by Rita Delude
“Fine, just let us know if you need anything. We’re here if you need us,” her mom said as Honey cleared her dish from the table and lumbered to her room.
She knew she wasn’t feeling well, but sleep wasn’t the answer just yet. She had too much on her plate she had to deal with first.
Two days later when she was in science class, she asked for a pass and dragged herself to the school nurse to say she felt like she had a fever and might have to go home. When the nurse checked her, she had a temperature of 101 degrees and she was sweating profusely and by the time Mrs. Delano picked her up from school, she had thrown up in the nurse’s bathroom twice. Honey had the flu, probably the result of overworking herself and lowering her immune system.
“I can’t have the flu. The sleepover’s in two days. I want to go.”
“It takes several days, hon. You might have to pass on this one. They’ll understand. I think it’s your body saying it’s time to rest,” her mom said as she helped her clean up and get into bed. Then she hustled off to the kitchen and came back with supplies.
“I’ll contact the school and let them know you’ll be out for a few days. They can send your homework assignments through the school’s portal, and you can do them or not depending on how you are feeling. But mostly, I want you to sleep,” her mom said as she put the largest kitchen pot on the floor next to Honey’s bed in case she needed to vomit into it, plus placed a huge glass of water and some crackers on her nightstand. “Is there anything else you need before I go back to work?” she asked.
“No, Mom, thanks. I just want to sleep. Will you pull the blinds, please? I just want it dark in here, so I can sleep forever.” Before her mom left the room, Honey was out cold.
Chapter Eighteen
Recovering from the flu took more days than Honey had before the sleepover, so she couldn’t attend, but the others did.
“Where’s Honey?” Sophie demanded when she and Annette arrived at Amanda’s.
“Her mom called. She’s still down with the flu and can’t come.”
“Sure, she is. She just didn’t want to face a night of ‘truth or dare’ or ‘twenty questions’,” Sophie hissed.
“Sophie, stop, you’ll give Annette all the wrong ideas about Honey,” Tara argued.
“Wrong ideas? We have no ideas. We don’t know her yet. That’s what this night was supposed to be about and the star attraction doesn’t show. Figures,” she said and planted herself in Amanda’s black bean bag chair. Amanda’s room was all pink, white, and black with pink and white striped walls.
“We can still have fun. And it’s not like she planned it. I was in her science class when she left for the nurse’s office. She was literally green,” Tara said. “She’s been at every practice painting scenery and props, hauling shit around, doing whatever Henry tells her needs to be done. Not many people want those shit jobs. I get the feeling she’s one of us. So cut her some slack, will ya?”
“I haven’t heard any of this good stuff about the new chick just that she licks lollipops like she’s hot to trot and dresses like a hoe,” Annette said.
“That’s what you’ve been telling her?” Ruby stared Sophie down.
“Well, it’s true.”
“She hasn’t dressed like a hoe since about the first week of school, and if you don’t like her lollipops, maybe you don’t like my bubble gum, either,” Mandy challenged.
“Okay, okay, chill. I was just saying,” Sophie held her hand up to put a stop to the anger firing from one of her best friends.
“How about we do something fun, like a game of Risk?” Annette asked.
“How about a Bachelorette marathon?” Tara suggested.
“Oh, I am so sick of that shit. It is so fake. Please. Anything else,” Sophie begged.
They settled on Monopoly and played for hours while Amanda snapped pictures of them in funny poses. After all, she was the yearbook photographer, but promised none of those would see the yearbook. Mrs. Pearson stopped by periodically with snacks and kept the girls well fed and hydrated. The next morning when they were gorging on waffles, bacon, eggs, and sausage, even Sophie had to admit it had been a fun night.
