“Ok ladies, I don’t want chatter, I want smiles.”
Click. Click. Click.
Angela wanted so badly to tell her about Michael but knowing Krysta; she would jump to conclusions. Michael was just an acquaintance after all, and Krysta would surely make a big drama out of it. But it would be fun...oh, would it be fun to tell her all about him...oh... what the heck.
Click. Click. The photographer came over to adjust Madison’s dress.
“Well, there’s this one guy...”
“Oh... do tell.” Krysta’s ears perked up.
“That’s a great smile, pumpkin.” Click. Click. Click. The photographer was in the zone.
“Is he hot?”
“Um... he’s all right I guess.” Angela didn’t want too seem too excited about him.
“Ladies...smiles! Just one or two more shots.”
Click. Click.
Then came Angela’s turn; her turn to take pictures with her favorite little girl.
“You’re going to tell me more about this guy. I’m not letting you off the hook,” Krysta told her as Angela settled on the stool with Madison.
Like an excited girl in junior high, Angela told her best friend all about Michael. She described him in the utmost detail, down to the last freckle. She did admit to a little crush but she took care to emphasize the fact that she was a grown responsible woman, and would certainly not let anything get out of hand.
She told her all about their time together, the flat tire, the ladder, the art tour, the little debacle in the office.
“Oh girl, you’ve been holding out on me.” Krysta couldn’t believe it.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this guy before?”
“Well, he’s just some guy.”
Just some guy.
The week had been successful. She had succeeded in not thinking about Michael too much, keeping herself extremely busy. She half hoped she wouldn’t see him today; if she did, he would challenge her resolve all over again.
Dot informed her that they were now on chapter seven. She had skipped three chapters and did not bother to fill her in. Angela was annoyed but told herself she would go back and read the chapters on her own time. After they finished reading the eighth chapter, Dot asked her how her weekend went. It was uncharacteristically selfless of her.
“It was great. I took my Goddaughter to the Petting Zoo.”
“That’s great. I remember when Lewis and I used to take the kids.”
“Lewis? Is that Michael’s father?”
“Yes. He passed on a long time ago.”
“I’m sorry.” She wasn’t sure what to say.
“Michael was only ten years old,” she told her.
“I can’t imagine.” Angela sympathized.
“Well... you live through it.”
Angela realized that you really don’t know about people until you get to know them. They may appear harsh when you first meet them but sometimes life has made them that way. They grow a thick skin, stay at a safe distance.
