The Widow's Friend (22 page)

Well, right now it’s seven forty five, Idaho time, and you’re
probably about two or three hours from Disneyland right now. I wonder who’s in
the car with you besides Mattie. I would think her mother and the baby. Did
they even come? Anyway, I’m thinking of you always. I hope you have a great
time. Be a wonderful grandma and don’t bother worrying about me. I’ll be here
when you get back, but in the meantime I’ll keep feeding you daily e-mails. Say
your prayers and be the good woman that I know you are.

Your Disney pen pal, Levi

P.S. Do any of your boys or their wives have any clue that
you e-mail old friends—or not? I would like to know that, just out of
curiosity. See if you can find time to peck it out on that little phone of
yours, but not tonight, you’re too tired. Good night grandma Callii. Your good
friend, Levi

***

From Levi Stone

Jan 8th

Well, I had a dream about you last night. (Not like you
think—but that would have been great too.) I dreamed that I went to a party at
your house in Rexburg, but it turned out to be your mother’s house, and like
most dreams it was kind of odd. We talked briefly. You had a little girl with
you and you wandered off quickly to mingle with others. Mary and two others
were with me, I can’t remember who they were. We were driving the old Ford
Falcon Station Wagon that we drove in high school, our backup car.

The back of the home was wide open with several different
levels exposed to the great outdoors. People were mixing and laughing. Your
mother was there, she was tall with gray hair and a sister or two was there
with her. You eventually left the party on the lower level that turned off to a
street. You were with a man. I only saw you both from the back. You were you,
and the guy was kind of a wide body with a full head of dark hair. I went back
in and the party was virtually over. I spoke with your mother in the kitchen.
Then my buddy, whoever he was, and I realized that Mary and my other friend had
driven off, and we didn’t know where or why. We wandered the sidewalks looking
for them. They finally picked us up and we drove off into Rexburg. And that was
the end. Like most dreams, there was no rhyme or reason. I can’t remember the
last time I remembered a dream.

I got up in the middle of the night again and wrote for two
hours. It was actually great. My mind was clear and I was able to edit twenty
five pages of Hollow Chill. Now that I have a computer I can finally work on it
again. Then I went back to bed for several hours. Mary got up early this
morning and disappeared. The car is gone and I have no idea where she went. It
looks like I have a Saturday on my own for a change. I think I really ticked
her off about a week ago when during an argument I called her a shrew. The
truth hurts, but that’s life at my house. Lexi is at Grandma Bonnie’s today,
and that’s different for a change. We’ll probably get her back tonight.

And you’re in Disneyland. I’m so jealous. This time of year
is really gray in Idaho. Just thinking of Disneyland is fun, and being able to
think of you at the same time makes it even better. What fun you must be
having.

Well, my sister Sherry just called. She wanted me to invest
3k for her and turn it into 10k in the next two years. She’s going to pay 5k
for Disneyland rooms for her and her entire family of thirty in an expensive
hotel. I can only imagine what that place is like. It’s probably the Disneyland
hotel itself. Anyway, I told her I was a terrible investor and could lose her
money just as well as the next guy. I also told her that I wasn’t a one armed
bandit.

Sherry has been on the run the last few years. By that I
mean she’s been extremely busy. She’ll probably be released from her major
church job in March. She and her husband have also been tending her daughter’s
twin boys, twelve hour days, for several years now. Her daughter just graduated
from nursing school, but now she’ll probably go to work. Does this situation
remind you of anyone you know? Sherry’s having troubles with Joe, but that’s a
whole other story. I brought your name up to her. She knows who you are, but
that’s all. She knows you as Callii Wilson. She didn’t know your maiden name
was Von Rothstein. I told her that you and I were talking on the internet a
little, nothing more. She told me that she’s ready to die and be done with
everything. It shocked me, but then I told her I wanted a new grandma. We went
that far. But just so you know, she is my confidant. I don’t share with many
others.

