With a series of quick deep breaths, Lauren opened her eyes. From her vantage point in the driver seat, she could see clearly the number of the house she was parked in front of, but for a fifth time, she reached for the folded up paper in her passenger seat to check. With a slight tremble of nervousness, her hands fumbled to open the paper. Yes, this was indeed the place. She stared at the house for a long moment, trying to work up the courage for what was to come next. You can do this, she said to herself. You need to do this. No turning back now. Besides what a great story this will be to tell all her friends. Finally, when her own self coaching had built to a peak, she hastily unbuckled her seat belt and bolted out of the car. The cold new England air immediately stabbed at the bare portion of her legs, but she hardly felt it. In a nearly rushing stumble, she approached the door. The doorbell loomed at her, as she took a brief moment to catch her suddenly lost breath. Quickly straightening her costume, she tensely rang the bell as she held her breath. For a long moment, there was no answer. Not a sound from the house. Her heart quickened. Perhaps no one was home. Maybe it would be enough to simply say she went and found no one there. The nagging voice in her head told her for this much cost, no one was going to be satisfied with a ring and ditch. So she rang again, and held as still as she could to hear. From inside the house came the shuffling sounds of someone moving to the door. It opened with barely a creak. It was opened by a Woman!
The flickering shadow of Errol Flynn washed over Jennie's face. Not that she really noticed the subtle nuisances of Captain Blood, as she sat watching it. Indeed, she couldn't actually even remember turning the TV. It must have been before she had went to take a shower, she thought lazily, Everything these days seem to move on without her. Like the black and white world of film in front of her. In slow motion and without color. Drained of all substance. A hollow sadness that seemed like it would engulf her if she just let go. That's why she made sure to do the little things each day. Like shower and get dressed. The sarcastic side of her chided that they were useless gestures. No one was going to see her. Not now that she was all alone. Not now that Becky had left.
It had only been five month since their breakup, but her life still only had the faint semblance of normalcy. She went to work, she supposed, though the details of what had been said or done were lost in the sea of despair that was her thoughts. Surely, she must have eaten, or done laundry or went to the grocery store, but if hard pressed for details, Jennie couldn't say when. Instead she sat, alone on her coach. Dressed in a ridiculously oversized sweater and brown capri's, She drew her knees up to her chin as she had always done as a child. Sat and rock. Sat and stared blankly at the TV. Sat and wondered what it would take to snap out of this haze.
As a result, she was only barely aware of the ringing of the doorbell. For a moment she was sure it was from the TV. When it happened again, she began to question the logic of doorbells on a high sea pirate ship, and reluctantly uncurled herself to go investigate.
As she crossed the living room to the hard wood of her entry way, Jennie listlessly wondered who could be at her door. The mailman perhaps. Girl Scouts. Mormon's or Jehovah witness even. Maybe even death himself if she was so lucky. What she found when she opened the door was the one thing that she hadn't expected....
A Cheerleader
Standing motionless on her porch, in the nearly freezing winter air was a cheerleader. No more than 5'5" at best, stood a beautiful blonde, her hair cut in a slight page boy bob framing her perfect face. The type men, and women like her, pined over in high school. The perfect girl next door. Where was Hugh Hefner when you need him, Jennie's sarcasm blared in her head. She was dressed as a classic cheerleader, complete with pink sleeveless sweater and matching pleated skirt, that would have been illegal in any outfit other than a cheerleaders. Despite the chill, she was barelegged, standing in a set of pink track shoes. In her hands was a golden ribbon of cloth that appeared to trail behind her back. Jennie's mouth dropped open in shock.
Startled by the opening of the door, Lauren stood face to face with an extremely cute brunette girl. Lauren didn't move for a moment, as her brain told her that maybe she ought to take a good survey of what the woman looked like before she began. Fear washed away from Lauren's mind as she measured the woman behind the door frame. Despite the baggy sweatshirt, she was sure that he was a petite girl, slender and fit.
After a small moment of awkward silence, Jennie broke the tension. "Hello?" she questioned.
As if snapped out of her trance, Lauren beamed back quickly, "Ah.. Hi... Are you Jennifer Baker?"
"Yeah, " Jennie replied still bewildered by this sudden turn of events.
"Great," Lauren chimed back," Do you mind if I come in? It's a little cold out here.", she added suddenly realizing the actual temperature. To her great surprise, Jennie heard someone say "Sure, Come inside." And that voice turned out to be her own! As if still moving in that haze, she stepped aside to let the cheerleader into her home. The cheerleader bounded into her foyer. The Foyer was a built on a beautiful teak wood hard floor with a single set of stairs leading up immediately ahead. To either side the entranceway opened into larger sitting rooms. One that Lauren thought must have been a living room, from the TV throwing shadows on the wall. She handed the end of the ribbon to Jennie as she closed the door.
With a big breath, she started her routine. "Hi my name is Lauren and I am from Lick o Gram! With a message and a gift for you!."
"What?! O'Gram?" cried out Jennie as if to question the absurdity of what the cheerleader just said. Her protests seemed to have little effect on the cheerleader as she began to sing. It was clear from the first note that she hadn't been hired for her singing voice, but somehow Jennie didn't seem to mind.
"You're in the Dumps You are so blue"
"Here's a small gift From your friends so true"
"Something to make your blood racing Something hot for just a little tasting"
"So just pull the ribbon to reveal your treat Something tasty for you to eat."
With a flourish, the blonde finished her little song, she struck a pose. Widening her stance just a little, she planted her hands on her hips in what Jennie thought immediately as the "Classic wonder woman" pose. The Blonde stood there motionless just grinning with what Jennie thought was a beautiful smile.
