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Authors: Elizabeth Eulberg
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to clear her mind. Or trying to distract herself from something. And with us being on winter break, she didn’t have homework to fill that void.
I rubbed her arm, thinking it would be the best way to comfort her. Ever since we’d gone to the cemetery, I knew it was okay for me to bring up her mom. I was so honored when she took me. It cemented how important our relationship was. But I also knew that if she wanted to talk about it with me, she would. It was getting to the point that I could read Macallan pretty well. I knew when she needed to be prodded into saying something and when she needed to be left alone. And the look on her face screamed, Leave it alone .
“Well, I’m used to the good weather year-round,” I reminded her. “And I’m sorry I asked you to lie to Emily about when I was coming back.”
“Yeah …” She started cleaning up the counter. “Do you want something to eat?”
I’d never passed an opportunity to eat anything she made. Macallan put together a plate of fudge brownies, Rice Krispies treats, and a slice of pecan pie.
I reached into my bag and pulled out her present. “Merry Christmas, a week late.”
She hesitated before she opened it. “It’s not a Bears hat, is it?”
I laughed. She’d given me a Green Bay Packers knit hat to help me “fit in.” Everybody had gotten a big kick out of that, especially Adam. But after all the ribbing, she’d also given me a coupon for a homemade meal of my choice. It was my favorite gift that year.
She started unwrapping the box. She began laughing the second she saw one of the pictures on the DVD case. “I can’t believe you got me —” She stopped herself as she saw the inscription on the front. “How did you … ?” Her mouth was practically on the floor. This made me extremely happy.
“My buddy’s dad knew the producer on the show. I called in a favor.”
She stared down and then read the inscription on the Buggy and Floyd DVD from the actor who played Buggy: Blimey if I don’t fancy me a glass of Macallan.
“I couldn’t figure out if it was genius or dirty,” I confessed.
“Genius!” Macallan started laughing. I loved it when she laughed. She had two kinds of laughter: One was a normal chuckle, while the other was this boisterous, head-flailing-back laughter. If I had only one goal in life, it would be to make her laugh loudly every day. And that day, my mission had been accomplished.
“This is the greatest, thank you!” She flung her arms around me. “You can have as many meals as you want, whenever!”
“I’d like that in writing, please.”
Her head fell back again as she laughed and, I kid you not, my heart actually soared.
“So.” I started playing with her hair, which changed color depending on the season, like a tree. It was currently dark brown with a red overtone. “Tell me everything. How was New Year’s?”
The smile quickly vanished from her face. I should’ve known better to keep bringing up something that reminded her of her mom. “It was good,” she said. “Um, when are you seeing Emily?”
I checked the clock. “I told her my flight got in right about now, so I should call her soon.”
“Yeah, you should call her. I know she really wants to see you.”
This was why Macallan was the greatest friend in the world. I hadn’t seen her in ten days, yet she wanted to be sure I saw my girlfriend.
“Do you want to come with me to see her?” I wasn’t ready to say good-bye to Macallan just yet.
She shook her head. “No, you guys should have some alone time.”
“Come here.” I gave her a huge hug. “You’re the best. You know that, right?”
She gave me a meek smile. I didn’t want to leave, because there was clearly something wrong. But maybe what she needed was some time alone. She was trying to get me out of the room fast enough.
“So are you.” Her eyes were so sad.
While I walked the seven blocks to Emily’s house, I couldn’t get Macallan out of my mind.
My best
I rubbed her arm, thinking it would be the best way to comfort her. Ever since we’d gone to the cemetery, I knew it was okay for me to bring up her mom. I was so honored when she took me. It cemented how important our relationship was. But I also knew that if she wanted to talk about it with me, she would. It was getting to the point that I could read Macallan pretty well. I knew when she needed to be prodded into saying something and when she needed to be left alone. And the look on her face screamed, Leave it alone .
“Well, I’m used to the good weather year-round,” I reminded her. “And I’m sorry I asked you to lie to Emily about when I was coming back.”
“Yeah …” She started cleaning up the counter. “Do you want something to eat?”
I’d never passed an opportunity to eat anything she made. Macallan put together a plate of fudge brownies, Rice Krispies treats, and a slice of pecan pie.
I reached into my bag and pulled out her present. “Merry Christmas, a week late.”
She hesitated before she opened it. “It’s not a Bears hat, is it?”
I laughed. She’d given me a Green Bay Packers knit hat to help me “fit in.” Everybody had gotten a big kick out of that, especially Adam. But after all the ribbing, she’d also given me a coupon for a homemade meal of my choice. It was my favorite gift that year.
She started unwrapping the box. She began laughing the second she saw one of the pictures on the DVD case. “I can’t believe you got me —” She stopped herself as she saw the inscription on the front. “How did you … ?” Her mouth was practically on the floor. This made me extremely happy.
“My buddy’s dad knew the producer on the show. I called in a favor.”
She stared down and then read the inscription on the Buggy and Floyd DVD from the actor who played Buggy: Blimey if I don’t fancy me a glass of Macallan.
“I couldn’t figure out if it was genius or dirty,” I confessed.
“Genius!” Macallan started laughing. I loved it when she laughed. She had two kinds of laughter: One was a normal chuckle, while the other was this boisterous, head-flailing-back laughter. If I had only one goal in life, it would be to make her laugh loudly every day. And that day, my mission had been accomplished.
“This is the greatest, thank you!” She flung her arms around me. “You can have as many meals as you want, whenever!”
“I’d like that in writing, please.”
Her head fell back again as she laughed and, I kid you not, my heart actually soared.
“So.” I started playing with her hair, which changed color depending on the season, like a tree. It was currently dark brown with a red overtone. “Tell me everything. How was New Year’s?”
The smile quickly vanished from her face. I should’ve known better to keep bringing up something that reminded her of her mom. “It was good,” she said. “Um, when are you seeing Emily?”
I checked the clock. “I told her my flight got in right about now, so I should call her soon.”
“Yeah, you should call her. I know she really wants to see you.”
This was why Macallan was the greatest friend in the world. I hadn’t seen her in ten days, yet she wanted to be sure I saw my girlfriend.
“Do you want to come with me to see her?” I wasn’t ready to say good-bye to Macallan just yet.
She shook her head. “No, you guys should have some alone time.”
“Come here.” I gave her a huge hug. “You’re the best. You know that, right?”
She gave me a meek smile. I didn’t want to leave, because there was clearly something wrong. But maybe what she needed was some time alone. She was trying to get me out of the room fast enough.
“So are you.” Her eyes were so sad.
While I walked the seven blocks to Emily’s house, I couldn’t get Macallan out of my mind.
My best
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