by Cee, DW
“I can’t believe you did that,” he said while rubbing the water out of his face. “I’m fully clothed,” he complained and started splashing water on my face, then swam over to dunk me in the ocean. We were both fully clothed. My bright orange dress floated in the water with me, but since I had a bathing suit underneath, it was a-OK.
“Race you back to the boat,” I hollered getting away from Donovan. He swam after me, grabbed my right foot and pulled me under. He swam ahead, laughing away until I caught his jacket that trailed behind him. Hanging on, I let him pull me as he struggled back toward the boat. When he slowed, I took my chance and jumped on his back. He swam with me on his back over to the boat, up the ladder, and onto the deck. I couldn’t let go because I didn’t want to let go. That was so much fun!
“All right, Little Girl, let’s get you dried up.” Leaning back gently, he made sure my feet were on the deck and he placed the large towel around my body. I knew for sure, right then and there, that I loved Donovan Taylor!
AGE 10—Spring Break
Can you believe my luck? Daddy says we are going to Hawaii—the Big Island this time—when we could be camping with Jake’s family and Donovan’s family! I begged and begged, but Daddy says he doesn’t camp. Who wants to go to the Big Island and stay at some place with a weird name like Four Seasons Hulahula, or something like that, when you can sleep in tents and see a bear in Yosemite?
“But Dad!” Jane had her own complaints. “Why are we going camping instead of Paris this spring? I don’t want to sleep on the ground. I don’t want to shower in a public place. And I don’t want to take all these long hikes you keep mentioning.”
“Sweetheart, it’ll be a lot of fun. I promise! This will probably be the last time the entire family can get together, both for us and for the Taylors. We will rent two large RVs and spend ten days in nature.”
TEN days with Donovan? Why Jane and not me? WAAAHHHH! I really wanted to cry.
It was a bummer to be in Hawaii with just the four of us, but I had to admit, it was fun. I got to parasail, and surf and take water skiing lessons. We went to a luau and saw the big volcano. Doug bugged me so much on this trip I thought I was going to go coo coo for cocoa puffs. But overall, it was fun to be in Hawaii, again. I hope Jane won’t brag about her trip to Yosemite when I see her. I so don’t want to hear about her and Donovan!
AGE 10—Summer Break
I believe I mentioned that I love the water!?! We swim a lot in the summer time. We usually go to Gram’s backyard to swim because she has the biggest pool and because my daddy and uncles put in a humongo slide in Gram’s pool. There are actually three slides built in a crazy, curvy, swurvy way that criss-cross above and below each other, and eventually straighten out to a side-by-side-by-side slide. Sammy, who is my age, and I are on the slide, daily. Today, almost every cousin on the block decided to join us and we had a gigantic party. The water guns were out, all the floaties were blown up and we lounged, played water tag, cannonballed into the pool, and had water slide races. I love summer. What about no homework, no school, and no mom nagging me about studying wouldn’t I like? Doug and I are going to some camp in a few weeks, but for now life is good. And of course, it got better the moment Donovan stepped into the backyard with Jake and cannonballed into the pool. We all gave them a wide berth and Donovan popped up right next to me!
“Hello, Little Girl. How have you been?”
“I’m good. How are you, Donovan?”
“Great now that I see you!” Gaaawwwddd! Could he be anymore perfect? “Whatcha’ got planned for the summer?”
“I’m going to swim every day till Mom ships us off to the East Coast for three weeks for some summer camp. Then I’ll be right back here, swimming again.”
“I’ll be on the East Coast as well doing an internship. What state are you going to be in?”
“Um...Michigan? Minnesota? Montana? Dunno. Can’t remember which state, but it starts with an M.”
Donovan started guffawing. “None of those states are on the East Coast. Those are more Midwestern states. Maybe Maine?”
“Maybe. Who knows? I just know that Mom and Dad are getting rid of us so they can take a vacation without us. I heard they’re going to be all over Europe. Dad’s taking a few weeks off from the hospital and vacationing ‘in peace.’” I curled my two forefingers and two middle fingers and made the quotation marks while saying the words, “in peace.” Donovan laughed even harder. “What’s an internship?” I asked.
