Barbara L. Clanton - 2 - Tools of Ignorance - Lisa's Story

by Barbara L. Clanton

“Lisa Bear?” Sam laughed.

  Lisa reached around Bridget to smack Sam playfully on the arm. “Papa, come on. In front of company?”

  “What?” Her father asked innocently. “Oh, hey,” the tone of his voice indicated that he was changing the subject. “How’s Marlee doing? She pitched a little this week, right?”

  “Yeah. She’s all set to pitch against East Valley tomorrow.”

  Her father nodded. “Big playoff game against your biggest enemy, eh?” He looked at Sam and winked.

  Sam smiled back at him.

  Lisa narrowed her eyes and looked at Sam over Bridget’s head. “Why yes. Yes it is. Mom, why did you invite the enemy into our home?”

  It was Sam’s turn to reach around Bridget to smack Lisa. “Hey, was this food poisoned? That hot dog and mashed potato thing, that wasn’t an evil plot, was it?” Sam put both hands to her throat. “Arghh,” she groaned as if poisoned.

  Bridget and Lawrence Jr. giggled and grabbed their own throats. “Arghh,” they groaned with Sam. Lynnie smiled, but didn’t join in. Lisa looked at her parents and said with a laugh, “I think you have five children now.”

  Lisa’s mother and father laughed, and her mother said, “Yeah, I’d say Samantha fits right in. We’ll have to call her Samantha Brown from now on.”

  Sam beamed, and Lisa’s heart leaped at the sight.

  “Okay, Brown children,” Lisa’s mother playfully including Sam in the command, “let’s clean up the table and then we can play lawn darts.”

  “Lawn darts,” Lawrence Jr. shrieked. “Hurry up, you guys.” He scrambled off the bench of the picnic table and threw his paper plate in the metal trash can. He stood with his hands on his hips.

  Lisa grimaced at Sam. “Are you ready for lawn darts with two kids under the age of seven?”

  Sam’s eyes grew wide. “Where’s your catcher’s gear? We might need it.”

  “Really.” Lisa laughed.

  “Hey, you guys,” Sam said to Lisa’s sisters and brother. “I brought you all something.”

  “You did?” Lynnie stood up quickly and threw her plate in the trash can.

  “Yeah.” Sam smiled. “Let me go get the stuff from the car.” She stood up and pulled her car keys out of her pocket.

  Lisa looked at Sam with one eyebrow raised. “Do you need help?”

  “Nah, I’ll be right back.”

  Sam headed around the side of the house. Lisa looked at her sisters and brother and shrugged. “Make sure you all say thank you, okay?”

  They nodded, and Lisa busied herself cleaning up the table.

  Sam came back around the house with a box, set it on the table, and the entire Brown clan, including Lisa’s parents, gathered around.

  Sam pulled out a brand new Candy Land board game and handed it to Bridget. “This is for you. Maybe we can play this later. After lawn darts.”

  “’Kay,” Bridget said running her hand over the colorful box.

  “Say thank you,” Lisa’s mother admonished.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, Bridget.”

  Bridget took the game box to the other end of the picnic table and asked her father to help her open it.

  Sam reached back in the box and pulled out a brand new Transformer action figure in a sealed box. Lawrence Jr.’s eyes lit up, but Sam held the toy out toward Lynnie. “Lynnie this is for you.”

  Lawrence Jr.’s face fell which caused the entire family, including Sam, to laugh. “I’m just kidding.” She handed the toy to Lawrence Jr. “Of course this is for you.” She winked at Lynnie who smiled back.

  “Thanks, Sam.” He grabbed the toy from her hands and tore open the packaging.

  Sam cleared her throat and faced Lynnie. “I have something for you, too. I noticed you liked books about wizards, and I wasn’t sure if you’d read these yet.” She pulled out a hardcover edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

  Lynnie reached for the book and ran her hand across the colorful cover.

  “Have you read this one?”

  Lynnie shook her head.

  “Oh, good.”

  Lisa’s heart swelled. Sam had found a way to bond with Lynnie right off the bat.

  Lynnie clutched the book tightly to her chest and then gave Sam a hug. “Thank you.”

  “Oh, you’re welcome.” She pulled another book from the box. “I brought you the entire series, because if you’re anything like me, you’ll have this book finished like that.” She snapped her fingers. “And then you’ll want to read the next one right away.”

