AllFreeNovel
Share Us
1
Juniper
2021
Item one: go on a date before Mama chews my ears off.
Item two: don't say anything stupid on the date.
Item three: don't run away if he calls you sugar.
Item four: okay, maybe run away, but tell Mama you ran because you got a case of the collywobbles. Do not, I repeat, do not tell her the date went to pot.
I'd had it up to here with my mama telling me I was gonna die a "lil' ole spinster." It used to be cute about five years ago.
But now, at the tail-end of twenty-nine, it was like I had this massive time-bomb strapped to my chest, and it'd explode any second.
I could almost hear her southern drawl in the back of my ears. For context, most of our conversations flowed along the same pattern these days.
"Well, sugar, I was just wondering if you'd met any nice fellas lately."
"Oh, Lord. Here we go again."
"Now, don't you go getting all huffy on me, Juniper. I just want you to be happy."
"I'm perfectly happy, Mama. I don't need no man to make me happy."
"Now, that's just plain silly. Everybody needs somebody."
"I've got plenty of somebodies in my life, Mama. I've got my friends, my books, and that dratted cat who visits me now and then. I think he likes me more than he does his folks."
"I don't know about that. That cat's not gonna take you out to dinner or dance with you under the stars."
"I can take myself out to dinner, Mama. And as for dancing under the stars, well, I'll ask the cat. Who knows, maybe I could bribe him into it."
"Hey, Ms. Davis?"
I looked up, pen in my mouth, at the little kid standing in front of me.
"What is it, Janie?" I smiled at her. Cute kid.
"Well, ma'am, I was just wonderin' if it'd be alright if I kept holdin' onto thatFarawayTreebook for a spell longer.”
"I know I missed the due date and all, but it's just so dang good, and I got a heap of homework that's been eating up my time somethin' fierce.
"Could I maybe bring it back in four days or so, pretty please?"
Janie's tongue grew sweeter than the tea in front of me with each word she uttered.
Her eyes enlarged in a dual attempt to convince me she was an adorable little Dachshund and that I had to excuse the late return.
It never failed.
I covered my lips with my hand in a poor attempt to conceal my grin.
"Okay, Janie, but this is the last time. Do you promise to read to the younger kids next week in return?"
She bobbed her head of golden hair enthusiastically. "I do!"
