ignored it and went on.
“There’s something I want to talk to you about. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”
“Can’t you just tell me over the phone?”
“I’d rather not.”
“Well, I’m working on my college application essays all afternoon,” I said, trying to
get out of it.
“Oh … well … like I said, it’s important, but I suppose I can talk to you Monday at
school… .”
With that, I suddenly realized that she wasn’t going to let me off the hook and that
we’d end up talking one way or the other. My brain suddenly clicked through the
scenarios as I tried to figure out which one I should do—talk to her where my friends
would see us or talk at her house. Though neither option was particularly good, there was
something in the back of my mind, reminding me that she’d helped me out when I’d really
needed it, and the least I could do was to listen to what she had to say. I may be
irresponsible, but I’m a nice irresponsible, if I do say so myself.
Of course, that didn’t mean everyone else had to know about it.
“No,” I said, “today is fine… .”
We arranged to meet at five o’clock, and the rest of the afternoon ticked by slowly,
like the drips from Chinese water torture. I left my house twenty minutes early, so I’d have
plenty of time to get there. My house was located near the waterfront in the historic part of
town, just a few doors down from where Blackbeard used to live, overlooking the
Intracoastal Waterway. Jamie lived on the other side of town, across the railroad tracks, so
it would take me about that long to get there.
It was November, and the temperature was finally cooling down. One thing I really
liked about Beaufort was the fact that the springs and falls lasted practically forever. It
might get hot in the summer or snow once every six years, and there might be a cold spell
that lasted a week or so in January, but for the most part all you needed was a light jacket
to make it through the winter. Today was one of those perfect days—mid-seventies
without a cloud in the sky.
I made it to Jamie’s house right on time and knocked on her door. Jamie answered it,
and a quick peek inside revealed that Hegbert wasn’t around. It wasn’t quite warm enough
for sweet tea or lemonade, and we sat in the chairs on the porch again, without anything to
drink. The sun was beginning to lower itself in the sky, and there wasn’t anyone on the
street. This time I didn’t have to move my chair. It hadn’t been moved since the last time
I’d been there.
“Thank you for coming, Landon,” she said. “I know you’re busy, but I appreciate
your taking the time to do this.”
“So, what’s so important?” I said, wanting to get this over with as quickly as
possible.