The Widow's Friend (9 page)

“Expo”

I was exhausted. I had been making baby dolls for the last
several weeks, and now here I was at the craft fair—finally. The dolls were
selling briskly, that was the good part, but I was worried about my sister and
I was worried about the new baby. I was also worried about my son and his
marital problems. All these things were coming at me from every which
direction, and sometimes I didn’t know which way to turn.

It was late in the day, maybe five o’clock, and I was
waiting for this one to be over. I could use a good night’s rest.

Kaching! One more customer had been waited on. Kaching, and
then another. My stomach growled. In all the turmoil I’d forgotten to eat
lunch, and that made getting through the day even all that much harder.

And then I saw him, at least I thought it was him. My heart
leapt, and then I caught myself. Was it really Levi? He’d told me he probably
wouldn’t show up. I gathered my courage and approached him. There was only one
way to find out.

“Are you who I think you are?” I asked.

“I think I’m who you think I am,” he responded. He raised
his head and smiled at me.

I was surprised, and pleasantly so. I don’t know exactly
what I’d expected from an old boyfriend that was pushing sixty, but he looked
good and I was glad.

“I didn’t know if it was you,” he said. “I thought maybe it
could have been your sister. It’s been a long time.”

“Oh yes, my older sister,” I muttered with a smile. He
laughed and it warmed me.

We talked a bit.

“I’ve been a bit nervous about all of this,” he said. “I’ve
had no idea if you were engaged, living with someone, or had maybe three
boyfriends.”

“Oh yes, eight,” I said. This was unbelievable. He really
didn’t know much about me.

We talked and chatted between customers. He was nice, but I
had to remind myself that he was married. That was the big hang-up, besides the
fact of my inheritance, and he didn’t have to know about that, at least not
yet.

Levi seemed nice all right, but he was smooth, and it backed
me up a bit. He seemed to say all of the right things—that was for sure. I eyed
him from behind the counter.

“No one has treated me like this for a very long time,” I
mumbled, and as soon as I’d said it I knew I’d made a mistake, but he was nice
and pretended not to notice.

“I’ve got to go,” he said finally. Our eyes met. I reached
out and brushed his arm. He smiled as if it meant something. And then he was
gone, and there I was, with only my customers. I went through the motions and
helped them one at a time. But my mind was racing and my heart was dancing,
because I really hadn’t been treated like this for a very long time.

But Levi was married, and I couldn’t remove that particular
fact from my mind. And besides, I knew that I would never marry again, and I
had multiple reasons for thinking like that.

But Levi had looked good. His smile was sincere and his
embrace was firm. I felt a bit giddy, but apprehensive too. Then I thought
about my sister, and then I thought about my son. Life was so complex and life
was so unfair. I could really use a good night’s sleep about now.

But Levi was so nice. He had touched me and he had held me,
right in front of all these people, but on the other hand….

“Crap! Could my life get any crazier? I supposed so, but
then….

I really could have used a bite to eat, but the clock seemed
to be stuck on five thirty. I had much to think about the rest of the night,
and trust me friend, I certainly did.

“Two
more Songs”

The next day I forwarded Callii two Youtube links, both of
which were songs. I sent her “When I’m Sixty Four” by the Beatles and told her
not to be nervous, it was all in fun. And then I sent her one of my old
favorites, “Heart of Gold” by Neil Young. I also reminded her how good I’d
thought she looked at the Expo.

The reality of it was that the experience at the Expo had
been exhilarating for me. I hadn’t “seen someone” for thirty-something years,
even if it was only for fifteen minutes in the middle of a crowd. My heart was
beating a little faster than it had been just the day before, and I had a new
little skip in my step. But I did feel a bit deceitful for the first time in
many years. It was unlike me to live a lie, no matter how big or small the lie
might be, and that bothered me. I was still married and….

I tried not to think about that part of it. After all, this
was just an old friendship, wasn’t it?