Meanwhile, even though Honey wasn’t well enough to attend the sleepover, she was beginning to feel well enough to catch up on the assignments teachers had sent home through the portal, and she worked on those for short periods at a time, ate the homemade chicken with rice soup her mom made for her and was able to keep it down, and slept most of the days of that weekend away. By the time Sunday came around, she felt like she could go downstairs to try sewing on her Scarlett dress. When she entered the sewing room, there it stood on her dress form in all its royal blue glory. There were no buttons or bows yet, but when she looked closer, the petticoat was finished, and the hoop skirt she’d purchased was under it, and her mom had continued the multi-layers just as Honey had started them. Honey couldn’t tell where she’d stopped sewing and her mom started. It was seamless.
“I hope you don’t mind. I left all the finishing touches to you, but with you being so sick and the party next week, I just couldn’t see how you’d get it all done.”
Honey turned then and hugged her mom. “Oh, Mom, thank you. I don’t think I could have finished without you. I’ve got a few buttons and bows to do, and I want to add an insert at the bust line. No matter how revealing the real Scarlett was, I don’t want to be that girl that everyone gossips about.”
“Oh, I’m so glad you aren’t mad. I had so much fun working on it. I just followed what you were doing. Your work was perfect. I’m very proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mom. Did you see Henry’s outfit?”
“Show me.”
She did and her mom was impressed with that too. “I’ve never attempted men’s wear. This is so nicely tailored. We may very well see you on Project Runway someday, my girl.”
“Thanks, Mom, that is if I don’t write the next Great American Novel first,” Honey said with a wink. “I’m glad we moved here.”
“I am too, Honey. I like my job, Dad likes his, and Annie’s happy, too.”
They hugged each other again, and Honey went to work on her costume convinced that she’d finish it that night, but she did tire and quit early to go to bed, so she could get back to school the next day. She wasn’t the type of student who liked to miss classes.
Henry had been calling her everyday while she was ill and Amanda called too. Henry filled her in on what was happening backstage, and after the sleepover, Amanda gave her the scoop on what the girls did.
“I really am sorry I missed it. Honest,” Honey said.
“I know you are, but there’ll be other sleepovers. Not to worry. We do them a lot. You’ll be included again. I think Sophie wants you to meet her friend from Franklin.”
“How’d she meet her?”
“They take piano lessons from the same teacher. They are both so talented; their instructor takes them and some others to competitions, so they’ve gotten very close over the years.”
“That’s nice,” Honey said. “I used to have a friend I was very close with for years…”
“Sounds like a ‘but’ coming,” Mandy said.
“Oh, well, I’ve moved. You know. It’s hard to keep in touch when you’re not involved with the same people or things.”
“That’s sad.”
“Yeah, it was sad. Very sad when I lost her. I lost a lot of friends before I left Maine.”
“Before?” Mandy said.
“Did I say before? I meant when. This flu has got me crazy. Sorry.”
“I better let you rest. Talk later.”
“Later,” Honey said and hung up, but she wondered why she’d slipped to Amanda as she did. Was it Freudian? Did she want someone to know? She’d have to ask Sandy about it. She still had her regular appointment with Sandy scheduled for Monday; she hoped she’d feel well enough after a long day at school to add on the time the appointment would take.
Worry about that tomorrow, she though
t as she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Nineteen
She needed a couple of Tylenol to get her through Monday’s classes, and she told Henry she had a doctor’s appointment and wouldn’t be working on sets after school, but she made it through the day.
“You look like you’re feeling sick,” Sandy said as she met Honey in the front waiting area.
“Actually, I’m better really. I’ve spent the last four and a half days home with the flu, but I went to school today, and the doctor says I’m not contagious. So you’re safe.”
“I’ve had my flu shot, anyway, but thanks.”
“I’ve got a serious issue for you today,” Honey started the conversation from her favorite of the comfy chairs, the blue one. “I’m starting to get close to Amanda. She actually invited me to a sleepover, but the flu kept me away, but she kept tabs on me all weekend and filled me in. We had some nice talks and texts.”
“That’s nice.”
