One Moment Can Change It All
Background
Blair Warner- from Texas
Has Blond hair, blue eyes
Father's a lawyer
Joanne Polniaczek- from the Bronx
Brown hair, blue green eyes
Polish
father was in jail for stealing typewriters, mother's a waitress
Natalie Green-
Brown hair, blue eyes
Jewish
Father's a doctor
Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey- from Washington, DC
Black hair, brown eyes
African American
Mrs. Edna Garrett
Red hair, blue eyes
Owner of the store
Slowly she ran her fingers across the smooth finish on the bike. It was a nice bike, to deep for her wallet, but she could dream about tearing up the road, leaning back and forth through the turns, feeling the wind on her face...
"Excuse me, but if your not going to buy that do not touch it." a man in a suit and tie said with a growl. He had a large pot belly and unshaven chin. "I don't need some reckless teenager stealing it."
"I wouldn't want to steal this piece of junk, it's not worth a nickel of my money." she responded placing her hands into her jean pockets.
The man frowned and then looked for something... a security guard...he couldn't find one. "If none of my junk pleases you, why don't you just leave?"
Putting her chin up in contempt, Jo walked out. She walked around the corner where nobody from the store could see her and let out a sigh. Can't she ever get away from the horrible stereo type? Did she want to? In some ways she liked for people to think she was bad, but she know she couldn't live with it her whole life.
Jo slowly let out her anger and jogged back towards Peekscale. It was a long walk back, she didn't feel like getting on a bus. Anyway, she wanted time to think about stuff, like how Mrs. G would get through another year of business if things didn't pick up. She tried to not let Mrs. Garrett now how low their income was with inflation.
As she got to the outskirts of town, the sun started to fade behind the tree line. People started closing down shops and saying goodnight to the neighboring shops. Children went inside to eat and everything started to settle down. Christmas lights made the town glow in warmth and beauty.
Her house was right near by. She would have gone straight back but she saw an old widow, Mrs. George struggling with groceries. She only came out of her house every other week and that was only to get supplies. The lady was clumsy and seemed helpless. Tied in a bun, her hair was silver and thin. Her face showed age and hardship.
"Mrs. George, would you like some help?" Jo asked jogging toward the lady. Mrs. George grumbled and nodded slightly as if she didn't want it but knew she couldn't handle everything. Jo grabbed the two bags and started to follow Mrs. George to her house.
"Josh used to do this for me...." the lady said half heartedly. Saying nothing more, she opened her door and took the bags from Jo. After placing them on the counter she turned back with a wallet in her hand. "How much do I owe you child?"
"Nothing Mrs. George." Jo started to turn and leave. But the old lady grabbed her arm.
"I don't want no charity from nobody! Now how much do I owe ya girl?" her eyes raged in anger.
"Let's just say it was my Christmas present to you." Jo said shrugging the woman's hand off. "It wasn't charity, believe me."
After Jo walked a few paces, the woman sobbed. Joanne Marie Polniaczek sighed and turned around. Jo had gotten way to soft.
"I never got any help from nobody." she cried softly. "I'm getting old. Josh isn't here. My life is falling apart bit by bit. I don't remember where I am half the time. I'm lucky to get up out of bed in the morning."
Jo stood awkwardly in the empty street. She didn't know what to say, pity was not a way to deal with this. I'm sorry wouldn't help. Nothing she said would. So she just stood there.
"Thank you child." she said. The old lady stood up and went inside. She shut the door slowly. Jo still stood in the street looking at the door. Everything felt numb. Then everything swept through her as if a dam broke. All she could do was go home.
* * * * * *
"Ok, so like she was wearing something so hideous that my skin crawled. She needs to think before she goes out in public." Blair said flipping her hair over her shoulder with a free hand.
Natalie didn't care about anything but the warmth in the fire. It was suppose to snow tomorrow.....Tomorrow was two days before Christmas. She couldn't believe that her senior year was half way done! Her parents sent her Hanukkah gifts last night. She opened one every night for seven nights. Tootie even spun the dradle
The aroma of baking cookies and the scent of fresh pine tree tickled her nose as the sun disappeared from the window. Looking over her shoulder, she smiled at the beautiful tree that everyone had decorated. Even she did, she celebrated both holidays.
Tootie sat on the other side of the couch, sipping hot cider. Everyone decided to stay in Peekscale to celebrate it with Mrs. Garrett, even Blair.
The door opened slowly and somebody came in. A cold breeze swept in making Natalie shiver. She figured it was Jo back from checking out a bike sale. she had been gone all day. The door shut and she slowly walked to the steps, wait Jo never goes slow....but she was the only one gone.
"Hey Jo, how was it?" Natalie turned to see the girl half way up the steps. The brunette turned and frowned.