From Callii Wilson

Nov 18th

Good afternoon to you. I decided to write you because I am
tired of being in the world of the little people. I am so bored. I am ready to
return to my home and my real life—the life of us tall people.

I just looked back at my other emails because I couldn’t
remember the questions I hadn’t answered and I found a couple of emails I didn’t
know I had. Way to keep up—right?

Thanks for your more than kind comments, Levi. I was just
wondering if you’ve had your eyes checked lately, but you looked great. I want
you to know that.

Okay then, now some answers to your questions. Yes, I own a
gun, and I know how to use it! (I really don’t, but I could scare someone with
it.)

Thanksgiving is at my house. I’m expecting about forty
people. It should be fun. Where are you going?

Santa is going to bring me a train. I have wanted one for
years. You know the kind that goes up to the ceiling. I am decorating a bedroom
like a train station. It should be fun if I ever get it done.

I think that was all of the questions, but now some
questions for you. This is one that you don’t have to answer. Is your wife
unhappy in your marriage? And now one that is not so serious. What is your
favorite Christmas childhood memory? Well, I guess I have to end now. I have a
three year old throwing a temper tantrum. Pray that I live through it. Your
friend, Grandma Callii

From Levi Stone

Nov 18th (Six hours later)

What a surprise, I thought it would be Sunday or Monday
before I’d hear a peep from you. Is your life ever going to wind down? Forty
people at Thanksgiving is a lot of people. Are they all family? Do you really
thrive on this kind of thing? I love to go to parties, but I don’t really like
to host them. I guess we’re different that way. We were going to have
Thanksgiving at our house this year but Mary’s mother insisted on having it at
her house in Driggs. Her house is ever perfect and always has been. She’s Mrs.
Clean, that’s for sure. But her house is small and she is a touch high strung.
(It runs in the family.) Also she is seventy nine years old. She wanted to rent
the church, and of course my everything-has-to-be-perfect little wife didn’t
think that would be a good idea, so I’m not sure, still, exactly where it will
be—somewhere in Driggs I guess.

Here it is, five thirty in the evening, so this one may be a
long and rambling note. I hope that’s a good thing for you and not a bad thing.
I went up last night and searched through my CD collection and brought down “The
Best of the Association” and “The Rascals’ Greatest Hits”. I’m listening to The
Association right now in the DVD player on my old console television. Its old
speakers still put out great sound after all these years.The Rascals’ “Time
Peace” album was the first music I ever bought for myself, and it’s still one
of my all-time favorites. I still remember coming out of the store in Idaho
Falls and feeling so excited about being able to play it in my car. It’s funny
the little things that we remember. It’s like you said, some songs will take us
back.

I think we should go on a road trip. I hope that doesn’t
shock you. I’ve thought about it quite a bit and I think that would be a good
way to reacquaint ourselves. We could go for four hours, six hours, eight
hours, or whatever you think. A road trip is a great way to talk in private,
have a great meal, enjoy the drive, and just be relaxed. Are you in, or am I
being a little presumptuous? Or, if you like, we could visit some model homes
one day in either the area up here by your daughter or down in Rexburg. It is
just for fun, after all we are just old friends from high school. Think about
it and let me know. I have a sick day I need to burn. A Thursday or Friday would
be good. You can pick your day. Choose well, we could be awhile. We’ll have to
watch the weather closely, though. If you’re in, there are all kinds of
directions we could go. The high canyons might be out this time of year,
though.

You know, I’ve always thought that someday I’d like to write
a romantic comedy of some kind. I have considered writing some story where the
guy sends messages occasionally through old songs. I seem to be living that
story with you. I hope you don’t mind, It’s kind of fun on my end.

Also Callii, I need you to know that my words to you were
not too kind at all—you are a foxy grandma. Do you think I can’t tell, or what?
Also, it was nice of you to tell me that I looked good, but I know where I’m at
and I don’t need you putting that kind of burden on me.

