No Song for Velma
Chapter two: A Talk with mother
Velma arrived home, entered her room, threw her books on the desk and fell across the bed.
She tried to hold back the tears but they wouldn't be denied. She heard the light tapping at her door,
followed by:
"Can I come in?"
"Sure, Mom" Velma answered, rising to a sitting position, attempting to wipe the tears away.
" I thought you might like some company" her mother said. " If it's ok to talk to your mother
that is?"
Marilyn Dinkley was a little pudgy with honey colored hair and a voice that could mesmerize an
audience.
" Tough day?" she asked, dabbing at Velma's eyes.
" No worse than the day before, or the day before that." Velma answered.
" Want to tell me about it?" Marilyn asked.
" This isn't going to be a birds and bees speech is it?" Velma asked.
" I handle the birds, your father handles the bees and this sounds like the chirping of birds."
Velma took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
" One of the girls at school, Betty, made a snide remark about my 'door bells not going
to ring any boys chimes.' It really hurt my feelings" Velma explained, pulling her blouse
away from her chest.
Her mother smiled, wrapping her daughter in a hug.
" Your 'door bells' are going to ring a lot of boys chimes...Velma, can you keep a secret?
Just between us?"
" Of course, mom" Velma answered, wondering what kind of secret her mother could be
talking about.
" Would you be surprised to learn your mother was a 'late bloomer' as it was called back when I was your age?"
" Really? You're not just saying that?" Velma was surprised, trying to picture her mother
as a 'late bloomer'.
" Really! I didn't develop my knockers 'till my sophmore year of high school" she explained. She had no idea what was so funny that her daughter would break out in peals of laughter.
"Knockers? You?" Velma was astonished and couldn't suppress the laughter that bubbled up.
" They're not watermelons I grant you. You can't expect watermelons."
" Dahhne said the same thing this afternoon." Velma said.
" Daphne is smarter than she lets on."
" I don't want watermelons. I don't want to be that big but these little ' door bells' aren't
cutting it either." Velma explained.
"Velma, tell me honestly, are your breasts tender? Do they hurt?" Her mother asked, seriously.
" Sometimes they hurt like crazy, other times they they are sore"
" I think you are about to experience a growth spurt...I think it's time for a Doctors appointment.
Say, tomorrow afternoon" her mother said, a thoughtful look on her face.
" A doctor? I feel fine...I don't need to see a doctor" Velma complained.
"You need to see this doctor" her mother said.
" What doctor keeps office hours on Saturday afternoon" Velma wondered.
" Her name is Dr. Dinkley. I'm sure she will prescribe lunch, shopping, and desert at that malt
shop you and your friends are always at."
" You are on! So what kind of shopping will Dr. Dinkley prescribe?" Velma asked.
" I think you are past due for a training bra for one" her mother answered.
Velma ignored that last remark, centering on something she had often wondered about.
" Mom, can I ask a question?"
" Ask away"her mother offered.
" How did you know father was 'the one'? How did you meet?"
That startled Marilyn Dinkley! Of all the questions, that was the last one she had expected.
" It;s ok, you don't have to answer if you don't want too" Velma felt disappointed.
" It's not that...you just took me by surprise...I guess if you are old enough to ask, you're
old enough for an answer."
" You aren't going to tell her how we met are you Marilyn?" Her fathers voice boomed from his office, laughter in his voice.
" Yes I'am Harold, plug your ears if you don't want to listen!" Her mother shot back.
