A Girl Named Summer (6 page)

Don’t ask, oh, please, don’t ask
, Summer prayed.

“What is it you’re working on, sir?” David asked.

“A remote-control car-wash system. When I get all the bugs worked out of the motor, I’m going to hook it up in the garage.”

David, bless him, didn’t even blink. “Sounds like a useful gadget,” was all he said.

“What time are you planning on bringing my little girl home?” her father asked. Summer hated it when he called her his little girl, and almost screamed in frustration. She moved slightly and became aware of a bulge under her right leg. It was most probably a toy or her mother’s keys…or maybe it was the missing measuring spoons. Summer didn’t want to know. Slowly sliding her hand along the side of her skirt, she pushed the item between the cushions and only then let out the breath she was holding.

“The movie gets out at ten, and I thought Summer and I could get something to eat after that. Would eleven-thirty be all right?” David’s voice was so calm and reassuring.

She stole a quick glance at him before turning back to her father. He was frowning in absolute concentration, as if David had just asked him to explain the national debt.

“Normally our Summer has to be in by eleven,” he stated, “but I’ll make an exception this time. Eleven-thirty should give you enough time for a snack, don’t you think?”

“Yes, sir, and thank you,” David said. He turned to Summer and grinned. “We better get going or we’ll be late.”

“You got any gum?” Michael suddenly demanded. He wrapped his arms around David’s kneecaps, making it impossible for him to stand up.

“Michael, it isn’t proper to ask for things,” Summer stammered. “And get your hands off David. You’re all grimy.” She shot her mother a pleading look.

“Sure I do, Mike,” David replied. He peeled Michael from him and stood up. Reaching into his pant’s pocket, he extracted a pack of Juicy Fruit and offered a stick to her little brother.

Michael was impressed. Juicy Fruit was one of his favorites.

“Tell David thank you,” their mother suggested with a smile as David and Summer headed out the door.

Neither said a word until they were on their way to the movie theater.

“Your family is nice,” he said.

You mean crazy, don’t you?
Summer wanted to say but didn’t. “Thank you,” she substituted instead. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

“No,” David answered. “I’m an only child. Sometimes I wish I had a brother or a sister. Be kind of neat to share things with someone at home.”

“Michael isn’t into sharing yet.”

“He looks like the kind of kid who’s into everything,” he said with a chuckle. “You know, it took me ten minutes just to talk him into taking his boots off at the pool today.”

“Yes, well…he kind of identifies with Superman,” she explained. “Mom says it’s a stage he’s going through.”

“Were your parents surprised when Mike came along?”

Summer was thinking the question over, trying to figure out how she was going to answer it, when David said, “Look, I shouldn’t have asked such a personal question. It’s just that they seem a little…”

“Old?” Summer suggested.

“Yeah, a little bit older than most parents with little kids. I know it’s none of my business, but I really think it’s neat. Mike’s a real character.”

“It’s okay; it’s not a personal question. It’s just kind of weird, that’s all. Mom and Dad were married for five years before I was born, and then Mom was told she couldn’t have any more children. I was an only child for twelve years, and then Michael came along. Everyone was really surprised. It was a big adjustment.”

“It must have been strange to have a baby around all of a sudden,” he said.

“Mom and Dad were thrilled, but I…” She was suddenly embarrassed, remembering how put out she’d been the entire time her mother was carrying Michael. Why was she telling David all this? she asked herself. He couldn’t possibly be interested in her family.

“It had to be hard on you, what with all the changes,” he said. He burst into laughter, saw her puzzled expression, and hurried to add, “‘Changes,’ get it? Diapers?” He continued to chuckle, immensely pleased with his little pun.

“Not funny, David,” she replied, shaking her head.

“Sorry,” he answered, but the lopsided grin he displayed contradicted his apology.

“You know, I can’t imagine
not
having Michael around now, or Grandpa, for that matter. He moved in last year, after Grandma died.”

“He seems real nice,” David said.

“Tell me about your family,” she suggested.

“Not much to tell,” he replied. “Dad’s an accountant, and Mom does a lot of volunteer work.”

“What about you? Do you know what you want to do when you finish school?”

“Not really. Sometimes I think I want to be a doctor, but you have to be real good in science and I’m just average.”

He found a place to park a block away from the theater. When she got out of the car, he took hold of her hand and held it until they reached the entrance. Neither spoke, but it was a comfortable silence. Summer was trying to memorize everything he said so she could tell Regina, and at the same time she wanted to be witty and interesting. It was an exhausting task! She felt herself tense up again and took a deep breath. “Do you play any sports?” she heard herself ask.

“Sure,” he answered. “Lots of soccer and a little baseball. What about you?”

“I was on a softball team,” she said, and that much was true. She just didn’t mention that she’d been eight years old at the time and signed up to play only because
of the powder blue uniforms the girls got to wear.

“What about tennis?” he asked. “I just got a new racket, but I haven’t played much.”

“I’ve only played a couple of times,” she answered. “I don’t even know all the rules.”

“Want to set up a game for tomorrow afternoon around four? It shouldn’t be too hot then.”

“I wish I could,” she said, crossing her fingers. “But I have to watch Michael. Mom doesn’t get home from the flower shop until five.” She was pleased that he wanted to see her again but felt that she would make a complete fool of herself if she tried to play tennis. She did own a tennis racket, but only because Regina had given her one two summers ago when Regina had a crush on the tennis coach. They never actually played, just circled the tennis courts a couple of times a day in their white shorts, hoping to catch the coach’s eye.

“Bring him with you,” he said. “He can play on the swings. What do you say?”

He sounded so eager and enthusiastic. Summer decided she would have to agree. If she didn’t, David might think she didn’t want to be with him.

