I rode out the lingering waves of my orgasm while Blake reached his.
“Mikki! I have to pee. Dad! Let me in!”
“Hang on, Pea,” I called back in a breathy pant.
“Why? Open,” kick, “Up,” kick, “the,” kick, “door!” kick.
“Pea, I’m pooping and daddy’s in the shower. Hang on.”
“Well, I have to pee.”
“Put me down,” I whispered with a kiss. Blake dropped my legs and both our eyes watched what should have been repulsive, my blood mixed with his come swirled down the drain. “I’m coming. Stop,” I yelled when Pea whined again. I quickly washed away the sex and got out. After wrapping a towel around me, I quietly unlocked the door and waited for her to whine again. With my fingers on the handle, I presumed the scaring the hell out of Pea, position.
“Mikki—”
“GRAAWLLLWWLLLLAAALLLL,” I screamed. Score! Pea jumped back, crouched at the knees, and shrieked with her hands clawing the air. It was the epic of all scares. Priceless.
“Aahh I hate it when you do that!”
“Don’t be annoying, I told you I was coming. Why can’t you pee in Grandma Grace’s bathroom?”
“I just wanted in. I’m going with grandma.”
“Going where? I thought we were all going to the parade together?” I questioned, walking across the hall to our room. “Turn around,” I said taking a tampon from my bag.
“Why?”
“Because I have to use a tampon.”
“And put it in your butt?”
“Turn around; we’ll have this talk in a few more years.” That made me sad. I quickly slid the tampon in and stepped into my panties. I wouldn’t be the one that she came to about that stuff, she was going to have it with one of her grandmas. My sadness went from bad to worse when I thought about Blake meeting someone else and she got to have that talk. What if she didn’t love her the way I did? I didn’t want anyone else being around Blake and Pea. Then again, I guess that would be the best thing for them, to move on and forget me. Nonetheless, it made me sad.
“We’re leaving to go to the float so I don’t open my mouth. Grandma Grace said I have to get away from you.”
“What? Why?” I asked, puzzled sliding on jeans and a shirt.
“Because she said I’m going to tell you the secret.”
“What secret?”
Pea’s little body was jerked out to the hall. “No secret. Come on, big mouth. Let’s go.”
“Grace, what is she talking about?”
“Nothing, you know how this girl’s imagination is. She’s always got a secret. We’ll see you at the parade.”
“I don’t trust you, neither one of you. You’re up to something,” I accused with narrowed eyes.
“No we’re not. Tell her we’re not, Pea.”
“Nope, we’re just gonna go to our float now. See ya around,” Pea said with a smile. I didn’t even have time to comment on her new little sundress with red strawberries. She looked so cute. Grace loved having Pea around. She was like a new shiny top. I didn’t mind having Grace around either, she kept Pea plenty occupied while her dad kept me occupied.
“Where are they going?” Blake asked, joining me with a towel around his waist. Good God. I had turned into a sex addict. His damp chest and defining abs made me want to jump him again.
“I don’t know, but I think you do.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your mom wanted to get Pea out of here to keep her from telling me the secret. What secret, Blake?”
“Why on earth are you asking me? I think all of your minds work like Pea’s. Did you scare her again?”
I laughed thinking about it, “Yes, it was epic. You should have seen her face.”
“I don’t know about you.”
“You never will. I’m going to make us some breakfast. Hurry up and put your clothes on, I can’t handle it,” I confessed, placing my hand on his damp chest and kissing his soft lips. I couldn’t get enough of him. Geesh.
Blake and I sat out on the back patio and ate oatmeal and toast with our coffee. I was definitely changing into shorts, the weather man lied, it was way warmer than the seventy-eight degrees he said on the radio. I wasn’t walking around in jeans all day if I was going to roast to death.
“Let’s get ready and go. We’ll go walk around the streets and check out all the vendors and mess around.”
“Okay, sounds like fun. I want to go change into shorts first, it’s hot out.”
“Yes, for sure. You should do that,” Blake admitted with a dirty little smile. I laughed, he couldn’t get enough of me either and I knew that to be the truth.
