Lovesick Little by Leslie Phelan

Author:Leslie Phelan [Phelan, Leslie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780988059245
Published: 2014-02-06T05:00:00+00:00

The next morning, Arielle woke up and selected an emerald terrycloth dress from Dagmara’s wardrobe. She slipped it over her head and tied the strings up on her shoulders, then admired herself in the mirror. Her hair was so long and smooth now; she was beginning to forget what it felt like with pearls and ornaments all tied up in it. Its color seemed to be changing too; she had never noticed so many streaks and variations through it before. Her skin was changing as well! Little brown flecks now dotted her nose and cheeks in tiny constellations.

As Lucia flipped omelets downstairs, Cliff sorted through a large stack of mail. “Oh good morning, Arielle!” he greeted her as she came into the kitchen. “Can you believe how much snail mail stacks up in just one week? I think I’m personally responsible for the slaughter of about ten trees right here.” Arielle nodded and went to the fridge to pour herself a glass of orange juice. Lucia and Cliff always insisted she help herself to anything she wanted to eat or drink, and she was getting quite comfortable doing so.

Cliff picked up a small red envelope and read the return address. “We got a letter from Erica!” he exclaimed excitedly.

“Wonderful! Read it aloud, honey!” said Lucia. “How long do you think it’s been since we last heard from her?”

“Who is Erica?” asked Demetra as she bounced cheerfully into the kitchen and poured herself some coffee.

“Erica is the daughter of my very best friend. Besides your mom, of course,” said Cliff lovingly, winking at his wife. “Ben and I were buddies since kindergarten, cohorts in Cub Scouts, roommates in college and the best man at each other’s weddings.”

Lucia swiped the coffee mug from Demetra’s hands and replaced it with a glass of milk. She rolled her eyes, then sipped her milk. “How come this Ben never comes around then?” she asked curiously.

Cliff paused to remember his friend and how close they had always been. “Ben and his wife Darlene died in a car crash many years ago,” he answered. “It was their tenth anniversary, and they were on their way home from dinner when a speeding drunk driver rear-ended them at a red light and knocked them into the busy intersection,” he said matter-of-factly and with sorrow in his voice. “Darlene died instantly, Ben died in the ambulance.”

Demetra put her arms around her father’s shoulders and pressed her soft cheek to his. “I’m sorry, Dad, that must have been so sad.”

“Yes, it was a sad time,” said Cliff, “but it was most tragic for their daughter Erica, who was no older than you are right now when it happened.”

“Read us the letter, Cliffy; I’m dying to hear how Erica’s doing,” said Lucia.

“Alright, then,” he said, and began to read the letter aloud:

Dear Uncle Cliff, I hope this letter finds you and your family well, for I have had an amazing year seeing the world! I spent my twentieth birthday in Nicaragua for a school-building volunteer mission.

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