"Not to good." she said quietly and then jogged up the rest of the steps.
"Wonder what's up." Tootie shrugged and looked at Natalie. Natalie shrugged too and then went back to looking at the dancing fire. Blair had finally hung up and was just sitting at the phone.
"You waiting for a call?" Natalie asked looking up. Staring into thin air, Blair didn't seem to hear what the senior had said. "Blair?"
"Huh?" she said slowly coming out of her trance.
"Whatcha doing?" Natalie rephrased her question.
"Just thinking." she smiled and her eyes twinkled. For some odd reason, the house always fell into tranquility around Christmas. Jo and Blair stopped fighting and actually got along pretty well.
Natalie nodded her head and decided to go help Mrs. Garrett with her cookies.
* * * * * *
Blair slowly climbed the stairs, thinking of all the past Christmas' with her mother and father together. It had been along time. Just when she thought she had gotten use to the divorce, a holiday would come and she'd think about that. She figured she wasn't the only one because Jo always got quiet when a holiday came. Sometime she saw the girl glancing at a picture of her mother and father.
When she got into the room she saw Jo sitting on the edge of her bed with her face in hands.
"Jo?" Blair asked The girl picked up her head and smiled.
"Hey Blair, what's up? Whatcha need?" Jo licked her lips, rubbing her hands on her arms.
"Nothing, just wondering if you were ok." Blair said as she grabbed a book off the night stand. "Mrs. Garrett's making cookies, they should be done in a minute. You should come down."
"I will in a minute." Jo sighed flopping back on her bed.
"Alright well, see ya." Blair said leaving the room and heading slowly down the steps. Everyone was still in the same place as they were when she left. Tootie still sat on the couch. Her mug was on the coffee table. Blair decided to go for the large arm chair. She plopped down and folded her legs underneath her.
Opening her book, a picture of her family fell out. It was when she was about four months old. Her mother held her and her father put his arm around her mother. The picture, filled with bright smiles, made her hands shake. It seemed like such a normal family, where the father came home from work and talked gibberish to the baby and kissed the mother. It was fake.
Mrs. Garrett came out with a plate full of home baked sugar cookies and ice cold milk. Tootie followed hoping to get her hands on the first ones. "Where's Jo? Is she back yet?"
"Yeah, she said she was coming down in a second." Blair replied putting the picture back into the book and closing it. "She got back ten minutes ago."
"I wish she had told me." Mrs. Garrett said with concern in her voice. "That girl's always on the move and I never know where she is."
"She's eighteen Mrs. G, she can take care of her self." Blair smiled trying to get Mrs. Garrett to stop worrying.
"She could take care of herself when she was born." Natalie laughed.
"That doesn't mean I'll stop worrying about her or you Blair. Alright everyone can have some. Save some for Jo. They're still a little hot so be careful. I'm going to go upstairs for a sec, I'll be back down in a minute." Mrs. Garrett got up and went upstairs.
Natalie took two cookies and a glass of milk. Blair only took one. Tootie decided to take three. Looking at Tootie, Blair smirked.
"What?" Tootie said stuffing the first one in her mouth.
"Nothing.... Are you hungry?" Blair giggled.
"No, just Mrs. Garrett's cookies taste so good." Tootie said offended.
Mrs. Garrett came out with Jo. They were talking low and all the racket from Tootie slurping milk and crunching cookies tuned the conversation out. Mrs. Garrett laughed and Jo just smirked.
"Saved you some. We had to hold Tootie back. I tell ya, it's hard." Natalie said smiling. She had that twinkle of mischief in her eyes.
"Thanks, but I'm not that hungry." Jo said as she sat on the couch.
"You have to have one Jo. It's soooo good!" Tootie said with a mouth full of cookie. Mrs. Garrett gave her an odd look and Tootie nodded. "Yes, I know I'm not suppose to talk with my mouth full."
Blair finished nibbling on the cookie and started to sip her milk slowly enjoying the creamy substance slowly run down her throat. She closed her eyes savoring the rich flavor.
"Well, I'm going to make some dinner. I hope you girls saved some room because I'm making my specialty.. Lasagna." Mrs. Garrett got up from sitting on the coffee table and headed out. All the girls sat in silence.
"Your so loud when you eat Tootie." Natalie said covering her ears.
"No, I'm not. Bat ears." Tootie replied finishing the last cookie that she had grabbed.
"I don't have big ears." Natalie protested.
"No, if I said you had big ears I'd call you Dumbo. I meant you have amplified hearing." Tootie sighed shaking her head at her friend.
Blair nodded off. The milk and cookies made her sleepy. What did Mrs. Garrett put in these? Why did they always make her so tired. She yawned and closed her eyes.
