This is part 3 of a 4 part story. There is virtually no sex in this story. Your comments, good or bad, are always welcome.
Chapter 9: Awakenings
I awoke the next day to sounds of laughter coming from downstairs. Ordinarily, I would have gone back to sleep but I recognized the voices of several of my sisters so I rushed to get ready to join them; it was either that or wait to be accosted by my young nieces and nephews.
In the kitchen were my mother, and my sisters Gina, Gloria and Julia along with my niece. Gina and Gloria I saw frequently. Gina had moved out earlier in the year but seemed to think that our refrigerator was an extension of her own. We saw more of her now after moving than the last year she lived at home. Gloria came by every couple of weeks.
But it was Julia whom I missed most. We had not seen her since the spring, though she talked often by phone with us. As hugs were exchanged she ran her hand across the back of my head. I expected some razzing about my cue ball, particularly from her. I told her when I shaved my head and she had seen it earlier, but this was her way of kidding me.
"Where are the boys?" I asked, trying to deflect conversation away from my baldness. While the women in my family were raucous when they were together, that noise could not compete with my five-year old nephews. They were inquisitive dynamos and dangerous around breakables.
"Chris and Papa took them to Philly. They were going to the Franklin Institute for the day. Maria here wanted to stay with her mommy." She added that while holding onto my youngest niece, a four-year old charmer who was a younger version of her mother.
True to form, the child ran up to me, fascinated with my shiny head. She and I were friends but hadn't seen each other in months. As I lifted her to my embrace she brushed her fingers across my dome, stroking it like she had never seen such a thing; much to the delight of my mother and sisters. Chalk one up to the ineligible player.
There were still some missing little people. I turned to Gloria and asked, "Where are your munchkins?"
"Howard has them at the zoo", she answered, as if pleased with herself. I caught sight of a fleeting frown from Julia when it was said. I steered clear of that topic and began tickling little Maria.
After that, I settled into the previous conversation, catching up on Julia's life. It was a welcome change from some of my adventures. I was also pleased that Papa had finally accepted Chris and was making every effort to integrate him into the family.
My father rarely made mistakes about people, but when it came to his family he was undoubtedly overprotective, in this case to the point of cultivating an irrational bias. Regardless of how Chris looked in his scruffy beard and torn jeans while courting Julia, and forgetting his supposed 'bad' reputation, Papa had to admit that he was a man who commanded respect.
Chris and Julia were well mated. She blossomed in their marriage, and with her love he matured beyond any of my father's expectations. Defying Papa's predictions Chris joined the police force in Salisbury, MD, acquired a degree at night and fathered Papa's first grandchildren. He had risen to Sergeant and was twice decorated for valor. But long before that, early in their marriage, Papa admitted to both he and Julia that he had been wrong to prejudge him.
I had never heard of Papa doing such a thing, and I told him so. He shocked me, telling me no man was too big to admit his error, too prideful to allow a lie to harm his family. That day I learned what respect was, and how strong a feeling it became when mixed with love.
While we were talking, the doorbell rang. By some unseen agreement I was expected to see who it was. I opened the door and there stood Adrienne. All she said was "Hi", which I returned. I had not expected her and that, plus the way she was dressed caught my attention.
It was unseasonably warm that September and Adrienne was wearing pink blouse with a mid calf floral print skirt. The skirt accentuated her hips and showed just enough leg to make a man take notice.
I guess I stared a little too long for she caught me checking her out. I had never unconsciously done that before. It made for an awkward moment, until I discovered my voice. "So what brings you out this morning?" I said, trying not to sound too sheepish.
She must have decided to let me off the hook for she did not hesitate in her answer. "Julia invited me to go shopping with your sisters...and she's also going to help me look for a prom dress."
"You're shopping for a prom dress in September? Isn't that a little early?"
"David, please go study or something that is unless you want to come with us?"
