Waltz of Her Life

Once everyone had parked, Lauren and Linda emerged from the Volkswagen onto the blacktop driveway behind Greg and Jeannie in the van, who hugged them and jumped for joy as though they'd just finished a five thousand mile trek together. Seth held his motorcycle helmet, having slipped a leather jacket over the army fatigues he wore. He said "I guess I'll have to say good night to you beautiful young ladies. I've got work early tomorrow." Seth leaned over to give Lauren a quick kiss on her lips, which caused Linda to panic inside, her stomach churning.

She nearly wished he would just put his motorcycle helmet on, swing one leg over the seat, and buzz on home. Instead, he turned to Linda. Quickly he leaned down and kissed her on the lips, also. She felt a few of his moustache hairs bristle against her upper lip for a moment. When their lips met for the briefest of instances, his eyes closed. As he pulled away, Linda suddenly felt woozy and unstable on her feet. "See you next time Seth!" Jeannie called out to him as she walked toward the front door.

When they all stepped inside the house, they found Greg and Jeannie's mother.

She was a smiling matron in a housecoat and curlers, sitting up to watch Johnny Carson, who said "I changed the sheets on the bunk beds earlier."

"Thanks, mom," Jeannie said. She turned to Linda and Lauren, adding "You two are going to get me and my older sister's room, like the Bobsey twins with the bunks."

Linda might not have minded if they brought her to a pile of leaves out in the back yard, so tired was she. The bunk beds were white with lathed finials at the top. Matching white bookshelves held dolls dressed in international costumes. David and Shaun Cassidy posters adorned the walls.

"I haven't slept in here since I was twelve," Lauren explained, as she handed extra pillows to the both of them.

Linda dressed in one of Jeannie's old footie pajamas and when she slid into the bottom bunk, she instantly felt alert, as if she'd received a second wind. Lauren put on an old football jersey, ten sizes too big for her, fitting like a nightshirt, and had climbed into the top bunk.

For awhile, Linda stared at the bunting and the slats of the box spring from the upper bunk. It was quiet; outside the window she could hear crickets chirp. She thought maybe she could talk herself to sleep. "Hey Laure. Are you asleep yet?"