Lonesome Street
Chapter 2
Apple pie
Knock, knock. Martha answers the front door, there stands their long-time neighbor Lana Lang.
Martha steps out and draws Lana into a big hug. "Lana dear, we haven't seen you since graduation. How have you been?"
"I'm doing well, can I come in and talk with you?"
"Yes, certainly. But Clark isn't here, he and Jonathan are in Granville on farm vusiness, you just missed him."
(Lana had seen the truck leave, she missed Clark deliberately)
"That's ok, I was wanting to talk with you alone. May I?"
"Surely." Martha opens the door wide, welcoming Lana in. She has a puzzled look on her face that Lana doesn't see.
"I am just starting baking; we can talk while I work. Is that ok?"
"Actually, I brought my mother's recipe that she left me. Can I work by your side and make a pie? And get help from a master?"
"Sure, but I'm not going to boast and call myself a master!"
They start working side-by-side and the conversation starts.
Lana: "I think you know how close Clark and I have been off and on. We've been classmates all of our lives. I care deeply for him, but events in our HS years have stressed things near to the breaking point – from my perspective."
She tells Martha about the event lately of the downed power line, nd her reaction to not confront Clark about it. And why she let things slide.
Martha grimaces internally. 'Lana needs to know!'
Lana continues: "I know Clark is going to attend CKU; I have decided to attend Met U. A significant factor for me is the continual lies and obfuscation from Clark to me (and other friends). I just can't take it anymore. But this concerns me greatly, Martha. Clark needs, as do we all, some friends around him that he can trust to some extent. He is going to be all alone at CKU! My heart breaks for him! I'm not pushing myself forward as some type of savior for him."
"I know you're not; I share your concern, Lana. I just don't know what to do."
"One thing you can do is help us communicate if we show a propensity to do so. Like sharing contact information if one of us asks for that. I will give you my contact information, with my permission to share it with Clark if he asks."
"Thank you, Lana. I will keep it safe, and share with him if he asks."
"Thank you, Martha." They share a flour-filled hug and go back to their baking.
LATER
Jonathan and Clark return home late. They had grabbed a bite to eat in Granville before they hit the road, but when they walked in the door the aroma of fresh apple pie was overwhelming! Martha had vanilla ice cream in the freezer and a fresh pot of coffee on the warmer. The guys sat down and she served them. After a couple of bites, Clark had to speak up.
"This is amazing pie mom! You varied the spices a little, didn't you?"
"Well, actually yes, the spices are a little different. It is Lana's mother's recipe . . . she made the pie right here. She came over to talk and we chatted while we worked side-by-side. We had a very nice time."
Clark is caught complexly off guard. "Lana . . . here? What did you talk about?"
"Girl stuff. Really the only thing I can share is that she has decided to attend Met U next year. She knows that you are going to attend CKU, Clark. I think that you will miss each other after being classmates for all these years. That's my observation, nothing she said."
Jonathon looks on with a puzzled look on his face. He has always been concerned that Clark would break down and share his secret with Lana. He can no longer demand what Clark does or does not do. But he can, and does, make his opinion forcefully known. And Clark is beginning to vigorously chafe at that.
"Mom, you're not going to share more?"
"No, son. I feel that our talk was done in confidence, and I'll not betray that."
"I understand." He wishes he'd known. He would have tried his super hearing. He is opposed to gratuitous eavesdropping, but this is an all-important cause. Isn't it?
LATER IN BED
"Martha?"
"Yes, Jonathon?"
"Will you share more of your talk with Lana with me?"
"No, dear. Same answer as for Clark."
"I'm really concerned that he will cave and share his secret with Lana. That could be a disaster!"
"You don't trust her?"
"I trust no one!"
"Jonathon, that's like living on Lonely Street! You would condemn our son to a life like that? Forever?"
"If that is what it takes for him to be safe? YES?"
"I disagree with all due respect. I love you, but I think you are wrong on this one!"
"I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. Good night, Martha."
"Good night, Jonathon." 'I may have to be more vigorous with Clark, actually pushing him to share his secret with Lana. The thought of my boy all alone at CKU actually scares me, now that I think about it as Lana put it. How do I do this?'