A Colorful Life: Drawn in Broken Crayon

by Melissa Storm

  "Anyway, I guess I'm a new patient... or customer." She blushed.

  Playing the part of the consummate professional, Kashi said, "Ah, well in that case, I'm going to need to ask you the customary questions to get your profile established." He moved in front of the computer and his fingertips hovered over the keys.

  "Okay."

  "Question one. What is your name?"

  "You know that already, don't you?"

  "Please," Kashi said, motioning toward the computer monitor. "It's for the form, standard protocol."

  "Okay then, my name is Daly English."

  "No middle name?"

  "Victoria."

  Kashi quirked an eyebrow.

  "For my grandmother."

  "Yes, and your date of birth?"

  "July 24, 1995."

  "Marital status?"

  "Um, Single." She held back a giggle.

  "Telephone number at which you can be reached?"

  "248-555-9657."

  "Excellent." Kashi typed the number into the computer, and then recorded the digits a second time on a piece of scrap paper.

  "Is that all?"

  "Almost. Next question: What's your favorite color?"

  "What?"

  He again motioned to the monitor, as if its existence explained everything. "Please, for the form."

  "It doesn't say that!" She twisted, trying to gain a better view of the screen.

  "I assure you, this is an important question."

  "Okay... gray."

  "Oh... then next favorite color?"

  "Purple." She laughed. What was he getting at?

  "Favorite food?"

  She bit her lip. "I haven't got a favorite."

  "Impossible."

  Daly shook her head. She honestly didn't have a favorite.

  "Okay, then I'll enter my favorite." He pretended to clack at the keys in an exaggerated pantomime. "All right, you're officially in the system. Now, what can I do for you?"

  "Well, I was on my way home and started sneezing. Then I realized I'd forgotten to fill my prescription. I've got pretty severe hay fever."

  "I understand. Please, give me a moment to contact your old pharmacy, and I will fill your prescription." Kashi walked out of earshot, then reappeared and went to the back of the pharmacy. He returned after a few moments carrying a little white paper bag with her name stapled to the front.

  "Take one a day, preferably at the same time each day, and I think everything will be just fine." He rang up the purchase.

  Daly handed him her credit card, which he refused.

  "On the house," he insisted, slipping the ten dollar co-pay from his wallet into the register drawer.

  "Wow." She blushed. "I've never had a man woo me with pharmaceuticals before. Thank you."

  Kashi winked. Then, feigning surprise, he said, "Oh, it seems you've been selected to respond to a brief in-store survey."

  "More questions?"

  "I'm sorry, every fifth customer gets selected. You have no choice but to respond." He cleared his throat loudly before carrying on. "First question: On a scale of one to five, five being the absolute best possible answer, how would you rate your satisfaction with your shopping experience today?"

  "Five," she said, smiling.

  He clicked a key on the register. "Okay—on the same scale of one to five, how attractive do you find your pharmacist today?"

  "Kashi!" she gasped. "It says that?"

  "Please, you must answer the question."

  "Five." She blushed and glanced toward her toes. When she looked back up, Kashi had a crestfallen expression on his face.

  "Only five?" he asked meekly.

  "You said five was the best possible answer!"

  "Yes, but you could've picked the secret answer. If the subject feels strongly, she may volunteer six as an acceptable response."

  "Okay, okay. Six then!"

  "Only six?" he mumbled, his brow pinched in distress.

  She flicked the wrist he held poised over the register's keys. "Okay, fine. One billion!"

  "Well, that's more like it." Kashi removed the key from the register and locked up the pharmacy for the night. "So... now that the official business has been taken care of, I do believe I promised you a life-changing date, should we meet again—and meet again we have."

  "I believe your exact words were, 'very special.'" She fell into step beside him as they made their way out of the store. "But, sure, I'll settle for life-changing."

  Kashi looped his arm through hers.

  Sweat beaded on the surface of her bare arm almost instantaneously. She hoped he couldn't tell.

  "Uh-oh, I hadn't realized I'd upped the ante."