“It’s where you work, but don’t get paid.”
“Why would you or anyone want to do that?” Maybe Donovan wasn’t as smart as I thought he was. Why would anyone be tricked into working for no dinero? Even I knew that wasn’t a smart thing to do.
“It’s so I can get experience in a certain field to determine whether or not I want to work in that field.”
“Are you going to be gone the whole summer?”
“I am, Little Girl. I’ll miss your smiling face and genius-sized vocabulary.” Oh my gosh! He would miss me! Maybe he likes me like I like him? “Hop on my back, Little Girl. Let’s go challenge your cousin Jake to a water slide contest.”
Of course I got on his back and stayed on his back as long as I could. Donovan’s younger sisters were so lucky to have such a great big brother. He was so much fun to be with. I doubt he bugged them like Doug bugged me. After beating both Donovan and Jake on the slide three out of five times, I hopped up on his back, and Donovan started spinning me like crazy. Sammy was on Jake’s back and both of them started spinning us in the pool.
“Donovan, stop! I’m really dizzy.”
“Just hold on a little bit longer, Delaney. We have to beat Jake and Sammy. We need to be the last two standing in this dizzy contest.”
Being the competitor that I was, I wanted to win and I didn’t want to let Donovan down. I held on, closed my eyes and tried to think of something that would make me less dizzy. Finally, Donovan stopped and we both collapsed into the water. Immediately, I could feel the throw-up coming up my throat. I walked/ran as fast as I could in the pool to try to get to a restroom.
“What’s the matter?” Donovan stopped me as I got up on the first step. I did my best to get my wrist out of his hand, but he held it tighter the more I fought it. “You OK?”
I turned around quickly to tell him that I was sick and that I needed to throw up, but as I started saying those words, the most horrifying thing happened to me. I threw up on myself, first. And if that didn’t make me want to die right then and there, as Donovan tried to step back and get away from me, I let out the most God-awful projectile throw-up right on his head and face.
I ran away from everybody, leaving a trail of throw-up, all the way to the pool house. God, just kill me now!
AGE 11—My Birthday!
Mom threw me the craziest water-themed birthday party today! It was soooo much fun. We had water slide contests on Gram’s slide, a crazy tall blow-up water slide that was maybe 50 feet high (OK, I may be exaggerating a bit...), water gun fights, who can make the biggest cannonball challenge, and a Slip ‘N Slide on blocks of ice. I could tell Mom was praying none of us would get hurt on those blocks. I invited my entire class and all my cousins to join in the fun. Everyone came except for the person I most wanted to see. He was still on the East Coast somewhere working for free. Doug won the hot dog eating contest with eight hot dogs and ten glasses of lemonade. I am not getting anywhere near his room tonight. He isn’t going to be a happy camper when the hot dogs decide they need to leave his stomach—and fast! Nick won the cannonballing contest. That’s because Nick is a lot heavier than all of us. Most of my friends are my height (OK, maybe a bit shorter because right now, I am even taller than my brother—but don’t tell him I told you so), but Nick is taller and much, much heavier. I heard Auntie Sandy telling Mom one day that Nick’s waistline is larger than Uncle Bobby’s, and he is only fourteen going on fifteen. I think he might need to DIET one day.
“Laney, this has got to be the coolest party I’ve ever attended.” Kelley came over to me and gave me a huge birthday present.
“Thanks, Kelley. Did you and Jake have a good time visiting your brother?”
“We did. And my brother sends you a very happy birthday kiss.” She kissed me on the cheek and I swear it felt like it was Donovan kissing me for real.
I giggled and gave Kelley a huge hug and got her clothes all wet.
“Kelley, I hope you marry my cousin Jake. He’s the best guy any girl could wish for in the whole wide world!”
“I agree. Then we can be cousins by marriage. Or maybe, if you married my only brother, we could be sisters!” she exclaimed.
