, he talked about Scouts with Collette.
“Guess what? I got my communications and family life merit badges.”
“Awesome,” Collette patted him on the back.
“But the wheelchair ramp won’t work for my Eagle project.”
“Why not?”
“Because aren’t the plans already made for it?”
“I don’t know; I don’t think so.” Collette realized he had to draw the plans himself in order for the project to count. “Well then, you’d better find something new really fast if they have.”
Joe nodded in agreement; he knew time was getting tight. But it was a good evening, and there would be more time to discuss the matter later.