Rm 508 - Thursday morning
Fresh from the showers, Annette was standing before her bed, her towel wrapped snuggly around her. She was biting her nail and staring down at Blair's clothes. She was going to wear the tee-shirt again and save the Hawaiian shirt for tomorrow. She was just about to get dressed when her phone rang -
“Hello?”
“Good morning, dear. I wanted to catch you before you went to class.” Her mother said cheerily.
Annette closed her eyes and sat down on the edge of her bed. “Hey, mom.”
“What is wrong, Annette?”
“Nothing.”
“Your tone suggests otherwise, young lady.”
“Sorry. I’m just contemplating my man clothes.”
“What?”
“My rain clothes. It’s raining. Been raining. Lots of rain.”
“Did you get your package yet?” Her mom said, ignoring the rain comment.
“Yes.”
“. . .and?”
“Thanks, mom.”
Silence.
“Annette?”
“Yes?”
“Is there a boy on your mind? You are very distracted this morning and it has to be a boy. It always is.”
“His name is Dick.”
Gasping was heard on the other end of the line and Annette might have enjoyed a little silent squee.
“Dick?”
“No, mom, I said Rick.”
“Mr. Hargrove!” Her mother yelled. “Your daughter likes a Dick! That’s right, Annette, I heard you the first time.”
Annette cringed.
Click. “Annette? It’s your father. What is this I hear about Dick?”
“. . .”
“Annette? Don’t make me use that tone of voice with you.”
“Dick is just a boy, daddy.”
“Listen to me Annette, no good ever comes from a boy named Dick. Do you hear me?”
“Listen to your father, Annette.”
“Mrs. Hargrove? I’m handling this.”
“Yes, Mr. Hargrove.”
“Do you two always have to share the same line?” Annette asked.
In unison, “YES!”
“Now, Annette, what’s this jokers last name?”
“. . .umm…”
“Don’t get smart with me little girl.”
“I’m a little boy today, daddy.” Snicker.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“It’s a class assignment. Don’t worry about it.”
“His last name, Annette and I am running out of patience.”
“Casablancas.”
“Casablancas, Casablancas…where is he from?”
“Neptune.”
“That is not funny, Annette.”
“Neptune, California, daddy.”
“Uh-huh. Leave Dick alone Annette. No Dick for you." Pause. "Oh good god! Mrs. Hargrove!” Click.
“Annette, it’s your mother. Listen to your father, please. We just care about you. How’s your grades?”
Annette was getting a stomachache. “Good.”
“Ooh, it’s time for my bikini wax; I’ve got to go darling. Remember, we love you!”
“Back atcha mom.”
“What?”
“Love you too.”
“Right. Okay, bye sweetie!”
“Bye mom.”
“Annette! Remember! No Dick!! Dick is bad!” Click.
Annette hung up the phone and grabbed a sock, it was time to be Blair again. And after last night? She really hoped no one asked her to meditate or anything. Or asked her about the notebook. Maybe Blair would just have to be in a bad mood today. Yeah, that might work! Happier now, she started to get dressed.