I just had supper. I have this thing for tomato soup lately.
I had grilled tuna with it and I’m satisfied. Let me tell you two good places
for you to eat while you’re at Disneyland. Mimi’s cafe and a family cafe right
next to it, called Mili’s, are both good. We ate at Mimi’s. The prices were
normal and the food was good. I wandered next door and viewed the menu on Mili’s
door. The prices were reasonable there too.

I just got on weather.com and searched Anaheim. You’ll be
happy to know that today will be your coldest day of the week with a high of
44. Tomorrow you’ll hit 57 and it will be in the sixties and sunny the rest of
the week.

I hope you and yours are getting along fabulously. I wish I
was there.

Well foxy grandma, I guess I’ll send this off for today. It’s
seven o’clock here and six o’clock there. You’re probably winding down for the
day and finding a place to eat about now. Have fun. The sun will come out
tomorrow.

Your friend always, Levi

I’ll be thinking of you.

***

From Levi Stone

Jan 9th

Hi sweet grandma. I have a feeling that your phone is on the
blink or something so I won’t write much unless I hear from you. I find it
crazy that I’m already withdrawing from you and going into wait-it-out mode
until you return. I hope things are going well. I’m envious of you and worry
for you at the same time. I’m envious because you’re in Disneyland with your
kids, and I worry because of the responsibilities you hold as head of the
family. I know that Mattie is a concern, too. A little advice, don’t try to do
too much and just have fun. I wish I was there.

So goodnight, Calliijo from head to toe. I’m thinking of you
and I’m awaiting your return. I don’t know if you can read my e-mails but I’ll
send them every day anyway. Your ever lovin’ friend, Levi

***

From Callii Wilson (One hour later)

Hello my friend, it’s been Disneyland from open to close
today. Tomorrow who knows? I am so tired.

I am getting your e-mails. That’s how I keep going. I’ll try
to write more tomorrow.

Good night to you from Calliijo, tired girl from head to
toe.

From Levi Stone

Jan 10th

Hi Callpurnia Jo Von Rothstein Wilson, plus a few former
names added in just to salt the stew. I think you might just add a J for
distinction, or maybe a Lyn because you’re so feminine, or maybe a D for
Disneyland, or maybe an S for Stone, just to make me happy. Now I know that
Stone is not nearly as exotic as all those other names you have swirling around
your pretty little head. But it’s a good solid name. It’s an old English name
that means rock, and that’s quite substantial you know.

I think you should not write me much at all on that little
p-shooter of a phone you carry around. A simple good night will do. That’s all
I need to keep me happy. I know that you’re busy and tired, and have no time at
all on your hands, and I know we think of each other all the time anyway. But
still, don’t get me wrong, I would love a line or two from you each day.

So today for you was:

A. Fun

B. Hectic

C. Too long

D. Too short

E. Tiring

F. The best day yet!

G. Wild

H. All of the above

Today for me was another day at the salt mines, pretty
average, but I’ll take average any day at my job.

You seem distant to me since you left, but only in a
physical kind of way. I guess there’s a reason for that. But it’s a bit
disconcerting knowing that you’re not just thirty minutes away.

I hope all is well down there. I feel calm and peaceful that
it is. You’re such a good little woman, whatever could go wrong? Someday we’ll
talk about your kids and how they get along with each other, someday when you’re
ready that is.

Well, I’m gonna sign off now. Not much to say, just in a
waiting kind of mode—waiting for you.

Your distant pen pal, Levi

***

From Callii Wilson (Two hours later)

It’s just another day in California—beautiful weather. I
wish you were here, Granny

P.S. All of the above.

***

From Levi Stone

Jan 11th

It was three degrees above zero this morning. The old trusty
truck started up, but only grudgingly so. Have fun today. I’ve gotta’ go back
to work. I’m home having lunch right now.

