Oh Shit!!
The first thought I had was ‘Oh God, Allie’s dead. Doug came to tell me in person.’
A smile emerges from the woolly hood and I invite him in. Oh God, please don’t let him be stoned.
He wasn’t. “This bag is for you. A belated Birthday present!”
“Thanks! Come to the kitchen. You want Tea or Hot Chocolate? It’s a bitch out there.”
“Cocoa would be great. Oh yes–” he gets serious. “There was this girl hitch-hiking that I picked up. She said she wanted to go somewhere near here. Maybe you can help her.”
He disappears back out the door while I heat water. (On the stove: remember, microwaves were not invented yet.)
I hear: “OK, c’mon in, young lady. My friend is making Hot cocoa.”
I had an inkling what was coming, but it was sure nice to see those familiar white boots in my house. The parka hood flipped back, and there stood Allie, cheeks crimson from the cold. Her eyes light as she greets me with a small kiss.
Doug pulls out a package of 3 Tastycake chocolate cupcakes, then places a candle on each one. “OK, come over here and sit. If I can get Allie to stay in tune, we’re going to sing happy birthday. Some of the neighborhood dogs might howl, though.”
He lights candles with a small silver lighter. I don’t know if I ever had a happier birthday since my Grandmother died. My girlfriend and his nice brother are singing to ME. I’m not discussing my birthday wish–no it wasn’t that the Beatles get back together. And it really wasn’t THAT dirty, either……..
We sit around wolfing our cupcakes, sipping chocolate, talking like old friends about the weather and the snowstorm 4 days ago. And then, the cherry on top!!
Doug rises and says, “OK sis, I’ll get you on the corner quarter after 12, right?”
“Yes,” She stands, hugs him. “Thank you, Douglas. I love you.”
Then he was gone. We stand in the living room, trembling with antici-pation.
“So, Allie, would should we do?”