Lili had come to the skating rink with Hope. It had been a challenge to get Hope's mother to agree to let her go skating.

"They play all that worldly music," Mrs. Brown had complained.

"They play Petra sometimes," Hope had replied.

Lili had yet to hear a single Petra song played at the skating rink.

The girls rented their skates and went into the area with the seats and the lockers. 'Tainted Love' by Soft Cell was playing as the girls moved from the carpeted area onto the rink.

"I love this song!" Lili told her friend as she began to skate.

"What does 'Tainted Love' even mean?" Hope grabbed the wall to help steady herself. She wasn't quite as steady on her feet as Lili was.

"No idea, I just love all the electronic sounds!" said Lili as she breezed past.

Hope laughed.

"You and your new wave! Hey, that reminds me - did Michael and Laura get married yet?" Hope caught up with her friend.

"Yeah, didn't I tell you? They got married last month."

"So, are they gonna stay here or move back to England?"

"They're staying here. Michael got a work permit."

"What about that kid of his?"

"Karen? She's going to a special school in August."

The lights dimmed, and 'You Were Always On My Mind' by Willie Nelson began to play.

"Here's where I sit out." Hope headed for the seats in the carpeted area beside the rink. Lili was following her when she heard someone call to her.

"Hey!"

She turned to see a boy with brown hair, blue eyes, and freckles smiling at her. He wasn't especially good looking, but he was cute in a fresh, sweet sort of way.

"Sure." Lili took his hand, and they began to skate together.

"I'm Greg," said the boy.

"I'm Lili," said Lili.

"So do you come here often?" asked Greg.

"Once a week in the summer," said Lili. "You?"

"I come whenever I can. I might not be able to for much longer, though. My folks are getting divorced, and Mom's talking about moving back to Kentucky to be with the rest of her family."

"Oh. Well, I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's not definite," said Greg. "Are your folks still together?"

"Yes. I have an older sister and a younger brother."

"That's my sister Melissa over there." Greg nodded toward a blonde who was couple skating with another boy. "She's two years younger than me."

"Do you like being the oldest?"

Greg grimaced.

"Not in particular. Everyone's always so concerned with being fair to Melissa, but they don't care nearly as much about being fair to me. Like if I get something, she has to get something, too, but it's fine for her to get something and me not to."

"Even on your birthday?"

"Yep. They've always gotten her some little thing so she doesn't feel left out."

Lili and Greg spent the rest of their time at the rink together, talking to each other, and before they left, they exchanged telephone numbers.


"I met this great guy at the skating rink," Lili told her family as they were eating dinner together that evening. "His name's Greg, and he's only a few months older than me. He's gonna be a senior next year, too."

"What about Hope?" asked Paula. "I thought you went skating with her."

"Well - I guess I kind of forgot about being with her after I met Greg." For the first time, Lili felt guilty about having neglected her friend.

"I guess that's understandable," said Paula. "It must not have been that much fun for her, though."

"I don't know. She didn't say anything about it."

"You shouldn't take your friends for granted," Ginny told her younger daughter.

"I'm calling her right after dinner," Lili replied.


Greg called Lili the next day, to invite her to see 'Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark' with him the following Saturday night.

"I'll ask my parents, but I'm sure it'll be all right," she replied.

Saturday night, she arrived at the movie theater in her yellow parachute pants and white Izod polo shirt with yellow trim. She'd taken great care to make sure everything looked just right and hoped she wouldn't come across as too eager.

As soon as she entered the lobby she saw him, wearing blue jeans and a light blue shirt with scuffed white sneakers.

"Hi," he said. "Want some popcorn?"

"Sure!"

He bought the popcorn and soft drinks, and they went into the darkened theater together.

Lili didn't particularly like adventure movies and so had a hard time concentrating. She was thinking about how much she enjoyed talking to Greg and spending time with him, no matter what they did.

When the movie ended and they returned to the lobby, he had bad news for her.

"We are moving to Kentucky before school starts back. Mom's been in touch with my grandfather. He told her there's a house and a job for her there, and me and Melissa are gonna be enrolled in the school there."

Lili felt her heart sink.

"When are you leaving?"

"The second week of August."

"That's only a month away!"

Greg sighed.

"I know. I hate it, Lili. I wish I could stay here where all my friends are. But I don't have any way of supporting myself, so I have to stay with my Mom, at least until I've finished high school."