It was Saturday afternoon. I finished my chores as quickly as possible and got ready for the carnival. My dad went to the store and my mom was working in her garden in the backyard. At 1:55pm, the doorbell rang. I looked through the peephole and saw Patrick and his little brother. I opened the door.
“Hi, Liz.”
“Hi, Patrick. Come in.” I stepped aside to let them enter.
They walked inside. “Liz, this is my brother Andy. Andy, this is my friend Liz.”
“Hi!” Andy extended his hand.
I shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you Andy.”
He smiled. Andy was a cute little seven-year-old with short sandy brown hair. He looked like a miniature version of Patrick. He seemed like a happy little kid. When I was his age and in a stranger’s house, I couldn’t stand there and smile. It was like he was taking everything in as an adventure.
“Would you mind saying ‘hi’ to my mom?” I asked.
“No. Of course not.” I didn’t think he would mind, he was far too polite.
“Thanks.” I led them to the backyard.
“Mom?” I called out.
“Yes, Elizabeth.” I heard her respond off to the side yard, near my room.
I led them over to the side of the house. My mom was watering the plants. I loved the location of my room. I had some lavender azaleas and rhododendrons hanging near my window and there was night-blooming jasmine just across from it near the fence. In the day, I would see hummingbirds come by to drink nectar from the hanging plants. In the evening, if I left my window open just a crack, the scent of the jasmine would carry into my room. If I had a bad day, it would usually make me feel a little better.
“Mom, Patrick and his brother are here.” I tried to keep my voice light but I could feel my heart starting to race in anxiety.
She turned to look at them, but kept watering. “Hello. Elizabeth, open your windows before you leave. I already watered those plants.” She pointed to the pots.
“Mom. This is Patrick and Andy.”
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Mariposa, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He reached out to shake her hand.
She switched the hose from her right hand to her left and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you. You’re driving?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He stood there smiling with his arm around Andy.
She stared at him. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach, I knew that look in her eyes. “I think it’s nice that you are taking your brother to the carnival.”
“Thank you.”
She addressed Andy. “Is he a good big brother?”
“Yes, he is.” Andy beamed.
“Watches out for you?” She continued her interrogation. Good thing little kids were oblivious to such things.
“Yeah, all the time.” He proudly nodded. I could tell he adored Patrick.
She looked back at Patrick. “I trust you’ll watch out for Elizabeth like you do for your brother.”
And there it was. I was mortified. “Mom…”
Patrick simply answered, “Yes, ma’am.” Still polite and gentlemanly.
“Okay. Then you guys have fun.” That ended her interrogation of him. “Elizabeth, do you have enough money?”
“Yes, Mom.”
She reached into her pocket and handed me money. “Here.” She never listens to me, but when it comes to money, I’d gladly shut up and just take it. It was the least I deserved.
“Thanks.” I shoved the money into my pocket. “Bye.”
“Good-bye, Mrs. Mariposa. Don’t worry, Liz will be fine.” Patrick told her.
She nodded and turned back to tend to the plants. “Be at Leenie’s by 9:00pm. You need to at least make an appearance. Don’t forget to open your window. Let the air inside, or it will be stuffy in the house later.”
We walked back through the house. I couldn’t believe my mom questioned a second grader about Patrick’s responsibility. Then, she essentially told Patrick that he had to look after me like a little kid. Well, I guess I really wasn’t surprised. It was what I was dreading would happen.
“I’ll be right back.” I ran to my bedroom and opened the window. I hurried back to Patrick and Andy in the family room. I picked up my bag and sweatshirt. “Sorry about that. My mom…”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s okay.” He smiled. His hand moved downward as if he was swatting the air. “Forget about it.”
“Easier said than done.” I whispered as I locked the door behind us.
We got to Patrick’s car. He opened the front passenger door for me and I got in and sat down.
He started his car, “So, who’s ready for fun?”
“I am!” Andy shouted from the back seat. It startled me. I wasn’t expecting such an enthusiastic response.
“What about you, Liz?” Andy asked.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. I’m ready.” I forced a smile. Fun. That which continues to elude me. Maybe the energetic seven-year-old in the back could teach me something.
“Now, Andy…Can you believe that Liz has never been to a carnival before?”
“Never?” Andy was so surprised. You’d think he’d just heard that I’d never tried chocolate.
“No, I haven’t.” I shook my head.
“So, it’ll be up to us to show her how much fun it is.” Patrick’s voice was filled with brotherly love.
“Do you think you’re up to it, Andy?” I challenged him.
“Oh yeah!” Andy was excited.
I wondered where his enthusiasm would take us first. “Okay, so what’s the first thing we should do when we get there?”
“Umm…” A mischievous grin appeared on Andy’s face. “The bumper cars!”
“How did I know you’d pick that?” Patrick teased him.
“’Cause it’s my favorite!”
“Then the bumper cars is our first stop.” I declared. It was hard to stay in my funk with Andy there. I would much rather get sucked into his vortex of excitement than my own created by my mom. Maybe he and Patrick would teach me how to have fun.