CHAPTER 32
That evening I went to bed early...
...because I had so many things to think about.
The best one: Emma is invited over again!
Although I'd resolved to sit down soon with Mom and discuss Emma; based on how things have gone the past two days, I began to seriously reconsider this decision.
Instead of another potentially explosive argument, would it be better, instead, to let things unfold on their own? Maybe, after spending a little time around Emma - without the prom scandal in between them - Mom will see that she's not so bad...
...and will gradually come to understand how much the two of us care about each other?
Or...should I just sit down with Mom and try to explain everything myself?
I went back and forth on this for a while, but unsure which strategy was better, I decided to let a few days pass and then revisit my options.
And now, on to the next order of business:
Thinking back to what Emma told us about her family, I realized there's so much I still don't know about her.
But, one thing is clear: she received no affection from her parents.
And considering how violent her dad is, was she also physically abused?
Verbally? Without a doubt! He's probably one of those fathers who yells a lot and says stuff like, "You'll never amount to anything!"
But...did he actually beat her, too?
I'm not sure.
So, I decided that, when the time seems right, I'm going to talk to her...about all of it...
...because I really want to know the rest.
I'd never met her grandmother; but even though it was nice of her to let Emma move in, she also raised Emma's mother, who has numerous, serious issues; so, I'm guessing that Emma doesn't get much affection from Grandmom, either.
Also, when we finally do have this discussion, I really should ask her about-
Suddenly and unexpectedly, the phone rang.
I smiled when I saw who was calling.
"Alyssa, it's 10:28; I only have two minutes!"
"That's fine; I'll call you tomorrow, after dinner."
"Okay."
"How did your evening go?" I asked.
"Barry and I just finished, and he says to tell you hi."
"Hi, Barry!" I said.
She passed along my message, then said, "Well, now I guess I can tell you what we were doing tonight...we were looking for my prom outfit."
I asked, "Did you find something?"
"Did I! Oh, my God...yes!"
"Wow, Emma, you sound excited."
"I love it...it's so much better than the last one!"
"What's it like?" I asked.
"I'm not going to tell you."
"Pleeeease?" I begged.
"No!"
But unwilling to be left completely in the dark, I urged, "Well, then just tell me what color it-"
"No...I'm not saying anything! It's going to be a surprise! And don't think you can ask Barry behind my back...he's been sworn to total secrecy!"
"Well, alright," I agreed, "but, how about just telling-"
"Oh, no, Alyssa...we're outta time!"
"B-but, it hasn't even been a minute and a hal-"
"Talktoyousoonloveyouwithallmyheartbye!" she replied...
...and then, she hung up.
Bitch!
I love her so much!
{Emma}
Five minutes after hanging up on Alyssa (ha-ha), at the hotel room door I turned around and said, "Thanks, Barry...for everything."
He smiled. "Sorry we started so late, but I couldn't get away from Trent's birthday party any sooner."
"That's okay."
He shook his head, then added, "No, it's not, because I'm also sorry we couldn't have dinner this evening. I haven't forgotten that I invited you over for pizza."
As it turns out, I had forgotten...completely, but smiled anyway and said, "Oh, yeah!"
Barry asked, "Do you have any plans for tomorrow evening?"
"No...and I'd love to come; I've been in the mood for pizza for awhile."
"All right, then...how about you stop by at 6 pm and we'll make an evening of it?"
"That sounds great."
"Is there a place around here that makes decent pizza?" he asked.
"Believe it or not, yes! Lopresti's."
He nodded. "Okay, and what do you suggest we order?"
I thought it over for a moment, then said, "I have one of their take-out menus at home. I'll bring it tomorrow; then we can decide what we want together, and have it delivered here.
XXXXX
Early Monday morning, I was heading out my front door...
...but then, remembered that I promised Barry I'd bring him a Lopresti's menu this evening...so, I ran back upstairs and started digging through my top desk drawer.
Less than two minutes later, I found it and stuffed it into my backpack.
