Chapter 20
The odor of banana bread baking in the oven always makes Miss Donna think of her Grandmother. She makes banana bread so often for just this reason. Miss Donna will sometimes keep the bread around the apartment for visitors, but more often than not she'll bake up several loaves and go hand them out to her neighbors at The Villa. She is just like that. No need to place an order 'cause Miss Donna will come 'round and surprise you with a warm tasty gift; seems like she does this about once or twice a month. It gives her joy in two ways, first giving to others and a close second she feels it's a tie to her Grandmother. She sure holds her in high esteem, and for good reason I understand.
So Miss Donna was filling her apartment with the aroma of banana bread and deciding who she should give to this time. She decided to keep one loaf in the apartment and give the other three away. The Allen family a few doors down should get two loaves, with the kids and all. Great kids, she thought.
Now, deep in the back of Miss Donna's mind was really why she started this batch of banana bread in the first place. She tried to kid herself into thinking this round of baking was for the greater good, but she really only had the one reason in mind when she started. She wanted to deliver a special banana bread loaf to Dr. Frank Whitney, Ph.D. That's right she was going to try to make a connection with Frank. Again that is, as this wouldn't be the first time she's tried to approach him; of course in a soft manner not being too pushy. There's just something about that man, she thought to herself. I just find something intriguing about him.
As she slipped on her over mittens to slide the tray out and have a quick look at her work (she doesn't need to do this 'cause she knows exactly how long it takes to bake the loaves, but she likes to have a more hands on involvement if you know what I mean), she could see her Grandmother doing the same. Miss Donna saw herself as a young girl sitting at her Grandmother's kitchen table, the smell of her Grandpa's cigarettes being overpowered by the banana bread in the air. She remembered how the sun shone through the kitchen window and created a line that nearly cut the kitchen in perfect halves. Recalling how her Grandmother would get up and down from the table to do little cooking things but always to return and talk to her in that soft reassuring tone. Explaining to little Donna how cooking is good for the soul and just as good for covering up those damn cigarettes your Grandpa insists on smoking in the house. Miss Donna let the process of baking and the odors it created take her back to some of the best times in her life.
It's amazing how many blessings I've had, thought Miss Donna. Not every young child has someone to teach her the important things in life; the simple things in life. Kids are so impressionable and they just soak up everything they see and hear. I'm so thankful to the good Lord for giving me all he has. I was able to soak up the good things as a child; can't really even 'member a bad time. Oh, sure like most kids I got my feelings hurt from time to time; like from a bully at school, a skinned knee, a love not reciprocated, a flat on my bicycle, having to go to bed early, not understanding why it's so hard to wake up on Monday mornings, the loss of my favorite puppy dog. But ? all and all my childhood was glorious; and has only been enhanced in the mythology of my mind as I've grown older. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away; but I think he giveth me a lot more than he taketh!
Miss Donna has such a positive way about her. Frank does not; but is he just playing that part? Perhaps Frank and Miss Donna aren't really that much different. Like Elizabeth and I; I mean we have some striking differences but we are pretty similar in our moral makeup. I kinda think Miss Donna sees the same in Frank. She's usually right about these things you know; she's darn wise.
Just before her bread was finished Miss Donna took a moment to sit at the kitchen table and think. I know how Frank feels; what it's like to be older and alone. I know what it's like to lose a spouse and have to face the uncertain future by yourself; the thoughts that you may be on your own for the rest of your life. The dating pool doesn't grow with age, that's for sure. I'm pretty certain this is what gives him his surly attitude at times; well most of the time. It's cute though.
Miss Donna found herself fidgeting with the salt and pepper shakers while she continued her pondering. I'm certain there's good in Dr. Frank Whitney, Ph.D. I'm sure that's why even when he's being mean he seems so likeable. It just shows through. You really can't hide who you are, you can act but you can't truly hide yourself. Frank's true goodness showed through most of the time. I'm not thinkin' he's perfect or nuttin', but I think he's just lonely really and probably scared. Being scared in itself is probably the thing he fears the most.
