by R. D. Power
She paused to ruminate, then said, “Okay. Why don’t we get together on Sunday, and we’ll see how it goes?”
He assented and left.
As she reflected on their discussion, she smiled. It seemed he was falling inexorably for her. He can’t stand being without me, she thought with great satisfaction. He said he needed me. And we may be beginning a relationship that might lead to marriage! she told herself hopefully—but perhaps naïvely. The healing process was well underway: her love was coming back strong.
Lying awake in bed that night, thinking about his discourse with Kristen, he was startled by a knock at his window. He looked to see the time—it was 11:47—and went to the window. He opened the blind. There was Kristen smiling. “Get dressed,” said she. “It’s lovely outside. It’s warm, there’s a light breeze, the air is fresh, the crickets are singing. The moon is full and it’s just rising; it looks enormous and has an orange tinge. Walk with me.”
He put on his clothes, climbed out the window and accompanied her down to the river. On the spur of the moment she stepped into the ankle-deep, limpid water, and pulled him off the riverbank and into the river, which was shallow after a dry summer. They gingerly stepped to the middle of the river.
The moon, which hung just above the horizon in the east, lit up the whole river. The orb itself reflected in the river about one hundred-fifty feet to the east. The ripples in the water seemed to break it apart, the eddies conveying the moonlight downstream until it coursed across their feet, only to disappear in their long shadows to the west—but reappear downstream, albeit more indistinct, and continue as far as the river went.
She turned to him, embraced him, looked into his eyes, and smiled. “Everything’s perfect,” she whispered as she moved her lips into place to kiss him. Lasting for almost four minutes, the kiss was the most passionate she would ever give. She felt the beat of his heart. She felt secure in his strong arms. She felt his excitement and relished her power to arouse him so. When the kiss was over, she took his hand and led him back to the trail, out of the woods, and back to her house. “Good night,” she cooed; she pecked his cheek and went inside. He stood there smiling for a moment then went back home.
Kristen’s parents greeted her upon her return home. “Where were you?” asked Lisa.
“Down by the river with Bobby,” she stated in a defiant tone.
“What were you doing down there with him?” said Bill.
“We talked, held hands, and kissed once … I’m not doing this because I enjoy deceiving or defying you. I’m in love with him! If I can’t see him, I’ll die. Please stop trying to keep us apart.”
“What about Dominic?” challenged Bill. “Just a while back you seemed enthralled with him, kissing on his fancy boat. I can’t imagine you love Bob so much if you’re that fickle.”
“Dominic is handsome and rich and so much fun, but he can’t make me laugh with his wit, he can’t enchant me with his words, he can’t give me goose bumps with a simple smile, he can’t make the rest of the universe disappear when he holds me in his arms, and he can’t make me sick to my stomach when he’s with another girl. I’m not fickle. I love Bobby and only Bobby. I will always love him.”
Her parents looked at each other, impressed by her passion and eloquence. It convinced them her love for Robert was genuine. Maybe because of this, or maybe because this boy was preferable to Dominic in their eyes, or maybe because they were concerned their relationship with her would be irreparably damaged if they continued their prohibition against him, they decided to relent a little.
“Will you agree to our stipulations?” asked Lisa.
“What are they?”
“First and foremost, do not have sex with him,” commanded Bill.
“Your father’s right,” seconded Lisa. “Make him earn your love. Give nothing away until well after he’s pledged his love to you.”
Kristen nodded. This was her position anyway.
Lisa continued, “If we permit you to see him, you’ll do it under our supervision. That means you can bring him here when we’re here, but you can’t see him otherwise without our specific permission.”
“He knows you hate him. He might not come here.”
“He will if he loves you,” said Lisa. “Does he love you?” Kristen looked down. “I see,” said her astute mother. “That gives him all the power, which makes it all the more important you listen to us. When you earn our trust back, and he shows he can be trusted with you, we’ll give you more leeway.”
Kristen looked dismayed with the strict conditions, but she had little choice but to consent.
