The Widow's Friend (16 page)

Are you going to be watching the Idaho State game tomorrow?
I really want to watch it and I hope I can make time for it. Do you know what
time it’s on? Kevin was a big football fan and he turned me into one too. My boys
are also fans, so we have football parties here once in awhile, but no one has
mentioned coming over so I may be watching it alone—the story of my life.

So, what have you been up to this fine day? What are you
doing tomorrow? I wish I was a fly on the wall at your Christmas program. I am
sure you will do a fine job.

I went to a concert tonight. It was the Bar J Wranglers.
Have you ever seen them? They are very talented and awfully funny. When we came
out of the concert it was snowing. On the way home there were three accidents
on the freeway. It was slow going, but as you can see I made it home. I am
pretty tired now and will be headed to bed soon, but I wanted you to know I am
thinking about you. I hope you have a nice weekend. Behave yourself and I will
write again soon. You do the same, okay?

Dream on, Jo

***

From Levi Stone

Dec 18th

“How are you tonight Grasshopper?” said the ant. Me thinks
that if you and I ever do end up together, it would be great fun for me. You
are the fun loving little party girl, and you could take me along. I can’t
remember the last time I went to a concert. I still think we are way different
in many ways, yet I find it refreshing that our personalities mesh so well. I
am quiet sometimes, but often another person with an outgoing personality will
draw me out. Cousin Julie always did that to me when we were young. She got me
going on many an occasion, and you seem to do the same. Did you feel
comfortable too? I hope so.

The director of the church program just called and she’s as
nervous as a cat. I told her I’d pray for her tonight. I didn’t tell her that
it wouldn’t do any good. Heh… Anyway, I wish you well with your party tomorrow.
I’ll probably write a little more tomorrow night. We’re watching “Horton Hears
a Who” right now, at least somebody is, and the boy with the yo-yo is named Jo
Jo. I swear, everyplace I go I’m reminded of you. (Not really a problem.) So
good night and sleep well, Jo.

In my wildest dreams, Levi

***

After the e-mail I sent her another link to a song: “Happy
Together” by The Turtles

From Levi Stone

Dec 19th

Hi Callii, I’m so sorry about the situation with your son. I
know it’s hard on you. I wish I could be there with you right now. Hang tough,
girl. Life’s battles are hard enough without having to go through them by
yourself, but I would feel as helpless as you do about it, I guess. Are you
still upset today? Which town does his wife live in? Rexburg? Far away or close
by? I wish I could be there and talk to you. I’m sorry for the clumsiness of
where we are at this point.

It’s Sunday afternoon right now. I suppose you’re right in
the middle of a party with the little ones. I’ll write this note and send it on
later, when you’re a little more available.

Did you know that you are very clever? You make me laugh all
the time when I read your e-mails—there’s just something about Callii.

You mentioned the other night that you don’t express your
emotions too well. Well I have to admit that I don’t gush too well. Your dolls
are gorgeous and will make my little granddaughters very happy, but I was
especially remiss about your house. Your basement is fun, but your main level
is wonderful. Everything in every corner was just perfect: Your kitchen, your
furniture, your oversized windows, your large screen TV with the fire burning
on the screen, and on and on. You did so much of it yourself, and what you didn’t
do you still used your good taste to direct someone else to do it for you.

You’re a good woman, Callii. I was focused on you and only
you the other night, but I did notice the house, and it was exquisite.

Actually, up here in my world, the Christmas Program turned
out pretty well, but there was little pressure on us. I mean who can’t stand up
there and read a paragraph or two? It’s not a difficult task. A couple of years
ago I was asked to be Santa Claus—now that’s pressure.

We went Christmas shopping on Saturday and I missed the
football game, but frankly I wasn’t too excited about it anyway. If you can’t
beat New Mexico State in El Paso then you might as well mail it in, and it
turned out just as I thought that it would. (Do I sound cocky?) That said, I am
an Idaho State fan. I’ve drifted away a bit the last ten years or so,
especially with basketball, but I still follow the football team fairly
closely—I’m just not a fanatic anymore. I have seriously considered buying
season tickets next year though. There’s a lot of electricity at the games and
it makes for a good outing. With the right friend it could be really something
to look forward to. I imagine they’re great on your big screen television as
well. Did you and Kevin ever have season tickets?

