Page 5 of The Sky in Summer
“Can I get you anything else?” the waiter says, placing the dishes down.
“No. That’s good.”
As he walks away, a car drives into the only open parking space. Taking a bite of a French fry, I watch the people exit. It’s them. Tyler is bandaged under the ball cap. They head for the entry, not spotting me yet. I see the aunt, but is that the mother, minus the huge red hat? The long wavy chestnut colored hair is loose. The red cover-up has been replaced by shorts and a tank top that reads, Polly’s Pies. She is a pretty one. Womanly. Sexy in a wholesome way. Why would a woman hide the attributes she has? The neckline shows nothing. But the shape of her? That’s the story. Tiny waist, tan muscled legs. The shorts are nowhere near Daisy Dukes, even though she could definitely rock them. I imagine.
“There’s Tyler and David!” Sam says with his mouth open and showing the half-chewed bite of cheeseburger. Boys are cavemen. I was and so were my brothers.
“Hey!” Teddy waves and motions for them to come over.
I didn’t get the chance to ask him to shut the fuck up. I wanted more time to absorb the view without her knowing I am looking. When the women look up, Aunt Barbra elbows her sister, says something between clenched teeth and sends us a smile. The boys are happy as shit to see each other.
“Are you school friends with those two?” I ask.
“Yeah. They moved here last semester. They’re cool.”
“Have you met the dad?”
The question is transparent. Just seventeen, the boys are now old enough to decipher my meaning. And more than happy to bust my chops.
“She’s divorced. Go for it, Uncle Van.”
Both find the idea funny. They have always found my ways amusing. My romantic life has been their steady entertainment since grammar school. They look up to my wild ways, much to my siblings’ horror. And now that they are old enough to act on the knowledge it’s much worse.
As the group approaches, Sam signals to the empty table next to us.
“Here! Sit here!”
The mother catches my sight line and for the first time I get a smile. Beautiful. Warm.
“Fancy meeting you here!” Barbra says, pulling out a chair at the available table.
“Are you guys following us?” I say.
I don’t get the same vibe she was sending at the lake. There isn’t any sign of interest. What’s up with that?
Everyone finds their seats.
“Tell me what you want, I’ll go inside and order,” David says.
“I’ll have the fish tacos, and what do you want, Tyler?” the mother says.
“Bacon burger. Crisp this time, David. You forgot to tell them last time.”
“Can I wipe your butt for you too?”
“Yeah, use your hand.”
“Boys!”
One word from the mother and they decide not to press their luck.
2
Layla
Van doesn’t recognize me. Then again, he isn’t looking at my butt crack. Not a clue the woman sitting three feet away has seen his penis. Up close and personal. Obviously, there is no memory of showing it as incentive for getting a look at my goods. Back then, differences between our bodies were mysteries yet to be solved. But in our classroom, Van was the dedicated detective self-assigned to the case. I smile with the memory. He thinks I am being friendly and smiles back.
It was nineteen eighty-eight, inside the teacher’s closet at school. We made room between the shelves, the poster boards, and the hanging coats. I don’t know who came up with the plan, I wouldn’t put it past either of us. But what I do remember are his words. “Wanna look?”