At noon, although I arrived on time at the auto shop, there was no sign of Alyssa...
...but then, that's exactly what I'd expected. Still, she might show up later, I thought...
...but instead, the minutes ticked by slowly, endlessly...
...until, just as I'd given up on seeing her today, my phone rang.
"Emma, I just got done...and we have fourteen minutes."
"Well, then, get your ass down here!"
Two minutes later, she was in my arms...
...but she was shaking.
I leaned back and looked at her...
...but she leaned forward and buried her face against the front of my right shoulder.
Oh, no.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
She shook her head.
"Alyssa, come on. Didn't we agree that-"
"It's...things between us aren't f-fixed yet...and I just want them to be!"
"Is it something that's been on your mind?" I asked.
Without looking up, she said, "Y-yes. A lot."
"It's going to be okay," I told her. "Yes, it's going to take some time, but eventually we're going to fix everything."
When she didn't reply, I added, "I want things between us to be...right, and I'm sure you do, too."
She nodded.
I continued, "Well, then, we need to take our time and do it the right way. Instead of just slapping bandaids on our problems, you and I are going to look at them, one at a time, together; and then, we're going to solve each one of them...permanently. Don't you think that's the best way to go about it?"
"Y-yes."
"And I'm sure you realize that it's something we can't do in just one lunch hour."
She looked up at me. "I know...and I'm sorry."
"Shh...you don't have to be."
"Emma?"
"Yes?"
"I love you...so much!"
"Wow, what a coincid-"
She cut me off with a kiss.
Eventually she came up for air, then rested her head on my shoulder and asked, "What are you doing this evening?"
"Barry invited me over for pizza...what about you?"
"Mom's taking me shopping...to get my prom dress."
"Did she say from where?"
"She didn't mention the name of the place, just that it's a huge store in Glassboro."
I smiled at her. "Well, huge is good. It's always nice to have a lot of options, so...Happy Hunting."
And I knew that it was going to be...
...she looked so excited!
As I walked out of school that afternoon, I realized I had two hours to kill before heading over to Barry's. Not sure what to do until then, I ended up meandering aimlessly down High Street, looking in store windows.
Stopping in front of the jewelers, I was relieved to find that the Zazz watch I want so badly is still there.
But, unfortunately, it's going to stay there for awhile.
Although at one point I actually had enough money to buy it, that same week my truck needed a new transmission solenoid; and the part, plus the cost of labor, put a huge dent in my savings.
I really need to find a job soon.
But...how?
Is there any place left in this town where I haven't applied?
Ever since I moved in with Grandmom, Mom and Dad haven't given her one cent to help take care of me...so, I'm not about to ask her for anything else! Not only does she pay for my groceries, and my share of the utilities, she also insists on giving me $30 per week allowance...which keeps me in gasoline and snacks, and on a good week, I can save about $15.
So, as worried as I am that someone else might buy my watch, I'm not going to ask Grandmom. I'm going to handle things myself.
At 5:55 pm, I arrived at Barry's hotel...
...and precisely at 6, I knocked on his door.
At first, I didn't hear anything, so I thought that maybe he'd forgotten about our pizza date and left to do something else...
...but finally, he opened the door...
...and as I looked at him, I was shocked.
His face was all blotchy, his eyes were red, and he was shaking badly.
"Barry, what's wrong...what happened?"
He was sobbing and, instead of answering, just shook his head...
...and I became alarmed.
"What's going on...are you sick?" I asked, reaching up and laying my palm against his forehead. It was really warm, but he didn't actually feel feverish.
Finally, he answered me, in a very shaky voice, "Emma, I'm s-sorry, but we...c-can't tonight!"
"Look, Barry, that's fine...but can you at least tell me what's wron-"
"I'm s-sorry! I...I...I-"
"You don't have to apologi-"
"No, Emma...I promised you that we'd...can you c-come over tomorrow evening instead?"
