It’s been cold and clear at night, so I’ve been taking pictures of the stars. I find it calming.
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LYNN
My bedroom had been dark, but the curtains were still open in the living room, and the sunlight sparkled in the dusty air. I always found that weird, that the dirtier the room, the prettier the morning. Angie's form made a burrito-shaped lump on the couch and I let out a snort. I'm hungry, I guess. Maybe I'll have a burrito for lunch later.
Angie's head was still topped with my old scarf.
Ughhh. That was so embarrassing last night! When she asked for a head wrap, I didn't understand. I thought she just needed different sheets. I didn't know what she meant. Not that I'm dumb, or anything. I just don't know anyone else who needs to sleep with a bag on their head.
She didn't seem mad, though. I wonder why she does that? Is it because she's black? I told her I liked her hair. I need to remember to tell Mom about this.
I turned back to the bedroom and grabbed a notepad from my drawer.
Remember - thank Mom for making me pack the silk scarf
Then I felt a different urge, and ran to the bathroom.
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The toilet finished it's cycle and gurgled as I stepped back into the living room, and Angie's head turned toward me.
"Woah, sorry Angie. I didn't realize you weren't up."
"Ugh," she croaked, "just starting to."
"Okay, good, because it's after 8, and I know you have a class, right?"
She sat up quickly and said, "Yes I - Ohhhhhh. Too fast. Bad idea," she finished, as she lay back down again and moaned.
I knelt next to the couch and put my hand on her forehead, which was cool. "You feeling alright? Y'want some cereal, or maybe some eggs to get you going? I don't know how to make coffee, but I think there's some around here. Maybe we can figure the machine out together."
She opened her eyes. "I probably should eat something. But just the cereal, please. I don't think I can handle anything else."
I looked at her face closely - purple bags swelled under her eyes. "I know we didn't drink last night, so what's up with you?"
She yawned. "I - I think I'm just tired. It took me a little bit to fall asleep, actually, and we got in so late last night. I could use another few hours in a bed."
"Maybe something kept you up? Were you...maybe just thinking about Jonathan all night?" I grinned as she swung a punch at me, but since she was still lying on the couch I easily avoided it. I headed for the kitchen, still smiling. "Let me get on that food."
The kitchen was in okay shape, most of the dishes were still washed from my cleaning the other day. So I grabbed a few spoons and counted. I need two spoons, right? No, I need three! I dropped the spoons on the table with a clatter and ran back to the living room. "I can't eat right now, I can't believe I nearly forgot that we found Jim last night!" I was already knocking on his door. "Jim! Jim, are you decent? I'm coming in!" I pushed it open.
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Jim's room was bright, making me blink. His blinds were open, so morning light was pouring in through the high windows. The only other change to the room from last night were his legs. He was now right-side up, and his feet were now bare. The sheets and bedding made a mountainous pile over his head and torso. Thankfully he still had his pants on.
"Jim, Jim wake up, dude. It's morning. I need to make sure you are okay." The bed squeaked when I sat next to him, and his body rolled a little.
"Huh, uh, whozzat?" His voice was muffled.
"It's your sister, doofball. It's Lynn. Now open your eyes." I punched a lump which I guessed was his arm.
"Ow! Hey, what-cha do that for?" he snarled. He tossed aside the comforter, and sat up. I let out a giggle. His hair, which normally was neatly back in a ponytail, was up on the side of his head in a flattened rat's nest. His eyes were closed, so if a rat did come out, it probably wouldn't bother him too much. Still, he looked better, his face was cleaner and the swelling in his left eye was down.
"Floppy," I said, reverting to an old nickname, "Wake up, I'm here to check on you." I poked him again with my finger, and he collapsed backwards like a deflated balloon, making the bed bounce and groan under his weight.
"Don' call me that. Go away," he mumbled, "I need to sleep."
"C'mon, you don't need to sleep. You need to get up. I'm sure you have class or something today, just like I do."
His eyes popped open. "Oh, shit you are right. What day is today?"
"It's Tuesday."
"Shit, really? Yeah I do." He immediately rolled over and fell out of bed, coming up onto his hands and knees on the threadbare carpet next to my feet. "Uhg, Okay, I'm up. I'm up, " he said. "Give me 10, maybe 15 minutes to get dressed. I'll give you a ride to school." He coughed, then added, "Yeah, and your friend too."
"Okay, thanks for the ride, we'll take it," I got up and started to walk out, then turned around and asked, "Say, Jim? I do have some questions for you. Like for instance about where you were yesterday, and by the way, who beat you up?"
