The Haunting of Norville Rogers
Chapter Two: Honey and Cinnamon
Velma
Being picked up by a chauffeur driven limo is another experience in my new world. Daphne is decked out in shades of purple; even her shoes are a plum shade of purple. I ask her, "Why do you always wear purple?"
"Why do you always wear a red skirt and orange sweater?" she answers with her own question, "If you find something you look good in, why change?"
I can't argue with that logic and sink back into the soft, leather seat. She acts anxious to see the boy she's sweet on. We talk about other "girl" things, laughing together but I don't mention her restless actions. I'm anxious too.
"Hi Freddy!" Daphne yells and drags me toward a table. A blond boy waves and I figure this must be her "gang". The place is indeed a hang out for all the high school kids. The juke box is loud, turned up to maximum; an area has been cleared for a dance floor which is crowded with dancing couples.
"Freddy, this is Velma. Velma meet...Freddy." She sighed and any doubt if this was the boy she was sweet on is removed. He got up, "Hi" he said as Daphne slipped into place on the bench style plastic seat. He sat down and I was immediately forgotten. Great! I really like being the invisible wallflower.
Eventually they stop staring into each other's eyes long enough to notice me. Fred , obviously from a prodding from Daphne, begins introducing me to some of the kids who dropped by the table or sometimes calling them over. They were nice looking kids but nothing out of the ordinary.
"Meet Velma, she's new in Coolsville." Either Fred or Daphne would say.
"Been here long?" would be the usual response, "see you later." The wallflower wasn't getting off the wall tonight.
"Hi Fred, Hi Daphne, Strawberry malted for my favorite redhead?" This from an older guy in a cooks apron, "Thought so," He adds at her nod.
"Velma, this is Tom. He's owner, chief cook, bottle washer and he makes the best malt shakes in town." Daphne explains.
"You keep that up and I'll hire you to do my advertising. Tom Benson, Velma. Welcome to the malt shoppe. What's your favorite flavor?"
"Good old vanilla"
"I'll be right back." And he's gone.
"What was that all about, guys?"
"You'll find out, it's a tradition here." Daphne will not explain further. It's about five minutes later when Tom returns with Daphne's strawberry and a vanilla for me.
"Tradition, first malted is on the house." Tom sits this giant glass in front of me. "Th...thanks!" I stammer.
It may be the best malted in town but it is the fastest melting one too. I've only gotten through about a quarter and it's down to a tennis ball sized ball of ice cream floating in an ocean of thick liquid. But it is the best I've ever had.
That was when he walked in. No, not the tall guy with an abundant shock of brown hair that stuck out in every which way---He was a dog!
A big brown dog with black spots. I didn't know they let dogs in places that served food---except helper dogs or seeing eye dogs---and he was neither!
I looked over to see what Tom would do, I expected him to ask the guy to take his dog outside. Tom only waves and shouts, "The usual, Norv?" And then, to make things worse, Fred and Daphne both start waving the guy over to our table! He ambles over, that's the only way to describe how he walks, and the dog follows. It's not like I don't like dogs, I do, but this is one big dog that, on all fours, would come above my waist if I were standing.
"Like, Hi guys," he says and acts like he wants to sit down but can't cause I'm blocking the way.
"Hi Norv, Scooby, This is Velma, she just moved into town. Velma, meet a friend of ours, Norville." Fred does the intros.
"Call me Norv...every one does." Okay, I can take a hint and scoot over so he can sit down. At least he didn't say, "see ya later" and leave like every one else has. So I scoot.
The dog, I think Fred said his name was Scooby, jumps up into the area I just vacated; the hard plastic seat wasn't meant for toenails and he's now flying out of control at me like a hundred pound bowling ball with paws! I have no chance to brace myself and in his fear, one paw catches the glass of cold, liquid shake and dumps it in my lap! The bowling ball with paws hits me full force, sending my glasses flying into space.
"My glasses! I can't see a thing!" I cry out. Of course I don't need glasses to know I have a hundred pound dog trying to lick the cold liquid out of my lap. "Get this...beast off me!" I scream, trying to push a hundred pound weight that doesn't want to be pushed. I can feel the cold shake, what's left of it any way, soaking into my skirt, leaving me sitting in what feels like freezing cold liquid.
Daphne has retrieved my glasses from where ever they ended up. I try to put them on with one hand while pushing Scooby with the other. With little success with either! Norville, "call me Norv", is pulling while I push Scooby and together we make enough headway so that I can scoot back enough to swing my legs out amid embarrassing squishy noises. I'm soaked to the skin and am embarrassed, and with all the laughter, humiliated not to mention angry.
"Don't worry, I'll get you another shake."
I stop. Did I just hear him right? I'm soaked to the skin with an icky, cold, sticky, gooey ice cream concoction and he wants to buy me another shake?! Does he think I'm enjoying this disaster?! I can only hope the waiters bring some towels to clean this mess up. Heavy duty towels. And a lot of them. I look up at him, really seeing him for the first time. His hair is a brown mess, pointed in probably more points than points on a compass. He looks at me with the darkest brown eyes I've ever seen. He's big, lanky,(Daphne will tell me later he's six foot tall). And strong, (he pulled a hundred pound dog off me).
"Are you okay?" He steps away so I have enough room to stand. The tennis ball of ice cream goes 'plop' on the floor and Scooby licks it up with one swipe of his tongue.
It's not his strength that disturbs me when I accept his outstretched hand.
It's his touch!
I feel the energy, like static electricity without the shock, that courses from his hand through my fingertips.
I mutter something unintelligible and he looks at me with those eyes and I find my voice.
"Ye...yes, I think I'm okay. But I think you've done enough damage with one shake!" We both look down at my skirt which is still raining gooey vanilla shake onto the floor, "Don't you?"
"Excuse us guys, but we need to get Velma cleaned up. Tom, can you send one of the girls with some more towels?" Daphne has taken me by the arm and is leading me to the girls restroom. Once inside we do our best to clean my skirt to the point I can go home.
"He sure is cute," I say dreamily. I don't believe in love at first sight but I definitely have a bad case of "like"!
"Who?" Daphne looks at me like I'm bonkers.
Norville
If I didn't love Scooby so much, I'd have killed him on the spot! I wait for the waiters to finish cleaning up then our food order is delivered. I sit down at try the French fries but they taste like cardboard, and the hamburger, which is usually delicious, tastes the same.
I felt it too, the energy that passed between us, but that's not what I was thinking of. It was her eyes.
I know she was angry but those eyes looked so beautiful in her anger. Like, man, like honey and cinnamon, mixed together. I wondered how those eyes would look like when she smiled, or laughed? Like I didn't know how, but I am determined to find out!
I don't have the weight for football like Fred and don't have the coordination needed for basketball but I made up my mind right then.
"Freddy, this year I'm trying out for track and field!" I got up and left, "Come on Scooby."
Fred
I've never seen Norv leave food like that. Or act like that as long as I've known him. He's sure acting strange all of a sudden. And track and field? He's never shown any interest in any sports. What's going on?
I'll ask Daphne when she gets back, she'll know.
TBC
