by Jaci Wheeler
B’s friend A.J. was a huge help with getting me started. My parents even helped throw a few fundraising charity dinners for me to help us get off the ground. It turned out that B’s little speech at Christmas really earned my dad’s respect. Once he saw that music therapy wasn’t just a passing whim, he got on board. We are still working on my mom. I used the project for B as a prototype. One deaf school at a time, we are taking the Silent Song across the country. Fremont’s Residential School was our trial, and it went better than expected. I have someone on each coast helping me run it. A.J. has been singlehandedly running the East Coast…until now.
“Randy is driving you and all your stuff there, right?” I look down at my watch, sad to see it’s almost time to go.
“Yeah, he should be here any minute. I hate to say good-bye.”
“Then don’t. I’ll be there to visit before you know it. I have to give you time to scope out all the hotties for me.”
“You know it!”
“Okay, give me one last rib shattering hug and make sure Randy takes you by Cast Iron for your crazy tea before you go.”
I hold her tight, trying not to blubber all over her when I hear a very suspicious sniffle.
“You aren’t getting all soft on me, are you?”
“Of course not, you goob, I’m just thinking of how much I hate those freaking leaf blowers.” Leave it to Jodi to leave me laughing.
“Love your face.”
“Love yours too! Open this once you are on the road.” She hands me a wrapped gift and walks me out to the truck.
“Whatcha got there, Princess?”
“Jodi’s going away gift.”
“Well, you going to open it or what?”
“She said to wait until later to open it. Since we are four hours away, I guess now is as good a time as any.”
She must have used an entire roll of scotch tape to wrap it. After I finally get the dang thing open, there is a huge poof of glitter that covers me, Randy, and his precious truck.
“What the—!” He looks down at his lap and brushes the glitter out of his hair. “Are you freaking kidding me?”
“Sorry, Randy…I should have known she’d glitter sabotage me.”
“Glitter? Great, that stuff is like the STDs of the craft world. As soon as you think it’s all cleared up, it makes itself known in the most unfortunate of times.” I crack up laughing so hard my sides ache.
“Well, what did you get? It better be worth it after all that.”
I pull out my gift and don’t even bother hiding my groan at the bright blue leggings with hotdogs all over them. Randy takes one look at them and shakes his head.
“Hey Pres, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but I’m pretty sure your best friend hates you.”
“Nah, hotdog leggings are super kitsch.”
THE END
About the Author
I have been married to my very supportive husband for 10 years and we have two amazing Autistic kids! I always dreamed of being a writer, but life got in the way. Going through my kids different therapies and special schools and one meeting after the next I needed a way to get away from it all and find my perfect Utopia! Writing has always been cathartic to me. Who wouldn't want to leave their world for a while and step into a new one? I have so many stories and characters just waiting to find a place on your shelf! For Updates and information please go to my webpage at www.jaciwheeler.com