"Later, I'll tell you later, " he dodged. "G'wan, get out, I need to get dressed." His head bobbled like he was trying to encourage me to move faster. Or maybe he was going to throw up. I moved fast just in case and shut the door behind me. The opening notes of "Sanitarium" by Metallica began to play from behind the closed door, and I relaxed. I guess he's okay.
I went back to the couch, folded my legs, and dropped to the floor again to wait for him to come out. I leaned back and felt Angie's hand rest on my head.
"So, he's okay then?" asked Angie.
"Yeah, I mean, I think so. He seems all right. He's not too pretty today, but he'll live. He said he'll give us a ride to school. We've got a few minutes to get ready."
"Good. I'm glad to hear he's OK. I've never seen anyone beat up before. He must be lucky. Plus, he really stank, did you notice?" Angie's nose wrinkled. "I can't believe we found him in a garbage dump. Nobody will believe us if we tell that story. I wish we had a camera."
"Right." I said slyly, "Actually, we were the lucky ones yesterday. Lucky that we had *Jonathan* there to help us out." I nudged my head backwards on "Jonathan", and continued, "*Jonathan* (nudge) was so helpful with giving us a ride home. I wonder what else *Jonathan* (another nudge) was soooo helpful with..."
"Enough!" Angie cried. "I get it, you want to know what happened with me and Jonathan, right?"
"Who, me?" I asked with my most innocent voice.
Angie cuffed my head lightly, which I deserved. "You know it. Okay, I'll tell. Well, I mean, y'know. Jonathan was great. We had a nice conversation in the van, and then yeah, we kissed before he left."
"Whoop whoop whoop!" I pumped my fist in the air in a circle.
Angie continued, "He was really sweet. I like him. "
"Oooh - Oooh. Did he touch your neck, or your chin? I love it when they do that."
"Actually, he did both. And then he asked for my dorm number, and I gave it to him. Oh, and I have his number too. I left it on the coffee table for you to copy."
She rested her hand back on my head, and I sighed. "That's cool. I'm happy for you. Back in the city we all knew that Jonathan was one of those rare guys, y'know? Someone who treats you right and is more than halfway intelligent."
"Well, I'm glad I have your approval," she said sarcastically.
"Ha ha - you totally don't need it!" Then my stomach rumbled, and I turned to face her. "Oh, right, food? Eating first? Or getting ready first?"
Angie replied, "Getting ready." She reached up and touched her head. "Thanks again for the scarf. I wasn't expecting I'd be sleeping over."
"Sure, no problem. I'm gonna thank my Mom for packing that silk one, like you asked for, although the style is definitely not you. With the green and silver stars against our fabulous red couch, you look a little like a Christmas card."
She made some grunting noises, and I realized she was trying to stand up, so I got myself out of the way. "Thanks, it was just what I needed. You'll see, just give me a few minutes in the bathroom with some conditioner and I'll be back to my old self again."
"My hair is so straight I could sleep on it upside down and it wouldn't do a thing but flop back down again." As Angie walked away, I said, "I had no idea that curly hair was so much work."
She turned and gave me a funny look. "Curly hair, huh? Of course you wouldn't. What am I, your first black friend?"
"Um. Yeah. Sorry." My face felt hot.
She shook her head, and folded her arms. "Sorry for what?"
Was she mad? I rushed to fill the space with words. "I guess I don't know anything about black people." Her eyebrows went up. "I mean, I know you, and that's it. I had lots of black people around me in the city, at the bar I worked at, and at school. I don't think about skin color, I guess?"
"Well, what do you think now? Do you not see me?"
"No! I mean..I see you. I definitely see you. I think that black people are just like everyone else. Or, what I mean is...you're different. But the same. Sort of." I shook my head. "No. You want to know what I think? I...just don't know."
"You don't know what?"
"I don't know what it's like to be black. So, I'm sorry."
Angie paused. A long, long pause. The Metallica from the bedroom sounded really loud. Then she finally spoke.
"You're right. You don't. But that's okay. We're friends, right?"
"Right." I nodded hard, and let out a deep breath I didn't realize I was holding in.
Then she said, "Listen, just tell me if you have...thoughts. Weird thoughts, about me doing stuff, or ideas about my family. Okay? Is that a deal? Don't make stuff up about me, just talk to me first. Okay?"
I studied her features. She didn't look mad anymore, just worried.
I said, "Uh, okay. I promise. I will."
"Thanks. And for now..don't worry about this. Just worry about...the food. I want to be fed." She gave me a gentle smile.
Again I was reminded of how amazing she was, and I sighed. "Yeah, thanks Angie. I'll get that cereal out."
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Janet