"Well, yes," I answered, "but, do you think you'll feel up to entertaining me by then?"
Reaching over, he took hold of both my shoulders and said, "Promise m-me that y-you'll come b-back tomorrow!"
"Of course, I will," I told him. "Is six pm still good for you?"
He nodded. "Y-yes."
"Well then, Barry, I promise that I'll-"
"Emma, I'm s-sorry, but-"
Without another word, he disappeared behind his door.
I stood staring at it, for a very long time...wondering if I should knock again. If he's that upset, shouldn't I at least try to find out why? What if he needs medical attention...or what if-
At that moment, my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a voice coming from the room directly across the hall...
...a very loud, very familiar voice.
"Well, it's about time you picked up your phone, you son of a bitch!" Dee Dee yelled.
One thing about Dee Dee: if you ever want to eavesdrop on her, you don't need to put your ear up against the door...
...because her voice will come to you!
While I wasn't actually planning to eavesdrop, she added, "If you think that Barry and I are going to let this slide, you're 1,000% mistaken!"
And realizing that this might give some insight into what's upsetting him, I reluctantly decided to listen.
Dee Dee made it easy.
"Don't even try it!" she bellowed. "Now, you listen to me, Ray Hudson! You promised the two of us those roles...AND we have a contract!"
Silence.
"So what if it's written by hand on notebook paper?!" she shouted. "I don't care if it's scribbled on snotty kleenex...it's in YOUR handwriting, and it has all three of our signatures on it...therefore, it's binding!"
Silence.
"But then, without even telling us, you go back on your word and hire those two idiots from that fourth-rate Watertown Playhouse...and I know why you did it...because they're willing to work so cheaply! Well, Barry and I have already spoken to our attorneys...does the name Prescott & Gordon mean anything to you?"
Silence.
"Oh, really?! Your sleazebag lawyer doesn't have a hope in hell against them...oh, and while we're on the subject of sleaze, this morning the two of us read the hit piece Monica published in Theater World magazine! What?! Don't give me that...she's YOUR wife, so you knew exactly what she submitted...and we all know why: you're trying to intimidate us, so we'll back off this lawsuit!"
Silence.
"Not that bad?! Well, let's just see, shall we?"
I heard a rustling of papers, and then, she read, "The next time I watch that no-talent hack Dee Dee Allen perform in anything, I'll need to buy two tickets...one for myself, and one for the guy holding a gun to my head!" She paused for a moment, then continued, "The only debut Barry Glickman ever should have made is in a filthy back alley, with a wire coat hanger wrapped around his neck, because the last thing this profession needed was another ugly, swishy, limp-wristed butt-slammer who mistakenly thinks he can act."
Silence.
And then, to my surprise, in addition to anger I heard genuine feeling for Barry in her voice as she said, "Attacking our performances is one thing, but how dare she write that his mother should have aborted him because he's gay?! That's the most hateful, despicable-what? No...don't you dare hang up on me, you-"
There was a moment's silence, then she yelled, "...son of a bitch!"
And then, she started chanting, "Son of a bitch...son of a bitch...son of a bitch..."
...over and over...
...and suddenly, I realized that her voice was coming closer...
...and I began to panic. This hallway is so long that, even if I sprint down it, she'll still see me when she opens her door!
But then, her voice receded...and I realized what was happening: she was pacing back and forth in her room.
And I heaved a momentary silent sigh of relief...
...but then, I turned and stared at Barry's closed door again.
Oh, my God...no wonder he's so upset! It's bad enough I get hateful remarks said to my face at school, but in his case, it's been published for the entire world to read!
I strongly considered knocking and letting him know how sorry I am about what happened...
...but then, decided against it. It might make him feel worse to find out that I know...
...and besides, he told me he wants to be alone.
And so, I headed out to my truck; and decided that, without mentioning what I'd heard from Dee Dee, tomorrow I'm going to tell him that I understand how badly it hurts to be hated for being gay...
...if he'll even come to the door.