"Look, Blair's falling asleep." Natalie whispered.
She smiled and nodded her head as if agreeing. She heard someone get up and walk towards the coffee table. Blair slowly opened one eye, enough to see what was happening. Jo took the tray out to the kitchen. Something seemed strange, Jo wasn't acting right.
Tootie brushed the crumbs off her sweater and got up. Natalie repeated the action and the two girls went to the table to finish a game they had started probable a month ago. It was funny how the two girls always started a game and didn't finish for months on end.
The Brunette came back in and laid on her stomach on the couch. The girl seemed to slowly relax into a light slumber. So Blair wasn't the only one tired.
* * * * * *
"Your turn." Natalie smiled looking at the checkers board. The junior had no where to go. Natalie would win.
"Are they asleep?" Tootie asked looking over her shoulder at the two older girls.
"Looks like it now move!" Natalie said impatiently.
Tootie sighed and moved. Natalie jumped the girls piece and shouted out that she won. Blair practically jumped out of the arm chair as Natalie paraded around the room.
"Could you be a little more quiet?" Blair glared at her. Natalie shrugged and started to dance around Tootie. Hey, it was the first time Natalie had ever won against Tootie.
"Yeah, yeah, you just got real lucky." Tootie said frowning. She started to put the game away as Natalie finished her victory dance. From the other room, Mrs. Garrett called and said that it was time to eat. Natalie's stomach started to growl.
"Jo, Blair, it's time to eat!" Natalie went over toward the couches. The two seemed content to sleep on, so Natalie shrugged and went to the kitchen to start setting. Tootie followed on her heels almost tripping Natalie twice. "Would you stop following so close?"
"I'm sorry." Tootie growled getting the plates. Geez, she was a sore loser. Oh, well, Natalie thought putting knives and forks around the table. She winced as Tootie slammed the plates on top of the wood. "Blair, Jo, get up, you guys have to set also!"
Mrs. Garrett carried a big platter of lasagna and bread that was rapped in foil. The aroma tickled her nose making her smile in delight. Mrs. Garrett looked across the room at the two groggy older girls. "I told you two what all night studying would do to you."
"We passed, that's all that counts." Blair huffed rubbing her eyes as she sat next to Natalie. Jo sat right next to Blair and Tootie sat next to Natalie. Mrs. Garrett took her place in between Tootie and Jo. Mrs. Garrett served the first serving as always and past them around the table. Natalie vacuumed her plate clean.
She looked at the other girls, they had only taken three bites. Jo hadn't taken any. Mrs. Garrett seemed to notice.
"What's wrong Jo, aren't you going to eat?" Mrs. Garrett asked her brows knitted with concern.
"I'm not hungry." Jo said as she fiddled with the top layer of noodles.
"Are you coming down with something?" Edna asked.
"Nah, just not very hungry." Jo replied giving a fake smile. Mrs. Garrett just nodded and looked away. Tootie shoveled the food into her mouth and swallowed, still angry from her defeat. Blair ate silently.
When everyone had finished they cleared the plates and cups. Now it was time to veg out on the couch and talk about the day. It was something they did just because they felt like it. They didn't have to say anything, but sometimes somebody would burst out about what happened to who or when it happened.
Natalie flopped on the futon and Tootie did the same. Jo lay full out on another couch and Blair and Mrs. Garrett took the two arm chairs. Mrs. Garrett started knitting away and Blair read some book for college. Jo closed her eyes and the rest just sat there.
"Has everyone done their Christmas shopping yet?" Tootie said cheerfully. "I just finished mine!"
"Good for you." Mrs. Garrett said looking up from a half knitted scarf.
Then it was silence again. The silence got on Natalie's nerves. So she thought about what she should say. "So, have we decided on what we're going to have for dinner on the 25th?"
"Well I was thinking a ham would do." Mrs. Garrett replied.
"We should go to a parade!" Tootie's eyes went bright at the thought of seeing big balloons fly into the sky. "That'd be a lot of fun."
"You guys can go, but I'm going up into the Bronx and catch up with friends." Jo said opening her eyes. Anyway my mom wants me to stop by in the morning."
"Are you going to be back for dinner." Mrs. Garrett asked raising an eyebrow.
"I wouldn't have stayed in Peekscale if I wasn't going to have dinner here." Jo replied with an even tone.
Everything was silent once again. A person could here the tapping of Mrs. Garrett's needles and Tootie humming to 'Winter Wonderland'. Blair flipped her hair and turned to the next page. This was Fun!
* * * * * *
Jo sighed as she slipped underneath her covers. They were nice and warm. Her pillow was the only thing she ever brought from home because it was made out of goose feathers. It kept her warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Nothing could be better then her own bed, not even her motorcycle.