Our day was filled with joy and if it was possible, I fell even more in love. Walking around the streets, hand in hand, enjoying the warm summer day felt right. I wanted it. I wanted it all. Blake made me want it all. He bought Pea a long, skinny sock monkey and me a clear, quartz crystal necklace. The lady selling them said that the quartz crystal was used for healing. I don’t know if I believed in that stuff or not, but I got Pea one too, just in case she carried that gene too.
Blake led me to the best homemade strawberry ice-cream in the world after that. We sat at one of the picnic tables along the sidewalks and waited for the grand finale. I couldn’t wait to see the look on Pea’s face on her float. Making sure my battery was charged on my phone, I noticed the little Facebook notification.
“I love this,” I said, leaning into kiss Blake’s lips. It was just a silly little cartoon that read, ‘I woke up this morning because you are in my life’. It was sweet. I loved seeing my wall filled with funny pictures of Pea, these sappy little messages, and all the, I love you’s, one could ask for. I took a selfie of our lips as one and sent it to him.
“Tell me more about Janie,” I requested, holding his arm. His hand rested on the inside of my thigh and he kissed my forehead. “Tell me about the first time you kissed her.”
“You do know that I have never talked about her, ever, don’t you?”
“I believe that, but I think it’s silly. You should talk about her; she was a big part of your life. She made you Blake, and I think Pea should hear you say things about her mommy.”
“You don’t talk about your mom.”
“I know, but my mom is still pretty raw.”
“It’s been over a year.”
“I don’t know where she is, that’s the part I hate the most.”
Blake kissed my head again, and did what I needed him to do. “When is her birthday?”
“September third.”
“Really? Her birthday is in September too? How ironic is that?”
“I know, right?”
***
I woke that Monday morning to my cellphone buzzing on my nightstand. It was that trouble maker again. Janie wanted me to skip school, she wanted to go to the Bronx Zoo and watch a baby lion being born. Once I realized it wasn’t even five-thirty yet, I rolled over and covered my head with my pillow. Crazy girl. Of course that wasn’t going to cut it with Janie, she had something on her mind and I was going to be grounded.
“Hello, and no, I’m not skipping school to go to the zoo. Who does that?”
“You know it’s my birthday, right?”
“Janie, it’s not even morning yet and don’t worry, I already got you something. I’ll give it to you tonight at practice.”
“Meet me in front of Zazen’s at nine, Zelda is in labor right now, they said it could take a few hours. Do you have binoculars? Bring them. I know the perfect spot.”
“I’m not going to the zoo, I have a test.”
“No you don’t. I already asked you that yesterday. You’re lying. Meet me in front of my dad’s hotel at seven.”
“You don’t think he’s going to notice you hanging out in front of the hotel?”
“Oh, right. Okay. Meet me two blocks down in front of that new bookstore.”
“What new bookstore? No. We’re not doing this. I’m going to school.”
“
It’s the one on the other side of the street, right beside Calloway Jewels. I’ll see you at eight-thirty, don’t forget the binoculars!”
“Janie!” I yelled to the dead phone. How the hell did she expect me to get there? My dad was going to kill me.
“Mom, can you give me a ride to Matts? I’m going to ride to school with him today; his dad got a new Corvette.” That sounded like a good lie for a fourteen year old boy.
“No, you can see it another time. I have a meeting this morning.”
“Will you, dad?” I asked already knowing the answer.
“I suppose. I need to go to the music store anyway, you better not be late though.”
“I won’t,” I lied with too much excitement. Wow. That was easy. The uneasy part was knocking on Matt’s door, unannounced.
“Hi Blake, Matt’s already gone. He just left.”
“Oh, man. Is it okay if I look in his room for my CD? He told me I could stop and pick it up.” I was an expert liar; Janie Lynn Holden was turning me into a criminal. I waved my hand to my dad and stepped inside when Matt’s mother let me in. I lied again when I told Mrs. Fernandez that I couldn’t find it and Matt must have taken it. I thanked her anyway and walked nine blocks to meet Janie, cussing under my breath the whole time.
