Chapter 26: Kim and Ron Sunday

Sunday Evening in the Possible House found Kim and Ron seated on the couch and watching a movie. Kim was working on a cup of hot chocolate while Ron, watching his weight, was sipping a cup of steaming tea. Both teens were rosy cheeked from spending a couple of hours outside in the snow.

Ron had shown up at about one and had promptly been attacked by the tweebs. As was their recent habit, they put Ron's wrestling skills to the test in a two-on-one contest. Mrs. Dr. P had told the trio to 'take it outside' and they had. While Lowerton might experience occasional, winter rain; Middleton still had a thick blanket of snow, made slightly damp by the midday sun. Kim had come out of her room to hang with her friend, only to see him outside roughhousing with her brothers.

Kim found herself giggling and watching the antics for the better part of an hour. Then she couldn't take it anymore so she dressed up warmly and went out to join in the fun. On her way out the door she spotted her 'rents also taking in the free entertainment.

As soon as Kim got outside, a four-way free-for-all snowball fight erupted. For the better part of another hour it was every youth for his or her self. Alliances between the four were formed and dissolved constantly as they threw snow, tackled and grappled each other, attempted to bury each other and generally acted foolish. Shrieking, yelling and taunting were also part of the mix. Mr. Dr. P recorded the event on video. Finally, cold and wet (especially the boys) they trooped inside. Everyone changed into dry clothing (Ron had a spare set at the Possible House), and got something hot to drink. Then Kim and Ron pulled out their schoolwork and made sure they were ready for the upcoming week.

Ron offered to cook dinner for the Possibles after he and Kim had finished their assignments. This was a win-win situation since it allowed Ron to watch what he was eating. Finally, with the meal eaten and the dishes washed, Kim and Ron had been left alone in the den. Just as the movie started, Ron confided his breakup to Kim.

"I'm sorry, Ron." Kim told him.

"Yeah, so am I. I mean, I knew it was probably going to happen, we're only 16. The odds were waaaay against us staying together until…you know. But it still tanks." A deep sigh. "We almost made it to Valentine's Day. I've never had a girlfriend over Valentine's Day."

"Did she say why she wanted to break it off?"

"Yeah, her big reason was the amount of time that you and I always spend together. She said that she didn't mind us walking to and from school, but our 'Kim and Ron Sundays' got to her. She said that your weekly date was more firm that hers."

"I'm sorry about that, Ron. Should I talk to her tomorrow? Maybe I can explain that we're not…romantically involved."

"It wouldn't do any good on the breakup front, but I appreciate the offer."

"You said that our Sunday time together was the big reason, were there any others?"

"Yeah, the missions bothered her as well. She says she knew that we weren't running off to make out or anything like that. But it still bothered her that I would drop anything, anytime, to charge off with another girl." He frowned. "Not to open up old wounds, but wasn't that one of the reasons that you and Josh drifted apart?"

Kim found that thinking about her breakup didn't bother her anymore. "Yeah, that was one of the reasons."

"You know Kim, that's something I just don't understand. I mean, I can understand Sue feeling threatened by you. You're attractive, bright and popular. I just can't understand how Josh could feel threatened by me. He's handsome, artistic and in style. I'm none of the above." Ron shook his head, missing the piercing look Kim was giving him. He continued before she could speak. "Sue also said that she was starting to feel something for one of the saxophone players in the band. You know a cute, normal type of guy. I'm just glad that she broke it off with me before she made a move on him."

Kim scowled. "I've never understood why girls, or boys, pull stunts like that. Sue did this the right way. I think that she made a dumb move, but she did it the right way."

"Yeah," Ron agreed. "That would have had me mad. The way she did it, we were able to break off the…romantic thing and stay friends." Ron grinned at Kim. "I know that it's the 'girl' thing to say, but I said it anyway. She's a nice girl and I really do wish the best for her." He sighed, "there was really only one thing that kept it from working out."

"What's that?"

"I would have had to quit being best friends with you. No girlfriend is worth that."

Ron was staring wistfully at the TV so he missed the very warm expression on Kim's face. "KP…" Ron was a little hesitant. "I'm not trying to say anything wrong here, but you've been over this ground before. What do I do now?"

"Well, the standard reaction is to eat chocolate until you get sick. Unfortunately, you have a tournament coming up so that's not in the cards."

"Sad but true, anything else?"

"Another thing that helps is a major shopping spree. Of course you aren't much for shopping and you're still ramping up for the tournament."

"Don't be so hasty. That tournament will be finished on Saturday night and I could use at least one more decent set of clothes. If you'll be my consultant, I'll go for some clothes shopping on Sunday. Any other suggestions?"

"Yeah, you come up with all the reasons that things were just destined to not work out. The only rule is that they can't be serious reasons. Only silly, stupid, meaningless things are allowed. I'll start." Kim paused, looking up. "It just wouldn't work out because she has such dainty hands. Those big hands of yours made it look like you were holding hands with a child. It just wouldn't work out."

Ron grinned, "let me try one. Her parent's liked me. Listen to any of the 50's era rock and roll love songs on the oldie's station. Girls just don't fall for boys that their parents like. It just wouldn't work out."

"Not bad," Kim approved. "She's too thin and kind of, well, wisp-like. You're a physical guy so you need a more athletic girl. It just wouldn't work out." Kim sat back and took a sip of her hot chocolate.

"The other boy, the saxophone player, was just too much for me to compete against. He has sax-appeal." Kim's sip of hot chocolate came squirting out of her nose. "It just wouldn't work out."

"Ron, ow, that was bad."

"Hey I know," Ron was on a roll. "How about just acting silly in general?" He didn't wait for an answer but jumped up and ran for the garage. He was back in a few minutes with some leftover balloons from New Years. "Mind if I use these up?"

She shook her head, then looked at the movie on the television. Oh, Lord, he isn't going to…

He was. The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King was playing. Ron turned the volume down and ad-libbed selected dialogs after inhaling helium from the balloons. After several minutes of hearing Aragorn's stirring speeches, delivered in Ron's chipmunk-like voice with the movie as a backdrop, Kim was a helpless, giggling wreck.

I'm supposed to be cheering him up, she thought. But then again, making people laugh is what makes him happy. She wiped her eyes. Why did I ever let a boyfriend come between us?