  "Yes, you did, and you better deliver," she teased.

  He was so close now. The smell of pine, cinnamon, and something sharp clung to his undershirt.

  "Well, I've planned the best date I could, but, unfortunately, the plans are better suited for the daytime—"

  "So you're going to run away from me again, are you?" She released her arm from his and stood with one hand on her hip.

  "Again? I never ran away from you, and I'm not running away now. You didn't let me finish. I was saying, I can't give you your life-changing date tonight, but I'd still like to spend some time with you, if you're available."

  "What've you got in mind?"

  "You, me, a late dinner, lively conversation." He grinned from ear-to-ear.

  Daly thought of the conversation she'd planned to initiate with Laine. If she delayed now, she might never find the courage again. She surprised herself by telling Kashi, "No, I can't. Not tonight."

  His expression fell.

  "I want to, I swear. It's just—" She groaned. "I need to do something else first."

  "Okay, so what about tomorrow morning? Will you be free then?"

  "Tomorrow's perfect."

  "Is ten o'clock fine?"

  "Yes, do you remember where I live? I'll be ready and waiting. See you tomorrow."

  ***

  Daly pushed the door open, then tossed her keys onto the half-wall and her shoes into the closet. She was never one to do things quietly or gracefully.

  "Daly, is that you?" Laine called down from her upstairs library.

  She went to the kitchen to take a dose of her new prescription pills. "Yeah, it's me."

  "Oh, you startled me!"

  "Sorry." She struggled to put the arrow on the jar in line with the arrow on the lid. When she couldn't quite get it right, she used her teeth to pry the thing free, and swallowed the first dose she'd taken in over a week. She recapped the jar and placed it on the empty kitchen counter, then stood in place staring at the flecks of gold coloring the ruddy granite slab.

  This was her chance. "Hey, Mom?"

  "Yes, what do you need?"

  She jogged up the half-flight of stairs to the library.

  As usual, Laine was sprawled in her favorite wingback chair, book in hand. She read a few more lines and then glanced up, using an index finger to hold her place in the story.

  Daly came forward and sat down on the ottoman near her mother. "What are you reading?" she asked, trying to ease into the conversation.

  Laine looked down at the book in her lap and held it up, allowing her daughter to take in the cover.

  "You've read this one before, right?" she asked, recognizing the worn cover of Mysteries of Udolpho.

  "Yes, yes, many times." Laine began to swish her foot back and forth in agitation, not unlike a cat twitching its tail.

  "What's it about?"

  "It's the original gothic novel—fear, mystery, intrigue, all the usual suspects."

  Daly nodded, trying her best to seem engaged.

  "I'm at the best part, too. An eerie stream of music is drifting through the vast forest. It has no known origin, and many frightening theories have formed, but, of course, no one knows for sure. Even though I've read this story many times, I still find myself imagining the most horrifying scenarios."

 
; "That does sound good. Maybe I can read it when you're through?" Wow, this is already the longest conversation we've had in days. Maybe Meghann knows what she's talking about, after all.

  "Sure, if you want." Laine grimaced and glanced back to the page.

  Daly waited, watching her mother's foot bob up and down, back and forth. Okay, maybe this isn't such a good idea.

  Perhaps her time would be better spent prepping for tomorrow's date, her emotions better entrusted to the pages of her sketch diary. A picture started forming in her mind, but she brushed the image away and focused on the moment.

  "Mom?" Daly had to force the word out. "Could you put the book down, take a few minutes, and talk to me? It's important."

  Laine whisked up a Venetian postcard from the side table and wedged it into the spine of the book. She glowered at Daly.

  "Well...." Daly twirled her thumbs around each other in her lap, and had to force herself to look Laine in the eye. "This isn't easy for me, so please try to be understanding."

  "Well, what is it?"

  "I spent the day with Meghann. I'm glad you introduced me to her, because she said something, which made me think...."

  "Yes, she's a perceptive young lady, is she not? Wise, very wise." Laine bobbed her head.

