“It was so cute,” Annie said, popping a fry into her mouth. “Aunt Sarah and he were holding hands. When they saw us looking they got all embarrassed.”
“My father turned bright red,” added Becka.
“So where is all of this going?” Cooper asked, eyeing their hamburgers disdainfully as she took a bite of her garden burger.
Becka and Annie looked at one another. “We don’t know,” Becka said.
“But there was talk about a Christmas visit,” said Annie. “I overheard that while they were doing dishes together.”
“She washed, he dried,” Becka said. “Isn’t that the sweetest?”
“Yeah, but if this keeps up and there’s a wedding, somebody is going to have to move,” remarked Cooper.
“We’ll worry about that if it happens,” said Annie casually. But inside she replayed Cooper’s comment in her mind. She was right, of course. Somebody would have to move. But who would it be?
“Either way, I get a sister,” Becka said. She leaned over and took one of Annie’s fries. When Annie glared at her she added, “Thanks, Sis.”
It was Friday night. Annie, Becka, Cooper, and Kate had all gotten together so that Becka could meet the gang. They were sitting in a booth at their favorite burger joint in town, eating and having fun. All of them except Kate, that is, who hadn’t said much all night.
“What’s bugging you?” Cooper asked her friend.
“It’s just been a long day,” replied Kate. She hadn’t told them about going back to Botanica Yemaya. She didn’t know why, really, except that she wanted to keep it her little secret. She was wearing her Oggun beads under her shirt, and she could feel them pressed against her skin.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet Sasha,” said Becka.
“She and Thea went to visit Thea’s family,” said Cooper. “She was sort of dreading it. I guess Thea’s mother is a cheek pincher.”
“Ow,” Becka said. “I had one of those, too. My mom’s mother. I used to hate going to her house. Poor Sasha.”
“You’ll meet her next time,” Annie told Becka. “And everyone else, too, like Sophia and Archer.”
“And Tyler,” Kate said.
“And Tyler,” Annie repeated. She grabbed the ketchup bottle and began hammering on the end, trying to get some to come out.
“And T.J.,” Cooper said quickly. “Don’t forget T.J. Oh, and Jane.”
“Stop,” Becka said, holding up her hands. “I need a cast list to remember who’s who.”
“Don’t worry,” Annie reassured her. “We’ll have everyone wear name tags.”
“Kate, how was your Thanksgiving?” Cooper asked.
“Don’t ask,” Kate said. “Aunt Netty is here, so that’s nice. But Kyle is about to get a kick in the butt.”
“Her brother,” Annie said to Becka.
“I came out of the broom closet to him,” Kate told them. “I wanted him to help me figure out a way to convince my parents to let me start seeing Tyler again.”
Annie coughed, grabbing her glass of soda and taking a big swig of it while Becka patted her on the back.
“And he didn’t want to help?” asked Cooper.
Kate snorted. “No,” she said shortly. “He did not want to help.”
“So you haven’t talked to your parents about the Tyler thing yet, then?” Annie asked.
Kate shook her head. “Not yet,” she answered. “But I will.”
“And what do you think they’ll say?” said Becka.
“I have a good feeling about things,” answered Kate, thinking about her Oggun beads and about the little bottle of rum and the cigars that were stowed in her desk drawer at home. She hoped her mother didn’t look in there for anything, as she’d have a hard time explaining where the items had come from and an even harder time telling her that they’d been smuggled into the house in Aunt Netty’s purse.
“I hope it all works out for you, Kate,” said Annie. “I really do.”
“I don’t know,” Kate said. “Tyler was acting kind of weird when I saw him on Tuesday. Do you know why, Annie?”
“Me?” Annie said. “No.”
“I just thought you might because you’re the one who talks to him the most,” Kate said.
“I actually haven’t talked to him in a while,” replied Annie. “I’ve been really busy with working at Shady Hills and with school and stuff. You know how it gets.”
“Well, he was kind of distant,” Kate said. “I guess I can’t really blame him. I mean, I haven’t talked to him or hung out with him for more than half an hour at a time in months. I don’t even dare e-mail him in case my parents are monitoring my on-line account. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was sick of waiting.”
“This conversation is getting depressing,” said Becka when no one else spoke. “How about a change of subject? Cooper, how was your Turkey Day?”
“My parents are getting divorced,” Cooper said flatly.
“What?” Annie exclaimed as Kate also looked shocked. “I thought they were just separating for a while so that they could work out their problems.”