I’m glad you own a gun, living alone and being so attractive
and everything. I want to buy a pistol but it has been vetoed by you know who.
I still may buy one and stuff it in the gun safe downstairs, with the rest of
the emergency kind of stuff. She doesn’t have to know. Do you have a 38 caliber
or what? My son hocked my old Remington shotgun when he was having his battle
with drugs. I didn’t know about it until about a year after it happened. It was
bad enough that he hocked his own gun, the gun that I gave him for Christmas.
It was a nice gun (engraved Winchester Special) that I won at work. But my old
shotgun was given to me by my dad when I was fourteen years old, and it was
certainly none of his business to mess with it in any way. I’m still ticked off
about it, but I did go out and buy me a new one.

I think I don’t really understand what kind of a train that
you’re talking about. Can you explain it a little better? A train that goes up
at the ceiling doesn’t show me anything mentally—sorry. I probably haven’t seen
one before.

And you asked what my favorite Christmas memory is. I don’t
think that there is one wham bang super palooza memory that stands out, but
there are many memories that blend together in one great whole. The whole
Christmas experience is warm and positive in my mind. Pieces as a kid I
remember: Peeking out my bedroom window (downstairs) and watching Grandpa
Morrison and my uncles burning boxes and wrap. Breaking a basement window as I
tried to crawl out and peek at the gifts. There was getting a BB gun of course.
And there was the silver belt buckle that had a derringer implanted in it. It
popped out and shot a bullet when you pushed on it with your belly. I remember
Grandma Morrison gathering up the wrapping paper so she could take it home and
iron it, so she could use it again.

I remember hearing a lot of commotion in the game room, just
outside my bedroom, when I was in fourth grade. After it quieted down I went
out and discovered a regulation size pool table that they’d set up. I was
really excited. We had many a winter tournament on that table over the years: “Eight
Ball”, “Rotation”, or “Screw your Buddy”, and it was all good. Lon Moore and my
brother Braden come to mind more than others, though there were always others.

And I’ll always remember the trips to Grandma Morrison’s
home down in Blackfoot. The memories there are warm and heartfelt. The mood was
always merry and the cousins were always plentiful. I was driving by grandma’s
old house one time when I was in my forties, when a sudden thought shot through
my head,
I didn’t know grandma was poor
!
It had never even occurred to me.

And you? You probably have a favorite memory or you wouldn’t
have asked. Also, I have one bad memory that broke my heart, but it’s too long
for an e-mail, maybe some other time.

Well, I’m burnt out on writing now so I’ll end it here and
send you more later.

I Love hearing from you, Levi

***

And then I sent a link to another song: “Cherish” by The
Association. And then I sent her another one: “A Girl Like You” by the Rascals.

From Callii Wilson

Nov 19th

Good morning to you my friend, I am once again in the land
of the little people. I have sent three of them off to school already. One went
with his hair uncombed and Halloween candy in his tummy, but he didn’t miss the
bus. I figure his mom will get things back together when she gets home. She
gets home tomorrow night, so my duties will end this afternoon. Her friend, and
neighbor, is going to take them for the rest of today until their daddy gets
home. Yeah! I think I am going to live, and I think the kids will too, in spite
of my rusty parenting skills. Now I can move on to my next event. That would be
a birthday party for my niece on Saturday. She just turned sixteen. It is a
surprise party with the entire drill team and any boyfriends that want to come.
I have a lot of cleaning to do before anyone can come into my house. That
should keep me busy.

My son left for home yesterday. He’ll be back here again on
the 22nd of December. It was fun having him stay with me. I didn’t see him that
much but we had some real good talks when I did. He has a girlfriend in
Vancouver, and that, of course, is what is causing some of the problems in his
marriage. She was the nanny for his 18 month old. There is a lot more to this
story and I’ll fill you in some other time, sometime when I’m not writing to
you with one thumb on my cell phone.

The road trip sounds fun. I’ll write more about that later
too.

Thanks for the music. I love it. I sat up last night and
listened to the songs and…