Page 30 of Our Moon
“It’s okay, mom. Time’s up anyway,” Ally says, trying not to laugh. She wasn’t kidding, Alex is a horrible artist.
“What is it, son?” Mr. Monroe asks.
“Pimples,” Alex says. “See,” he says pointing to what I guess were supposed to be the eyes and the mouth of the face. “I started out with a smiley face, and then added the dots for the pimples.”
“The mouth looks like a dot,” Trevor says flatly.
“I’d like to see you do better,” Alex challenges.
“I did do better, you guessed Jennifer Lopez right away.”
“Because of the butt,” Alex says. “It was a stick figure with a butt, not too hard to figure that out.”
“Could have been Kim Kardashian,” Ally supplies, causing me to laugh.
“What are you laughing at, big shot? You’re up next,” Alex taunts.
We’ve been playing Pictionary for about an hour now. I was teamed up with Ally and her mom, while Alex, Trevor, and their dadwere on the other team. It turns out that I’m almost as bad at drawing as Alex is. “Almost” being the operative word. I can still draw a face that looks like a face.
I get up and pick a card from the deck. Are you serious? Of course I’d draw a card with an animal on it, and a chicken at that. This is going to be fun. Mr. Monroe flips the timer and I get started. My chicken must not look too bad, because Ally and her mom keep yelling out the names of various birds, so I know I’m on the right track. What else? Eggs! I draw a couple of ovals behind the chicken, and again I’m on the right track because they yell out ‘eggs.’ Finally, I draw a barn, and Mrs. Monroe calls out ‘chicken.’
I look at Alex and grin. “Whatever,” he rolls his eyes and everyone laughs.
We play two more rounds and our team wins. Ally jumps up and down, taunting Alex by claiming I was their secret weapon.
“Next week it’s charades, bring your ‘A game’ Baker,” Alex dares me.
“Please, I took two years of drama in high school, Monroe, you bring it,” I challenge right back.
“Now, now, children,” Mrs. Monroe chides, smiling because she knows we’re just messing around. “Who wants dessert?”
Mr. and Mrs. Monroe are like the Cleavers. He’s a very successful corporateattorney, which allows her to stay at home to raise the kids and keep house. They have dinner at home every evening, except for special occasions, and she’s always baking something for dessert or a snack. Ally loves spending time in the kitchen, cooking and baking with her mom.
We all settle back at the table, which Mrs. Monroe had miraculously cleared at some point between dinner and our game. She set out a plate of brownies and goes around the table pouring milk. Like I said, the Cleavers.
“So, my little twinnies, what would you like to do for your birthday?” she sings out, using her term of endearment for Alex and Ally.
Alex looks over at Ally. “Don’t you dare say it,” he warns.
Ally looks at him innocently. “Whatever do you mean?”
“We’re not going to Lombardi’s,” he tells her.
“Why not?” she asks. “It’s the best restaurant around!” She looks genuinely appalled that he doesn’t agree with her assessment. Lombardi’s is a really great Italian restaurant that Ally chooses every time she’s given the option.
“Why can’t we do Taco Barn or Jose’s?” Alex whines.
“Because you get the shits when you eat Mexican,” Trevor laughs, earning a light smack on the back of his head from his mother for his language. “Sorry, Ma,” he grins sheepishly.
“And besides,” Alex continues, ignoring Trevor’s comments, “you picked last year.”
Ally sighs in resignation. “Fine. We will go where you want to go, but please no Mexican.” She makes a face.
“How about Pizza Kingdom?” Alex asks.
“Isn’t that for kids?” Mrs. Monroe asks.
Ally answers “yes” while Alex answers “no.”