  "Mom," Daly blurted. "She pointed out our relationship, yours and mine, isn't the best, and.... Well, why can't it be?"

  Her mother's ramrod spine stiffened. She froze like a deer being stalked.

  "She's right. Things have been difficult with my life lately, and I wish I could talk to you about them. Remember how close we all used to be when Daddy was here? I miss that."

  Laine remained a statue, a look of hesitation plastered on her face, as if she were the child, getting scolded for having been naughty.

  "Mom, I know this isn't all your fault. It's mine, too. I think we both need a fresh start. We need to try again." She reached over and squeezed her mother's knee.

  Laine refused to look at her. Instead, she pinched the skin on the interior of her wrist. No doubt she was trying to distract herself from the thoughts of Daly's father. Crying would have been beneath her; Daly couldn't remember the last time her mother had shed even a single tear.

  "Mom?"

  Laine shifted her gaze to Daly's feet but said nothing.

  "I want to at least try to make things better between us. Do you want to try, too?"

  "Let me get back to my reading, won't you? Left over chicken cordon bleu's in the fridge. Have some."

  Daly gave herself a swift mental kick. I gave up tonight's date for this?

  Chapter 8

  Although I've never been the type to live in the moment, maybe I should consider making a change.

  Daly thumbed through the minimalist, gray blur of clothing that hung in her closet. Which combination would be best for her first date with Kashi? Because she had no idea where they'd be going but still needed to look nice for their date, she settled on a knitted cowl-necked dress that fell an inch above her knee, and added a faded camel-colored jacket on top. A pair of shiny Mary Jane shoes completed her "ready for anything" ensemble.

  In the bathroom, she bunched her hair into a ponytail and rubbed pear-berry body lotion onto her arms. The doorbell rang as she pushed a pair of silver hoop earrings into her lobes. Perfect timing.

  Kashi stood on her stoop, wearing a forest green sweater, cargo khakis, and polished Sketchers. He delicately clutched a single, purple daisy in his right hand.

  He smiled and held the flower out to her. "For you."

  Daly took a sniff of the sweet fragrance and allowed Kashi to turn her around and affix the shortened stem to her ponytail.

  "Since purple is only your second favorite color, I got you this, too." He reached into his front pocket and brought out a Hershey Kiss. "I hope you will count silver as a proper stand-in for gray."

  She plucked the candy from his palm and placed it in the front zipper of her purse. Her cheeks reddened. Would she be receiving any more kisses before the day was through?

  "And I didn't get you anything," she mumbled, turning her blush away from him.

  He winked. "Your company on this lovely morning is all I wanted, anyway."

  "So... where are we going for this life-changing date?" She squeezed past him to walk toward the car.

  "That," he said, wagging his finger as he trotted after her, "is a surprise."

  She approached the car door, but Kashi swooped in front of her and grabbed the handle.

  "Allow me." He pulled on the handle and gestured grandly, like a medieval footman.

  "Thank you." She blushed yet again as she slipped past him and sank into the car. She had a hard enough time making basic conversation; how was she ever going to manage flirting?

  While she puzzled over this, Kashi jogged back to his side of the car and pantomimed a wave as he passed before her line of vision.

  Daly giggled and trailed her fingers across the seatbelt as the car purred to life.

  Wind flew through the open windows, stirring up a rather pungent aroma.

  Yes, something to talk about! "Hey. What's that smell?"

  "Ahh." Kashi exhaled. "Somehow, I knew I wouldn't be able to keep the whole surprise from you."

  "Tell me." She smiled to show him she hadn't meant to be pushy.

  "That, Miss Daly, is our lunch—cooked specially for you. By me."

  "You made us a picnic? Aww." C'mon, Daly, talking to him like he's a kid isn't very sexy. "I mean, I can't cook to save my life, so I'm quite impressed. What did you make for us?" She sucked the spicy scent in through her nostrils—it seemed to be opening her sinuses.

