PLENTY OF TIME
by
SANDEFUR
"No offense Friedman, but the…flowers make you look like…a guy who carries flowers."
Judith walks by Friedman, who quickly calls out…
"They're for you."
He brought her flowers? Reluctantly, Judith turns back around.
Friedman hastily continues, "What Ophelia carried—daisies are for faithfulness, fennel flatttery and rosemary for remembrance."
Friedman pauses, hope on his face, but Judith's cold stare ends that hope. He thrusts the flowers into Judith's hand while saying…
"Hamlet only appeared to be mad, ya know?"
Dejected, Friedman walks back toward the school. Impulsively, Judith begins filming him with her camcorder. Friedman looks back for just a moment, catching her in the act, but he keeps walking—no doubt thinking she is making fun of him.
He brought her flowers. No guy has ever done that before. Who do you think you're kidding, Friedman? You're just another teenage horndog who wants to get into a girl's pants. Just like all the others… In her mind, Judith runs through her short list of serious ex-boyfriends. Everyone of them a loser, a user or…an abuser. What was she thinking when she fell for those creeps?
'I love you' came as easily to their lying mouths as 'Hello'. But it was always a scam to win what they wanted, or to take what they wanted. Eventually, after getting from her all they really desired, they would dump her. Sometimes it wasn't even eventually. Sometimes you were left stranded by the side of the road with no money, and no way to get home. All guys are rotten to the core…
Except, none had ever brought her flowers. Booze or pills were no problem, or anything else a horndog thought would put her 'in the mood'. But flowers and poetry? Friedman seems nice. Maybe… NO! They all seem nice at first with their sweet talk and flattery. But then… Judith gulps hard. She can't go through that pain again. The last time she ended up in crazy camp, and she isn't going to risk herself for some wild-haired science geek.
Judith bites her lip, trying to maintain her image of control. Her façade of calculated indifference is all a sham. Only Joan knows how close Judith is to the edge all the time. How her acting out is in response to the painful loneliness of her life. Joan is so lucky to have Adam—a real guy with real feelings. Judith and Adam have gotten closer this week, and he confided he is expecting a big bonus at work. Adam wants to get Joan something special, and he asked her opinion. After mulling it over, Judith has decided to recommend a big, romantic evening…including flowers.
Judith sighs. There were moments when Friedman seems so sincere. And of course he is way, way different from any guy she has ever known. Who else would spend weeks memorizing Hamlet just for a chance to win a date with her? He seems safe, but how can she be sure? There is a physics test coming up, and Lishack's class has turned out to be harder than she expected (mostly because she keeps skipping the class). If she asks Friedman to help her study, and he resists the urge to…grab various body parts, maybe—just maybe—she can bring herself to trust him.
Judith shudders, feeling wildly out of control just considering this step. So much for Dr. Dan's attempt to rebuild her confidence. Even if this is only Friedman (goofy, geeky, semi-charming Friedman), any date would be a huge step back toward normal for her. If she can. But what about all of the kidding she will receive if she accepts a date with a guy like Friedman? Well, she did sort of make a bet with the guy. She can say she is only paying off her debt.
"A-All I have to do is say…yes." Judith whispers as she sniffs her flowers. Yeah, she can do that…eventually. She likes that word—eventually. There's no rush. Friedman isn't giving up any time soon, and there's a lot of the school year left. She has plenty of time…
THE END.
Please review.