After the hotel date, Anna and I think a real double date or two is a good idea so Larry and Liz can get to know each other before we go away. I don't want to head away for the college visit and have Larry and Liz giving each other the stink eye the whole time. Luckily we all get along.
On our second double date, at the movies some turd makes a nasty remark aimed at me and Liz, after he saw us holding hands and kissing. I don't think he realized we were with Anna & Larry. Before I could think to say something to Ezzie, Larry turned to the turd and startles me.
His voice gets real deep and loud. He steps up to the guy that is a good head shorter than Larry. "Have You Got A Fucking problem with my Girlfriend's Cousin and her girlfriend?" He growls, and I mean he really Growls. It scares me. His voice is really deep and menacing. I am thinking there was about to be a real problem.
The turd looks like he is ready to shit himself. "Nope, sorry. No problem." He says and almost runs away.
Larry glares after him for a moment and then turns back to us and smiles. He sees the look on our three faces. "Sorry ladies. Sometimes assholes need the fear of God put into them. I have learned just barking like that makes the problem walk away." He says as looks at me and Liz. "I am sorry he said that to you two ladies."
Anna smacks Larry's chest. "You scared the crap out of us."
Larry looks like a little kid who's mom just chastised him. "I am sorry."
Liz steps forward and pulls him down to kiss his cheek. "I forgive you. You are my knight in shining armor."
Larry looks embarrassed after Liz kisses him on the cheek. Anna grabs Larry's arm. "It's a good thing you are cute." She says.
He leans down to her and kisses the top of her head. "I am sorry, Anna."
"Ezzie, was that all an act or did Larry really get mad?" I ask Ezzie. I am still rattled, by what I saw.
"Larry is upset that the man said it, but his reaction was all a ruse. He wanted to make sure the man knew he had your back. He has learned with his size, just looking and sounding angry makes a lot of problems go away." Says Ezzie.
"Wow, he really had me worried, Ezzie." I think, then I smile as I realize he will always protect Anna too.
Liz is tugging on my arm. "Earth to Mary."
"Sorry." I say.
Liz squeezes my arm. "Are you ok. You seemed a million miles away."
"I am sorry. I was just running it all back in my mind." I say.
Liz pats my arm. "I would say Larry did a good job scaring the jerk off."
"Yes, he did." I say.
Liz lowers her voice a tad so Anna & Larry can't hear her. "I pity the poor bastard that ever tries to bother or hurt Anna." She says.
I think about it for a moment. "Ezzie, would Larry truly protect Anna."
"Absolutely, Mary. He has a natural instinct to protect his friends and family." Says Ezzie.
I smile at Liz. "He would have squished that guy like a bug." I say.
The rest of the night goes well. We all have fun, and end the night with an ice cream. Anna and I are driving home. She looks at me and gives a little bit of an embarrassed smile. "I am sorry Larry scared everybody earlier." She says.
I smile at her. "It's ok. It was just a loud bark. I would hate to be the one that gets more than the bark." I say.
"Are you afraid he would hurt me?" Asks Anna.
"Oh no Anna. I know he wouldn't." I say, leaving out the part about asking Ezzie just to be sure
Anna smiles at that.
It's early Saturday morning. We are on the road, after stopping for coffee and donuts, and the car is on autopilot while on the highway. We are all excited for our first trip away.
We arrive at Andrew's College and the campus looks nice. It's a larger campus, so the guide has two golf carts with backseats ready to go. Liz and I go with the guide, Larry drives Anna in the other cart.
We tour a couple of lecture halls, the science building, athletics and finally the dorms. He is telling us how the dorms are all newly constructed, state of the art etc. I look down the hill and see the old dorms, and there is activity around one. "Why are those kids down at the old dorms?" I ask.
"Well." Says our guide. "Those are our public grant students. They are still in the older dorms. The school keeps the dorms open for them during breaks and vacations since most of them are orphans with no home to go to."
That stabs me in the heart. That could have easily been me. "Wait, but the cafeteria and student hall is closed. What do they do for food?" I ask.
"I am not sure." Says the guide.
I blank for a moment, until I feel Liz squeeze my hand. I can tell by the look on her face, she knows I am thinking I should be them. "I want to go down there." I say.
"Well, it's not part of the tour." Says the guide.
"Ezzie, I want to go down there." I say.
"Of course, Mary." Ezzie says.
"I guess we could go take a look." The guide says and drives to them.
"Mary, are you ok?" Asks Liz. I just look at her. She reaches out and softly hugs me. "I know, Honey."
We get there and the guide stops the cart. The guide starts talking. I don't want to listen to him. "Ezzie, shut him up please." I ask and he stops talking. I just stare at the building.
"Ezzie, you can sense the students here right?" I ask.
"Yes, Mary." Says Ezzie.
"Can you tell me their stories? Why are they here?" I ask.
"It's a variety of reasons why, but the end is the same. Either they were abandoned, their parents are in jail or deceased, and they are all in foster care. Older kids don't always get adopted, and they have nowhere to go on breaks now that they have turned 18. They are out of the system. If it weren't for the college opening the old dorm they would be on the street." Says Ezzie.
"What do they do for food?" I ask.
"They all have some sort of summer job. Those that work at restaurants try to bring back food for the others. Then they go to a supermarket for microwave dinners." Says Ezzie.
I won't say it's falling down, but it's nowhere as nice as the new ones. I just stand there staring at it. Anna walks up to us. I hear her and Liz talking, then Anna is in front of me.
"Mary, are you ok?" She asks.
"Anna, they have no one." I say and I can feel my voice cracking.