  “Oh, Samantha,” Lisa’s mother said. “That was very generous. She just recently discovered books about magic, wizards, and witches. Right Lynnie?”

  Lynnie nodded, but didn’t look up. She had already started reading the first page.

  Sam smiled. “Well, I’m glad I could feed her need to read. Oh, and she can keep the books, by the way. I have another set at home.”

  “Really?” Lisa said.

  Sam nodded.

  “Thank you so much.”

  Sam blushed. “No problem.”

  Lisa’s mother went into the house with the leftover hot dogs. Her father busied himself setting up the lawn darts with help from Lawrence Jr. and Bridget. They were all out of earshot, except for Lynnie who sat at the table, but she was so absorbed with her new book, that she didn’t seem to be aware of anything else.

  “You just wait until I get you alone later,” Lisa whispered.

  “Oh, yeah?”

  Lisa waggled her eyebrows. “It’s our two week, two day anniversary.”

  “I know. How soon until we can get out of here?” Sam whispered back.

  “After the annual lawn dart competition, you can take me anywhere that’s dark and secluded.”

  Sam blushed to her blond roots and then cleared her throat. “Hey, can you believe Susie broke up with Marlee?”

  “Trying to change the subject, eh?”

  Sam nodded.

  Lisa grinned. “You know, I thought Marlee broke up with Susie that day we visited her after her accident. I mean, geez, Susie looked so devastated when she came flying out of the house. I feel so bad that Jeri and I didn’t go back up to see if she was okay.”

  Lisa’s mother opened the screen door and tossed a wet rag onto the table. “Honey, can you wipe the table?”

  “Sure, Mom. Hey Lynnie, go inside and read, okay?”

  “Okay.” Lynnie got up, still reading, and went inside the house.

  Sam tossed a napkin in the trash can. “You weren’t out to Marlee yet, were you?”

  “Not then, but we’re out to each other now.” Lisa grinned.

  “Yeah, I know. You gotta have somebody to talk to.” Sam sighed. “I hope she takes Susie back. Susie’s miserable.”

  “If she’s so miserable, why’d she break up with Marlee in the first place?” Lisa continued to wipe the table. “I mean, c’mon. You break up with someone and then two weeks later beg to come back? That makes no sense. Did you read the letter Susie wrote to Marlee?”

  Sam shook her head.

  “Me, neither, but Marlee said Susie wants a sign from her at our game tomorrow.”

  “I know what the sign is,” Sam said with a grin.

  “Ooh! What is it?” Lisa threw the rag on the table and sat down in a heap. “Tell me.”

  Sam leaned closer. “She wants Marlee to…”

  “Oh, c’mon, what?”

  “Nope. Marlee should be the one to tell you. I’ve been too much of a gossip queen already.”

  “Oh, you suck.” Lisa smacked Sam playfully on the arm.

  “Okay, everybody,” Lisa’s father announced. “It’s time for lawn darts.”

  Sam stood up. “Saved by the lawn dart.”

  Just as Lisa stuck her tongue out at Sam, her mother came back out for the rag. “Oh, that’s mature, Lisa.”

  “I know.”

  Lisa’s father called, “Mama, are you in?”

  “Nope. You go
on ahead. I have to put the food away.”

  “Okay, Mama’s out. Lynnie’s at Hogwarts, so it’s me, Bridget, and Samantha against Lisa and Lawrence Jr.”

  Lisa grabbed a blue lawn dart. “I think that championship game got started a day early.”

  “Bring it on, Lisa Bear. Bring it on.” Sam ran before Lisa could smack her with the business end of the lawn dart.

  Lisa and Lawrence Jr. lost the first game, so Lisa quickly challenged the other team to a best two out of three tournament. When they lost again, it quickly turned into the best three out of five. Lisa lost track of the number of games they played and was surprised when her Mom called Bridget and Lawrence Jr. in to get ready for bed.

  “Mom,” Lisa called once she and Sam had successfully gotten both Bridget and Lawrence Jr. into their pajamas. “Sam and I are going out for a quick ride, okay?”

  Lisa’s mother looked at the kitchen clock. “Okay, but be back by ten. It’s a school night, and Samantha still has a forty-five minute ride home.”

  “Okay, Mom.” Lisa took her house key off the hook by the front door. “Ready?” she said to Sam.