And as for the book, just let it rest until after the
holidays. Don’t feel pressure to read—please. The books are fun, but take your
time.

You know, it’s a lot of fun e-mailing you and everything,
but since we visited the other night it seems like it would be a lot easier to
just pick up the phone and talk. But I don’t think it’s quite reached that
point yet, though we keep working towards it. Do you feel that way too or not?
I don’t think I’d even thought about it until just now.

What are you doing on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and
what about New Year’s Eve? You tell me and then I’ll tell you.

Callii, you’re such a little sweetheart, but I have to admit
that I see a little bit of street fighter in you. How could you not be a bit
that way after all that you’ve been through? You are an independent business
woman that has made it on her own, and a girl that’s been knocked down and
climbed back up many times. You’re an alley cat that has had an occasional cat
fight with some of your friends, and from what you have told me some of your
friends seem to be somewhat lacking in a few areas. What is your relationship
with Anne Richardson? You have said she is judgmental, but you also seem to
really like her. And no matter what happens going forward, thank you so much
for putting her off last Wednesday night. That is an evening that will live
with me forever—thank you.

So, I’m sorry for the pointed questions but straight forward
old Levi Stone is still trying to figure you out. I will only be walking away
from thirty five years of my life you know—kind of like walking off a cliff. It
is quite a big deal to me, so I look under every rock for every clue I can
find. But let me reassure you, everything here is still turbulent and extreme.

Well, I don’t know what else to say so I’ll end it here.

Still dreaming, Levi

P.S. I was just thinking about your fast food eating habits.
Where are your favorite haunts? I’m just wondering.

Good night again, Levi

***

From Callii Wilson (One hour later)

Good evening to you my friend, the last of the family left
about fifteen minutes ago. It’s been a long day and my house is a disaster. I
think everyone had a good time, though. We played “Minute to Win It”, and the
kids really had fun. We ate, we opened some white elephants, and the family
opened some small gifts that I had for them. Everything went well until the
daughters-in-law decided to get together and bash my son. I left and went
upstairs because, not only could I not take it, but I didn’t want to be any
part of it. My daughter had already gone home so she wasn’t in on it, but I don’t
think she would have put up with it either. I didn’t know what to do to stop
it. I think everyone is disappointed with what is happening and no one knows
how to counsel Brynn without bashing Parker. It will all work out eventually. I
did talk to Parker today and we had a good talk. I feel bad that he is way up
in Vancouver and can’t participate in the family traditions. You asked where
his wife lives. She lives here in Rexburg in that new subdivision on the west
side. They have a beautiful home, but I have a feeling they won’t be able to
hold on to it for very long—who knows? Parker thinks maybe Brynn will move back
to Canada.

Thank you for the compliments on my house. I have really
enjoyed fixing it up. I feel bad that I will be selling it, but it is a lot to
take care of and someday soon I hope to do some traveling and I don’t want to
have to worry about it. I really don’t know what will happen with my housing
future. I just know that I have some options and that is a good feeling. Maybe
I’ll buy a motor home and travel the country, and not even have a home. What do
you think? I am going to get busy fixing all the unfinished stuff and the ugly
parts after Christmas. That should keep me busy for awhile.

I got curious about my roommate downstairs after some of the
things that you’ve said. We really don’t talk to each other much, but after you
asked if she was a lesbian I decided to just come out and ask her. I’ll have
you know she refuses to talk to me. I don’t know if I have hurt her feelings or
just what?

You also asked about what kind of fast food I like. I really
don’t like it that much. I am just too lazy to cook so I resort to it. I love
sugar. Breakfast to me is cookies and milk, or cake, or pie, or anything like
that. It’s a wonder I don’t weigh two hundred pounds.