“So did I,” Cooper said. “I guess they decided that splitting up for good was how they’re going to work them out.”
“Are you okay?” Annie asked.
Cooper put her hands up. “Honestly? I don’t know how I am. I know it sounds weird, but I never, ever thought about my parents divorcing. They just seemed too . . . married.”
“I can’t imagine my parents ever getting divorced either,” Kate said. “I don’t know what I would do if they did.”
“I know it has nothing to do with me,” Cooper said. “It’s all about them. But what really bothers me is if it could happen to them why couldn’t it happen to me and T.J. someday.” She looked at her friends’ faces. “I’m not saying we’re getting married,” she said, making them laugh. “I’m just saying. It makes you wonder about whether or not it’s all worth it.”
“I think it is,” Becka said. “My mother died right after I was born. I know it almost killed my father. He loved her so much. Once I asked him if he ever wished he’d never fallen in love.”
“What did he say?” Kate asked.
“He said that if he hadn’t he would never have gotten me,” Becka said. “And he would never have the memories he does of my mother.”
“Not to sound rude or anything, but that’s a little different,” said Kate. “It’s not like they broke up.”
Becka nodded. “No,” she said. “It’s not. But I think it’s kind of the same. Your parents aren’t breaking up because they hate each other or anything, right, Cooper?”
“Right,” she said. “They say that they’ve just grown apart.”
“So they’re probably feeling really sad,” said Becka. “What they had didn’t last, or it changed into something else. But they had it once. They experienced it. And they got you out of it.”
“That’s me,” said Cooper. “The booby prize.”
“Come on,” Becka said. “I’m serious. I hate it when people break up and they say, ‘I can’t believe I wasted so much time with that person.’ It’s only wasted if you don’t learn something from the experience.”
“You didn’t tell us she was the new Dear Abby,” Cooper remarked to Annie.
“I’m from San Francisco,” Becka said. “We’re all touchy-feely. They don’t let you live there unless you’re completely self-actualized.”
“I get what you’re saying,” Cooper told her. “I guess I just feel bad that things are changing. Maybe that’s just me being selfish. But I liked my family, even when my mom was a colossal pain, which was just about every day. I still liked it. It was familiar. And now it’s all going to change. No matter how much my dad says it won’t, it will. I’ll see him less. He’ll be busy with his new life. That’s just what happens.”
“You’re not dumping T.J., are you?” Annie asked suddenly.
“Again,” added Kate.
“No, I’m not dumping T.J.,” said Cooper, throwing a fry at Kate. “I’ve learned something about how to be grown up.” She was tempted to tell them about her conversation with Mr. Goldstein, but for some reason she thought of that as private. Besides, she still hadn’t figured out exactly what had happened that night. Talking about it would just confuse things even more. She had to let it sit for a while.
“I’m sure he’ll be relieved to hear it,” Kate said.
“And I’ll be sure to send your regards,” Cooper teased.
“So what are you going to do about the Tyler situation?” asked Annie, curling the paper from her straw around her finger.
“Aunt Netty is going to talk to my mother about it,” Kate said. “We’ll see what happens. I’m not too worried, though. Things always work out the way they’re supposed to, right? I can’t imagine that this isn’t supposed to happen.”
“Okay, so what else are we doing this evening?” Cooper asked as the waitress came to clear away their plates. “Does anybody have any big ideas?”
“Don’t look at me,” said Becka. “I’m the new chick. You guys are the lifers.”
“We could go back to my house and play games,” suggested Annie. “I know it’s kind of lame, but it might be fun.”
“Why not?” replied Cooper. “I’m always up for a good round of Monopoly.”
“Why do I get the feeling you always want to be the little car and you buy up all the railroads?” asked Becka.
“Kate?” Annie said.
“Sure,” said Kate. “Let’s do that.”
They paid up and left. Half an hour later they were all sitting in the same grouping they’d been in at the restaurant, only this time they were on the floor in Annie’s room, eating pumpkin pie off paper plates.
“This is amazing,” Cooper said, wolfing hers down.
“It’s one of Ben Rowe’s recipes,” Annie told her.
“What’s first?” asked Becka. “We have a pile of games here, girls. What’s your pleasure?”
“How about we play something different?” suggested Kate suddenly.
“Like?” asked Annie.
“Truth or Dare,” said Kate.
“I don’t know,” said Annie uncertainly. “What kind of dares would there be?”
