The Widow's Friend (13 page)

And I haven’t even brought up the jewelry yet, the loop
earrings and the chains that set you apart as a woman with personality, someone
that doesn’t wear her religion on her sleeve but has the confidence, the thirst
for life, and the wherewithal to have a little fun with that kind of thing. I
can only imagine that you’re quite the little shopper.

So there you go, Callii. You’re quite the little babe to the
old Levi Stoner, here. But I have to admit, I can still see the Callii of old
in you, and that’s a distinct advantage to me. I also have to admit that I
would like you better in loafers than heels. That’s just a weakness in me, but
I know I’d like you even better in bare feet, because that’s also a weakness I
have. So what I am saying here is that you’ve got a great package. You just
need to believe in yourself again, like you used to. I believe—I can’t help it.
You’re right here in front of me.

This personality thing I talk about is from twenty years
ago. We had some fun with it and I believe that it basically works. It is split
into four categories: red, yellow, white, and blue. I came out as a basic
white, someone who likes no pressure, is laid back, and doesn’t like
confrontation, and that’s true. I also have a slice of yellow in me, which
stands for fun. That is the part that gives me my humor, for better or for
worse. Mary came out a solid blue, which is nurturing and controlling. She is
the most happy when she is taking care of someone or tending the grandkids.
That’s when she feels loved and needed. It is the controlling aspect that gives
me the problems. I would think, from what I know, that you would be a solid
yellow, basically the fun type, always looking for the next party. That would
be my best guess at this point, but I don’t really know, we all have a little
of each color in us. Red, just so you know, is a dominant personality.

I tell you all this just for fun. I’m just curious about you
and happy to share. I guess I’ll go to bed now. It’s two a.m. and I have to get
up early so I can call in sick. So a special good night to you my friendly
friend, as you lay snug in bed, snoozing away, dreaming of tomorrow and the big
party. I wish you well. We’ll talk again later, cupcake.

Your good friend, Levi

***

Well sugar cookie, it’s Friday evening at seven twenty and I’m
back. A ballgame is on TV tonight, but I can’t watch it because the Disney
Channel is in full swing—that’s life with Lexi. Mary thinks I let her do
whatever she wants to and I kind of do. But that’s the problem, Mary is always
inverse of me, (controlling) and we’re rarely on the same page. Conflict and
tension is a way of life with me. Lexi loves the Disney Channel and Mary is a
television Nazi. She says, “All the studies show….” I get so tired of that
line. Anyway, you know more than most about my personal life and you will learn
more as we go, and now on to something else.

Today was the funeral day, and it was good overall. All my
brothers and sisters were there, all with their spouses. Everyone had a spouse
but me, but for the most part I didn’t care much—Mary has a hard time getting
off of work. And my prediction came true—I laughed and I cried. I caught Sam
with red eyes—big tough diesel mechanic Sam. His wife put a hand on my leg when
I broke down for a minute at the end. My sister soaked her handkerchief through
and through.

All of Sadie’s kids spoke and they all did well in their own
way, even Will, who has been mentally challenged and in an institution for the
last twenty years. Sadie’s husband, Glen, as well as four of her ten children
had passed away before she did. She had many challenges over her lifetime.

Tomorrow is book delivery day. I made appointments with Aunt
Rosie in Rigby and Aunt Elizabeth in Blackfoot. We’ll hit them in the morning
and then we’ll buzz through Sugar City and knock on doors, talking for ten
minutes to those who are home and leaving a drop on the doorstop (with a note)
for those who are not. I ran into Christie Miller today. (I don’t know what her
married name is.) She wants to buy two full sets of books for her kids. I
packed up two other full sets and mailed them off today, one for Cathy Henson
Leidsman in Soda Springs, and one for her sister Terry in Preston, both Joyce
Henson’s girls. I thought on the way home that I would like to drop off a
basketball book to Bobbie Benson in Rexburg, if I can find him. He was the
center on our six man team and a major personality in the basketball book.
Sherry is riding along with me. It will be more fun that way and the aunts will
look forward to seeing her. And besides, we’ll have a good talk as we drive.
Everyone loves Sherry.