  “Yep.” Sam turned to Lisa’s parents. “Thanks so much for inviting me over. I had a great time.”

  “Any time,” Lisa’s father said. “Hey, are you available on the fourth of July? We have to defend our lawn darts’ championship title.”

  Before Sam could answer Lisa said, “Oh, you guys so cheated.”

  Sam laughed. “Sore loser much?”

  “Go on,” Lisa’s mother said. “Bicker in the car.” She ushered them out the door.

  Sam opened the passenger door for Lisa.

  Lisa got in. “You’re such a gentleman.”

  Sam laughed. “You won’t be saying that later.”

  “Promise?”

  Sam’s smoldering smile almost melted Lisa’s toes.

  Sam pulled into what was becoming their usual spot at the secluded Clarksonville Community College softball field. There were no other signs of life in the dark parking lot.

  Lisa took off her seatbelt. She spread her fingers and matched her hand against Sam’s. Her fingers were at least a quarter inch longer. She intertwined their fingers and pulled Sam closer. “Kiss me.”

  Lisa welcomed the warm lips against her own. Her pulse quickened. She pulled Sam closer, as if that were even possible and kissed her with a need she’d never felt before. Sam’s arms went around Lisa’s neck. Lisa nibbled her way to Sam’s ear and nuzzled Sam’s neck. She kissed her on the lips one more time and pulled back. She looked at Sam knowing her eyes gave away everything she felt for her.

  “I love your hair.” Lisa stroked Sam’s ponytail.

  Sam smiled.

  “But,” Lisa said, “let’s get rid of this.” She pulled the hair band off of Sam’s ponytail. Sam shook her head to let her hair flow free. Lisa ran her fingers through the long blond tresses. “God, you are so…” Lisa bit her lip.

  “What?”

  Lisa felt her face get hot. “Sexy.”

  “So are you.” Sam’s grin made Lisa’s heart pound. “Can I undo your braid?”

  Lisa nodded.

  “Turn around.”

  “Okay,” Lisa whispered. Hot tingles settled low in her belly as she presented her braid to Sam.

  Sam took the hair band off the bottom and untwisted the three separate strands. Using her fingers, she raked Lisa’s long hair smooth.

  Lisa moaned. “God, that feels so good.”

  Sam gathered Lisa’s long black hair into a bundle and moved it to one side. She then kissed Lisa on the back of the neck.

  Lisa shivered. “I can’t believe the way you make me feel.”

  Sam kissed her way around Lisa’s neck. She nudged Lisa’s shoulder in request for Lisa to turn back around and face her.

  Lisa obliged, and let Sam kiss her on the lips again. Lisa sighed when the kisses moved to the base of her throat.

  Sam tugged at Lisa’s shirt. “Can I take this off you?” Her voice was husky.

  Lisa’s stomach clenched as she registered Sam’s request. Her face got warmer as she took a quick look out the windows. Not a single soul was in sight. She leaned away from Sam and lifted her T-shirt up with shaking hands. Sam helped her take the shirt off the rest of the way. Lisa was glad she had chosen to wear a lace bra instead of a sports bra.

  “So pretty.” Sam traced the outline of Lisa’s lace bra with her fingers, reaching further still to trace the cleavage. Lisa melted when Sam’s lips replaced the fingers.

  Lisa lost herself in Sam’s kisses, but soon demanded equal time and unbuttoned Sam’s shirt. Her heart clenched when she saw the loveliness of Sam’s body hidden only by her silk bra.

  It wasn’t long before both bras found their way to the floor of the Sebring. The girls embraced and pressed their softness against each other. Lisa couldn’t believe how amazing Sam’s soft skin felt against hers.

  Sam stroked Lisa’s face. “You are so damn gorgeous. I wish this stupid center console wasn’t in the way.”

  “I know, but I don’t care. I’m with you, so I don’t care.” She pulled Sam closer and kissed her again.

  The town clock began chiming. “Oh, geez.” Lisa scrambled for her shirt. “It’s ten o’clock. I’m dead meat.” She handed Sam her shirt. “You gotta take me home.”

  Sam frantically searched for the bras and finally found them nestled together under the brake pedal.

  They tried to dress in a hurry and kept knocking elbows. Lisa burst out laughing. “I’m gonna pull a muscle.”

  Sam laughed and got her own shirt situated and properly buttoned. She started the car engine. She sped all the way back to Lisa’s house and pulled the Sebring in front of the driveway at ten minutes past ten.