What am I doing for Christmas Eve? The whole family goes to
my dad’s house. We have Sloppy Joes and root beer floats, and the kids all
exchange gifts. We have about seventy people there. There’s no room at the inn.
I don’t know what will be happening on Christmas. I am guessing I will be
fixing dinner, but I can only think about one party at a time. As far as New
Years is concerned I have no clue, yet. What about you?

I am on the same page as you, as far as phone calls are
concerned. I think that would complicate things. I don’t want complications and
I am sure you don’t want them either.

You are so sweet. I love that you are my friend. And you, my
friend, are so very talented. I know I have said that before, but I am really
impressed with your writing talent. I hope your wife appreciates how talented
you are. I am loving your book. I didn’t have much time to read today, but
hopefully I will tomorrow.

Well, I am so tired I can hardly see what I’m writing, but I’ll
write you again tomorrow. It will be Monday again, you know—our date night.

Your old friend, Jo Jo

***

From Callii Wilson

Dec 20th

Good Evening Brother Stone, how are you this fine snowy
evening? This snow kind of puts you into the old Christmas spirit, doesn’t it?
What exciting things have you done today? I have spent several hours with my
roommate today cleaning up the mess from yesterday. She just stood there and
stared at me with a sly look on her face. I don’t know what to think about
that. I also had an unexpected visit from one of my daughters-in-law and her
little girl. We visited for a couple of hours and had some lunch and watched
her little one perform some songs and dances for us. She is a cutie. I also got
into a little tiff with my daughter. It was over my son of course. Will this
ever end? Not real soon I am guessing.

Okay, so now I have to tell you how dumb I am. Yesterday I
went to church and I really enjoyed it. We had lots of Christmas music and all
of the usual Christmas stuff. After the meeting I strolled out to my car and
that is when I realized that I had locked the keys inside. Well, I didn’t take
my purse to church so I didn’t have the remote to get into my car. That’s no
big deal, I thought. I can walk home and get my remote and be back in a minute.
I don’t live very far away and I do know how to walk, although I did have high
heels on and that is a pain. So off I head for home. Suddenly it dawns on me
that the battery to my garage door opener is dead. I have no keys to the house
with me and of course it is locked up tight.

But then a light goes on—the basement door has a lock on it
that requires only a combination to get in. Yes, this seems to be the solution
to my problem, but wait, it’s not quite so easy. I did get into the basement,
but I didn’t unlock the door from the basement to the upstairs that morning.
You see, I have a dead bolt at the top of the stairs that I lock at night
before I go to bed, so that no one that is lurking in the basement can come up
and get me. (Like maybe Mary Lou perhaps.) By this time I am downstairs trying
to figure out how to get into the upstairs, and I have no phone to call one of
my kids. It is locked in the upstairs, and I have no 9 volt battery to replace
the dead one with. I did have every other kind of battery down there, just not
the one I needed. What to do, what to do? I had some tools so I tried taking
off the door knob. I got it off and thought I could reach up and undo the dead
bolt. But ha, ha—no such luck.

Okay, so now I go back outside and check all my doors again.
I even tried to get the garage door open using the dead battery and a few
prayers. No luck still, and that tells you how many connections I have up
there. Do you think if I had stayed to the entire meeting that I might have had
better luck with the prayer? Anyway, I finally had to lose my pride and go over
to the neighbors to borrow her phone or a battery. She laughed at me a bit, but
then found me a battery. I brought it home and put it in place, and low and
behold the garage door opened. Yeah, I am now in my house and can put on some
flat shoes and go back for my car.

What an idiot I am! For Christmas I am asking for some 9
volt batteries and a set of keys to put in my scripture bag. I don’t think I
have felt so stupid for awhile. It must have been the fact that I was reading
your book before I left for church, and therefore I was not thinking straight.
I am going to blame you for this one. I hope you don’t mind. So, your date
night lesson for today is, always take your car keys out of the car, or take
your purse that has the remote in it to church.