“Did you get the binoculars?” she asked, wearing dark shades.
“Yes, and you’re lucky it’s your birthday.”
“Come on, let’s go, I don’t want to miss it,” she coaxed, dragging me along toward trouble with her.
Lucky for Janie, I hadn’t had a chance to spend the money I got for mowing three yards. The dumb girl didn’t even bring any money to get in. I had enough to pay our way in and get us a very cheap lunch. We might even have to share one lunch. Prices in the zoo were ridiculous.
I protested again when she wanted to sneak behind a fence, it was for employees only, the big yellow sign said so.
“I’m not going in there, you’re going to get us arrested.”
“Come on, I’ve done it before. We have to or we’re not going to see anything. She’s not out on display you idiot.”
“Janie. Oh my God,” I protested, watching her climb over the block wall, also for employees. Of course I followed her. I would have followed Janie Lynn right into the mouth of a bear if she told me too. I don’t know why, that’s just what she did to me.
Janie wasn’t lying, she’d done this before. She had the perfect spot, nestled amongst a patch of trees. We settled on a bed of burnt orange pine needles and waited. And waited. And waited.
“Look what my mom got me for my birthday,” she said, showing me a silver charm bracelet with dangling charms. I looked at each one of them pretending to care. I cared more about her hand in mine, even at the tender age of fourteen I knew I would always hold her hand. “I’m going to add a lion to it after this. Aren’t you excited?” she asked in a high pitch squeal. You would have thought we were seeing the birth of baby Jesus with her excitement. I didn’t care if it was some dumb lion; I was hiding in a forbidden place with Janie. The world could have stopped turning and I wouldn’t have cared.
We talked about school and her friends. We’d both just graduated to middle school. Janie was attending Saint Mary’s Bright Side for Girls, and she hated it. She didn’t want to go to an all girl’s school, but her father insisted, he didn’t want her distracted by boys. And even though I fit into that category, Barry didn’t really look at me like that. He looked at me more like one of her girlfriends.
“I’m going to ask your dad if I can work for him next summer,” I announced, looking at the close up of the lion at least a hundred yards away. She wasn’t really doing anything but walking around the small cage. Two workers sat on the ground outside the cage, but to me there was no sign of any cubs. I wasn’t even sure she was pregnant; she didn’t look pregnant to me.
“You have to have a college education, you’re only fourteen, you can’t work for my dad.”
“I’ll work in the mailroom or something.”
“Why would you want to do that? I think we should get a gig with Frank and Sassy.”
I laughed and dropped my binoculars to look at her, “Yeah, because Frank and Sassy need a couple of kids to play in their show. You’re on drugs.”
“It could happen. I’m going to send them a CD of us playing Oriental Fantasy.”
“You mean a cassette tape.”
“No, I mean a CD. I got a CD. burner for my birthday. We can record on a compact disk now.”
“No way! For real? You got a burner? Lucky.”
“Yeah, lucky for you you’re my best friend. You can use it too.”
“I am?”
“You am what?” Janie asked, looking through her telescopic lenses again.
“Your best friend. You think I’m your best friend?” I asked again for clarification.
“Of course you are.”
“Why, because no one else will do everything you tell them to do?”
“I didn’t make you come here.”
“Yes you did. Do you think I’ll ever be more than that? Like when we’re older?”
“Like my boyfriend?”
I felt warm crimson on the tips of my ears and turned back to Zelda. The red pimple on the center of my forehead was bad enough. I didn’t want her to see how red my face felt.
“Yeah,” I admitted with a puberty girl voice. Clearing my throat, I tried to cover it up.
“I sort of already think that.”
“You do?” I asked in a little more shock than I wanted to portray.
“Yeah, do you?”
“Does this mean we’re boyfriend and girlfriend now?” I questioned, trying to hold my smile.
“I mean, if you want to.”