Levi

***

From Levi Stone

Jan 11th

Hi there, sugar cookie. I have a feeling that you’re loving
it down there in California, and I’m still jealous. Great weather, great kids,
good times—you lucky little woman. I’m sure you have your moments of fatigue
and stress, but overall I bet the good times are rollin’. Up here it’s cold,
cold, cold, but it will probably ease up by the time you return, speaking of
which, I’m not sure which day you’re coming home. I’ll go to weather.com and
check it out for you. Let’s see, Wednesday thru Saturday, nothing but sun and
warm temperatures. Now I’ll check Utah and Idaho for your drive back—nothing
but sun for the same timeframe. What a good little planner you are.

Well, I have nothing exciting to report. I have had no more
dreams about you, I have not traveled to Rexburg, and I seem to be treading
water right now. I could use a little excitement. Maybe I’ll go in and rotate
my sock drawer.

A fleeting comment, “Do you know why divorce is so
expensive? Because it’s worth it!”

It seems I’m struggling to feed you your emotional meal
today. I guess it’s tougher to hold a conversation without much feedback from
the other side, but I’m not complaining, you’re doing great! I just don’t have
your witty and sensitive little comments to respond to. We’re in different
worlds this week. I can only imagine yours, and of course I do.

And so goodnight, traveling Grandma. I hope Mattie has been
a delight, along with all of the others that are with you.

Waiting for your return, Levi

P.S. Granny is the only name I’ve found that doesn’t fit
you. After all, you’re not 90 yet. And soak up the sunshine while you’re down
there girl, you’re gonna need it when you get back.

***

From Callii Wilson (Fifteen minutes later)

Hello my brrrrrr friend, I am sitting out at the pool and it
is 7:43 p.m. That’s 8:53 your time. It is a bit chilly out, but not too bad.
The kids love it. They keep splashing me and I am fully dressed. Today we went
to Long Beach to an aquarium, and then tomorrow it’s back to Disneyland. I
think I am headed home on Thursday. Mattie is having problems with both her
behavior and physical needs so I am cutting it short a bit. Other than that
everyone has been great. I need to end it now, but thanks for your e-mails.

Goodnight from the hot mama. I mean hot like warm, not hot
like I think I’m hot. I mean…what do I mean?

From Levi Stone (Ten minutes later)

Oh, you’re hot!

Good night, Levi

***

From Levi Stone

Jan 12th

Hi girlfriend, I just glanced at your picture on my
computer. Your face is imprinted on my computer as well as my mind. That’s just
the way it is. Mary just passed me in the hallway and I thought,
I really would prefer someone taller
.
Imagine that.

Last night, just before going to sleep, we were lying there
in the dark and I said, “Where would you go if we got a divorce?” I got no
reply, not even crickets chirping. Then she rolled over and faced the wall in
her customary position. I wonder what she thought. I don’t know if she was
shocked or just ticked off like she always is. If you look up anger in the
dictionary there’s a picture of Mary in there.

I didn’t sleep much last night so I reached out for Mary
about four a.m., but she never did give it up. So I got out of bed and got
ready for work. She sent me an e-mail in the middle of the day. It said, “I
just can’t get past the name calling this time.” Remember I told you I called
her a shrew awhile back. The truth cut her to the bone. The only reason I tell
you this is because you’re as vested in the future as I am and I would think
you would like to follow along a bit. I don’t tell you things to be mean, just
to keep you in the loop. Tonight, I’m ready to crawl in to bed and curl up in
the fetal position.

Do you have flannel pajamas that you sleep in? Mary wears
them all the time in the winter and it’s almost like facing off with me and
saying, “Don’t even think about it, sucka!” I wonder how I would like sleeping
in flannel pajamas? I’ve never even considered it.

I have a hard time imagining being in Disneyland right now,
mainly because I’ve always gone there in the summertime. I’ve literally been
there ten times, and once to Disney World besides, but always in the summer. I
hope Mattie was good today so that your last day there was great. It sounds
like it’s been a good trip. Good luck on your drive tomorrow, and drive
carefully please. I once wrecked my car because I fell asleep at the wheel. I was
so embarrassed I didn’t tell anybody about it for years. I wouldn’t let Mary
tell anyone either. It’s just another story in about a million stories I have
to tell. And I’m sure you have more stories than I do party girl.