Blair finally came out of the bathroom and turned off the light. Jo listened to the quiet breathing of the others. She had learned each girls breathing pattern. Natalie's breathing had a long loud out take and a short in take. Blair's were short intervals of each. Tootie had long quiet out take and in take. The noise was music to her ears, as if it were a lullaby.
She slowly fell asleep not even knowing she had.
* * * * * *
"It snowed!" Tootie said smiling. Her hair was matted and her clothes were wrinkled. Everyone was still asleep, but Tootie didn't care. Everything outside was covered with white powder as if a giant had shifted sugar across the land.
Blair grumbled saying something about how early it was and how it was rude of Tootie to yell when everyone was asleep, but Tootie ignored the comments still looking wide eyed at the snow through the window. Natalie woke up next and sprang to the window to see. She had the same wide eyed expression as she scanned the back yard.
"Ah darn it! I was hoping to go into Manhattan." Blair grumbled.
"Who got off on the wrong side of the bed this morning?" Natalie teased.
"I haven't even got up Nat." Blair growled.
"Ok, who woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?" Natalie rephrased. Blair finally smiled at the joke and then stood up and went into the bathroom. Natalie slapped her forehead, kicking herself for not going to the bathroom before Blair used it for the rest of the day.
Jo slowly sat and rubbed her eyes. Her hair went all over the place making her look funny. She grumbled about something and then fell back in bed. The older girls were definitely not morning birds. In fact they were like Grouchy from Sesame Street.
When Blair finally got out fifteen minutes later with a full face of make up and nice matching out fit, Jo got up and went in the bathroom. The older girls always seemed to get the bathroom first.
"Tis' the season to be Jolly." Tootie whispered happily.
"Fa la la la la la la la la." Natalie giggled.
Blair just shook her head and went down stairs laughing. Everyone would be in good spirits after breakfast. Two more days till Christmas. Tomorrow would be Christmas Eve.
Five minutes later, Jo came out in jeans and a white sweatshirt that said Yankees in blue letters. She smiled and headed down stairs. "My turn!" Natalie jogged to the bathroom. Tootie shrugged happily staring at new flakes in the sky.
* * * * * *
Mrs. Garrett added a little salt and pepper to the scrambled eggs and then tasted them. They tasted pretty good. She dumped them on a big plate and started frying the bacon and sausage. Everything made her mouth water as she put the food on large plates. After ten minutes of cooking the first girl arrived, it was Blair. Blair was from Texas but never really stayed there very long. She had a very small accent that was only noticeable when she was tired or sleepy.
"Morning." Mrs. Garrett called out as the girl grabbed a few plates and took them out to the dinning room.
"Hey, Mrs. Garrett." Blair yawned.
Jo came tromping down the steps with her hiking boots on. She gave a quick smile to Edna and then helped Blair with the plates and cups. Jo was from the Bronx in New York City. Her accent and tough talk told her story. Her ancestors were from Poland yet she was still a Christian, although her attitude wears thin when you talk about Hitler and she calls him a "shit head who wasn't suppose to live and went to Hell to burn for eternity."
Natalie came down grinning away, probable because of the snow. The girl was Jewish, but didn't mind celebrating Christmas with everyone. Almost always kind to the others, she had a trying sense of humor that could get a persons head ache pounding. The girl sat down at the table with the others.
Five minutes later, Tootie flew down the steps to the table. Tootie could be easily hurt so everyone was careful of what they said unless they were made at her, which seemed to be often. A junior in high school, the baby of the group, she always felt left out and tried to prove she wasn't to young to do what the other girls did. She always screwed it up.
"Can we eat now? I'm starving!" Natalie rubbed her hands together.
"Yes you may. I'll be in, in a second." Mrs. Garrett said picking up the milk and looked through the window. Outside was beautiful, if Mrs. Garrett were still young she would run outside and make snow angels. Nobody knew there was a child hiding behind her old body. She sat down and put the milk at the table.
Tootie and Natalie dumped food on their plate and shoveled it into their mouths. Blair served herself slowly and strangely so did Jo. They eat in silence enjoying the good food. The house always got quiet during big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. The older girls didn't fight, in fact they actually got along. She noticed every so often Jo or Blair would look at a family photo, usually of the whole family. She knew the holidays brought on sad feelings of their family breaking up. It made Mrs. Garrett remember her ex-husband and her sons.
"That was good." Natalie said placing her napkin on the plate.
The others were still eating. Jo played with her food. What was wrong with that girl. Mrs. Garrett shook her head and took another bite letting the eggs slide down her throat, making her warm inside. She took a bite of a sausage and chewed slowly letting the juices separate and she swallowed...
