NOW WILL YA LEAVE ME ALONE? part five

NOW WILL YA LEAVE ME ALONE? Part five

Max

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“I’m sorry,” she said. “I never realize I speak so fast. My dad is always telling me to slow down. It’s a habit, I guess. Seems like I just get carried away and go on and on. Mom says I’m just like my grandma. She talks a lot too. Maybe that’s why my mom is so quiet. But then, I guess when you put my mom and grandma in the same room … oops! I’m doing it again, aren’t I?”

Tommy rubbed his face with his hands, then raked his fingers through his hair. He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. Bewildered, he shook his head again and his smile widened.

Mary Ellen noticed something about Tommy – his easygoing nature and readiness to smile. That is, of course, once his self-built barrier toppled down. His laughter was sincere and seemed to spread a certain kind of warm happiness over his already handsome face.

Kneeling to pat Max’s back, Mary Ellen looked up and said, trying to compliment him, “You should smile more often. It does your face good. And by the way, why do you talk so funny?”

She noticed how Tommy stiffened a bit and his smile began to fade and his eyes hardened.

“I only smile when somethin’ amuses me. If it don’t, I don’t. And by the way, my face is fine like it is, thank ya very much! And another thing, what’s wrong with the way I talk?” he ended a bit sarcastically, thinking she intended to insult him.

While he never considered himself handsome, he knew at least, he wasn’t ugly. So, what then did Mary Ellen find wrong with him? He wasn’t sure if he was angry or hurt, but what she said certainly bothered him. He knew the words he spoke weren’t as fancy as Mary Ellen’s but how could he tell her he never learned them?

He shoved his hands in the pockets of his navy-blue pants and leaned against the big tree. He turned his head and looked far away at something only he saw.

Standing up, Mary Ellen put her hands on her hips and said very angrily and yet full of hurt, “You’re such a brat, you know that? I wasn’t trying to be mean. I was just trying to be nice. You look so good when you smile. Don’t you know that? When you smile, your eyes and your whole face just seem to soften and look friendly. But I bet you can be a real pain at times. I’m sorry I said anything!” Almost on the verge of tears and not knowing what else to say, she crossed her arms over her chest, and said, “Hmmph! Really!”

Mary Ellen tried to cover the hurt she felt from his sharp words, never realizing Tommy thought she suddenly didn’t like him or want to be his friend.

She quickly lowered her head but not fast enough before Tommy saw the hurt in her eyes. He was completely confused when he’d seen the beginning of tears as they filled her pretty blue eyes.

He rushed to say something to soothe the hurt he realized his words caused but what that might be, he hadn’t a clue.

He paced back and forth a few times, pressing the heels of his hands against his temples, as if trying to suppress an approaching headache.

Finally, he crouched down in front his friend and placed his arms on his bent knees. Softly, he said, “Mel, I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad. I thought ya didn’t like me no more or maybe ya found somethin’ wrong wit me. Nobody ever gave me a compliment like that before. Nobody ever said I looked nice or nothin’ like that. I didn’t know what ta think.”

He finally lowered himself on the ground and sat next to Max, Indian style with crossed legs. Resting his elbows on his knees, he put his forehead in his hands and stared at the ground between his legs. His voice became very quiet as he almost whispered, “Guess I just didn’t know what ya meant at first, or what ta say when I did. Maybe yer right. Maybe I should smile more. Maybe I should .. aw, heck! I don’t know what I should or shouldn’t do.”

His voice sounded so sad as he continued, “The only trouble is that I ain’t got that much ta smile about. ‘Cept for Uncle Jimmy and Max, and now yerself, there ain’t much else fa me that makes me smile. For how I talk? Well, it’s a long story. Don’t be made, okay? Huh?”

The sound of his voice would make the hardest heart melt. Mary Ellen now realized she embarrassed, confused, and hurt Tommy – something she didn’t intend to do, and something she now silently vowed never to do again.

As her eyes misted with tears of understanding and guilt, she smiled and trying to sound a bit more cheerful said, “Look, let’s forget the whole thing. I’ll make you a promise. If you promise to try and not be so mean, I’ll try not to embarrass you anymore. Deal?” With that she put her hand out to accept his in a friendly shake.

Tommy stared at her open hand. He’d never shaken a girl’s hand before. His eyes softened as he slowly outstretched his hand and reached for hers. He shyly smiled and simply said, “Yeah”, while his cheeks turned a mild pink. Although she noticed, Mary Ellen never said a word about the blush on his face.

She picked up a nearby stick and threw it far. “Go get it, Max! Go get it, boy!” She stood as Max ran off to fetch the stick. Tommy stood and waited for his pet to return. For the next few hours, as they played with Max, neither said another word about their previous conversation.

They played fetch and chase with max until the tired dog gave up. He dropped the stick, and wagging his tail, slowly walked toward Mary Ellen and Tommy. He plopped himself down, curled himself into a ball between his friends, and happily fell asleep.

Mary Ellen quietly thought of ways to not hurt Tommy but at the same time, to get to know him better. She decided that, as her mother always said, time and patience bring results, she would have to find a way to be just that: patient. Guess if I’m patient enough and wait, he’ll start telling me more about himself.

As he relaxed beneath the beautiful big tree, his mind wandered, She’s so gently wit him. And yet, she plays wit him just like me. Not at all like a sissy girl! Guess if Max can have a new friend, who happens to be a girl, so can I.

He stared at the sky and wondered about his new friend.

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Thank you for reading Now Will Ya Leave Me Alone? I’m working on another segment. Please stay tuned to see what else might happen to Tommy and Mary Ellen.