In another, the kitchen door slammed. My mother's voice raced up the stairs. The bedroom door muffled her words. Her voice and footfalls climbed the stairs. I don't want to deal with this, I thought pulling the blankets over my head. "Go away, go away," I pleaded to my blankets. The door to my bedroom was thrown open and her eyes sliced through my blanket. Fire truck sirens drowned her shouts.
Fire trucks did wake me. I sat up trying to sort dream from reality. The reflections of flashing red lights filled my room. Sirens raced up Main Street past Fernwood. I bolted from bed and glimpsed a fire truck racing by. I didn't sleep the rest of the night.
***
I stood at the bottom of the Ortolan's back steps, surprised how high their deck seemed. One by one I took the steps, my heart raced. I knocked on the sliding door. "It's open," Shannie's voice rang.
"Hey Bug," I cried.
"Bring your birthday suit?" she called from her bedroom.
I was at a loss for words.
"Cat got your tongue?" she asked emerging from her bedroom.
"Something like that," I said. I was disappointed, I was hoping she'd be wearing her bikini. I didn't expect to see her in painter's pants and a T-shirt. "You sure you want to do this?" I asked.
"But of course. I promise I won't bite. Want something to drink?"
"Coke," I answered.
"We can do this one of two ways," Shannie opened the refrigerator door. She stuck her head inside, exaggerating her pose. She popped open the can and sat in front of me. "We can play strip poker or Spin the bottle."
"Spin the bottle." I didn't know how to play poker.
"Drink up." She said sitting across from me, eying me as I drank.
I took my time. Sitting with her legs crossed, chin resting in her palm, Shannie stared into my eyes.
"Let me help you." Shannie chugged the rest of my soda. As she tossed the can she left out a world class belch.
"Good push," I said.
"Excuse me," she laughed. At her bedroom door, she turned and said, "Just James. Whatever happens today, I mean, when you go to school and start meeting other girls, and find a girlfriend, which you will, don't think that I will be pissed. We're friends James, best of friends. I don't want you to think you can't be interested in anybody else."