Cindy and I are working on our homework assignments in the living room. She just completed the Biology assignment Mr. Harper has been harping on her for so long to finish ... sorry, I couldn't resist the wordplay! It's two days late at this point, which makes me wonder why she has begun to work on the big poetry assignment we have that's not due until close to two months from now.
"What rhymes with desire? Hmm..."
"Cindy, the poetry assignment isn't due for about two months. Don't you have anything better to worry about?"
"But I have to write it. I can't explain why - something inside me just wants to write this poem."
"I think I can," I offered. "That 'something's' name is Sue Ann, isn't it?"
Cindy looked at me and sighed, "Yes, it is. I just need to write down my feelings for her."
"Uh, I don't think that would be wise, given that it's a class assignment. Won't she find out that way?"
"I don't exactly say that I love her straight out. I'm making it vague and ambiguous."
"Well," I said with trepidation, "let's hear some of it."
"Okay, but I only have the first stanza done. Is that the word - 'stanza'?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Okay, the title is 'Secret Desire.'
You are my secret desire
The one for whom my heart burns a fire
Of a love I dare not present
For it may bring shame and resent
That's as far as I've gotten. What do you think?"
"I think the last line might make everything way too obvious. You should probably change it."
"Hmmm... you may have a point. How about this? 'For it fills me with such torment.'"
"Yeah, that could work. And for the first line you might want to say, 'There is a secret desire,' instead."
"Hey, that works. I like it. Now here's the revised first stanza,"
There is a secret desire
The one for whom my heart burns a fire
The one my heart burns a fire
Of a love that I dare not present
For it fills me with such torment."
I have to admit that I was quite impressed. I really shouldn't say that as though it comes as a shock, as Cindy is a very intelligent lady. It's just that her athletic accolades have always outshined her intellectual accomplishments, and her constant procrastinating holds her back from reaching her full academic potential. She's a scholarship student who is, in my opinion, almost as smart as Sue Ann. But she's much more worldly than the other girl - probably because she grew up in a multicultural middle-class neighborhood in Los Angeles instead of some rural area outside of Kansas City, Kansas.
Tootie strolled into the room. Well, Tootie's style of strolling that is - she had her roller skates on. How does she manage to walk up and down the stairs with those things on all the time without breaking her face, I wonder?
"Hey, guys, how are you doing?"
"Fine, until you broke our concentration," Cindy disparaged.
"Sorry about that, but I have some good news for you, Cindy. You got a date with Greg Hockney!"
Cindy dropped her pencil and stared at Tootie in total disbelief, and I found myself doing the same. How in the world could that have happened?
"What?" she scowled with anger in her tone.
"I'm not supposed to tell you, Natalie was going to - but I just couldn't resist! She set up a date with you and Greg, not even an hour ago! Isn't that awesome?"
Cindy, who was steaming with anger, grunted, "No, it isn't. It would've been nice if I had had a say in it." She rose from her chair abruptly, and strode towards Tootie, demanding, "Where the heck are those two?"
Quivering with fear, Tootie replied, "Uh...downstairs."
"Thank you," she said curtly and turned directly towards the stairs that would lead her to the pair of matchmakers. She didn't pass 'Go,' nor did she collect two hundred dollars.
"Why is Cindy so upset about that? Who wouldn't want a date with Greg Hockney?" Tootie asked, completely confused by Cindy's reaction.
"Cindy wouldn't. She turned Greg down the other night at the dance."
Tootie looked at me, her eyes wide with shock. "Oooooh, there's going to be trouble..."
I rushed downstairs to the living room to find Cindy looking crossly at Sue Ann and Natalie. Tootie had managed to arrive on the scene before I did! Wow, how does she do it with those skates?
"The next time you plan a date for me, I'd like to be there!" she roared.
"Wait, how did you figure it out?" Sue Ann asked, but by asking her own question, Natalie answered before Cindy could.
Tootie, who was standing off to the side, began to look around anxiously and muttered to herself, "Uh oh."
"Oh God, did Tootie tell you?" Natalie queried, eyeing her young friend menacingly.
Cindy nodded, still frowning. Sue Ann looked at Natalie with a tinge of anger.
"You told Tootie?" Sue Ann barked at Natalie. Tootie, taking full advantage of her wheeled feet, quickly hid herself behind my back. "It was Natalie's idea, really," she said, turning her attention to Cindy.
"Why would you do such a thing, Natalie?" Cindy demanded.
"I thought that you'd be happy about it. I mean, who wouldn't want a date with Greg Hockney, one the hunkiest guys in Peekskill?" Natalie responded defensively. "Of course, he's not as hunky as Steve, but I digress."