Would next Wednesday evening be a good time for me to drop
off some books at your house, maybe five thirty or six, or whenever you say. I’ll
stay three minutes or three hours. We’ll see how it goes and I’ll do whatever
you tell me to. You’re the woman in charge, so just let me know. I’ll be fully
compliant.

Right now, it’s Friday at eight o’clock, and you’re all
wrapped up in your family party. I’m sure that it’s going great since you’re
the hostess with the mostest. I’m looking at your picture and thinking of you
right now, while you’re buzzing around showing everyone a good time.

Well, I’m signing off now I guess. I’ll finish tomorrow and
send the e-mail off to you then. You’ll be too tired to even check your e-mails
tonight, anyway. Goodnight to you, Sweet Potato.

Your old friend, Levi

***

Well, this should wind up my longwinded e-mail over the last
several days. I’m sorry I haven’t responded sooner. I know how hard it is to
wait, believe you me. It’s not like I haven’t been writing all along over the
last few days, but I figured by Saturday or Sunday you might have a little time
to read the thing.

I hope your party was fun. Knowing you, I can’t believe it
would have turned out any other way. Do you have any people in your siblings
group that are stinkers? Personalities don’t always mesh—I know that. Which
brother and which sister in law gives you the biggest test to bite your tongue
and let it go. Tell me just for fun, but only if you like. I don’t even know
who they are, just tell a tale if you desire.

I would love to have a couple of dolls for two five year
olds. One has kind of medium brown hair and the other is blonde/brown/reddish,
if that makes any difference. I’ll be happy to give you some money for them,
you deserve some. I was thinking the other day that we both do the things that
our mothers gifted to us. Yours is the tradition of making dolls, and mine is
sharing the joy of growing up in a small town—with absolutely no reins. God bless
both of our mothers.

Delivering books today was pretty fun, but I got tired of it
at the end. Sherry rode with me until three o’clock and then she had to go, but
she didn’t miss much. I only found one other person home and I left the rest of
the books on porches with a Christmas card. By the time I got home, about five
in the evening, I was ready to be done, but I still had to package four more
books for mailing. Yet now the end is drawing near. I just have to make a run
around the neighborhood one evening, and then make the final delivery at work.
Everything after that will be only a minor mailing here and there. I only have
about a hundred fans, but that keeps me hopping for a week or so.

I’m going to send you a link to your picture, to supplement
the description of you that I wrote, you delicious little woman, you. And there
I go, getting all syrupy again.

You said you expected much from this note, so I tried to
deliver. I was just slow to send it to you, that’s all. Are you sitting snug by
the fire again? I will enjoy touring your house when I come. I expect much from
your house and decorating tastes, but don’t feel any pressure—I’m pretty much
of a bumpkin. I sat in one gorgeous sitting room, or front room, or whatever
you want to call it, today. Jeannie Banks, wife of Dick Banks, in Sugar City. I
doubt that you know them. Their daughter is Connie Banks, a few years younger
than us.

Anyway, as I’ve already indicated, my favorite color is
beige, cream, off-white, or whatever. Jeannie had light colored furniture and a
Christmas tree that was trimmed in a mixture of gold, off-white, and a touch of
silver. It looked like it was light gold or cream colored overall, and it was
gorgeous. And she had beautiful antique furniture in there, about four
different pieces. She had some kind of a wonderful showcase for her porcelain
figurines. I can’t describe it but I asked, “Where did you get that?” She said
it was an antique and it was so old that her mother bought it as an antique,
and this woman I was talking to is eighty years old! Anyway, it was a great
room.

Now—to be honest, I wanted to go on that road trip with you
all along, and would still like to. I wasn’t pulling any punches. And I was
really appreciative when you said you’d go. I could think of nothing nicer, for
me, than to spend a full day with you. I still feel that way too. And as for
beaches, I like that kind of thing too, but I enjoy sitting under an umbrella
on a chair and shooting the breeze with friends. I don’t care if it’s Cooper’s
Pond as long as there are friends there.