“We got talking, and she told me Sophie has a close friend from Franklin she met through her piano competitions, and I told her I used to have a close friend in Maine, but then I added that ‘I lost a lot of friends before I left Maine.’ And she caught the word before and called me on it. She’s quick and smart. So I said it was the flu making my brain crazy; I said I meant when I left Maine. But the truth is I lost so many before, as you already know because some didn’t believe me, some thought I was a slut as a result, and some just didn’t understand and wanted nothing to do with me. What I want to know from you, professionally, I mean, is was that a Freudian slip? Did I want Amanda to ask about what happened to me in the past, so I’d have someone to tell?”
Honey loved so many things about Dr. Sandra Bechard, but what she loved most was that she kept her mouth shut and didn’t interrupt until she came to a full stop and gave her permission to speak. Most adults just butted in like what kids had to say wasn’t as important as what they had to say.
“Wow, Freudian slip. You do want a professional opinion, don’t you?”
“Yes, please.”
“Is that what you first thought when the words slipped out of your mouth?”
“Yes.”
“I have to say, you are well ahead of most of my clients your age. But for you to ask that, I think that you think it was. That you think you want to tell someone. Am I right?”
“Yes.”
“Why? When you first came here, you wanted no one to know. In fact, that’s why your family moved from Maine. Trust me; I’m not judging one way or another here. I’m just asking to give you something to think about.”
Honey sat in silence for a long time and Sandy let her. Another thing she liked about the good doctor.
“In Maine, people got the word about what happened through the media. It was everywhere. I guess I don’t want to hide. It happened to me. I’d like to share it with someone, so that someone truly understands me and who I am. Maybe Amanda won’t be that someone, yet now or someday, I’ll find someone I want to tell. But I’ll want to tell my side. My story. Not his, not the rumors, the media hype, the defense attorney’s misinformation to protect his client, none of that. When I can do that, I’ll know I’m on my way to really healing and to finding a soulmate—someone I can be truly honest with and trust with my real life story.”
“That’s amazingly perceptive of you. Yes, hearing that, I believe it was a Freudian slip in the best sense of the term the way people take it to mean today. Not how Freud meant it, but you’d need years of psychology classes to know what I’m talking about there. Don’t bother. You have other talents.”
“Good, I guessed right.”
“Yes, you did, and you’re also right that it might not be Amanda. It has to be someone you trust here or later in college; otherwise, it could be Augusta all over again.”
“I know, and I certainly don’t want that. Maybe that’s why I stopped myself. I’m not sure yet.”
“That’s my guess, too.”
“How’s your Scarlett dress coming?”
“Well Rhett is finished, except Henry has to get a top hat, but he says the school has that in wardrobe and Mr. Farnsworth will lend it to him. And I complete the finishing touches tonight. I’ll show you next week. I’m just hoping it doesn’t get ruined somehow at the party. I plan to donate it to the costume collection at the school.”
“I cannot wait to see it. I’ve read the book three times, and have the movie memorized, I swear.”
Honey giggled. “I’ve read it four times.”
“That’s because you’re a faster reader, I bet.”
They chatted like old friends for a while, and then her time was up. When she got outside, she noticed there was a text from Henry saying he’d gotten the top hat and would bring it over that night and try on his costume.
She was anxious for him to see it. He needed to come that night in case there were adjustments to be made, she’d still have time to fix it. She wondered whether she should show him her dress or surprise him. So she texted Amanda because that felt right.
Honey: Henry’s coming to try on his costume. Should I show him my dress?
Amanda: If you like him, don’t. Surprise him on Sat.
Honey: OK
Amanda: Let me know what you do.
When her mom arrived to pick her up, Honey was eager to get home and sew the last buttons on the dress and the last bows on the bonnet, and stash the dress away.
Henry arrived after the Delanos had finished their dinner. Except for lengthening the arms just a bit, the Rhett Butler costume fit him perfectly, and they both laughed when he put on the black top hat and said, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
“But I do give a damn about your dress. I can’t wait to see it. If you did this well on my costume, I can only imagine how impressive your dress is.”