"I don't!" she exclaimed, "I don't want to go out with Greg!"
""What? Are you crazy? This is Greg Hockney we're talking about - Light golden brown hair, tall athletic body, star Quarterback of the team..." Natalie swooned.
"I don't care how hot he is, I'm not interested!" Cindy roared back at Natalie, who was visibly shaking with fear and avoiding eye contact with the girl. Sue Ann decided to step in.
"Look, Cindy, I know how nervous you are. I am too since I'm going out with Scott, but you shouldn't be -- I'll be there, remember? It's gonna be a double date!" She smiled, although I noticed there was a bit of anxiety in her voice, as though she didn't want to go through with the whole escapade either.
"I don't care if you and I are...," Cindy paused as if something clicked in her mind, "...so you and I are going on a double date?"
"Yes! With Greg and Scott. Ain't that super?" Sue Ann gushed.
Cindy's grimace faded into a smile as she responded, "It sure is. Well, thanks for arranging it, but next time I'd like to be there if it involves me."
Natalie sighed in relief, as did Sue Ann. I wondered what had prompted the sudden change of heart in Cindy though, although I knew it has nothing to do with Greg - as much of a wonderful guy as he is.
At that moment, Mrs. Garrett entered the room. "Hi, girls, what's going on?"
"Oh, Mrs. Garrett, Sue Ann and Cindy are going on a double date!" Natalie chimed.
"Why, that's great! When is this happening?" she asked, beaming warmly at the two blondes.
"Sometime next week," Natalie responded on their behalf.
"Well, that's very exciting. Good luck, you two "The matron smiled and gave Cindy a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"Thanks, Mrs. Garrett," she smiled.
Cindy's body language said she must have come up with a sneaky plan, and something inside of me told me I wouldn't like it.
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When we got back to our room, I asked Cindy why she was suddenly so happy about what had made her so angry not even half an hour before. Tootie was downstairs, so Cindy and I were able to talk privately for once.
"Now you want to go out with him? What's with the sudden change of heart?" I questioned, though, as I said already, I was quite sure that it had nothing to do with Greg. I didn't let her see that I was suspicious.
Cindy grinned, "Well, I realized that maybe it won't be such a bad thing after all."
"Huh?" She had stumped me with her answer.
"Since this is a first date, I know Scott won't be sitting next to Sue Ann, and Greg won't be sitting next to me."
"So? What are you getting at?" I didn't have a clue what she had in mind.
Cindy continued to grin and she patted my left shoulder, "I'm surprised you don't get it, knowing how perceptive you are. Sue Ann," Cindy's voice slowed as though she were explaining it all to a dummy, "will be sitting next to me - so, in reality, it will be mine and Sue Ann's date."
Just as I thought, I didn't like the sound of it.
"How are you going to manage that? Sue Ann will be busy with Scott, or maybe Scott will interfere like last time."
"Not this time," Cindy stated firmly.
I wondered what she was planning. Sure, Cindy will be next to Sue Ann, but she can't really chat with her, or gaze at her, or ever touch her, or... then it dawned on me! She could touch her! And since it's well known she's such an affectionate person, especially with girls, she could discreetly make a move on her and nobody would notice! Cindy can be a sly dog.
"Cindy, do you have any idea what you're doing?" I asked.
"Absolutely!" she exclaimed with a very sly smile. With that, I began to really worry...for Sue Ann.
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I watched Cindy and Sue Ann all week. They spent some time together as they always did, yet there seemed to be some uneasiness between the two. While the two clearly wanted to be around the other, it was obvious to anyone who was paying attention that they wished it to be more than just sitting together watching TV. One of those restless nights was Wednesday around 9:00 PM. As I told you before, that's when 'Charlie's Angels' come on. I feel it's not really worth watching, now that Sabrina's gone. Kate Jackson, why did you have to leave the show? However, it's still an entertaining show for Cindy, Sue Ann, and one particular girl who rushed downstairs...just to watch it.
"Is it on yet?" Blair asked, huffing and puffing as though she had just finished running the hundred-yard dash. I've never seen her rush like that for a TV show. However, Nancy told me that she heard that Blair once ran up three floors in under thirty seconds just to catch a glimpse of Baryshnikov. What was even more impressive was she was wearing high-heels at the time!
"Yeah, it's just this second started," Cindy informed.
"Oh, great!" Blair smiled and sat down.