Background
Blair Warner- from Texas
Has Blond hair, blue eyes
Father's a lawyer
Joanne Polniaczek- from the Bronx
Brown hair, blue green eyes
Polish
father was in jail for stealing typewriters, mother's a waitress
Natalie Green-
Brown hair, blue eyes
Jewish
Father's a doctor
Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey- from Washington, DC
Black hair, brown eyes
African American
Mrs. Edna Garrett
Red hair, blue eyes
Owner of the store
Slowly she ran her fingers across the smooth finish on the bike. It was a nice bike, to deep for her wallet, but she could dream about tearing up the road, leaning back and forth through the turns, feeling the wind on her face...
"Excuse me, but if your not going to buy that do not touch it." a man in a suit and tie said with a growl. He had a large pot belly and unshaven chin. "I don't need some reckless teenager stealing it."
"I wouldn't want to steal this piece of junk, it's not worth a nickel of my money." she responded placing her hands into her jean pockets.
The man frowned and then looked for something... a security guard...he couldn't find one. "If none of my junk pleases you, why don't you just leave?"
Putting her chin up in contempt, Jo walked out. She walked around the corner where nobody from the store could see her and let out a sigh. Can't she ever get away from the horrible stereo type? Did she want to? In some ways she liked for people to think she was bad, but she know she couldn't live with it her whole life.
Jo slowly let out her anger and jogged back towards Peekscale. It was a long walk back, she didn't feel like getting on a bus. Anyway, she wanted time to think about stuff, like how Mrs. G would get through another year of business if things didn't pick up. She tried to not let Mrs. Garrett now how low their income was with inflation.
As she got to the outskirts of town, the sun started to fade behind the tree line. People started closing down shops and saying goodnight to the neighboring shops. Children went inside to eat and everything started to settle down. Christmas lights made the town glow in warmth and beauty.
Her house was right near by. She would have gone straight back but she saw an old widow, Mrs. George struggling with groceries. She only came out of her house every other week and that was only to get supplies. The lady was clumsy and seemed helpless. Tied in a bun, her hair was silver and thin. Her face showed age and hardship.
"Mrs. George, would you like some help?" Jo asked jogging toward the lady. Mrs. George grumbled and nodded slightly as if she didn't want it but knew she couldn't handle everything. Jo grabbed the two bags and started to follow Mrs. George to her house.
"Josh used to do this for me...." the lady said half heartedly. Saying nothing more, she opened her door and took the bags from Jo. After placing them on the counter she turned back with a wallet in her hand. "How much do I owe you child?"
"Nothing Mrs. George." Jo started to turn and leave. But the old lady grabbed her arm.
"I don't want no charity from nobody! Now how much do I owe ya girl?" her eyes raged in anger.
"Let's just say it was my Christmas present to you." Jo said shrugging the woman's hand off. "It wasn't charity, believe me."
After Jo walked a few paces, the woman sobbed. Joanne Marie Polniaczek sighed and turned around. Jo had gotten way to soft.
"I never got any help from nobody." she cried softly. "I'm getting old. Josh isn't here. My life is falling apart bit by bit. I don't remember where I am half the time. I'm lucky to get up out of bed in the morning."
Jo stood awkwardly in the empty street. She didn't know what to say, pity was not a way to deal with this. I'm sorry wouldn't help. Nothing she said would. So she just stood there.
"Thank you child." she said. The old lady stood up and went inside. She shut the door slowly. Jo still stood in the street looking at the door. Everything felt numb. Then everything swept through her as if a dam broke. All she could do was go home.
* * * * * *
"Ok, so like she was wearing something so hideous that my skin crawled. She needs to think before she goes out in public." Blair said flipping her hair over her shoulder with a free hand.
Natalie didn't care about anything but the warmth in the fire. It was suppose to snow tomorrow.....Tomorrow was two days before Christmas. She couldn't believe that her senior year was half way done! Her parents sent her Hanukkah gifts last night. She opened one every night for seven nights. Tootie even spun the dradle
The aroma of baking cookies and the scent of fresh pine tree tickled her nose as the sun disappeared from the window. Looking over her shoulder, she smiled at the beautiful tree that everyone had decorated. Even she did, she celebrated both holidays.
Tootie sat on the other side of the couch, sipping hot cider. Everyone decided to stay in Peekscale to celebrate it with Mrs. Garrett, even Blair.
The door opened slowly and somebody came in. A cold breeze swept in making Natalie shiver. She figured it was Jo back from checking out a bike sale. she had been gone all day. The door shut and she slowly walked to the steps, wait Jo never goes slow....but she was the only one gone.
"Hey Jo, how was it?" Natalie turned to see the girl half way up the steps. The brunette turned and frowned.