I recognized that statement as coming from Julia who had moved behind me. I hadn't heard her approach but her tone made it sound like I had asked a rather dumb question.
"I probably won't buy anything, but I do want to get a look", answered Adrienne.
"What cute shoes!" came from my sister Gloria who had also arrived on the scene.
That told me it was my time to leave. How anyone could spend more than two seconds discussing shoes was beyond me. Only little Maria seemed immune to that topic and in a few years she too would be fawning over a 'cute' pair of pumps.
But that would be a worry for another day; today Maria was following me around as I went looking for my old trigonometry texts. I would need to have a number of different references in order to solve the problems. Between my textbooks and old notes I would be prepared for Sydney.
Of course Maria was talking the entire time. She was deep in the process of telling me about her friend's sleepover. The conversation was mainly one-sided. Every so often I would get in a question, but Maria was so serious that my delight came from seeing how intense and animated she was in retelling her story.
Even at nineteen I knew that I loved little ones. They were fascinating: so fresh, hopeful and innocent. Coming from a large family you might think that I did not one for myself. Quite the opposite, I loved children and wanted a houseful.
Part of reasoning came from the fact that all of my younger nieces and nephews gravitated towards me when they visited. I was the 'fun' uncle, the one not afraid of being silly with them or listening with unwavering concentration to their stories. Today, decades later, there is nothing that can so quickly give me a feeling of well-being, of contentment, as the laughter of children.
Sometime later Adrienne came into the room. By then Maria had found a book she wanted me to read for her. I say wanted, but actually Maria plopped herself in my lap, book in hand, demanding that I read to her. What could I do? My prior plans were put on hold as we read together.
That is how Adrienne found us, immersed in the story, Maria staring pensively at the pages.
"Maria, your mother wants you. We are getting ready to go." Said Adrienne as she watched the child take up her book, place it on the table and then scramble off to the kitchen.
My Trig book had been casually tossed on the adjoining table and was now under the child's story. Adrienne was caught temporarily watching Maria leave. Once gone, she turned back to me and lifted the thin book to see what we had been reading.
"Nancy Drew?" She asked. Her brow furrowed in the question. "Isn't she a little young for this?"
"Not the way I read it", I replied smirking. She then scanned the book under it noting it was a math text. "Did she like that one too?"
"Very funny. I originally came in here looking for one of my old textbooks. I have a tutoring job coming up this week."
"You're tutoring?" She asked, looking at me as if I had grown a second head.
"Yeah, a relative of one of my coworkers needs help in Trig."
"Oh" was all Adrienne said. I could tell she wanted to ask something else but held her question. "I better get going. See you tomorrow?"
"Sure, and don't take any of Gloria's suggestions. She doesn't know what 'spend wisely' means. You won't have any money left if you listen to her."
Adrienne smiled before heading out and leaving me alone.
I reviewed my old notes over the next few days before meeting with Sydney. Cassie had given me her address, wanting to have the sessions there as opposed to the main library branch downtown I suggested. Remembering my experience with Dee Dee, I was initially uncomfortable going to her home but agreed nonetheless.
She lived in Northeast Philadelphia, way up the boulevard near the county line. I turned into a tree lined street much like my own. Most of the block was single family dwellings with the exception of a long two story brick building at the corner. That building was where Cassie lived.
There were three mailboxes in the vestibule. The first was for C. Austenberry, which I rang without hesitation. Cassie must have been me walk up for I was buzzed in immediately.
She met me on the first floor. Hers was the front apartment. She was wearing what looked to be a navy blue business suit. Her hair was styled differently than when she worked but she was no less attractive. If I thought she was preparing me for another role in her apartment that idea was confirmed when she brought me in for a huge embrace. Upon crossing their threshold I met her niece.
You could see the family resemblance. Sydney was around five-seven or so, a bit taller than your typical twelve-year old. Like Cassie, her hair was long and flowed gracefully over her shoulders. There was the same wide mouth and high cheekbones and those serious pale blue eyes.
