Spinning by Baron Michael

Author:Baron, Michael [Baron, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: General
ISBN: 9781611880052
Publisher: The Story Plant
Published: 2011-03-15T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Along with Everything Else

I didn’t make a conscious decision to leave everything hanging, but there always seemed to be a good reason to put things off. Over the next few weeks, Spring and I started to settle into our new rhythm. Going to see the penguins was one thing. Wondering if she displayed a zoological aptitude meant I was starting to get a clue. Although she couldn’t voice her observations, I’m sure she felt the same. And while our new relationship evolved, Diane sat on the shelf.

Billie started coming around more. Sometimes, she’d bring food. Other times, she’d drop by for a drink just to check in on us. It dawned on me that Billie and I probably hadn’t gone a week in our entire association without seeing each other socially at least once. Even when I was with Diane, Billie and I would sometimes grab a drink after work, or at least go out to lunch. It was good to have her with us now. Sometimes when we’d talk, I’d notice Spring spying on us from behind the couch or under the kitchen table. At first, I thought she was just being a kid and playing. But when I saw her practicing Billie’s patented eye roll, I knew it was something more. Spring was watching Billie to learn how to be a girl.

“Look,” I whispered to Billie.

“What?”

“Shhh. Spring is under the table,” I said and noticed a little head disappear beneath it again.

Billie looked, without turning her head. “Well, you could always sell Spring to the gypsies…”

“What?” Spring said and popped up.

“Billie was kidding,” I said and held my hands out for Spring to come. I then threw a frown to Billie to let her know that certain types of kidding was out of bounds. “I couldn’t sell you. Who would take care of me?”

Spring pointed to Billie.

“I think Billie is busy taking care of herself.”

Spring pointed to herself.

“That’s right,” I said. “That’s why I have to keep you.”

Spring hid beneath the table again.

It was fascinating to watch Spring and Billie together. It was a clumsy ballet. Spring would follow Billie around and do anything Billie said, and then suddenly become obstinate. I had a feeling that this had something to do with Spring thinking about her mother and feeling guilty for liking Billie. For Billie’s part, she would occasionally get caught up in playing games with Spring even getting on the floor with her once and then suddenly remember that she was too cool to do that sort of thing.

“If you ever need a break,” Billie said one night, “let me know. Spring and I will go shopping.”

“You know they don’t sell pumps for preschoolers, right?”

“I’ll make a note of that.”

A routine began to develop between Spring and me. In the mornings, Spring would wait until she heard me stir and would open her door about the same time I headed for the kitchen. There, I would read the paper and have a cup of coffee, while Spring would eat her eggs.

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