"Not to good." she said quietly and then jogged up the rest of the steps.
"Wonder what's up." Tootie shrugged and looked at Natalie. Natalie shrugged too and then went back to looking at the dancing fire. Blair had finally hung up and was just sitting at the phone.
"You waiting for a call?" Natalie asked looking up. Staring into thin air, Blair didn't seem to hear what the senior had said. "Blair?"
"Huh?" she said slowly coming out of her trance.
"Whatcha doing?" Natalie rephrased her question.
"Just thinking." she smiled and her eyes twinkled. For some odd reason, the house always fell into tranquility around Christmas. Jo and Blair stopped fighting and actually got along pretty well.
Natalie nodded her head and decided to go help Mrs. Garrett with her cookies.
* * * * * *
Blair slowly climbed the stairs, thinking of all the past Christmas' with her mother and father together. It had been along time. Just when she thought she had gotten use to the divorce, a holiday would come and she'd think about that. She figured she wasn't the only one because Jo always got quiet when a holiday came. Sometime she saw the girl glancing at a picture of her mother and father.
When she got into the room she saw Jo sitting on the edge of her bed with her face in hands.
"Jo?" Blair asked The girl picked up her head and smiled.
"Hey Blair, what's up? Whatcha need?" Jo licked her lips, rubbing her hands on her arms.
"Nothing, just wondering if you were ok." Blair said as she grabbed a book off the night stand. "Mrs. Garrett's making cookies, they should be done in a minute. You should come down."
"I will in a minute." Jo sighed flopping back on her bed.
"Alright well, see ya." Blair said leaving the room and heading slowly down the steps. Everyone was still in the same place as they were when she left. Tootie still sat on the couch. Her mug was on the coffee table. Blair decided to go for the large arm chair. She plopped down and folded her legs underneath her.
Opening her book, a picture of her family fell out. It was when she was about four months old. Her mother held her and her father put his arm around her mother. The picture, filled with bright smiles, made her hands shake. It seemed like such a normal family, where the father came home from work and talked gibberish to the baby and kissed the mother. It was fake.
Mrs. Garrett came out with a plate full of home baked sugar cookies and ice cold milk. Tootie followed hoping to get her hands on the first ones. "Where's Jo? Is she back yet?"
"Yeah, she said she was coming down in a second." Blair replied putting the picture back into the book and closing it. "She got back ten minutes ago."
"I wish she had told me." Mrs. Garrett said with concern in her voice. "That girl's always on the move and I never know where she is."
"She's eighteen Mrs. G, she can take care of her self." Blair smiled trying to get Mrs. Garrett to stop worrying.
"She could take care of herself when she was born." Natalie laughed.
"That doesn't mean I'll stop worrying about her or you Blair. Alright everyone can have some. Save some for Jo. They're still a little hot so be careful. I'm going to go upstairs for a sec, I'll be back down in a minute." Mrs. Garrett got up and went upstairs.
Natalie took two cookies and a glass of milk. Blair only took one. Tootie decided to take three. Looking at Tootie, Blair smirked.
"What?" Tootie said stuffing the first one in her mouth.
"Nothing.... Are you hungry?" Blair giggled.
"No, just Mrs. Garrett's cookies taste so good." Tootie said offended.
Mrs. Garrett came out with Jo. They were talking low and all the racket from Tootie slurping milk and crunching cookies tuned the conversation out. Mrs. Garrett laughed and Jo just smirked.
"Saved you some. We had to hold Tootie back. I tell ya, it's hard." Natalie said smiling. She had that twinkle of mischief in her eyes.
"Thanks, but I'm not that hungry." Jo said as she sat on the couch.
"You have to have one Jo. It's soooo good!" Tootie said with a mouth full of cookie. Mrs. Garrett gave her an odd look and Tootie nodded. "Yes, I know I'm not suppose to talk with my mouth full."
Blair finished nibbling on the cookie and started to sip her milk slowly enjoying the creamy substance slowly run down her throat. She closed her eyes savoring the rich flavor.
"Well, I'm going to make some dinner. I hope you girls saved some room because I'm making my specialty.. Lasagna." Mrs. Garrett got up from sitting on the coffee table and headed out. All the girls sat in silence.
"Your so loud when you eat Tootie." Natalie said covering her ears.
"No, I'm not. Bat ears." Tootie replied finishing the last cookie that she had grabbed.
"I don't have big ears." Natalie protested.
"No, if I said you had big ears I'd call you Dumbo. I meant you have amplified hearing." Tootie sighed shaking her head at her friend.
Blair nodded off. The milk and cookies made her sleepy. What did Mrs. Garrett put in these? Why did they always make her so tired. She yawned and closed her eyes.