Come to think of it I'm pretty scared and lonely too. I mean I have faith in the Lord and I know things will work out in the end, but darn it; late at night when the cold wind blows, being alone caint be what is meant to be. It sure don't feel like it. I guess I just have a crush on old Frank, that and a bitter cold case of the lonlies.
Miss Donna finished up the banana bread and left one loaf sitting on the kitchen table as she closed the front door of her apartment with the other three loaves in a paper sack. The sack couldn't hold back the wonderful aroma that trailed Miss Donna all the way to the Allen Family's front door. The youngest of the three girls, Tera, opened the door with a big smile.
"Hi Miss Donna, what've you got there ? is it ? is it ? it smells like banana bread is it ? is it!" Tera's the most boisterous of the three girls; she's about seven now and Lara's nine, and gosh Shandi must be pushing fourteen; my they grow up so fast.
"Sure is banana bread honey," replied Miss Donna as she knelt down to eye level with Tera. Old achy knees or not she would always make the bend for a child. Miss Donna opened the sack and the warm air and splendid odor came wafting out.
"Lara! Miss Donna brought banana bread! Momma come see!" Tera's a joy to be around, doesn't take much to make her happy. Lara too, as she came out of her room with a big grin and run up and hugged Miss Donna like she hadn't seen her in ages. Seen her just last week though.
"The Momma" thanked Miss Donna and invited her to have some coffee with her and her husband, but Miss Donna politely said she had one more loaf to deliver and took a rain check.
As she walked away from the Allen's apartment she could hear little Tera's tiny foot falls running to the kitchen, following her mother for a big slice of heaven. She also heard Lara giggle loudly.
Now make no mistake; Frank does like Miss Donna, just remember how he's always saying she's pretty and stuff just before he says something rotten about her. Know what I mean? Anyways ? but that didn't stop him from being rude to her right off the bat.
As Frank opened the door he looked like he was being seriously put out. Like he'd had some important thing going on that the knock at his apartment door had intolerably pulled him away from. Truth be told, Frank was just sitting in the kitchen reading the funny papers and sipping coffee; not what you would call important work by any means.
"Hi Professor Whitney!" Miss Donna was trying hard to show Frank respect as she knew he appreciated acknowledgment of his advanced degree and tenured professorship. Frank just stood there and took a deep breath. He wasn't enjoying the odor the banana bread though; it was more like an annoyed sigh really.
"Yes Miss Donna, what can I do for you?" On the surface Frank sounded bland but there was a hint of happiness in his voice; happiness to see the pretty Miss Donna.
"Well Dr. Whitney, I baked you a loaf of banana bread; just thought I'd bring it on over while it was still warm," she had a nice smile on.
"You sure did, didn't ya ? just came right on over and knocked without even calling or nothin'." Frank has a flare for subtlety you know.
"Oh come come now Frank," Miss Donna was easing into a more personal conversation; one on a first name basis. "Surely you've got some coffee on the pot that we can drink while we share this nice warm banana bread." Frank muttered something unintelligible as Miss Donna stepped lively past his left
foot and into the apartment. She moved quick and agile like a cheetah.
Now Frank doesn't look too kindly on people just coming over without callin' first and then forcing their way into his apartment; but he couldn't help but get a kick out of this move by Miss Donna. She was being so obvious only a dope wouldn't be able to tell she was treating Frank; well ? special. He's no dope.
"Well come right in Missy and make yourself at home."
"Oh, thank you Frank, I'll make my way to the kitchen then and slice us up some bread. We can sit down and talk for a bit." She disappeared from the front room in a jiffy.
"Lovely," Frank muttered as she moved out of sight in the kitchen. For some reason he half expected to hear banging of pots and pans and see flour flying about in there. Probably because he knew she was so big on cooking.
Frank stood with the front door open for a minute or so with his thumb and index finger pinching the bridge of his nose. From the looks of him you'd think he had a bad headache rather than someone that was about to get the finest banana bread in the state of Kentucky. Finally he closed the front door and locked it tight. Didn't want anyone else just coming in his apartment without invite you know.
As Frank made his way across the living room and into the kitchen he felt a little light on his feet. He had to admit having a woman in his humble home was nice. A women's touch is always nice, he thought. Maybe she'll bring some good conversation anyways.