Honey smiled, licked on her lollipop, and smiled some more. “I’ve decided to surprise you. You’ll see when you come to pick me up for the party. Oh, Henry, I hope we win the first prize for best costume.”
“Cory’s never had a Halloween party in Laconia before, but I’ve been to Halloween parties around here for years, and no one dresses as nice as you’ve got me looking, so they should be giving you a giant trophy or something,” he said, fingering the fabric. “It seems so expensive.”
“I go to Goodwill, and get most of my fabrics there. Your suit started as two men’s suits. They’re just repurposed. It’s better for the environment that way too.”
“I love it,” he said and leaned down to give her a kiss on her cheek. Then he backed away. “Oh, sorry. I promised I wouldn’t do that.”
She slapped his arm. “You didn’t promise me you wouldn’t kiss me. I like kisses as much as anyone. Come here,” she said. He leaned in low to her because he was a good seven inches taller than Honey. Then she kissed him tenderly on the lips. “I’m glad you like your costume, and that it mostly fits. My mom helped in the end with my dress because I was so damn sick I just didn’t have time to do it all. Go back into the bathroom and change. Bring me the shirt and jacket, and I’ll lengthen the sleeves tonight, so you can take it home.”
“Sure,” he said. He turned to leave the room, but turned around to her. “Honey, thanks.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you like it.”
“I do, but I meant for the kiss.” She could feel her face heat up then and was pretty sure it wasn’t the flu coming back; at least she prayed it wasn’t.
Chapter Twenty
When Henry picked Honey up for the party, he was struck into silence as she descended the staircase until finally, he said, “Why, Scarlett, I do think you’ll put all the other lasses to shame with how lovely you look tonight.” Then he took her gloved hand and kissed it while her mom snapped pictures and Annie giggled.
“My dear Mr. Butler, you do charm me so,” she answered him. And off they went into his car with him helping her in and pressing down on the hoop to get it to stay in long enough to close the door.
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“Do you really like it?” she asked as they drove away.
“You look like you just drove off the movie set with your long, black hair up in that fancy hairdo, your dark eyes, that red lipstick. You’ve got Scarlett down 100%,” he answered.
“And look at you Rhett with your mustache and goatee. I didn’t know you’d do that.”
“I’ve been working around theater productions since sixth grade. I don’t want to act, but I know how to make it look right,” he admitted.
“You sure do,” she agreed and put her arm on his as they drove to Cory’s. He could feel his heart grow two sizes, and she felt like she had grown wings.
The night of the party the weather was perfect. Everyone had been asked to bring Halloween themed foods, and most parents had been talked into extended curfews by an extra hour or more for those kids who had curfews. Cory had two older brothers and two sisters who were just five and seven, so his parents had left the two girls at a sleepover with friends from school while his mom, dad, and brother Joel who wasn’t away at college acted as chaperones. This group mostly had parents who wouldn’t have let them attend if there weren’t going to be adults around to supervise.
Sometimes at parties it wasn’t much more than outdoor recess with people talking in clusters, but Mrs. Lee decided they were to take a step back into childhood, and she organized games for them. No one was forced into playing, but once a few volunteered, their competitive nature took over and all hell broke loose with people wanting to win. After all, there were members of the football team, some basketball players, some debate team members, and Robotics team members. Whether they were nerds or jocks they wanted to win, and the games didn’t give the upper hand to the jocks—so it was anyone’s opportunity to shine.
They had relay races with the guys against the girls, but each racer had to land on a bench, grab a balloon, sit on the balloon and pop it before he or she could tag the next member of the team to continue to race. The girls won. It had been neck and neck for a while until with the last few racers, the girls really took over with them easily corralling the balloons and popping them. It wasn’t until the race was finished that those final few girls admitted they used bobby pins to pop the last few balloons, but no one cared because it was so much fun.
