Author Note: ….looks like Sabrina is missing all the fun!
-RH-
Chapter 04 – Playing Games
-RH-
SPLAT! "And that's another ten points for you!" Bethany exclaimed excitedly. Jimmy cheered and lifted Clive's sleeping arms into a cheering position. "Who's the best melon bowler? Jimmy Chance! The crowd roars!"
He watched as Bethany ran down the produce aisle and set up the Sprite liter bottles in the ten-pin position again. Fruit bowling was fast becoming a favorite new Chance sport.
Bethany hurried back and grabbed a casaba melon and got into her bowling stance. "If I get a strike, you get to put Clive back in the freezer." Jimmy looked at Clive who was bungee-corded to a dolly in the upright position – still asleep of course.
He grinned, "You're such a girl I don't think a strike is possible." He was teasing and she knew it but still let the casaba melon fly down the shiny floor where it rolled and bobbled and crashed into a one ten split.
"Crap. A casaba melon is no match for your honeydew." She confessed. "Let's call it a game and clean this mess up – I'll take Clive back to the freezer. Jimmy smiled and reached for the cleanup cart. "Good game though."
She smiled that brilliant Crest smile. "Yeah…it was a good game." She leaned the dolly back as Clive's head lolled to the side and she smiled in his sleep. "Jim….you are such a great guy. I really like you."
Jimmy could feel his cheeks turn red. "Aw….shucks. You're not so bad yourself Beth."
She blushed prettily and hurried Clive back into the beer cooler. Maybe Bethany wasn't a Sabrina, but she was nice and funny and why couldn't he have a girlfriend if Sabrina had Wyatt? Yeah! He could even invite Beth to be his date and meet the family. Maybe Hope would like her. She really only knew Shelly and Sabrina but Jimmy could show his daughter that there were all kinds of different women. That would be a good lesson for her to grow up with. Role models that weren't mom or Maw Maw! He would do this for his daughter.
-RH-
"Oh honey, this watermelon only has a little bruise. Look at how red! Your dad loves the seedless. Thank you!" Virginia kissed her son on the head. "I left you some dinner in the fridge. It's Sloppy Joes so you don't have to ask what it is. I gave Hope a bath and she's sleeping."
Jimmy smiled. "Thanks mom. Friday is my last day and I asked Bethany to be my date to the picnic."
Virginia stopped cutting watermelon. "Bethany? Who is she? Why haven't we met her?"
"She's the new girl at work and she likes me. I think I like her too."
"What about Sabrina?" Virginia asked because she really did like the snarky grocery clerk. "Why didn't you ask Sabrina?"
Jimmy's eyes fell to the tops of his sneakers. "I did…but she's going with Wyatt." He replied glumly. Virginia's expression softened. "Well maybe she'll see that you are quite the catch Jimmy Chance and take a new look at what she's missing."
Jimmy shrugged. "I guess. I just hope that my daughter likes the new girl." His mom was still chopping the bruises off the watermelon when he decided to just head for bed. It had been a long day and the bowling was the perfect way to end it.
Scratch that. The chaste goodbye kiss in the parking lot was the perfect way to end it. Bethany's breath smelled just like Double mint gum and her soft curves reminded him that he was a young virile guy and what a dream he was going to have tonight!
-RH-
The next night after all the overstock was put away and the floors swept, Bethany introduced a new version of the Canadian sport Curling. She used masking tape to mark the goals and extra floor sweep to make the path smooth. Jimmy grinned and sent his gallon of milk sailing down the aisle. Bethany was running ahead with a whisk broom pretending to brush the "ice". Even Clive woke up to cheer Jimmy on.
The curling game ended with Bethany winning which then turned into twilight hide and seek with the store lights turned down low. Clive used Barney's office to put the store radio on an easy listening music station. Jimmy found Bethany standing next to the Green Giant paper display holding a head of broccoli. He easily found her and she smiled saying,, "Oh dance with me Jim."
Bethany closed her eyes and swayed to the soothing rhythm of a Smokey Robinson melody. Jimmy grinned and tossed the broccoli into the bin with the rest and they slow danced among the pineapples and bananas. This felt so nice and exciting and when did he last dance with a girl? Was he having feelings for Beth?
The lights went up and the music turned off as Clive declared the shift was over – his voice echoing over the market intercom system. The pair held hands as they walked to the time clock. "Bethany….would you like to be my date to the picnic tomorrow?"
Bethany smiled. "Jimmy. You don't know how much I wanted you to ask me. Yes." He grinned. "Give me your address and I'll pick you up."
-RH-
Javier and Marcus arrived early. "Mrs. C…..you have some nice legs for an old lady." Javier dared to say.
Virginia looked at her pink flowered shorts and matching pink sneakers. "I do….don't I? Thank you for noticing Javier." She glared at Burt who didn't even notice that she was wearing pink!
Burt blinked like he just woke up. "Yeah….hun….you look great in that color. It makes you look…tan."
Maw Maw came out of her room dressed in Bermuda shorts, espadrilles and a black running bra. Marcus started to laugh but quickly covered mouth with his hands. Burt looked shocked. "Maw Maw! You can't wear that to a picnic! There will be children there!"
Maw Maw looked defiant. "Of course! That's why I'm wearing my best brassiere. It's my stopsemfromflopping running bra!"
Javier started to chuckle, "Stops em from flopping….I gotta remember that for my Tia! Good one Maw Maw!" The old woman held out her hand for a high five. "So who's driving me?"
Javier looked at Mrs. Chance. "I can put her in my bike basket!"
Virginia smiled. "That's so sweet of you Javier but she'll ride with us."
Jimmy came out of his bedroom with Hope dressed in a pair of adorable Osh Kosh' B'Gosh coveralls and a pink blouse. Virginia explained happily, "Oh! We are alike twins! Give me that baby!"
Burt motioned with his head for Jimmy to meet him in the kitchen. Jimmy ducked under Maw Maw's arm and followed his dad. "Jimmy. I'm worried about your great grandmother ruining the picnic. If at anytime you think she's going to get undressed….I brought a tent and we can zip her up in it."
Jimmy laughed. "Dad….we don't have to hide her. Part of the fun is watching what she does. Besides, she might help us win the potato sack race. First prize is a $25 gift certificate to Donut World."
Burt nearly shouted, "I LOVE THAT STORE!" Still, he stuffed the tent into the backpack when Jimmy turned his head and said. "Let's go – foods waiting!"
So was Jimmy's date with Bethany!
-RH-
