Leigh by Lyn Cote

Author:Lyn Cote [COTE, LYN]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780446568661
Publisher: FaithWords
Published: 2009-10-31T04:00:00+00:00

That evening in Kitty’s parlor, Leigh sat on a tapestry sofa across from Mary Beth. Her friend had tucked her bare feet under the light-blue kimono Aunt Kitty had loaned her after Mary Beth had taken a long hot soak in the claw-foot tub upstairs. Mary Beth’s clothes were spinning in the dryer off the kitchen. Leigh tried not to stare, but this Mary Beth had none of the spark that her friend had always possessed in abundance. Her eyes were sunken, and dark circles rimmed them. Where had Mary Beth, the eager puppy dog, gone? Leigh felt like crying. But at least she’d found Mary Beth—or Mary Beth had found her.

Anyway, now Leigh could help her friend. Everything would work out all right. But first, did Mary Beth know about Chance? And should she tell Mary Beth? Might that derail her friend again?

On the loveseat, Mary Beth and Aunt Kitty were having a discussion on early blues singers. A conversation that ignored all the issues Leigh wanted to discuss with her friend. What did she care about Bessie Smith? What did that have to do with 1968? There were things she needed to discuss with Mary Beth. What about going back East? What about school?

“Mary Beth, do you know that Chance is dead?” Leigh asked abruptly, unable to hold back any longer.

Absolute silence in the parlor was the only reply. There was only the sound of the dryer spinning in the distance.

“Yeah, he had a bad trip.” Mary Beth looked away.

Leigh waited for some further comment, some expression of sorrow. Something that would sound like Mary Beth.

“That happens,” Mary Beth finished and turned to Kitty. “I really like your pad.” She gazed around at the room, where a fine collection of early-twentieth-century art glass was on display.

“Thanks.” Kitty smiled. “I like it. I’m glad you came. Leigh has been worried about you.”

“What are your plans?” Leigh asked her friend.

“Plans?” Mary Beth looked at her as if she’d spoken in a foreign language.

“Yes, we both should have been finishing college this year. I came to find you.”

“Why?”

“Why?” Leigh echoed. “Because you’re my friend. Because I was worried about you. I was afraid you’d gotten hurt in Chicago.”

“Chicago,” Mary Beth repeated, as if finally catching something of what Leigh was saying. “That was a heavy scene. Heavy.”

Leigh felt like slapping Mary Beth. She was acting like a caricature of a hippie, not Mary Beth.

Kitty intervened. “Well, I think we’ve discussed old times long enough. Why don’t you two turn in for the night? We can discuss the future tomorrow after a good night’s rest and a hearty breakfast. What do you think?”

“Cool,” Mary Beth assented.

Leigh took the hint from a pointed look Kitty sent her. There was always tomorrow. “Fine. I am tired.”

This strange Mary Beth with the hollow cheeks and emaciated body followed her up the stairs and perched on the rose-pink bedspread. She watched Leigh prepare for bed and then joined her at the sink, where they both brushed their teeth like they had so many times during childhood sleep-overs and in the dorm.

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