•
The following day at school, a new kid in school approached Robert, wondering about his willingness to use his talent with computers for personal gain. Robert was well-known as the expert with computers in the school. Anyone with a question came to him rather than the teachers. The schoolmate had told him of lax security measures used by a certain bank, and how easy it would be for a computer whiz to hack in and procure thousands of dollars.
Robert had a real talent for hacking, especially with the modern computers in the computer lab at school, though thus far he’d done no real harm with his skills. He’d hacked into the school’s system to raise the grades of a few students who had paid him for his service; he’d got into supposedly secure sections of large company Internet sites just for the challenge of doing it; his coup had been hacking into a U.S. Army site the previous June. He’d rummaged around until it became clear the intrusion had been detected. He quickly exited.
The next day, some police officers and army types had snooped around the school. Asked who might be capable of very high-level computer work, everyone pointed to him. He was taken to the principal’s office and questioned about his activities the day before. Robert admitted nothing, and they let him go, but this impressive—or was it dangerous?—boy was on their radar screen now, and they sought out more information on him.
“You’d be on easy street for the rest of your life for a few days of work,” the schoolmate suggested. He reasoned he had an excellent chance to be a major league pitcher and didn’t want to do anything to risk that, so he rejected the proposition.
It would come up again under less auspicious circumstances, however.
Chapter Eleven
Campfire and Fisticuffs
Judy, who despised Robert, could tell he was falling for Kristen and thought it would be grand to ruin the relationship. She said to Kristen, “I’m sure if you compare Dominic and Owens side by side, the obvious choice will be Dominic. We have to get the two together. Just invite Dominic to Kilworth next weekend, and we’ll have a campfire by the river. Get Owens and Dominic to come.”
“No way, Judy,” said Kristen. “I’m not playing games on Bobby. I’ll just be myself and hope he starts to love me.”
Judy shook her head and walked away.
The next Friday evening Robert, Kristen, and Jeremy went down to the flood plain to light a campfire. Judy came late and had a surprise with her: Dominic. Kristen, fuming at Judy, nervously said, “Um, Bobby Owens, this is Dominic Solano.”
Robert looked askance at her and shook Dominic’s hand. Dominic sat on the ground beside Kristen and kissed her. Robert observed the handsome man, fearing that Kristen was getting serious about him, but what could he do? How was he to compete with this moneyed man? He divined right away that this meeting had been set up for a direct comparison and started looking for an excuse to leave.
“I’m the odd man out here, so I’ll go and leave you four alone,” he said, feeling sorry for himself.
“No, please stay,” Kristen said.
He elected to stay to size up his competition, a decision he’d soon regret. Dominic pulled out a joint, lit it, took a long drag, and passed it to Judy who did the same, who passed it to Jeremy, who followed their lead. Kristen was next, but refused. She offered it to Robert, but knew he wouldn’t take it. The young athlete would never touch any illicit drugs for fear of ruining his majo
r league prospects, she knew. He did partake of wine coolers with Kristen, though.
So there they were, Dominic and Robert, sitting close by one another. Dominic had a face of almost feminine beauty, topped by blondish hair, with dark brown eyes, a thin nose, thin lips, a chiseled chin, and dimples. Robert’s were rugged, masculine good looks, with striking blue eyes, and dark hair. Dominic, as always, was dressed and toileted impeccably, displaying his looks to their utmost. Robert, as usual, was accoutered in the finest garb five dollars could buy, hadn’t dragged a comb across his head that month, and was sporting a few nasty pimples on his forehead and chin. Comparing the two physically, Kristen, who was partial to blond hair and brown eyes, considered Dominic the more handsome. Mentally, there was no contest.
Dominic, who hadn’t a clue he was wholly innocent of a sense of humor, started the competition by trying to joke. “I was a bit worried about you, Owens, since Kristen seems to think a lot of you, but I can see now that I was worried about nothing—or should I say a nothing?” Dominic laughed, Judy chortled, Jeremy sipped, and Kristen and Robert looked at each other and saw reflected frowns.
“I had an amusing idea for this evening,” Judy opened. “I brought a magazine quiz that helps a woman choose between two guys.”