Sue Ann seemed surprised at Blair's enthusiasm. "I've never understood you when it comes to TV shows. I expect you to be more into 'Dallas' and 'Flamingo Road' than 'Charlie's Angels'."
"Well, they do have some of the hottest middle-age men on TV," Blair smiled her flirtatious smile. I rolled my eyes and thought, 'Yeah, sure Blair.'
I nodded, acting like I was naïve regarding the truth of the matter.
While they were watching the show I again analyzed Blair, and again noticed how gaga she is for Kelly. When Kelly appeared in a blue dress, Blair eyed her like crazy.
During the commercial break, Sue Ann asked Blair, "So, who's your favorite Angel, Blair? I bet it's Tiffany, since she's high-class like you." I smiled at Sue Ann's good guess, but knew she was way off.
Blair giggled, "You would think so, but my favorite is Kelly. She is classy when she wants to be, and she has a certain charm that neither Sabrina, Kris, or Jill ever had."
"Very interesting. I would have thought that Kelly would be your least favorite," Cindy chimed in.
"Well, I can't help that I'm full of surprises. That's why I'm never boring," Blair smiled and flipped her hair. "Kelly is the toughest one of the three. There's a pain in her that she's hiding from others."
I thought, 'Oh boy, Blair. You're not just talking about Kelly, you're talking about yourself.' I saw the sadness in her eyes when she talked about Kelly's pain, as if she were hurting inside too. I was starting to feel a bit of sympathy for Blair. The lie she is living is really eating her up.
"So, who do you like? Let me guess, Kris?" Blair asked Cindy.
Cindy was surprised at Blair's correct answer. "You're right! How did you figure it out?"
"I'm Blair Warner, I know everything," she grinned smugly.
"No, really Blair, how did you really know?" Sue Ann frowned, not satisfied with Blair's answer.
"Well, she talks about her a lot when we watch the show."
Cindy thought about what Blair had said for a moment. "That's true. I do," she admitted.
"See, I'm right as always!" Blair chimed. Everyone in the room rolled their eyes and groaned.
"Well, it's obvious there's one person you like more than anyone else," I shot at Blair, making it clear that she was no mystery herself.
"Who? It's sure not Greg Hockney!" Blair teased.
Everyone except me laughed. I didn't like her talking about my buddy like that.
"No, yourself," I deadpanned.
Everyone sat in silence for a moment, afraid that Blair would blow up. But she didn't. Instead, she admitted it, and even sounded proud of the fact. "Well, of course! If you were as marvelous as I am, you would be enamored too!" She stated conceitedly, finishing with yet another hair flip. I watched her head inflated and buoying like a helium balloon, and wished I had a needle so I could pop it and bring her back to Earth.
Everyone in the room rolled their eyes again. "Blair, the world does not revolve around you. Not every man on this planet wants you," I reminded her.
"Perhaps, but try telling that to the scores of men who want to date me," Blair smirked.
"Oh God, Blair," Sue Ann sighed.
Blair reverted to questioning Cindy, aware that her egotism was turning everyone off. "But really Cindy, why Kris?"
Cindy blushed a bit at the question, and I saw Sue Ann start to get a bit jealous. I could tell by her lips since she has the tendency to pucker them tight when she's mad. "Well, um," she stammered, "I think it's because she's smart, yet she has this innocence like she's kind of naïve," Cindy stated dreamily. 'Oh wow, that explains her attraction to Sue Ann,' I thought.
Blair just murmured, "Oh, I see."
I could tell Sue Ann didn't get it when she asked, "Do you know anybody like that?"
Blair, Cindy, and I stared at her in silence. I thought, 'Take a look in the mirror Sue Ann and you'll see your answer.'
Cindy was clearly starting to get uncomfortable, as she squirmed in her seat a bit, "Well, I had a close friend who was like that, back in Los Angeles." Cindy's answer didn't ring true to me, but I gave her points for trying.
Sue Ann was trying so hard to hide her jealousy, but her mouth kept betraying her. I knew she wanted to ask more questions, but the commercial break finished and the show came back on before she had a chance. Well, now I know what Blair's and Cindy's types are.
As they watched, Cindy rested her head on Sue Ann's shoulder. Sue Ann, so engrossed in the show, noticed it about five minutes later, at which point she started to panic. Her lips began trembling and her body tensed up. I don't know if it was just my imagination, but I thought I saw Cindy smiling a bit. If that's the case, then she's starting her antics already! I saw Blair look back at the two women. Her eyes widened and she immediately returned to ogling Kelly, never looking back at them again, which confirmed that it wasn't my imagination at all! I just know this is not going to be good...
Continued...