That same evening, Johnny and Joanie were able to spend some alone time without anyone around. It would give them the chance to talk.

"Mom mentioned you a lot, Johnny."

"What did she say about me?"

Joanie told him.

"At least it's a good thing she didn't say anything bad," he replied, which he found as a good thing.

"May I ask you something?"

"What's that?" Johnny asked, looking at her.

"How come you never take those glasses off?"

"I like them. Mama doesn't ask me to take them off. The only time I do that is when I go to sleep. Rest of the time they stay on."

Now Joanie was getting the picture on where this conversation was going with this.

"Here's a question for you, Joane."

"What?"

"Are you married?"

"Of course not! It isn't any of your business."

"A girl like as pretty as you should be married."

"Thank you, Johnny. I am seeing somebody, but we're in no rush to do that. My brother is married, though."

"Do I get the chance to meet your other friends this weekend? And your boyfriend?"

"I don't know how to answer that, Johnny."

"Sorry if I asked that question."

"That's okay, Johnny. It isn't very often I hear that question."

"I understand. What do you like to do?"

Mama was inside the house with Marion and Howard. Both she and Marion looked through the front window.

"Look at Joanie and Johnny, Howard."

He didn't bother getting up from the kitchen table.

"What is there to see, Marion?"

"Johnny and Joanie. They're on the front porch."

"I don't need to see that, Marion. I'm jut not that interested what they are doing."

"Come and see for yourself. You don't expect me to answer."

"Okay. I'll take a quick peek."

He put his plate in the kitchen sink. He walked to the window where Marion and Mama were looking at.

Howard joined both of them in the living room.

"What about our children do I need to see?"

"Look for yourself, Howard."

He took his place next to Mama and looked through the window.

"They're just sitting next to each other. Why do I need to see this?"

Neither woman had any answers to that one. They just kept watching them.

"There's no telling what they're talking about, Howard."

"I have to agree with you."

Howard was right. Joanie and Johnny were having their own conversation.

"What sort of things do you like to do, Johnny?" Joanie asked.

"I like the outdoors, food, my mama."

"What about friends?"

"I don't have many friends."

"That's a shame. Friends are good company."

"I know that."

He had Carl and Susie, but didn't want to mention them to her. Joanie decided not to ask any other questions about his friends.

"Maybe I'll talk Chachi into meeting you this weekend. He doesn't have much of anything going on."

"Who's that?"

"My boyfriend. We're pretty close to each other. You'll like him, believe me."

"Does he have family of his own?"

"Yes, but it's not very big."

"Did your mom say anything about my family?"

"I don't know. If she did, it isn't a big deal. Why did you ask?"

"Just curious. Mama did say something about having you introduce me to your friends."

"Where did you hear that? My mom didn't say a word about it. Of course I'll introduce you if we see any of them."

He nodded. Joanie told herself Johnny seems like a friendly person, even thought they just met not too long ago. She didn't bother asking him why he uses the word mama at his age, but it was none of her business.

"Are you ready to go back in the house, Johnny, or do you want to stay for a bit longer?"

"I'll come in. I hope our parents weren't watching us."

"Why does that bother you? I don't see anything wrong with that, Johnny."

"I still don't feel comfortable when somebody does that, even if it means Mama. She gives me the privacy I want."

"That's a good thing."

They both stretched at the same time. He even opened the front door. Howard, Mama and Marion were no longer looking through the front window.

"Ladies first," Johnny told Joanie as he opened the front door.

"Thank you, Johnny. You're such a gentleman."

He took it as a compliment and shut the door.

"How was it out there, Johnny?"

"It was nice. Right, Joanie?"

"Right, Johnny."

Joanie was starting to yawn. She felt tired.

"I'm going to bed, Mom and Dad. It was nice talking to you, Johnny."

"Same with you. Sleep tight."

"Thanks, Johnny."

After that, Joanie was upstairs.