I’m rambling a bit now so it’s time to quit and send this
off. But one other thing: why did you think that I came back and took my music
back? Do you simply mean I have a love for music or did you think something
else?

Anyway, please respond to my questions. I will wait as
patiently as I can. And Calliijo, you are a doll. I love your eyes, I love your
nose, I love your smile, and I love to send you music, because it reminds me of
you. Thanks for letting me do so.

Your friend forever, Levi

***

From Levi Stone (Ten minutes later)

I sent Callii another music link, “Do I Have to Come Right
Out and Say It”, by Buffalo Springfield. I hoped she would enjoy it.

From Callii Wilson

Dec 13th

Hello Brother Stone. It’s Monday evening and it’s time to
spend a few minutes with you again. First of all, about your last email, I
opened it at about 11:30 Saturday night, and after reading it I couldn’t sleep.
I was just putting my body into bed when my phone told me I had an email. I
looked to see who it was from and when I saw that it was from you I couldn’t
wait to read it, so I squinted my tired eyes and did so. YOU ARE SO NICE. You
made me feel really good. I had a really hard time sleeping after that because
the things that you said kept going through my head. Like I said, you are so
nice. I didn’t listen to the song you sent until the next day, but I loved it
too—but then I blew it. When I was shutting down my phone I accidentally hit
the delete button, and now I don’t have the e-mail anymore, so I can’t answer
the questions you asked because I don’t remember what they were. Can you send
it to me again, or do you erase them? If you do, can you remember the
questions?

It sounds like you had a good time getting your books out to
your many fans.

Wednesday would work out just fine for me. I look forward to
seeing you. It was a bit strange seeing you at your aunt’s viewing. If I hadn’t
been in contact with you in recent months we probably would never have clued in
that we were at the same place at the same time. Does it make you wonder if we
have crossed paths before without even knowing it?

You mentioned Tommy Thompson. I saw him there also. He used
to come and visit me last summer. I would be out working in my yard and he
would drop in sometimes and scare me. He is a nice person. I guess he was one
of those married men that you asked about that come to visit me sometimes. He
is not married anymore. We went out a few times, but he is NOT my style. Did
you know that he is an ex-convict? I swear that his whole family is
interesting.

Have you got your Christmas shopping done yet? I have been
working on it. I babysat today for a few hours. Tomorrow I have Isaac all day
while his mom takes his sister to the hospital. She is having problems again.
She may have some kind of an internal puncture. That poor little girl, I pray
for her future. I have to deliver a doll to Pocatello, so I guess that’s what
we’ll do to entertain ourselves.

I have the family party behind me now, and I think a good
time was had by all. I cooked all day and I’m not used to that. I very seldom
cook anymore, because it’s not fun at all to cook for just one. Next, I have
the annual party for my kids and grandkids. It’s this coming Sunday, and that
will be the end of the parties for the season. Can you believe Christmas is a
week from Saturday? It seems like it comes more than once a year nowadays.

I still haven’t decorated my basement yet. I am thinking I
just won’t do it this year. Nobody cares anyway, except me. I’m sorry about the
rambling. I lead such a boring life that I don’t know what to tell you. I think
I will quit now, but I really do look forward to seeing you, and we can talk
more then.

Amen, Sister Callii

***

From Levi Stone (Thirty minutes later)

I always love hearing from you. I wish I could hear from you
every day. I’ll be there about six on Wednesday. Got anything to eat? I’ll
forward the last e-mail to you—the one that you erased. Goodnight, good friend.

Until then, Levi

***

I had been invited to visit Callii at her home. I felt happy
but I felt anxious. I felt giddy but sober at the same time. I felt welcome,
but I also sensed a need for caution. But after all was said and done I was
totally excited. I had no idea what might develop or how long I might be there,
but I couldn’t wait for Wednesday to get here. Grandma Callii, my old friend,
would be there waiting.