by Janet Leigh
Chapter 7
Gertie and I lived in peace for a few months. She went to school during the day and worked at night in the library, and I worked during the day for my brother. Our paths didn’t cross too often except coming and going. Jake had e-mailed a few times to let me know he was fine and his new job was a little more trouble than he expected… something about difficult employees.
The summer turned into fall, and there was a slow drizzle outside. Fall was always short-lived in Texas. If we managed to get a couple of breezy days, I would feel lucky. The trees would go from bright green to naked in a matter of weeks. If you wanted to see the fall leaves, you needed to look down, because most of the fall color was on the ground. Halloween was right around the corner, and the air was charged with the excitement that preceded costumes, parties, and trick-or-treating. Gertie invited me to a Halloween party on Saturday night at one of the fraternities on campus. Normally hanging out with college guys wasn’t my scene, but my last date had been with Jake. I thought going might inspire me to start dating again.
I had just returned from my Friday-morning duty at the chiropractic office. Thankfully the clinic was only open half a day on Friday, saving me from a whole day of people complaining about their bad backs.
“Hey,” I said to Gertie as I removed my raincoat and hung it on the coatrack next to the door.
“Hey yourself. That’s a real nice outfit,” she said sarcastically.
I was wearing my Friday scrubs, which were a baby-blue color and had big yellow smiley faces all over the top.
I shrugged. “Eli likes us to match, and Paulina picked out scrubs for each day. She felt like the scrubs would put the patients in a good mood for the weekend.”
“I’m feeling happier already.” Gertie smirked. “The shoes are cool.”
I had on my favorite Dr. Martens vintage floral flower boots. They were so awesome. Gertie was on the couch with a book open on her lap, eating a big bowl of popcorn. The rectangular coffee table was loaded down with Twizzlers, gum, M&M’s, BBQ potato chips, and a giant Slurpee. All the basics needed for a midterm study session. An old Marlon Brando movie was playing on the TV. The attack cat was on the back of the couch behind Gertie’s head, stretched the length of a sofa cushion and glaring at me.
“I love these old movies,” she said. “They are so romantic; I want to meet me a Marlon Brando type.”
“Marlon Brando was also the Godfather,” I pointed out. “He killed people.”
“Yes, but he was sexy when he gave the death order.” She threw some popcorn in the air and caught it in her mouth. “So powerful and mysterious and shit, you know.”
Not really, but I went along with it.
“Do you believe in love at first sight?” Gertie asked.
“No,” I responded quickly, grabbed the last handful of popcorn out of Gertie’s bowl, and sat down next to her on the couch, avoiding the paw that reached out to bat at my hair.
“Why not?” she asked.
“I just think you should get to know the guy before you get all head over heels for him.”
“Don’t you think you can meet someone and just know you are in love?”
“Absolutely not,” I replied, but then Mr. Sexy’s face flashed in front of my eyes. “Damn,” I said as I tried to push it away.
“What was that you said?” asked Gertie.
“I had some popcorn stuck,” I lied.
“There is this guy who works in the library. He’s a stacker,” she said, and I swear I saw tiny little hearts fly out of her mouth and circle her head.
“He’s a what?”
“A stacker. He stacks the periodicals and returns the books to their proper place so the graduate nerds can do their research. I’d like to get him behind the stacks.”
“Gertie, that’s not love, that’s hormones!”
“Haven’t you ever met anyone that you just wanted to jump his bones?” Gertie asked, folding a piece of gum into her mouth.
“No!” At that precise moment, my necklace, which had lain dormant for five years, began to glow. The cat gave a low growl.
“Holy shit, you’re glowing!” Gertie shouted, pointing at my neck.
“Oh my God, Gertie, I have to go outside.” I ran out back. Gertie followed. I trampled across the garden. The door to the outhouse stood open, inviting me inside.
“What are you doing?” Gertie asked.
“I’m not sure,” I said.
“You’re not getting in that thing, are you?”
“Yes, I think I am.” I took the final step and sat down. I grabbed the two handles, whispered “Hanhepi,” and prepared to be whisked away. Before the door could shut, Gertie took a flying leap into the outhouse. The last thing I yelled was, “GERTIE, NOOOO!”