"Look, Blair's falling asleep." Natalie whispered.
She smiled and nodded her head as if agreeing. She heard someone get up and walk towards the coffee table. Blair slowly opened one eye, enough to see what was happening. Jo took the tray out to the kitchen. Something seemed strange, Jo wasn't acting right.
Tootie brushed the crumbs off her sweater and got up. Natalie repeated the action and the two girls went to the table to finish a game they had started probable a month ago. It was funny how the two girls always started a game and didn't finish for months on end.
The Brunette came back in and laid on her stomach on the couch. The girl seemed to slowly relax into a light slumber. So Blair wasn't the only one tired.
* * * * * *
"Your turn." Natalie smiled looking at the checkers board. The junior had no where to go. Natalie would win.
"Are they asleep?" Tootie asked looking over her shoulder at the two older girls.
"Looks like it now move!" Natalie said impatiently.
Tootie sighed and moved. Natalie jumped the girls piece and shouted out that she won. Blair practically jumped out of the arm chair as Natalie paraded around the room.
"Could you be a little more quiet?" Blair glared at her. Natalie shrugged and started to dance around Tootie. Hey, it was the first time Natalie had ever won against Tootie.
"Yeah, yeah, you just got real lucky." Tootie said frowning. She started to put the game away as Natalie finished her victory dance. From the other room, Mrs. Garrett called and said that it was time to eat. Natalie's stomach started to growl.
"Jo, Blair, it's time to eat!" Natalie went over toward the couches. The two seemed content to sleep on, so Natalie shrugged and went to the kitchen to start setting. Tootie followed on her heels almost tripping Natalie twice. "Would you stop following so close?"
"I'm sorry." Tootie growled getting the plates. Geez, she was a sore loser. Oh, well, Natalie thought putting knives and forks around the table. She winced as Tootie slammed the plates on top of the wood. "Blair, Jo, get up, you guys have to set also!"
Mrs. Garrett carried a big platter of lasagna and bread that was rapped in foil. The aroma tickled her nose making her smile in delight. Mrs. Garrett looked across the room at the two groggy older girls. "I told you two what all night studying would do to you."
"We passed, that's all that counts." Blair huffed rubbing her eyes as she sat next to Natalie. Jo sat right next to Blair and Tootie sat next to Natalie. Mrs. Garrett took her place in between Tootie and Jo. Mrs. Garrett served the first serving as always and past them around the table. Natalie vacuumed her plate clean.
She looked at the other girls, they had only taken three bites. Jo hadn't taken any. Mrs. Garrett seemed to notice.
"What's wrong Jo, aren't you going to eat?" Mrs. Garrett asked her brows knitted with concern.
"I'm not hungry." Jo said as she fiddled with the top layer of noodles.
"Are you coming down with something?" Edna asked.
"Nah, just not very hungry." Jo replied giving a fake smile. Mrs. Garrett just nodded and looked away. Tootie shoveled the food into her mouth and swallowed, still angry from her defeat. Blair ate silently.
When everyone had finished they cleared the plates and cups. Now it was time to veg out on the couch and talk about the day. It was something they did just because they felt like it. They didn't have to say anything, but sometimes somebody would burst out about what happened to who or when it happened.
Natalie flopped on the futon and Tootie did the same. Jo lay full out on another couch and Blair and Mrs. Garrett took the two arm chairs. Mrs. Garrett started knitting away and Blair read some book for college. Jo closed her eyes and the rest just sat there.
"Has everyone done their Christmas shopping yet?" Tootie said cheerfully. "I just finished mine!"
"Good for you." Mrs. Garrett said looking up from a half knitted scarf.
Then it was silence again. The silence got on Natalie's nerves. So she thought about what she should say. "So, have we decided on what we're going to have for dinner on the 25th?"
"Well I was thinking a ham would do." Mrs. Garrett replied.
"We should go to a parade!" Tootie's eyes went bright at the thought of seeing big balloons fly into the sky. "That'd be a lot of fun."
"You guys can go, but I'm going up into the Bronx and catch up with friends." Jo said opening her eyes. Anyway my mom wants me to stop by in the morning."
"Are you going to be back for dinner." Mrs. Garrett asked raising an eyebrow.
"I wouldn't have stayed in Peekscale if I wasn't going to have dinner here." Jo replied with an even tone.
Everything was silent once again. A person could here the tapping of Mrs. Garrett's needles and Tootie humming to 'Winter Wonderland'. Blair flipped her hair and turned to the next page. This was Fun!
* * * * * *
Jo sighed as she slipped underneath her covers. They were nice and warm. Her pillow was the only thing she ever brought from home because it was made out of goose feathers. It kept her warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Nothing could be better then her own bed, not even her motorcycle.
