My Girl by Patricia Hermes

Author:Patricia Hermes [Hermes, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780671759292
Amazon: 0671759299
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 1991-12-02T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XII

Next morning Gramoo didn't seem much different, even though I watched her closely. But I was busy with other stuff, too, and I didn't have much time to just sit and watch, to see if she had gotten my messages. It was Dad's bingo day. And I had come up with not one, but two plans—plan A and, in case that didn't work, plan B. I called Thomas J and told him to be ready just in case I needed him for backup plan B.

That night I planted myself right in the middle of the porch steps, so Dad had to practically walk over me to go to bingo. It was almost dark when he finally came out of the house.

He was all dressed up—a nice sports jacket and his good shoes—and he even had on some after-shave stuff that smelled nice, not like formaldehyde from a funeral parlor.

"Hey, Vada," he said, as he came down the steps. He tipped his head back and looked up at the stars. "Nice night, huh?"

"How come you're all dressed up just to play bingo?" I said.

Dad shrugged. "Just want to look nice."

"How come?" I said. "You never cared before."

Dad didn't answer. He kept looking at the stars.

"And you're wearing smelly stuff, too," I said.

"It's not smelly stuff," Dad said, laughing. "It's Old Spice."

"Well, how come you're wearing it, then?" I asked.

"Look, Vada." Dad sighed. "Look, Vada, Shelly's coming over and we're going to bingo together."

"Shelly?" I pretended to be surprised. "How come?"

"She likes to play bingo," Dad said.

I was about to say, She does not, she likes to go to drive-in movies but then he'd know I'd been snooping.

I stood up. "I'll go with you, then," I said. "Both of us! Okay?"

Dad shook his head. "No, no, I don't think so," he said.

"Why not?"

"Well, it's just . . ."

"It's not a date, is it?" I said. I made the word "date" sound like something that smelled bad.

"Not a date, no. Not exactly."

"Then I can come."

Dad shook his head and sighed. "Look, Vada, you stay home here with Gramoo, all right? I've told you, this is my one night out. In a week or so the fair will come to town and I'll take you to that. Okay?"

He didn't wait for my answer.

He just reached over and kissed the top of my head, then patted my hair. "Umm, smells good," he whispered.

And then he went down the steps and over to where his car was parked at the curb.

I was going to yell, So you like her better than me! But I didn't. I had more dignity. And a backup plan, too.

As I watched, Shelly pulled up in her camper. She got out and waved to me.

Then she got in the car with Dad.

I didn't wave back.

As soon as they were gone, I raced for Thomas J's house and around the back where his room is.

There was a light on in his room, and I stood under the window.

"Thomas J!" I called softly. "Hey, Thomas J.

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