Chapter 7
'School comes to an End'
"Well the math final wasn't too brutal was it?" Lebonnie asked as they exited Mr. Filchs' math class.
"No! I didn't understand any of it! I guessed on probably all of them!" Helen replied sarcastically.
"What?" Lebonnie shouted. "You mean you didn't understand any of it?"
"No, why?" Helen asked, still playing along.
"Well," Lebonnie began. "Oh all right! You know I cheated off yer exam, which means you flunked it which means I flunked it which means we're both screwed and..."
"Oh chill out." Helen smirked. "I was only kidding. What's yer next class anyway?"
'Phew.' Lebonnie thought, relieved. "Physical science, then I'm done with college forever. Praise the Lord! What about you?"
"That was it. I'm done fer the year." Helen replied, stopping at the exit doors.
"Cool. So, I guess I'll see ya later tonight to celebrate?"
"Um," Helen started, looking away. "I got things planned tonight...maybe tomorrow?"
Lebonnie grinned. "So where you and Luke goin' tonight?"
Helen shot her a nasty look and put her hand on her hip. "Why do you have to know everything?"
"Because if we're gonna be sister-in-laws, we're gonna need to start goin' on double dates. I mean, actual dates!"
Helen rolled her eyes and walked out the door. "Talk to ya later...Sister" she yelled over her shoulder.
Lebonnie sat in the very back of Mrs. White's Physical Science class. They had their final exam today, which luckily, she studied for.
Mrs. White glared at the class over the top of her horn-rimmed classes, and gave them their instructions.
"This is just like any exam," She began. "Which means, no talking, no cheating, no smacking gum, no getting out of your seats, no tapping the desk with your writing utensils, and keep your eyes on your own packet! You have seventy-five minutes to complete this test and if you are not finished by then, you will talk a zero."
Many sighs and groans filled the classroom as Mrs. White handed out the seven page packets. When she reached Lebonnie's desk, she slammed the test down and pointed a bony finger at her. "Seventy-five minutes Mrs. Smooter, no exceptions."
Lebonnie took out a pencil from her schoolbag and opened the packet. 'Okay, don't understand that question.' She said to herself. 'Or...that one. Or, any of these ten.' She thought, stressing slightly. 'I studied fer this! How come these questions don't make no sense?'
"Mrs. White!" Lebonnie hollered, turning heads. "You gave me the wrong test! This ain't got nothin' to do with what we're studying!"
Mrs. White got up from her desk and walked over with another packet. She exchanged the tests and gave a weak smile at Lebonnie. "Well, at least we know you were paying attention...for once."
"I'm free!" Lebonnie shouted as Helens Father opened the door. "I'm done with school!"
"Well congratulations!" Bill Geller said, giving her a hug. "Helen just called Jill and I and told us yall were through."
"Yup. And thank God fer that!" She said. "Was Dixie good today?"
"As always. Come on in."
Dixie was playing with a set of legos on the floor. "Hi Mommy!"
"Hey honey." Lebonnie said wrapping Dixie in her arms. 'No more staying at Aunt Jill and Uncle Bills.' She thought. 'We can spend more time together, now that school's over.'
"Thanks fer watching her." Lebonnie said holding Dixie. "Chase and I, appreciate it."
"Sure thing honey." Bill said, grabbing Dixie's 'Pookie' off the couch and giving it to her. "She's been a joy to watch. Can't wait 'til I'm a Granddaddy."
Lebonnie smiled and opened the door. "Ya gotta have in-laws before that can happen Mr. Gellar."
"Well we only have one-daughter so, she can take her time." He said as he patted Dixie's head. "See ya later, stay outta trouble now."
Lebonnie changed into her, 'Bar Uniform' for work as Dixie watched Fly-Fishing on the television. Her good mood faded rapidly as she pulled on her 'Aftershock' tank top.
Chase wanted her to get a different job since her first day. But her hours worked around college schedule, she made some good friends there, and the pay was decent. She wasn't sure she wanted to give it up yet.
Lebonnie stepped into those dangerously high black heels and turned off the bathroom and hall lights.
"Come on Dixie Lou; time to go to work."
"Okay." Dixie said obediently. She automatically pulled on her little sweater, grabbed her Pookie, and followed her Mommy to the truck.
"Tomorrow were gonna go to Grandma and Grandpas again." Lebonnie told her daughter as they climbed into the truck.
"Yeah! Is Daddy gonna come this time too?"
"I'll ask him." She answered, strapping Dixie into the car seat.
'I gotta show Chase that mare.' She thought. She visioned the four-year old prancing the fence line, showing off what her Mama gave her. Lebonnie had thought about her all last night, and today. But who was she kidding? There was no way in hell she could afford a horse like that. 'At least I can still look at her.' Who knows...maybe her Dad would even let her take, 'The Temptress' for a run tomorrow. 'That would be exciting.'
"Hey Faye." Lebonnie said as she handed Dixie over to the 'Bar Nanny.'
"Hello." Faye responded, playing with Dixie's sweater. "How's my Little Dixie Lou? You had a big day?"
Lebonnie fastened her nametag on her tank-top, then headed strait out the bar doors to work. Maybe if she got started early Boss would let her leave before her shift is over. She wanted to talk to Chase about going out to her parent's ranch to see the mare before he fell asleep. That way he could call into work and say he wasn't feeling well and needed a day off.
"What can I git ya?" Lebonnie asked a middle-aged lady sitting by herself.
"A life." The woman answered. "Or you c...could git me my husband back? Maybe, git my k...kids to talk to me a...again?"
"Oookay. Maybe some water?" Lebonnie asked the drunken woman.
"Yes Walter. Old old Walter. He was a good ole man." She slurred.
'Yer gonna be hurtin' tomorrow.' Lebonnie thought to herself. "One glass of water coming right up."
Boss Shaw didn't let Lebonnie go home early. He wouldn't even pay her a little extra for working forty-five minutes early.
Frustrated, Lebonnie pulled in her driveway, and carried the sleeping Dixie in her arms.
Chase was asleep, as she suspected. She didn't want to wake him up; he's grouchy when someone interrupts his naps. So she wrapped Dixie in her blanket, and put her to bed. Lebonnie on the other hand, wasn't quite sleepy yet. She grabbed a beer from the refrigerator, and turned on the TV.
'Elk Hunting with Brock Hedeman' was on. She flipped to the news. Boring. Flipped to the Soap Operas, and found that same rich redhead in that same expensive gown.
'Nothing on tonight.' She thought. She turned off the television and took a swig of her Budweiser. 'I guess I'll just have to git up early and catch him before he goes to work.' She figured.
As she fell asleep on the couch, images of her and the mare herding cattle crossed though her mind.
