Penelope Chapter 4

Author's Note—This chapter has been written, discarded, and rewritten three times, just so I could get the characterization right and the plot working. It originally was not meant to be this long, but as I kept writing, more and more words kept flowing out from underneath my typing fingers and…this very long chapter is the final result. I hope you enjoy anyway!

"Miss Wilhern! Reggie's poking me again!"

Penelope gave a small smile and then walked down the aisle towards the back of the bus. She extended a hand towards the little girl sitting in the back. "Since Reggie can't seem to leave you alone, why don't you sit with me?"

The girl deliberated for a moment and then took Penelope's hand. Together, they turned and walked up the aisle towards the front. She stuck her tongue out to the boy behind her. He returned the gesture, but then slumped down in his seat as soon as she turned away. Penelope caught that. She whispered into the girl's ear.

"You know, I bet Reggie's wishing he hadn't bothered you now."

"Why?" the girl whispered back.

"Because now he has to sit back there all by himself."

"Well…he deserves it!" the girl announced. Penelope laughed.

"Maybe he does. It might teach him to be nicer to you now. Besides, if he ever annoys you again, then I'll just threaten to take away the only person willing to sit with him on the bus," Penelope finished, winking at her; the girl grinned.

They took their seat and the bus drove on peacefully. Penelope leaned her head against the window, her long chocolate curls flattening against the pane. She smiled a little to herself as her thoughts drifted…

The science convention had ended a day early and they were now heading back. Her kids seemed to really enjoy it, even if it was only because of the fact that they had almost a week off from schoolwork. Penelope had enjoyed the greenhouse especially, where they housed the most exotic and fascinating plants she had ever seen. Her kids were not surprised when she could answer every question they had about plant life. They especially seemed to enjoy it when the other passersby stopped to listen to Penelope's impromptu lectures. One woman even turned to her husband and said, "Why don't we have a guide like one?" Alice, the girl who was now sitting next to Penelope on the bus, had heard them and said, "That's not a tour guide," she giggled. "That's our teacher."

The woman looked impressed. "She sure seems to know a lot about plants."

"Oh not just plants," Alice had said. "She knows a lot about everything." She had said this even though she was not sure if it was true. Still, she wanted the couple to believe that she had a teacher who knew everything.

"Alice, sweetie, don't slouch like that. You'll end up ruining your posture."

Alice grumbled, but complied. Then again, Alice thought. Teachers couldn't help but be teachers.

After a while, Alice took out her scrapbook of leaf-prints and began rifling through it to pass the time. All of the students had made scrapbooks of their favorite things at the convention and Alice's favorite was the many trees they had there. She had been allowed to take leaf-prints of some of them.

Penelope, seeing the leaf-prints, had a sudden flashback of the park back home. The first time she went there, she had sat alone on a bench in her lengthy purple coat with her favorite scarf wrapped around her face. She had been there many times since then, and the first time she ever went with Johnny was shortly after Halloween. It was well into autumn and the weather was blustery. Johnny had showed her the tree he had made his favorite spot, the place where he would come often to sit and contemplate.

They had stood, hand in hand, underneath the tree and counted the stars as they came out that night, each one winking into view like someone was lighting candles in the sky. The wind had buffeted them back and forth that day, but they didn't care; they were having too much fun. Then, one particularly sturdy gust had blasted towards them and sent the remaining leaves of the tree into an explosion, ripping them off the branches and flinging them into a spiral dance. Penelope and Johnny had held onto the tree and to each other to keep from falling, but they wound up on the ground anyway, their laughter piercing through the indignant roar of the wind.

Penelope had been taken aback by the unexpectedness of it all and she never forgot the look in Johnny's eyes as he scrambled to help her up. He had slipped on the leaves, however, and had come tumbling down next to her, the wind making his coat billow ridiculously. He caught his hat just as it was flying off his head and Penelope blushed to see how handsome he looked with wind-tossed hair. They burst into more laughter.

When they had finally caught their breath, Johnny said, "Well, if Nature intends to keep us down, then we might as well stay there." He rolled over onto his back and, with one hand held firmly to his hat, his other hand found hers. They lied that way for rest of the evening, in silent contemplation of the stars and in love with each other.

Penelope suddenly frowned. She had only been away from Johnny for less than a week, but the memory was almost enough to break her heart.

"Miss Wilhern?" Alice's voice broke her reverie. "Why do you look so sad?"

Penelope quickly straightened up and smiled. "What makes you think I look sad?"

"I can see it in your smile. It's not really a happy one."

Penelope had to admit that Alice was wise for such a young girl.

"You're right, Alice. I am a little sad."

"But why?" Alice persisted.

"I…I miss someone."

"Is it your mother?" she asked. "Because I miss my mother terribly."

"Aw, Alice," Penelope said, wrapping her arms around the young girl. "I'm sure she misses you, too. You'll get to see her soon though," Penelope reminded her. Alice nodded, cheering up slightly.

"So do you?" she asked again.

"Do I what?"

Alice giggled. "Do you miss your mom?"

Penelope thought a moment. Now that her mother couldn't speak, she was definitely more pleasant to be around. The few times she had visited her family since she'd move out were indeed more fun. In a way, she did miss her mother. The woman did care. Just…not in the best motherly way.

"I do miss my mom," Penelope said finally. "But I miss someone else, too."

"Is it…that lady who drives the motorbike?"

"Annie?"

"Yeah," said Alice. Her eyes suddenly brightened. "I know! It's your boyfriend, isn't it?"

Penelope laughed. This girl never gave up. She nodded her head and Alice burst into more giggles. "I knew it! Are you going to…marry him?"

"Maybe." Penelope said. "If he asks."

Penelope was spared any more questions because the bus lurched to a stop then.

Alice wriggled off of the seat and Penelope followed. While Alice took up station as the first one in line, Penelope turned and called out to her students, coaxing them into neat lines.

When everyone was off of the bus and filed back into the school, Penelope did one last head count only to find Alice missing. Then she felt a gentle tug on her sleeve.

The little girl beckoned to Penelope and then whispered something in her ear.

"I hope you do marry him. It'd be so romantic!"

***

Penelope found Annie waiting for her after school. Just as planned, Penelope thought. She had phoned Annie yesterday to tell her about coming home a day early. Annie was going to pick her up and drop her off at Johnny's rehearsal to surprise him.

Her best friend was now leaning nonchalantly against her Vespa, an extra helmet tucked under one arm.

"Thanks for coming to get me," said Penelope.

"Pleasure's all mine, hun," Annie smiled, handing her the helmet. As soon as they were settled, Annie meandered around some cars and took off down a side street.

"You didn't get in trouble for taking the day off, did you?" Penelope suddenly asked, anxious.

"Nah. I've been training the new girl and she wanted to do the deliveries today so I let her. I could use a day off anyway and seeing you made it even better."

Penelope smiled behind Annie's back. Even though she had other friends now, she never took for granted the unbelievably wonderful feeling that came with being a friend of Annie's.