“Okay, but I better warn you. With Michael along, we won’t get much tennis played.”

“No problem,” David said. “Come on, let’s get some popcorn.”

It wasn’t until they were seated in the middle of the
crowded theater and the lights were fading that Summer thought to ask what movie they were going to see.

“It’s a comedy,” he explained. “My friend Charlie said it was real funny.”

“Is he tall?” She asked the question before she could stop herself.

“Pardon me?” He looked puzzled and leaned down until his forehead was just inches from her upturned face. His aftershave smelled so clean and fresh and spicy, and Summer hoped he could smell her perfume.

“Oh, nothing,” she mumbled. She would work on finding a date for Regina later.

She enjoyed the movie, but David
really
liked it! His laughter, full and completely uninhibited, laced with an appreciative snort every now and then, drew stares from the people around them, but she didn’t mind at all. The fact that he was so relaxed and obviously enjoying himself pleased her. When he finished his extra-large tub of popcorn, he draped his arm around her shoulders as though it were the most natural thing to do. She felt like purring with contentment.

The movie ended all too soon as far as she was concerned. David suggested they go get hamburgers, and she quickly agreed. She was glad he didn’t suggest the Pizza Paddle because she didn’t want to share him with any of her friends just yet. That would come soon enough, at Ann Logan’s party…if she could get up her nerve to ask him.

“I’ve never known anyone named Summer,” David said on the way home. “Is it a family name?”

“No, Mom just liked it. Dad wanted to name me after a flower, but Mom won out.” Summer didn’t add that her father still occasionally called her Rosebud when he was in a teasing mood. That information came under the heading of “boring family trivia.”

“I like your name. It suits you.”

She wasn’t sure what David meant but knew that he was giving her a compliment. She was glad her name was Summer.

It wasn’t until they were saying good night on the front porch that she found enough courage to ask him to go to Ann Logan’s party with her. “I had a great time, David. Thank you for inviting me,” she whispered. The noise from the television was blaring through the screen door, and she didn’t want to alert her parents to the fact that they were home.

“I’ll pick you up at four tomorrow, okay?” he asked just as softly.

“Fine,” she answered. It was now or never. “A friend of mine—well, she really isn’t a friend, she’s a classmate—and she’s having this swim party next Wednesday night. We’re supposed to bring dates, and I was wondering if you would like to go with me.” The last was blurted out, but she didn’t care. David was smiling and nodding. He really seemed pleased she had asked him.

“Sure,” he answered. “We can talk about the time and all that tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay.”

He put his hands on her shoulders and leaned
toward her. “Summer, is that you?” Her father’s voice surprised her and she jumped. David let go of her shoulders and took a step backward. Both of them began to laugh, and then everything was just fine.

“Yes, Dad,” she called. “I’ll be right in.”

She watched David walk down the steps before turning to go into the house.

“See you tomorrow,” David called over his shoulder.

“Did you have a good time, sweetheart?” her father asked.

“Just fine, Daddy,” Summer answered. “Just fine.”

Chapter
5

R
egina was sitting on the porch steps when Summer returned from the park with a waterlogged Michael in tow. “How’d your swimming lesson go, Mike?” Regina asked.

“I got my face wet,” Michael answered as he threw himself on Regina’s lap. He was happy to see Regina and grinned up at her.

Summer settled next to the pair on the top step and gave Regina a blow-by-blow description of her date with David.

“He sounds too good to be true,” Regina sighed. “What about his friends? Any tall ones?”

“He mentioned a boy named Charlie. I’ll ask all the necessary questions when we play tennis today.”

“Just don’t be too eager when you tell him about me. And
don’t
say I’ve got a great personality,” Regina
warned. “He’ll think I’m a dog. And be casual about it. If the opportunity doesn’t come up, wait until Ann’s party and then ask him.”

“Okay, okay,” Summer said. “Regina, I do know how to be tactful.”

Summer was so excited about David, she felt like jumping up and doing a little jig, just the way Michael did when he was told he was going to get some special treat. “Oh, Regina, David is almost perfect. He does have one little, tiny flaw, though,” Summer began.

“What?” Regina asked.

“You’ll think I’m being stupid…”

“So?”

“Well, he tells these really terrible jokes. I mean, they aren’t funny at all, but he thinks they are. After he tells the punch line, he laughs so hard his shoulders shake, and I don’t think he even notices that I’m not laughing. Honestly, Regina, he told one bad joke after another all the way home. I think he has a hidden ambition to be a stand-up comic,” Summer concluded.

“That’s not such a bad flaw,” Regina said. “I thought you were going to tell me something gross. Now, drooling, twitching, belching all the time…those are definite flaws.”

“Be serious,” Summer demanded.

“Okay,” Regina replied. “If telling bad jokes is David’s only flaw, then I still say he’s perfect. At least he has a sense of humor.”

“You’re right. He
is
perfect,” Summer agreed.
“Now, let’s get down to business, Regina. How am I going to learn to play tennis before four o’clock?”

David was prompt. At exactly four o’clock he knocked on the screen door. He was also thoughtful. He produced an entire pack of Juicy Fruit gum and handed it to Michael, who immediately tore into the package with squeals of delight.

“Want to walk to the park?” David asked.

“Sure,” Summer agreed.

“Hey, Mike, is that a new towel you’re wearing?” David looked as though he was about to laugh, but Michael didn’t seem to care or notice that David was teasing him. He was too busy stuffing sticks of gum into his mouth.

“It’s my cape,” Michael explained between bites.

“Come on, Michael, it’s time to leave,” Summer called after him.

“I need my glasses Grandpa gave me,” Michael yelled back. He appeared a minute later with a pair of white children’s sunglasses perched on his nose.