NOW WILL YA LEAVE ME ALONE? part four

NOW WILL YA LEAVE ME ALONE? Part four

Max

She sighed as she turned and began her short walk home and looked forward to tomorrow.

I wonder if he’ll show up. Will he find an excuse not to? He never did say how many times a week he brings Max there. What if he doesn’t come? What if he stays away deliberately to avoid me?

Mary Ellen was always an impatient sort of girl and now her patience would be tested.

+ + +

Mary Ellen waited in the park, sitting under the tall elm for nearly an hour the next morning. She looked around and saw, except for the few families taking a short cut coming from their Sunday services, the park was empty.

He’s not coming, she brooded. Although, she thought, we really didn’t say a definite time. She stood, looked around and not seeing him enter the park, thought about going on the swings to pass time. She shrugged her shoulders, sat down again, and decided to wait a bit longer. The playground section of the park, although closer to the exit near her street, because of the big elm, was almost out of view of the field where Tommy had played with Max the day before.

If I go over there, he might not see me. That is, if he comes. But he probably won’t. Even so, why should I care? Right? She began to sulk. She put her elbows on her bent knees and buried her face in her hands. She feared she was about to lose, not just her new friend, but his pet as well. Then a realization she tried not to admit, made her more upset. She sighed deeply.

We’re not even friends! Not really! Tommy didn’t seem to want me as a friend. I know he’s not all that friendly, but – but I like Max, too! And … Hmmph! She decided not to wait any longer, stood up to leave, put her hands in the pockets of her slacks and with her head hanging down, started slowly walking toward the exit gate.

“Mary Ellen! Wait! Mary Ellen!”

She stopped and turned immediately when she thought she heard her name in the distance. Hardly believing her eyes, she saw Tommy and Max running across the field toward her. She raised her hand and waved eagerly as she hurriedly walked to greet them. Her smile broadened as they grew nearer.

She reached down to pat Max’s head. Although her face still showed a broad smile, she said, in her usual hurried manner, “Tommy, I didn’t think you were going to come. I waited for what seemed like forever and I was about to go home. In fact, I was just about leave when I heard you call me and – well,” she took a deep breath, “anyway, here you are!”

Tommy stood there for a few seconds with a blank look on his face, then after scratching the top of his head, said, “Uh, I know. I’m sorry. I shoulda told ya yestaday that I go ta church on Sunday mornin’ and I’d be here late. Sorry.”

Then he noticed her cream-colored clacks and sleeveless blue linen blouse and added, “And speakin’ of church, how come yer here so early? Don’t ya go?” Her canvass shoes were the same color as her clacks and made her legs seem like they went on forever. Yet, it didn’t matter what she wore, it was her eyes that always drew his attention.

Her voice brought him back from long ago memories. “Of course, I do. My parents take me to the early Mass. We don’t sleep late on Sundays. Or on Saturday’s, for that matter! Saturdays, we get up early and do what we have to do. You know, like laundry, baking, or cleaning my room. UGH! I hate cleaning my room! But that’s the kind of stuff we do on Saturdays,” she said in one breath as she rolled her eyes and waved her hands in frustration of daily chores.

Then quickly, even though he had his mouth open, before Tommy had the chance to even think a thought, she added in the same rushed way of speaking, “On Sundays, we get up early again, go to the early Mass, then after breakfast, just kind of relax the rest of the day. Sometimes, we visit relatives or friends. Sometimes, they visit us. Like today, for instance. Later on, my grandparents are coming. They live in …”

“Hold on, girl!” Raising his hands wide apart in a “stop” command and taking a half step back, Tommy interrupted in a teasing manner and shook his head as in disbelief. When she stopped speaking and stood there with her mouth open, Tommy continued, “Whew! Geez, Mary Ellen! Ya sure can talk! Come up fa air once in a while, will ya?” His eyes were still wide open indicating a state of shock.

Mary Ellen stared at Tommy with her mouth still open, not sure what she said wrong, if anything. The surprised expression on her face created the beginning of a smile on his, which led to a wide grin and finally the whole conversation made him laugh. And laugh he did – until tears began misting his eyes.

At first, his laughter confused Mary Ellen. She thought he made fun of her for some reason, but when she saw the look in his eyes, she was reminded how her father looks when she makes him laugh. She finally realized that Tommy only teased her – the same way her dad did. She lowered her head slightly, shyly bit her bottom lip and with a warm pink glow on her cheeks, put her slim delicate fingers to her lips and slowly joined her new friend in his laughter.

“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 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.

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.