DESI
“Doesn’t it smell good?”Scout sniffed the air and sighed. “It’s the marshmallows.” She plopped beside me on her couch.
“I’m starving.” I reached for her hand.
“How? You spent all morning eating as we cooked!”
“Yes, but those were snacks. I’ve been preparing for this day all week. I’ve barely ate.”
Just then, a man came down the hallway with a suitcase.
“Desi, you haven’t met my roommate yet. This is Luis. Luis, this is Desiderio.” I loved how possessive she was over my name. Whenever I was introduced, she made sure to tell them to call them by my full first name, rather than her nickname for me. I shook Luis’s hand and smiled politely.
“Nice to meet you, Luis. I’ve already met Brucey.”
“And you’re still in one piece? Must be a good one then.” He smiled.
“Where are you from? You look so familiar,” I asked. I racked my brain, but I couldn’t place it.
“Ghana. I am returning there for the holidays.” He motioned to his suitcase.
“I’m still surprised they are giving you all this time off,” Scout added. “Kids still have school, don’t they?”
“My assistant teacher will be covering me. I have the utmost confidence in her.” He turned to Scout and nodded. “Thank you again, for watching Brucey until my aunt comes for him. She’ll be here Saturday.”
“No problem, he’s good dog.”
“All right, I’ll see you all first week of January then.” He started toward the door and then turned. “I think I do recognize you too.” He wagged his finger and grinned. “Aleida Linotti.”
“Who?” My heart skipped a beat.
“Aleida.” He paused for an uncomfortable amount of time. “Her birthday party? That woman is crazy, but she throws a fantastic event. You were there, weren’t you?”
“Oh right, over the summer. Yeah, I was there.”
“Fun times.” He laughed. “All right, enjoy your holidays!”
Scout and I turned to each other. I looked at her for a long moment, trying to assess if she suspected anything.
“He’s great, isn’t he? He keeps to himself mostly, but when we chat, he’s very nice.”
“Seems like it.”
“He works at your old school, Catalina.”
I swore inwardly. Was everyone Scout encountered out to catch me?
“Oh yeah?” I went to the kitchen, where I plucked a deviled egg from the fridge. “So he makes good money then?”
Scout shrugged and went to check the sweet potatoes. “I don’t know, probably better than what I do. But you make more than I do at the dirty theater.”
“Good.” I put my arms around her from behind and pulled her back against me and hugged her tightly. “So when we move in together, he can afford this place on his own.”
“Ha! You’re already thinking of us moving in together?” She spun around and shook her head. “You are insane.”
“Do you not like that idea?”
“Someday, maybe. But we’re still new. It’s been…”