“Nothing too weird,” Kate answered. “Burping the alphabet or something. That’s the fun part—making them up.”
“Come on, Annie, it could be funny,” Cooper said.
“And Cooper can’t be the car,” added Becka.
“In that case, I’m in,” Annie said. “Her engine noises are really annoying after about an hour. Who goes first?”
“I will,” Cooper said. “And I pick Becka.”
“I’m touched,” Becka replied. “And I pick truth.”
“Hmm,” Cooper said. “How about this one. Have you ever stolen anything from a store?”
“Yes,” Becka said instantly. “I lifted some bubble gum from the drugstore once. Okay, I didn’t really steal it. I just forgot to pay them, and I went back and did it afterward. But it was sort of like stealing.”
“Now it’s your turn,” Kate told her. “Pick someone to ask.”
“Okay, I’ll pick you,” replied Becka. “Truth or dare?”
“Dare,” said Kate assuredly.
“That’s harder,” Becka said. “Can Cooper and Annie help me out?”
“If they do and I do it, then they have to do it, too,” Kate told her.
“Count me out,” Annie said. “I’m a truth girl all the way.”
“All right, then,” Becka said. “I dare you to prank-call your worst enemy.”
Cooper and Annie laughed. “I know who that would be,” Annie said.
“Sherrie,” said Cooper. “But you’ll never do it.”
“Won’t I?” Kate told her. “Just watch.”
She picked up the phone by Annie’s bed and held it in her hand thinking. “I’ve got it,” she said, then dialed a number.
“I can’t believe she’s actually doing this,” Annie whispered.
“I just hope they don’t have caller ID,” remarked Cooper.
“Hello?” Kate said, interrupting them. “Is this Sherrie Adams?” She was attempting to disguise her voice, and not doing a very good job of it because she kept trying not to laugh. “This is the emergency butt repair service. Yes, that’s right. We’re coming right over. We hear you have a big crack in yours.”
Kate hung up and fell on the floor laughing. The others shrieked as well, and soon they were all in hysterics.
“That was so dumb,” Cooper said, wiping tears of laughter from her cheeks. “That was a total five-year-old-boy joke.”
“But so funny,” quipped Becka.
“Okay,” Kate said, regaining her composure. “Now it’s my turn. I pick Annie.”
Annie raised her hand. “You already know my choice,” she said. “Truth, truth, truth.”
“Let me see,” Kate said thoughtfully. “What would I like to know about Miss Annie Crandall?”
She looked at Annie with interest, as if she were examining a statue or something. Then she snapped her fingers. “Got it,” she said. “If you could date any guy we all know, who would it be?”
Cooper and Becka looked at Annie, who had turned a vibrant shade of red and was stammering. “I—I—I—don’t know,” she said. “Does it have to be someone we know know, or can it be someone we know of? Because I mean Ben Affleck is really cute or maybe Johnny Depp except not in that movie where he cries all the time. Oh, or what about that one from ‘N SYNC. You know, the one with the cat eyes. How about him?”
“No,” Kate said. “It has to be someone we all know personally. Like some guy at school. Or even a teacher. Just someone we know. Who would you most like to go out with?”
Annie looked at the three of them, her brow furrowed. “I don’t know,” she said. “It’s not like I like that many people.”
“Come on,” Kate said. “There must be one or two you think about sometimes.”
“Okay,” Annie said. “Yeah, I’m sure there is. I just have to think about it. Oh, I know. How about Mr. Malcolmson?”
“The physics teacher?” Cooper said, wrinkling her nose. “Isn’t he, like, seventy-two or something?”
“Well, you all rushed me,” Annie said, sounding flustered. “It was the first name that popped into my head.”
“You’re sure that’s your answer?” asked Kate.
“No,” Annie said. “I mean yes. Is it my turn now?”
Kate nodded. Annie turned to Cooper. “What’s your favorite band?” she asked.
“That’s not a good question!” objected Cooper. “You’re supposed to ask something that could be embarrassing, or at least funny.”
“I’m sorry,” Annie said. “I’m just not very good at this game.”
“Fine,” Cooper said. “In that case, this week my favorite band would be Apples in Stereo.”
“This isn’t going as well as I thought it would,” said Kate. “I vote we switch to Monopoly.”
“I get to be the car!” Cooper shouted.
Annie eagerly opened the game box and began taking out the pieces. “Finally,” she said. “A game I’m good at.”
Kate reached over and took the little metal top hat. “You mean another one,” she said.