“You just happen to have that in case you have to make an emergency choice at, say, a campfire?” Robert said.
“Yes,” Judy replied. “Anyway, let’s try it, shall we? It should be fun.”
“No, thanks. Count me out,” Robert said.
“Come on, Bobby,” Kristen implored. “It might be fun.”
“It doesn’t matter whether he wants to participate or not,” Judy said. “The questions are for Kristen. She has to answer them for man one, Dominic, and boy two, Owens.”
“But it would be more fun if anyone could shout out an answer,” Kristen said, thinking she might get a few laughs from Robert. She expected none from Dominic.
“First question,” Judy began. “Dominic makes you feel as if …”
“Dominic makes me feel as if I’m a little girl on Christmas because he has so many fun toys,” Kristen said with a sly glance at Robert.
Judy continued, “Owens makes you feel as if …”
Looking hard into his eyes, Kristen answered, “Bobby often makes me feel as if I’m nothing special to him.” Robert gave her an Oh, come off it look, but she returned an It’s true look. Dominic smiled.
“Now, Kristen, compose a couplet about Dominic,” Judy read.
“Okay, um …” She paused to choose her words carefully. Looking at Dominic with peeps at Robert, she said, “Dominic Solano, so handsome and fun/ I’m thankful it’s your heart that I’ve won.”
“I love you, too, honey,” Dominic proudly stated. Kristen gaped in surprise at that declaration, and turned to Robert to tactfully shake her head, but he wasn’t looking at her.
Robert jumped in with, “How about, Solano, you’re so empty of wit you bring us all down/ but you’re so full of shit your eyes are dull brown.”
Kristen erupted in laughter while looking at Dominic’s eyes. They were appealing, but did seem a touch dull; dimmed by mediocrity, she supposed. She switched her gaze to Robert’s eyes; they seemed to shine. Perhaps it was her impression of their souls.
“Okay,” Judy went on, “compose a couplet about Owens.”
Kristen focused on him and thought for a moment. She said silently, just moving her lips, “Bobby Owens, I love you most true/ I was made to spend forever with you.” Reading lips was not among his talents.
“Come on, Kristen, I know it’s hard to come up with anything good on him—” Judy started to say, when Dominic interrupted.
“Owens is such a bore, because he is so poor.” Dominic laughed heartily; he was his own biggest fan. Judy smiled her approbation.
Kristen said, “Bobby Owens, a bright and funny guy/ boy, could I go for a good slice of pie.”
“I love pie, too, honey,” Robert retorted in a tone that betrayed his waning tolerance. Kristen flashed a satisfied smile at him.
“Next question,” continued Judy. “What kind of future would you have with … Well, we know Dominic would lavish you with whatever you could possibly want, but what could Owens do for you?”
“Maybe lavish her with, uh, Tootsie Pops,” Dominic interjected with a booming laugh. “You get a hundred bucks a month, right?”
Robert scowled at Kristen as if to say, What have you told him about me? Kristen returned a confused look. Judy had imparted this information. Dominic extracted his wallet and counted out twelve hundred-dollar bills.
“This is what you get in a whole year, eh?” Dominic continued. “Want it?” He held it out to Robert, fanning out the bills so the ends floated in eddies wafting from the campfire. Robert fixed his eyes on the cash, dying to take it. Finally he couldn’t resist and reached out, but Dominic dropped the bills into the campfire. “Oops,” he said. Dominic and Judy chuckled with delight at Robert’s humiliation.
“Dominic, that wasn’t funny,” Kristen chided, embarrassed in front of Robert.
Dominic went on, “How do you entertain such a fine gal with no money? She deserves to be treated like a princess, but how can a pauper do that? The last time I was with, uh, Kristen, we went, uh, paragliding with my speedboat. She told me she never had so much fun in her life.” Robert gave her a worried glance. “What did you do the last time you were with her?”
