2003-07-02 at 9:55 p.m.
Paul called me again this morning at ten saying he was coming home today and would like to visit, so I say, "Sure, why not?"
When he got here, Dad was on lunch break and decided to make himself a sandwich. He got to meet Paul. Daddy gave Paul a hard time, making sure that he would "bring his little princess home safe and sound by 9:30 PM or he would turn Paul into a toad never to visit again." Paul, amazingly, laughed it off and said, "As you wish, Master, sir!" Daddy grinned and said "Have a good time" while slipping me emergency numbers (as if I didn't know them already). Paul took me to meet his parents, and I was surprised to see my English teacher and his wife there! "Hello, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith."
"Kenni, I never expected to see you! But then, it's not everyday our son brings home such a beauty!" How much more embarrassing could it get?
"She is a beauty, isn't she?" Paul replied. When I looked at him with surprise, he only gazed at me like Mike had so many other times. Obviously, this could get worse!
"Make yourself at home, Kenni. We have sandwich stuff, if you're hungry, or sodas galore."
"I'll take a Dr Pepper, if you don't mind?"
And so I sat in the family room with Paul, his little sister Tonya, and his parents. They asked about how I was doing, and Mr. Smith, remembering I'd been with Mike, asked "And how is that dear boy, Michael?" Of all the questions!!
"He's in Odessa with his mom, looking at the colleges there. I think he procrastinated too long so may just have to go to a community college for a semester or two, but I'm really not his keeper. He has his own agenda, and I don't ever want to be in it again." I hoped they'd get the hint, but Mrs. S asked when we parted ways. "Last Thursday." That came as a shock and his parents asked me what I was doing with their son to which I replied, "Making new friends, since dating is obviously not my thing." The subject ended now and they started talking about the weather and how it was dreadful to have hundred degree weather twenty days in a row and how they longed for winter. I say bullhonkey, but after a while, Paul graciously asked permission to leave since he had a reservation to keep, and then he took me to McDonald's where we acted like kids again. I didn't eat since I can't stomach Mickey D's, but he did later take me to Subway and asked for a club. When we got in his car, I told him that I didn't like dates, so if we did stuff alone, we'd do it only as friends, and he said, "I know. I would have a group of friends along with me, but they're all on vacation. Friday, you'll meet them. You will see them in their element, the lake, with no alcohol around for miles. It'll be fun. You will go, right?" How could I say no?
"Yeah, I'll go, but pick me up, ok?"
"Yes, ma'am!" And then I got home, nine o'clock sharp. Daddy already loves him!