Blair finally came out of the bathroom and turned off the light. Jo listened to the quiet breathing of the others. She had learned each girls breathing pattern. Natalie's breathing had a long loud out take and a short in take. Blair's were short intervals of each. Tootie had long quiet out take and in take. The noise was music to her ears, as if it were a lullaby.
She slowly fell asleep not even knowing she had.
* * * * * *
"It snowed!" Tootie said smiling. Her hair was matted and her clothes were wrinkled. Everyone was still asleep, but Tootie didn't care. Everything outside was covered with white powder as if a giant had shifted sugar across the land.
Blair grumbled saying something about how early it was and how it was rude of Tootie to yell when everyone was asleep, but Tootie ignored the comments still looking wide eyed at the snow through the window. Natalie woke up next and sprang to the window to see. She had the same wide eyed expression as she scanned the back yard.
"Ah darn it! I was hoping to go into Manhattan." Blair grumbled.
"Who got off on the wrong side of the bed this morning?" Natalie teased.
"I haven't even got up Nat." Blair growled.
"Ok, who woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?" Natalie rephrased. Blair finally smiled at the joke and then stood up and went into the bathroom. Natalie slapped her forehead, kicking herself for not going to the bathroom before Blair used it for the rest of the day.
Jo slowly sat and rubbed her eyes. Her hair went all over the place making her look funny. She grumbled about something and then fell back in bed. The older girls were definitely not morning birds. In fact they were like Grouchy from Sesame Street.
When Blair finally got out fifteen minutes later with a full face of make up and nice matching out fit, Jo got up and went in the bathroom. The older girls always seemed to get the bathroom first.
"Tis' the season to be Jolly." Tootie whispered happily.
"Fa la la la la la la la la." Natalie giggled.
Blair just shook her head and went down stairs laughing. Everyone would be in good spirits after breakfast. Two more days till Christmas. Tomorrow would be Christmas Eve.
Five minutes later, Jo came out in jeans and a white sweatshirt that said Yankees in blue letters. She smiled and headed down stairs. "My turn!" Natalie jogged to the bathroom. Tootie shrugged happily staring at new flakes in the sky.
* * * * * *
Mrs. Garrett added a little salt and pepper to the scrambled eggs and then tasted them. They tasted pretty good. She dumped them on a big plate and started frying the bacon and sausage. Everything made her mouth water as she put the food on large plates. After ten minutes of cooking the first girl arrived, it was Blair. Blair was from Texas but never really stayed there very long. She had a very small accent that was only noticeable when she was tired or sleepy.
"Morning." Mrs. Garrett called out as the girl grabbed a few plates and took them out to the dinning room.
"Hey, Mrs. Garrett." Blair yawned.
Jo came tromping down the steps with her hiking boots on. She gave a quick smile to Edna and then helped Blair with the plates and cups. Jo was from the Bronx in New York City. Her accent and tough talk told her story. Her ancestors were from Poland yet she was still a Christian, although her attitude wears thin when you talk about Hitler and she calls him a "shit head who wasn't suppose to live and went to Hell to burn for eternity."
Natalie came down grinning away, probable because of the snow. The girl was Jewish, but didn't mind celebrating Christmas with everyone. Almost always kind to the others, she had a trying sense of humor that could get a persons head ache pounding. The girl sat down at the table with the others.
Five minutes later, Tootie flew down the steps to the table. Tootie could be easily hurt so everyone was careful of what they said unless they were made at her, which seemed to be often. A junior in high school, the baby of the group, she always felt left out and tried to prove she wasn't to young to do what the other girls did. She always screwed it up.
"Can we eat now? I'm starving!" Natalie rubbed her hands together.
"Yes you may. I'll be in, in a second." Mrs. Garrett said picking up the milk and looked through the window. Outside was beautiful, if Mrs. Garrett were still young she would run outside and make snow angels. Nobody knew there was a child hiding behind her old body. She sat down and put the milk at the table.
Tootie and Natalie dumped food on their plate and shoveled it into their mouths. Blair served herself slowly and strangely so did Jo. They eat in silence enjoying the good food. The house always got quiet during big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. The older girls didn't fight, in fact they actually got along. She noticed every so often Jo or Blair would look at a family photo, usually of the whole family. She knew the holidays brought on sad feelings of their family breaking up. It made Mrs. Garrett remember her ex-husband and her sons.
"That was good." Natalie said placing her napkin on the plate.
The others were still eating. Jo played with her food. What was wrong with that girl. Mrs. Garrett shook her head and took another bite letting the eggs slide down her throat, making her warm inside. She took a bite of a sausage and chewed slowly letting the juices separate and she swallowed...