How on earth did she know? I love Kelley! I love Jake! But most of all, I love DONOVAN!
AGE 11—Christmas
We always celebrate Christmas dinner at Uncle Bobby and Aunt Sandy’s house but this year, we had to have a Christmas Eve dinner. Mom told me why, but I can’t remember. I think it has something to do with someone going somewhere and...who knows...who the hell-o cares? I get to open my Christmas presents very, very soon, and that’s all I care about!
“Laney? Are you finished getting dressed? We need to walk over to Uncle Bobby’s now.”
“I’ll meet you there, Mom. I’m not quite ready.”
“All right. Hurry up.”
“OK.” Phew! I got out of that argument. You see, I bought another dress pretending to be Barbara Reid. Mom bought me this green, red and black plaid Christmas outfit. I know Christmas was all about green and red, but outfits with those color combination should be banned! I’d walk into Uncle Bobby’s house after most everyone arrived, then Mom wouldn’t be able to make a huge deal about me using her credit card...again!
At age 11, it isn’t customary for girls to order their own clothes. Mom is a genius at decorations and party planning, but she needs a wee bit of help in the clothes department. Take for instance today. She is wearing a red long pencil skirt with a green fluffy teacher-style Christmas cardigan that has Santa and his elves all over the knit sweater. It’s really the type of sweater you see on your elementary school teachers. You know the ones with bells for Rudolph’s nose, type of cardigans? My mom’s a beautiful lady but the way she dresses diminishes her looks. I am not going to let her taste in clothes ruin my chances of being noticed by a certain someone whose family had been invited to spend Christmas with us.
“Delaney Grace Reid!” Uh-oh! Why oh why did I have to run into Mom the moment I stepped into Uncle Bobby’s house?
“Hi Aunt Sandy!” I turned my attention to my aunt and another lady who was standing next to Mom. “Hello.” I brought the other lady into our conversation.
“Hi Laney. Beautiful dress.” Aunt Sandy winked at me. She was so smart and helpful. She already assumed the trouble I was in with my mother.
“Who are you?” The stranger asked. “Is she yours, Babs?”
“She is...” The way Mom said that wasn’t good...I was so busted!
“What’s so funny, Sandy?” The stranger wanted answers and she was about to get them.
“Hey, Little Girl!” My savior! Donovan would save me from this mess.
“Hi Donovan! Hi Jake! Hi Kelley!”
“Hey, Cousin. Don’t you look pretty, tonight!”
“Nice dress, Laney.” Did I tell you how much I loved Kelley? “You pick it out yourself?”
“Um yeah, and my generous mom bought it for me. Isn’t she nice? It wasn’t even on sale but I was able to purchase it.”
Mom’s face crinkled like a french fry. “And how generous was I, Delaney Grace Reid?”
“Um...generous...?”
“Give me a ballpark figure.”
“Well...”
While I was doing this song and dance with Mom, Aunt Sandy whispered to everyone in the room about my “identity theft” habits. The stranger, who turned out to be Mrs. Taylor, laughed aloud. The three collegians, laughed almost as loudly as Mrs. Taylor. I, for one, was hoping Dad would walk in and save me if Donovan Taylor wasn’t going to jump in.
“Please tell me this dress was south of $100.”
I let out a weak, “Hahaha...” and tried to walk out of the kitchen.
“You may not leave here till you give me a clear answer, young lady.”
“Oh, all right!” In my bravest voice I said, “With tax and delivery it cost $300.” Mom gasped—like, loudly! “But, I have $200 saved up from doing all my chores. I’ll pay for $200 of it, and if you’ll let me put it on lay-away, I’ll pay it off in less than a year. I’ll still do all my chores and you don’t have to give me my $10 allowance.”
Mom had her hand on her forehead. Everyone else just outright laughed at me. I had no idea why any of this was funny!
“And by the way, Mom...I do most of the chores in the house, but get paid the same as Doug. There’s something wrong with this system. In addition, how is a girl supposed to buy anything when she only gets paid $10 a month? I’d have to save up for almost three years before I could buy a dress. And what about shoes? I’d be in college before I could save up for a pretty dress and a pair of decent dress shoes.”
