Vanessa
"Hey dad!" I called
Down the hall to my
Dad. "Do we have anything
Going on this weekend?"
Um, no, I don't think
So. Why? He called back.
"I was wondering if I
Could invite Tony over."
Uh.
"You do remember Tony,
Right?" I asked. If he
Said he didn't I think
There would be a new side
Of Vanessa to emerge and
Her name would be irritation.
It had been two weeks since
Conner's funeral, which meant
It had been that long since I
Had last talked to Tony. I missed
Him.
No, no, of course I
remember him. He was
nicer than that other
guy you had. What was
his name? Anyway, sure,
he can come over.
"Thanks dad!" I all ready
Had the phone in my hand,
His number typed in, waiting
For me to press the dial
Button.
It rang once, twice, three
Times and then someone
Picked up. It was a woman.
Hello.
"Hi. Is Tony there?"
I asked. This was kind
Of weird. I knew his
Parents weren't together.
I didn't know who this woman
Was. His dads girlfriend
Maybe?
Yes. Hold on a minute
Please. I could hear a
Shuffling in the back-
Ground. An opening door,
Then Tony's muffled voice.
Hello? he asked. He
Sounded tired, and
Confused. Who is this?
"Ah, did I wake you?"
I asked. If I had, I would
Feel really bad. I hated to
Be woken up when I was
Sleeping.
Oh, hey baby. Naw. I was
Getting up soon anyway.
What's up?
"I was wondering what
You were doing this
Weekend."
Hmm, nothing I can
Think of. I think that
Would be fine. I just
Don't know how I will
Will get there. But don't
Worry, I'll find a way.
"I could come and pick
You up, it's not that far
Away.
You sure your dad
Would be okay with
That?
"It will be fine. Don't
Worry. But you can come?!"
I was really excited.
Yeah. I'll see you
Then.
"Wait, I need directions."
I said. "We won't be doing
Anything if I can't get you."
Ha, nice thinking. I got
A piece of paper and he
Gave the directions. From
What I could gather, his
House was less than an hour
Away from mine, not so bad
When you consider we met at
A rehab place hours away from
Our houses.
I picked Tony up just
As we had planned. A
Pleasant enough woman
Answered the door. She
Had the same voice as
The woman that answered
The phone the other day .
Hello. She said over
Her shoulder to whoever
She was finishing a
Conversation with. Then
She turned around to face
Me, looked a little surprised,
Then understanding clicked
In her head. Oh, you must be
Vanessa. Tony, your friend is
Here.
There was the sound of
A chair being pushed away
From a table, feet practically
Running from the kitchen and
Around the corner, then Tony
Was in view.
Hey Vanessa. He didn't
Slow down until he
Was right next to me.
Once there, he threw
His arms around my waist
And pulled me into the
House, closing the front
Door behind us.
Welcome to my prisonHe
Said, turning me in a circle
So I could see the whole
Area. From the décor of the
Living room and fanciness of
Dining room, I guessed that
Tony's father had a good job.
Pa, we're going now.
Tony announced to his
Father, who was sitting
At the kitchen table,
Feeding a baby from a
Little jar of blended
Vegetables.
'Kay. Have a good time, kids.
Give me a call if you need a
Ride later.
All right. Tony spun me
Me back around, his arm
Still hooked around my
Waist. As we walked back
Out of the kitchen Tony
Began to plant sweat kisses
On my neck, cheek, lips. I
Tried to keep myself from
Giggling, put a few noises
Slipped out and as I tried
Muffle them, turned them into
Awkward snorting noises.
We climbed into my dad's
Car and headed back to
My place.
We sat in the car for a
Few minutes, catching
Up with each other.
Then we went inside. I
Was sure daddy was timing
Me.
When we walked in, Daddy
Was on the phone and Grandma
And Bryan were making lunch.
Tony, did you have lunch
Grandma asked him.
No ma'am he replied.
It was so strange seeing
Him act so proper.
We spent most of the day
Outside in the backyard,
Cuddling, and talking
All the stuff that had
Happened the last couple
Weeks.
Tony had gotten a job
At a hotel parking cars.
He said that he like it
Because he got to drive
All sorts of expensive
Cars.
That was really something
Compared to my sitting
Around because Daddy wouldn't
Let me go anywhere alone.
I took Tony home at nine,
But we had only gotten
Around the corner from my
House before he made me
Pull over for a nice make-
Out session.
When I got home, Bryan
And Daddy were sitting
On the couch waiting for
Me. Daddy had a strange
Look on his face, somewhere
Between disbelief and relief.
Bryan on the other hand, looked
As if his life had
Just ended. Fear struck
Me like a lighting bolt.
Something was wrong with
Mama.
Vanessa, I have something
To tell you. Here it comes
I thought. Will I be able
To handle it. The office
Called before and they want
Us to move.
Move. That's what this
Is all about. "Where?"
I asked.
Not too far. He assured
Me. Tahoe. So, you and
Bryan can visit Grandma
Whenever you want.
My brain stopped
Processing after
Tahoe. Tahoe! That
Was where Tony lived.
We would be so close.
I could barely hold the
Excitement in until Daddy
Was finished telling me all
The fine details.