  "I made three Indian dishes. Actually, they're the only things I know how to cook myself, so basically, I'm laying everything on the table on our first date. I hope that's okay." He rubbed his hands on his khakis one after the other, and the car swerved a little toward the shoulder.

  Is he nervous, too? The thought put her at ease more than anything else had so far. "Well, sure smells delicious. I'm hungry already!"

  "I appreciate your compliments, but wait until you try the cooking. Besides, I have much more planned for our day."

  "Ooh, like what?"

  "I told you." He winked.

  Man, he loves to wink.

  "It's a surprise."

  "C'mon, you can tell me," Daly teased, trying her best to add a hint of seduction to her voice.

  He laughed. "Nice try, but trust me, surprises are always more fun."

  The half-hour drive passed quickly. Daly commented on the weather; Kashi complimented her appearance. They both talked about work, school, aspirations.

  Finally, they arrived at his surprise location, one Daly recognized the moment they pulled into the massive parking structure. "Kashi! You brought me to the zoo? You are so sweet."

  "Did it work? Are you surprised?" He wore a blissful expression of relief and pride as he pulled into the nearest parking space and removed his key from the ignition.

  "You betcha. I haven't been here in ages!"

  He beamed. "I thought you might like it. I always feel so at home here."

  She gave a mischievous smile, trying to think of a witty retort. Unfortunately, the humor center of her brain didn't work quite so fast. Maybe it was lucky she had missed the opportunity to say something awkward.

  Her silence didn't seem to perturb Kashi, though. He carried on as if she were keeping up her side of the conversation, too. "Sometimes, I like to come and walk around by myself. Such a relaxing place."

  "I've always come here as part of some school trip. It's been at least ten years since the last time I was here."

  "Ten years? Then it was definitely time you came again. I'm so glad to have the honor of escorting you." He handed his credit card to the cashier, and they moved through the gates and into the park.

  "Me, too." Blush. "So, um, what's your favorite animal?"

  Kashi didn't miss a beat. "Oh, that's easy. The peacock."

  "The peacock? Why
?" She'd figured him for more of the lion or rhinoceros type—something strong and proud like him. Not dainty like the peacock.

  "I've got a story. Want to hear?"

  Daly nodded eagerly. She enjoyed the gentle cadence of his voice almost as much as she appreciated the opportunity to listen without being expected to reciprocate.

  "Growing up in India, I would look forward to the monsoon season every year," Kashi started. "Most children did not enjoy the rainy season, because we had to play inside for a couple months, but I always loved it. Each year my papa would take me and my sisters to a green, wooded area near Raj Ghat Park, and there were always many peacocks in the clearing."

  Daly listened intently, focusing on his words, trying to visualize the scene for herself. A jungle crept into her mind, with golden sunlight cascading through an emerald canopy where peacocks strutted in the shade.

  "The monsoon corresponds to their mating season. As part of their mating dance, the male birds open their back feathers up wide, turn in a circle, and shake. The vibrations coming down their feathers play tricks with the light. And every year, I would eagerly await our visit to the peacocks. Since I have moved to the U.S., I have been coming here to visit the peacocks and to watch their dance."

  "Oh, that sounds so beautiful." Daly tried to recall if she had ever witnessed the peacocks' mating dance. "When is monsoon season? Will they dance for us today?"

  "Sadly, no. The season has passed. They will begin dancing again late next spring, but I think we can still stop by and say hello, even if they won't be making their grand performance." He stopped walking and gestured at the directory. "Well, we have many choices here. We can visit the Arctic Ring of Life, the Australian Outback, or the African Savannah. Where do you want to go first?"

  Daly scrunched up her face, thinking. "How about we go that way?" She pointed randomly, yet decisively, to their right.

  "You want to start with the gardens?" He strode to their right and stopped in front of a nearby fountain. "Okay, but first...." He propped his leg up on the large stone circle, which contained a garden, waterfall, and gently flowing stream, then reached into his satchel.

  Daly's eyes darted to the khaki fabric stretched across his well-muscled thigh.