me?”
Andy picked up the cards from the basket and looked at me sideways. I gave him the evil eye because I could tell that he had told him.
“Yeah, I told him. Now, don’t get mad at me. I know true love when I see it, and you two are meant for each other. That’s all that matters in life, right?”
“Yeah, I guess so. What did he say?”
“That he wants to marry you.”
I slapped his hand, and the cards fell back into the basket. “What? Andy Slick, don’t you be lying to me!”
Andy grinned like he’s tickled to death with himself.
“I ain’t lyin’. Cross my heart!”
After that, I couldn’t think about anything else but what Andy said and dream of becoming Mrs. Jack Harris. Even though Jack had never kissed me, I knew that Andy was right. We are meant for each other.
***
I woke up early and practiced braiding my hair in front of the bedroom mirror. I admired the blazing sunburst on the hippie tee-shirt Jack gave me, along with the new bell bottom jeans and leather sandals I bought. I loved having my own money and buying clothes I liked without Mama’s approval. Turning sideways to check the braid hanging halfway down my back, I caught a glimpse of Beth staring sleepily from her bed.
“Why are you up so early, Annette?”
“I’m getting ready for work.”
Beth giggled into her hand and pointed at my A-Cup bra hanging on the closet doorknob.
“Uh, I think you forgot something.”
“Aw, I’m not wearing that thing anymore. I don’t have anything to put in it, anyway.”
Beth crawled out of bed and slipped into one of those granny housecoats Mama made us wear. “Well, don’t you think that’s kinda like a sin, not wearing a bra?”
I grabbed my macramé bag and turned to go. Beth stood in front of the door, blocking my way out. I used to think my sister was everything. But that morning, she looked so uncool standing in front of me in her granny gown.
“Look, don’t hassle me now. I’ve gotta jet over to work.”
Beth squinted at me through half-closed eyes. “Annette, you act different now. You even dress different, like somebody from another planet.”
“Right on, Beth. You’re from Serenity, and I’m from Mars.” I pushed past her, down the hall, and out the door.
***
Not long after my run-in with Beth, Mama started bugging me about where I was and who I was with. I always said that I was at work. But she must have known that something was up because I was totally surprised at what happened next.
The Proposal
I watched the front window, searching for Jack who showed up nearly every day now. He would sit at the counter and watch me work. I looked forward to feeling his loving eyes on me. For the first time in my life, I was happy that someone was watching me. My heart leapt in anticipation every time the little bell over the door tinkled. But my heart skipped a different kind of beat when Jeff, Beth, and Earl Junior walked in.
They chose a booth next to the window. I felt invaded because they were on my turf, raining on my parade. Andy leaned toward me with his hand over his mouth. He said, “Be cool, Baby.”
I picked up an order pa d and walked over to the booth.
“Hey. What are you guys up to?”
Earl Junior looked at the menu board. The hair growing out of his ears made him look old enough to be Beth’s father. Jeff fiddled with the salt shaker and looked nervous.
Beth smiled. “Well, we just thought we’d come see where you work, is all.”
I felt my pencil flicking back and forth on my thigh. “Is that all?”
Earl Junior snorted like a forty-year-old. “Umm, let’s see here. Gimme one of those dough burgers and an order of fries.”
Jeff piped in. “Yeah, me too, and a Pepsi.”
Beth smiled at me, happy as a clam. “Me, too!”
I rolled my eyes at Earl Junior. “You want a Pepsi, too?”
“Oh, sure. Yeah. Atta do.”
Andy helped me out by giving them their food and drinks. I stood at the edge of the counter, not knowing what to say to
Andy picked up the cards from the basket and looked at me sideways. I gave him the evil eye because I could tell that he had told him.
“Yeah, I told him. Now, don’t get mad at me. I know true love when I see it, and you two are meant for each other. That’s all that matters in life, right?”
“Yeah, I guess so. What did he say?”
“That he wants to marry you.”
I slapped his hand, and the cards fell back into the basket. “What? Andy Slick, don’t you be lying to me!”
Andy grinned like he’s tickled to death with himself.
“I ain’t lyin’. Cross my heart!”
After that, I couldn’t think about anything else but what Andy said and dream of becoming Mrs. Jack Harris. Even though Jack had never kissed me, I knew that Andy was right. We are meant for each other.
***
I woke up early and practiced braiding my hair in front of the bedroom mirror. I admired the blazing sunburst on the hippie tee-shirt Jack gave me, along with the new bell bottom jeans and leather sandals I bought. I loved having my own money and buying clothes I liked without Mama’s approval. Turning sideways to check the braid hanging halfway down my back, I caught a glimpse of Beth staring sleepily from her bed.
“Why are you up so early, Annette?”
“I’m getting ready for work.”
Beth giggled into her hand and pointed at my A-Cup bra hanging on the closet doorknob.
“Uh, I think you forgot something.”
“Aw, I’m not wearing that thing anymore. I don’t have anything to put in it, anyway.”
Beth crawled out of bed and slipped into one of those granny housecoats Mama made us wear. “Well, don’t you think that’s kinda like a sin, not wearing a bra?”
I grabbed my macramé bag and turned to go. Beth stood in front of the door, blocking my way out. I used to think my sister was everything. But that morning, she looked so uncool standing in front of me in her granny gown.
“Look, don’t hassle me now. I’ve gotta jet over to work.”
Beth squinted at me through half-closed eyes. “Annette, you act different now. You even dress different, like somebody from another planet.”
“Right on, Beth. You’re from Serenity, and I’m from Mars.” I pushed past her, down the hall, and out the door.
***
Not long after my run-in with Beth, Mama started bugging me about where I was and who I was with. I always said that I was at work. But she must have known that something was up because I was totally surprised at what happened next.
The Proposal
I watched the front window, searching for Jack who showed up nearly every day now. He would sit at the counter and watch me work. I looked forward to feeling his loving eyes on me. For the first time in my life, I was happy that someone was watching me. My heart leapt in anticipation every time the little bell over the door tinkled. But my heart skipped a different kind of beat when Jeff, Beth, and Earl Junior walked in.
They chose a booth next to the window. I felt invaded because they were on my turf, raining on my parade. Andy leaned toward me with his hand over his mouth. He said, “Be cool, Baby.”
I picked up an order pa d and walked over to the booth.
“Hey. What are you guys up to?”
Earl Junior looked at the menu board. The hair growing out of his ears made him look old enough to be Beth’s father. Jeff fiddled with the salt shaker and looked nervous.
Beth smiled. “Well, we just thought we’d come see where you work, is all.”
I felt my pencil flicking back and forth on my thigh. “Is that all?”
Earl Junior snorted like a forty-year-old. “Umm, let’s see here. Gimme one of those dough burgers and an order of fries.”
Jeff piped in. “Yeah, me too, and a Pepsi.”
Beth smiled at me, happy as a clam. “Me, too!”
I rolled my eyes at Earl Junior. “You want a Pepsi, too?”
“Oh, sure. Yeah. Atta do.”
Andy helped me out by giving them their food and drinks. I stood at the edge of the counter, not knowing what to say to
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