Mom’s head titled back and all I heard was a sigh.
“You know, Delaney,” my dream man spoke up, “I haven’t bought you a Christmas present yet. Why don’t I pay for the rest of your dress?” Gaaawwwddd! Did I ever tell you I love this man?
“No.” What a party-pooper that Barbara Reid was! “That’s way too much for Donovan to be paying for your irresponsibility.”
Come on, Mom! Can’t I just accept and move on?
“How about if I chip in with Donovan?” I love Jake!
“I’ll chip in, too. Then it’s only $33 a person.” Kelley smiled at me.
I ran over and hugged all three of my saviors—of course, Donovan got the last and longest hug.
What a fantastic Christmas!
AGE 11—New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day is always a long, long day. It starts way too early for my liking. Our whole family meets at the end of the cul-de-sac and walks far, far away to watch the parade. The great thing about the parade—the cool floats; the bad thing about the parade—the porta-potty. Those are so gross. I always make sure I don’t drink anything so I can hold my pee all morning.
“Where are the donuts?” Donovan said as we picked up the Taylor family on our way to the parade. They live very close to us and every year, we walk to the parade together.
“Mom has them in the rolling cooler with hot cocoa.”
“Happy New Year, Little Girl.”
“Same to you, Donovan.”
“Did you make a New Year’s resolution?”
“I sure did!” My resolution is to get married to you at exactly double my age, today.
“What is it?”
“It’s for me to know and for you to find out...maybe...” I smiled and tried to walk ahead so I wouldn’t have to explain myself.
“Get back here,” he pulled me right back to his side and had his arms around me.
“Give me a hint.”
“Nope!”
“What’s the big deal? Why can’t you tell me?”
The big deal is…I want to marry you.
“Can’t a girl have any secrets around here?”
“You are too funny, Little Girl. One day, I hope I’ll end up with a girl who’ll keep me laughing like you do.”
And one day, I hope I’ll end up with you!
When Donovan was busy hanging out with Jake, I wrote a note and slipped it into his coat pocket. The note read, Donovan, I truly hope you will one day help my New Year’s resolution come true. See you again in 11 years.
AGE 11—Valentine’s Day
Mom didn’t throw a Valentine’s Day party this year, but I was determined to give Donovan a card and tell him how I feel. I was old enough to know who I wanted to marry, and if I didn’t let Donovan know that
he was the perfect man for me, someone else might steal him from me. Today was it. I was going to confess and get this over with. Now, I just needed somehow to find Donovan.
“Hi Jake. Happy Valentine’s Day!”
“Same to you, Squirt.”
“Did you get a nice gift for Kelley?”
“Well...Kelley and I decided to call it quits.”
“Again? Why do you and Kelley break-up so much?”
Jake laughed at me. “It’s complicated, Squirt. I don’t know if I want to marry Kelley, and if that’s the case, there’s no reason for us to go on.”
Now after having dated for this long, how could you not want to marry each other? What was I missing? “Who do you want to marry, then?”
“Dunno, Squirt. Maybe I’ll meet her one day in the dead of the night at some random place like the grocery store.”
Now it was my turn to laugh. “You’ve been reading way too many of those Harlequin novels my mom likes to read.” Jake laughed and messed up my hair. “Don’t tell Mom, but I read one the other day and there were a lot of things in that book I didn’t understand.”
“Yeah? Like what?”
“What’s an orgasm?” I don’t know why, but Jake started choking on his drink when I asked him this question. “Are you OK?”
It took him a while to calm down, and he wheezed out an answer. “Well...it’s um...why do you ask?”
“Because the heroine in the book kept having one. The book always had her screaming the hero’s name and yelling out, ‘I’m coming!’ I don’t get where she was coming to and why she had to yell that out. He was always right there on top of her...or was it behind her...or were they upside down? Oh, I don’t know. The two were always in strange positions.”
“Uh, maybe you should stick to your books rather than reading your mom’s?”