I turned and pulled out the little pink box and handed it to her. Janie Lynn Holden was my girlfriend. A great meteor could have wiped the earth out at that moment and I would have died a happy man.
“I already knew your mom was getting you that, this goes with it,” I explained, handing her the wrapped package.
Janie opened the tiny box and her jaw dropped, “Oh my God. I love it!” she exclaimed, holding up the tiny piano. “Put it on,” she insisted, holding the charm bracelet over my lap. I hooked the little charm with the other ones and smiled at her, happy that she talked me into skipping school.
“You can kiss me if you want to.”
First kisses were supposed to be awkward, but it wasn’t. Not at all. Janie’s lips molded with mine perfectly. I don’t know how I knew what to do, but I did. As soon as Janie parted her lips, I slid my tongue in and when they met it was like loud cannons exploding and bright fireworks all around. Our first kiss was cosmic, out of this world and I would never forget it. Ever. I never wanted to kiss another set of lips. Ever. That’s how powerful Janie’s kiss was. Ambitious and larger than life.
“We better watch Zelda,” she said quietly, speaking warm words to my lips. My eyes opened to her turquoise eyes and I fell in love. Hard.
That was one of the best days of my life. We hung out below the trees for four hours before Zelda decided to do anything. The first cub was born at ten-fifteen in the morning. Janie named it Winston, after Winston Churchill. The momma lion dropped the little thing right out to the straw, Janie worried when she didn’t go right to it. I listened to her tell me about how sometimes the mother will reject the newborn cubs, and they would have to be bottle fed. This was Zelda’s second litter; I assured her that she would accept them. She did it once, she knew what to do.
“Look, here comes another one!” she called, holding her binoculars over her eyes. I didn’t look. I didn’t care about the once in a life time chance to watch a lion give birth. Janie’s excitement was more exciting to me.
“Hey! You can’t be back here. What are you kids doing here?”
“Shit. Run!” Janie yelled. We didn’t have time to run; the two Zookeepers were standing beside us before we could gather our things. Oh brother. Here we go again. We we
re busted.
“Hop on, we’ll take you out of here. You’re lucky we’re the ones that caught you. Had it been John, you’d be on your way to jail. What are you doing back here anyway?” the female asked.
Janie and I sat backwards on the padded golf-cart seat and contemplated my death. My dad was going to murder me, I’d be dead and my father would live out the rest of his days in prison. My poor mother would die a lonely old cat lady.
“We just wanted to watch the cubs being born. I’ve been waiting for it all summer”, Janie explained.
“She wasn’t supposed to get pregnant, they had her on birth control,” the female explained. I looked over my shoulder at her. Maybe she was going to let us go. She was too nice for someone getting ready to hang us.
“Oh, she had another one. Kensington. Let’s call him Kensington after the Kensington Gardens,” Janie announced.
“I like that. Shouldn’t you kids be in school?”
“Yes,” I was the one to answer. “I’m Blake and this is Janie, today’s her birthday and this is all she wanted. She wanted to watch Zelda have her cubs. Please don’t tell on us, we weren’t hurting anyone,” I begged. I was pleading for my own life more than hers. I knew how tight the Janie string was around her daddy’s finger. I didn’t have that luxury.
“Happy birthday. How old are you?”
“Fourteen.”
“Oh, tough age, I hated those years. I’m Wendy and this is Malone. I’m one of the vets here.”
Janie gasped and turned to face her, “You are?! Are you going to look at the cubs?”
“If I need too. As long as momma is doing her job, we won’t interfere.”
“She will. I know she will.”
“Do you want a closer look?”
“Seriously?”
“Why not? It’s your birthday, but you can’t tell a soul. You’re not allowed behind that wall. You have to promise you won’t do that again.”
“We promise. Don’t we, Blake?”
“Yeah, sure,” I agreed, knowing I’d do it again if she told me to.
We had front row seating for the next two births. The cubs already had names, but Janie didn’t care, she named them anyway. The zoo had run a contest back in the summer and they already picked the names. Janie hung on every word the vet said about Zelda and I hung on every word Janie said.