71

 

       JANICE

 

    I suppose it's all right if you like that sort of thing.  Myself, I never cared for old houses, fixed up or not.  Now, my idea of a house is one of those ranchers that they're putting up at that Breezewood Manor place.  Patty Strayer says they can put one of them up in three or four days, and then you go in and tell them what color you want everything and where you want your closets and your kitchen counters and cabinets and stuff like that.  She and Kenny went to look at one of the models; I can't even get Jim to go in to do that.  He says they're junk, which just goes to show you how much he knows.  He wants to find an old farm house and put a rec room in it with a bar and a pool table and one of those stereos that'll play his old fortyfives and everything.  Now, why would you want to put all that in an old place like that when you can have a brand new rancher in your choice of brick, old Spanish or three different styles of siding that's got a place for a laundry in the basement?

    I don't know, she says.

    What kind of place do you and Wes have?  I don't think I could live in the city.  Too close to other people.  I guess you could get used to it, but I'd be afraid.  Aren't you afraid?

    We found this very nice loft with a sunken living room and a skylight and Wes designed a

    Aren't you worried about somebody looking in?

    No.  We're up high enough to

    I don't think I'd like that going up and down all those little sets of stairs.  My idea of heaven is all on one floor; never have to go those stairs.

    Uh huh.  Well, it's only two steps down into the living room and one up to the kitchen.

    I suppose, if you don't mind it.  My legs just

    You don't even notice it.

    If you say so.  I pull my finger out of Derek's mouth.  It's covered with marshmallow and his slobber.  His face is sticky and happy.  Do you know Patty Strayer?

    No, I don't think so.

    She was Patty Webster.  She married Kenny Strayer.  You remember him?

    No.

    Sure you do!  He was that guy that used to drive the ambulance.  Blonde hair that always looked a little green in the summertime.  He grew a beard last winter; it came in red.

    I think I know who you mean.

    Well, they moved into the house right across the road from us.  She and I were never too close in school, but we been real friendly since she moved out there; what else can you do?

    I guess so.

    She has a little girl so we watch each other's kids sometimes.  I'd love a little girl.  All those little dresses--did you ever look at them?  The other day in Clover's I saw this one, with little panties with ruffles all across the little butt.  Oh, it was so cute.  As a rule I don't shop in there, but their kid's clothes really aren't bad.  I got Derek a pair of

    Susan!  Her mother calls.

    Sounds like I'm being paged.  I'll be back.

    She hops down off the edge of the table.  She's so thin.  It bothers me just to look at her.  I hate to think she's not well, but I don't know what else to think.  That kind of life just can't be good for you.  She talks with her mother for a minute and then runs out to where Wes is messing with that dirty old dog.  It occurs to me that she's probably into that jogging.  I'll have to remember to tell her about the article I read about how that's not good for women, how it can make you sag and your thighs get all muscly.  That could account for her not looking good..

    Jimmy runs and tries to get up on my lap.  You can't get up here, I tell him.  Your brother's up here.  Wait till later.  Look at that!  Just look at it!  You got that stuff all over my shorts.  Don't cry, it's okay.  Go ask your father to hold you.  Go on.  Jim, can you old him?

    But before Jim can take him, Uncle Art swings him up into the air and holds him above his head.  He laughs up at him.  Everything seems to make him laugh today.  And why not?  I'm happy for him.  It's not what I would want, but if it makes him happy it's fine with me.         

    I jostle Derek on my lap, and we all watch as Jimmy orbits above us.  He giggles and hiccups.  Everyone seems very happy; we all laugh.