That night at dinner, Zilpha talked to her husband.
āHoney, why donāt you take time off from work and take a trip this week-end.ā Zilpha affectionately told her husband.
āThatās a nice thought, Honey. Where do you suggest we take that week-end trip?ā Her husband asked her.
āNo, Honey I would not be coming with you because I have a ton of papers to grade that is due on Monday. What I meant was, you should take a trip with your friends. Like go fishing, camping the works?ā Zilpha nervously tried to explain to her husband.
āOh OK, its just great that you suggested that because Marius just invited me to go with him and some of his friends on a fishing trip.ā
Zilpha was relieved upon hearing what her husband told her. She now had to get her daughter out of the house too. So after eating dinner Zilpha and her daughter cleared the table while her husband packed his things for his trip tomorrow.
āTrix, so what are you doing tomorrow?ā Zilpha asked her daughter while she loaded the washer.
āWell Mom, Pam asked me to help her prepare for her party tomorrow night. And Mom can I sleepover at her house tomorrow?ā
āOk baby, so what time would you be going there?ā Zilpha asked her daughter so that she could have a time for Joey to come over.
āMaybe, 8 oāclock Mom.ā
Zilpha was ecstatic upon hearing that from her daughter. So she hurriedly finished the dishes and left her daughter to dry the dishes off. Zilpha left the kitchen and went straight to the bathroom and then took a bath and then helped her husband pack his things for his trip the next day. After they finished packing, it was already 9:30 in the evening and Joey had not yet called. Zilpha was growing impatient at the fact that Joey has not called yet and she was excited to tell him the good news. So by 10 oāclock her husband retired to there bedroom and her daughter to her room but Zilpha remained in the living room waiting for Joeyās call. She just made an excuse to her husband that she has to finish checking some of her classā papers. By around 10:30 there was still no call from Joey and by 11:00 Zilpha grew tired of waiting for his call, so she went to her bedroom and then layed beside her husband pretending to sleep. But in truth she could not sleep because she was still hopeful that Joey would call her. At around 11:30 the phone rang, Zilpha jumped up from her position and waking her husband up in the process, and Zilpha answered the phone
āHello...Is this Mrs. Rollins?ā came the nervous voice at the other end of the line.
āYes, who is this?ā Zilpha answered her heart beating a little faster in anticipation that this would be the call that she was expecting.
āMaām this is Joey!ā
āCan you call again in 2 minutes because Iāll take your call downstairs.ā Zilpha told Joey and then replaced the reciever on its base.
āWho was that honey?ā her husband asked her as Zilpha put on her robe.
āOh itās just Betty, she wants to compare notes on some matters. Just go back to sleep honey because you have an early day tomorrow.ā Zilpha nervously fibbed to her husband.
āOk honey but donāt take too long on the phone.ā
Zilpha hurriedly tip-toed to the unlit area of the living room and then sat on the couch beside the telephone and waited patiently for the phone to ring. After a couple of minutes the phone rang and Zilpha immediately lifted the reciever and answered the phone
āHello.............ā she answered in a hush.
āHello, Mrs. Rollins?ā
āYes?, is this Joey?ā Zilpha made sure she was talking to the right person.
āYes, Maām this is Joey.ā
āWhat took you so long to call, I almost gave up on you!ā she told Joey with a hint of dis appointment in her voice.
āIām sorry Maām, I just wanted to make sure that everybody would be asleep when I make my call.ā
āOk Joey, well I convinced my husband to go on a fishing trip early tomorrow morning and my daughter would be going to her friends house at 8:00 so Iāll be home alone here tomorrow at around 9:00.ā Zilpha explained to Joey her accomplishment.
āSo that means that Iāll go there maybe at 9:00?ā
āYes dear, be here at around that time so that Iāll have some time to freshen up for you darling.ā Zilpha affectionately told her student.