Sunflowers by Melodie Starkey

Author:Melodie Starkey [Starkey, Melodie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-02-23T05:00:00+00:00

Eventually, Sam came to roost on Gus’s lap, and the teenagers came over to flirt with them. They kept asking Sam questions with double entendre, then giggling at his simple answers. Gus hoped Maureen would step in before he felt compelled to, which would anger everyone. Finally the younger one, Kristen, asked, “Sammy, who’s prettier, me or Chloe?”

Sam shrugged. “I hate girls. Me an’ Jordan think girls are smelly.”

After a round of giggling, she pursued it. “Who’s Jordan?”

“He’s my best friend. He’s gonna let me be the Sith Lord next time.”

She sat back a little, her expression changing. “The Sith Lord is ugly. Wait here. I have a present for you.” She ran into the house.

Sam turned to Gus. “Why’s she givin’ me a present?”

“I don’t know.”

Chloe asked, “Uncle Gus, will you rub lotion on me?”

“No. And I’m not your uncle. Go talk to your grandmother about that.”

She squinted, then asked, “Aren’t you going to marry Aunt Maureen?”

He felt Sam come to full attention. He carefully answered, “That’s no concern of yours. But that isn’t in either of our immediate plans, no.”

Just then Kristen burst out of the house with an armload of black fabric. “Look, Sam!”

“What is it?”

She dropped it on an empty lounge chair, then raised it up: a black floor length cape, and the true treasure—a full head Darth Maul mask. “I got it for Halloween when I was ten. You can have it.”

Sam jumped off of Gus’s lap and took the mask from her like a fragile heirloom. “This is terrific! This is so great! Thank you so much!” He turned to Gus. “Can I keep it?”

“Yes.” Gus smiled at the girl. “Thank you. That’s nice of you.”

“That’s okay. Mom told us you don’t have a job or anything.”

He bit his lip a moment, then asked, “Any chance either of you knows how to use the Internet?”

“Duh. Who doesn’t?”

He smiled. “Google me some time. And show it to your mother.”

Both girls frowned skeptically, then looked at each other before darting into the house. Gus quickly suggested, “You ready to leave so you can show Jordan your outfit before it gets too late?”

“But…”

“Go tell your grandparents goodbye, then ask your mom to come see us later, how’s that?”

“Yes!”

Maureen looked disappointed at first, then surprised at the invitation. “Um, sure. When?”

“If you come before 7:00, I’ll feed you. If not, at least before 9:00.”

“Thanks! I’ll be there!”

He picked up the costume and called, “C‘mon, Sam. Let’s hit the road.” He waved goodbye to Dave while Sam hugged Maureen a last time. As they cut through the house, he heard the girls squealing, “Oh my gawd! Do you think that’s him?”

In the car Sam insisted on wearing the mask. Finally he took it off and said, “Daddy?”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t like Mommy’s family so much. I think they’re kinda bullies.”

“Yes, they are. But part of that is because they love Mommy so much, and they don’t like to see her sad. They know she’s sad that she didn’t get to see you growing up.

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