  Sam stroked Lisa’s cheek. “I had a great day.”

  “Me, too. I had no idea I’d let you get to second base today.” Lisa grinned.

  “Hey, I am a second baseman, you know, but I think if that stupid town clock hadn’t rung, I’d be a third baseman about now.”

  Lisa smacked Sam playfully on the arm. She sighed. “I have to go in. Do I look okay?”

  “You look amazing, but you’d better stop smiling.”

  “I can’t help it.” Lisa smiled even bigger and then leaned over to kiss Sam again.

  The front porch lights flickered off then on again.

  “Oh, geez.” Lisa squeezed Sam’s hand. “I hope we didn’t just get caught. Oh, God. I don’t care.” She opened the car door and stepped out. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

  “Definitely.”

  Lisa took a few steps up the driveway and realized her braid was still undone. She gulped when she noticed her mother watching through the front window.

  Chapter Eight

  Win-Win

  LISA SAT ON the Cougars’ team bench with Jeri on one side and Marlee on the other. The championship game against the East Valley Panthers was set to get underway in under an hour. The Panthers hadn’t arrived yet, but as soon as their bus pulled in, Lisa knew it would be hard not to run over to Sam. Marlee would probably have an even harder time ignoring Susie because, as far as Lisa knew, she hadn’t decided whether to take Susie back or not.

  Coach Spears laid her scorebook on the team bench. “You’ve worked hard all year, ladies, and now it’s time to show East Valley,” she pointed to the empty visitors’ bench, “that you are the better team. This is the one game you’ve worked for all season.” She gestured toward the team’s two seniors, Jeri and Paula, and said, “I’m sure our seniors would appreciate a trophy and a shot at States. It’s time to put up or shut up, ladies.” She looked at her watch. “Okay, go take your warm up laps as a team.”

  Lisa ran her laps with Marlee, and then they warmed up in the pitching area behind the bleachers. Once she was satisfied that Marlee was properly warmed up, they walked back toward the bench. Lisa waved to her family in the bleachers as she went by.

  “Play well, honey,” her mother
called.

  “Do your papa proud,” her father said.

  “I’ll try, Papa, I’ll try.” She laughed when she saw Bridget and Lawrence Jr. already covered with dirt playing Tonka trucks. Lynnie sat reading one of her new Harry Potter books.

  Lisa and Marlee joined Jeri on the team bench. Jeri leaned over Lisa and said to Marlee, “She wants you to give her a sign?”

  Apparently Jeri the straight girl was just as intrigued by Marlee’s love life as Lisa was.

  Marlee nodded. “She said that if I took off my hat today and nodded my head yes that’ll mean I’ll give her another chance. Otherwise, if I don’t give her a sign, she’ll just stay in East Valley and leave me alone.”

  “What are you gonna do?” Lisa and Jeri asked at the same time. Lisa smacked Jeri on the leg.

  “Oh, c’mon, you guys. Honestly, I really don’t know.”

  “Fine,” Jeri grumbled. “Don’t tell us. But I think…nah, it’s your decision.” Jeri ran off to catch pops with Paula and some of the other outfielders.

  The big luxury bus from East Valley pulled in.

  “Breathe, Marlee, breathe.” Lisa took a deep breath of her own. She desperately wanted to look for Sam, but didn’t for Marlee’s sake.

  A perfect day for softball had been delivered. The skies were crystal blue with puffy white clouds. It was the perfect day to take Sam to Lake Birch, or better yet, to take a ride on the back roads outside of town and find a secluded spot far, far away from people.

  Even though she promised herself she wouldn’t, she snuck a peek at the red and black East Valley team making its way toward the visitors’ side of the field. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw Sam, hair loose, black softball bag slung over her shoulder, eyes bright. Lisa smiled. Her heart sped up when Sam smiled back at her.

  “Hi,” Sam mouthed from across the field and waved.

  Lisa waved back. “Good luck,” she mouthed.

  Sam wiggled the fingers on both hands as if sending bad luck whammies. Lisa stood up, mouth open in disbelief. She put both hands on her hips and shook her head slowly. She couldn’t hold the pose and laughed.

  Sam laughed, too, and yelled over, “I’ll talk to you after.”

  “After. Okay.” Lisa turned away from the East Valley team and pulled out her chest protector and mask.