Frank sat right down at the kitchen table and watched Miss Donna as she worked her magic in the kitchen. She didn't even ask where the coffee mugs were, she had taken Franks mug off the table and was refreshing it, and was able to find the spare mugs in the cupboard with the first open door. She also found the cutting board on the counter and seemed to intuitively know where he kept his cutting knives. She sure knows her way around a kitchen, I'll give her that, thought Frank almost out loud.
Once the coffee mugs were full and the banana bread was sliced, Miss Donna slowly moved toward the kitchen table with a nice smile and firm eye contact with Frank. The first thing he thought was: was that a pass? He laughed inside.
"So Frank, how's your day going?"
"It's goin'," Frank has a way with words.
"Well any good news in that paper there," Miss Donna nodded her head towards the paper spread out on the table, open to the comics section.
"Is there ever any good news in the paper? I mean all you hear about these days is murders, car chases, crooked politicians, low test scores for the students, car wrecks, the price of oil, the slumping market, the layoffs, the future looking bleak and other sensationalized crap."
"You've got a point there Frank," Miss Donna was somewhat being a diplomat. "Still it looks like you've been reading the most truthful part of any newspaper," she again nodded toward the paper this time while pointing directly at the heading "Comics". A big smile came across Frank's face then a hearty laugh; a belly laugh really.
"Ain't that the truth ? yah the truth," said Frank still laughing.
"How's your banana bread, Frank," Miss Donna watched him take a big bite.
"Good," Frank replied with a mouthful, but negated to include a thank you.
At this point Frank seemed to turn back to his normal surly demeanor. He began to be quite rude.
"Well, the bread has passed the taste test, now what else can I do for you?" Frank was really just playing hard to get.
"Oh, Frank, I just thought I'd drop by and give you some home cooked bread and see how you've been ? we really haven't sat down and talked in a while." Miss Donna had a soft tone.
"I'm fine as always ? and you know I'm not a small talker. You'll never be big time if you're a small talker," one of Frank's patented catch phrases. He said this with a look of aristochracy on his face; quite smug.
"Oh we're both too old to be still shootin' for the big time aren't we Frank?" Miss Donna sounded almost down now.
"Speak for yourself toots," Frank seemed to take her comment as a personal insult.
"Didn't mean to offend, honey."
"Honey!" Frank apparently didn't like being called pet names.
Miss Donna, realizing Frank had gotten in a mood, reached across the table and tapped on the top of his hand softly. "Ok, Frank I know you're busy and I just dropped by unannounced, I'll let you get back to your umm ? work." Miss Donna had a sincere tone, not being facetious at all.
"Sounds like a good plan Miss Donna," Frank said the words but his tone said otherwise. His words were pushing her to the door but his tone was asking her to stay. That's Frank for you; complicated.
As they said their short goodbyes at Frank's front door (Frank does not like long goodbyes) Miss Donna had a nice smile on her face and told Frank they'd have to set up some time where they could talk, that she sure did like talking with him. He simply replied, "Yep".
As Frank watched Miss Donna walk away, and as he closed the door, he felt dread in the pit of his stomach. He should have handled things differently; he really likes her he just doesn't know what to do. I'm too old to play hard to get, he thought. "Idiot!" Frank said out loud, referring to himself in relation to his rude behavior. He got the description correct, that's for sure.
While Frank was feeling bad about his behavior and calling himself appropriate names, Miss Donna was slowly strolling back to her apartment thinking about having another piece of banana bread when she gets home. Yes, that loaf on the kitchen table is just asking to be had ? she thought for a second, unless Cosmo got into it. In her mind she pictured Cosmo on the table having a fine feline feast.
Miss Donna slowed as she approached her front door and let her mind wander. She thought; I've laid some good ground work today. Like Grandma used to say, "Good things come to those who wait". Patience rewards those willing to put in the effort. I can tell Frank is coming around ? or he will anyway; probably sooner than later. He's a good man at heart and I can tell he's in need of a good woman. I'll simply keep on with bein' nice to him and eventually those false walls will break down. I bet he really does like small talk, I'll just bet ?