“Well,” Robert said, “let’s see. In the days of yore—well, not that yore; it’ll be two weeks Sunday—I journeyed to her castle to seek permission from the king and queen for me to promenade with their princess.” Kristen grinned. “Their majesties glared at me as if to say I had one head too many, but granted their grudging permission after a short inquisition and a promise to relieve me of my ball sack should I touch a freckle on her royal face. Then we walked her dog, and for the first time I picked up after it. Let me tell you, if you want to impress a princess, pick up shit for her, but don’t put the bag in the Gilmours’ mailbox or she’ll yell at you.”
“I knew that was you, jackass,” said Judy.
“Then the princess entrusted to me care of the last apple in the kingdom while she took a royal wee-wee. Alack, to my eternal shame, and I vow I know not how it came to pass, I somehow failed in my sacred duty, for when she returned to collect the apple, ‘twas but a core.”
“The accursed cur who performed the foul deed stood there with a mouthful of apple crying with glee over his violation of my trust,” Kristen explained in her best haughty British accent.
Robert beamed at her easy transition into character. “Marry, good princess,” he protested, “I cry fie. Were I guilty of this heinous transgression of which I stand unjustly accused, I would fain lop off my hand—”
“Brake thine insolent tongue, knave!” Kristen returned. “Thy ceaseless prating outrunneth my forbearance. Be there any lopping of your pesky extremities, churl, the pleasure shall be mine.” Noticing his broad smile, she said, “Prithee, coxcomb, do not make light of your dishonorable conduct toward our person. Thou art most fortunate thy head doth remain on its perch.”
Robert laughed roundly. Like him with her, she got a thrill out of making him laugh. She smiled at him with gleaming eyes. As she turned away from him to address Dominic and Judy, the shine in her eyes faded as if she’d turned from the light to the dark. She clarified for the others, “He ate the whole thing in thirty seconds,” with a chuckle. “With a mouth so full of apple it was drooling down his chin, he mumbled, ‘It wasn’t me.’”
Robert continued, “Then we went for a walk past the pond, and I tried to catch a frog to give to her; you know, to see if she’d kiss it. She has no problem kissing much slimier things,” he noted, while glancing at Dominic. “Anyway, she kicked me into the pond.”
“I barely touched you. How was I to know you’d lose your balance so easily?” Kristen asked.
“My hanging onto a single blade of grass might have tipped you
off. Instead, you tipped me off. I gathered the sight of me covered in pond scum was amusing given the gales of laughter escaping her mouth, so I decided to see what was so funny about a person sitting in the slew. Seeing my intention in my eyes, she took off, but I caught her within ten paces and threw her over my shoulder. She was screaming at me, ‘Put me down! Don’t you dare, Robert!’ and kicking her legs as I walked back into the pond. I lifted her up above my head to scare her a bit, but she squirmed, and I lost my grip. She fell on me, and both of us ended up sitting in the pond covered in weeds and scum. I thought she’d be angry at me, but she started laughing again.”
“You looked so funny sitting there with green slime all over your head,” Kristen said. “Come to think of it, you as a swamp creature is a step up from the normal you.”
“Humph, methinks ye esteem me meanly, milady,” he said. “Anon I shall finish my wine cooler, and in the wake of a short nap to sleep it off, I shall storm away in a huff.” He continued with his recounting of the day’s activities two weeks ago Sunday. “Anyway, we both went home to shower and change. She hit me when I asked if we should conserve water by combining our efforts.”
“You make me sound so violent,” said Kristen. “I merely tap you on the arm to reprimand you for being naughty.”
“She came over to my house a half-hour later, and for some reason insisted on helping me with my laundry.”
“He was hanging around in his boxers because all his clothes were dirty,” she explained to the others.
“So she helped me with my laundry, and she yelled at me for putting colors and whites together. She apparently has some Afrikaner blood in her. While the washer did its thing, we watched the news, and she hit me for snickering when they showed the residue of a church that had been leveled by a tornado, killing thirty-two suckers who were worshiping the One that did this to them. The Lord, I’m guessing, relishes irony. When my clothes were dry, she yelled at me for balling up my clean clothes. She was unaware that only girls and homofaguals fold their clothes. I notice yours are wrinkle-free,” he said to Dominic. “After that we went to her house and barbequed hamburgers, and she scolded me when I dropped one, then served it to Judy.”
