Page 10 of A Girl Named Summer
âWhat did he say? Tell me everything. Donât leave out a single word.â
âHe thinks youâre cute,â Summer told her, âand I think heâs getting ready to ask you out. He wanted to know if you were seeing anyone special.â
Regina had a hard time containing her enthusiasm. âThen you really didnât have an actual, for-real date at all. I knew you really didnât,â she continued. âI didnât actually believe Gregg at all.â
âI hate all boys,â Summer stated. âThey cause nothing but pain and aggravation.â
âI donât think itâs the boysâ fault,â Regina said. âTheyâre helpless around girls like Ann Logan. If Luke does ask me out, Iâm going to keep him clear of Annâs clutches. But what about you? Have you figured out a way to get David back?â
âI donât want him back,â she lied. âAnd I donât want to talk about him anymore. Itâs too depressing. Letâs run away and become hermits.â
âDonât be silly,â Regina chided. âYouâd look terrible in drab colors. If Luke doesnât ask me out soon, Iâm hanging up my running shoes. Tomorrow will be his last chance.â
âWant to spend the night so I can get you up in the morning? And by the way, I think you should be the first to know, since you are my best friend: Iâve decided that Iâm going to win the race!â
Getting Regina up and at âem proved to be a real battle. Summer had to be quite ruthless and at one point felt like an army sergeant. âCome on, time to get up,â she said for the tenth time. âLukeâs waiting for you,â she added in a singsong voice.
That did the trick. Regina staggered out of bed and planted herself in the center of the bedroom, blinking in confusion. She looked quite pathetic, but Summer continued to be heartless. After all, it was all for Reginaâs love life. She grabbed her friend by the shoulders, propelled her into the bathroom, and left her hanging over the sink, muttering.
âMeet me in the basement in five minutes, no later.â
By the time Summer had dragged Regina at a snailâs pace to the park, she was decidedly disgusted. She wished she hadnât invited Regina to run with her, and she was a little ashamed that she felt that way. Regina was her best friend, she reminded herself, and feeling irritated with her was somewhat of a betrayal, wasnât it?
Besides, Regina had stayed up half the night listening to Summer rehash her hurts over David.
Summer took her frustration and guilt out on her run, leaving Regina by the pool as she raced into the beckoning wind. The simple truth was that Regina just didnât understand what had happened to Summer. How could she? Summer barely understood herself. She just knew that running wasnât a whim any longer. No, it had become compulsive. Running each day had become as necessary as her fatherâs second cup of coffeeâand just as addictive. Summer was hard-pressed to explain it; she just knew that she felt better and more alive when she was running. And with all the misery in her life right now, she decided she needed all the help she could get.
She passed Regina and was pleased to see Luke standing beside her. He yelled hello and held the stop-watch up, indicating that he had begun to time her. When she finished her run, he excitedly read off her time. She didnât know what the numbers meant but assumed she had done a good job. Luke asked both Summer and Regina to go for doughnuts, but Summer declined, knowing that Regina would want to be alone with him.
Chapter 13
An entire two weeks passed without a word from David. She kept herself busy, running sometimes twice a day to fill the time, and feeling absolutely miserable inside. She vacillated between outright misery and anger. Every time she thought about David dating Ann, she was miserable; every time she thought about how stubborn and unforgiving he was turning out to be, she was angry.
Early one afternoon, when Summer returned from swimming at Reginaâs house, her mother met her on the front steps. One look at the bleak expression in her eyes told Summer some trauma was about to unfold. âWhat did Michael do now?â
âIâve lost your grandfather.â
Now, another person would have at least blinked with that bit of news, but not Summer. It had happened before, and in all probability, it would happen again.
âWhen did you last see him?â Summer asked. She was already walking toward the garage to get her bike.
âItâs that new medicine he started taking last week,â her mother said. âIt makes him a little confused.â
âMom, Grandpa hasnât been confused in a long, long time. I think he just went on an errand or something. Donât worry.â
Summer searched the neighborhood, stopping to ask children and adults if they had seen her grandfather pass by. Everyone knew him, but no one had seen him today. After an hour, she had talked to almost everyone she could think of and was about to turn her bike toward home when one of the gas station attendants said he had seen her grandfather just a few minutes ago. Summer hurried off in the direction he pointed. Gliding to a stop in front of the ice cream store, she spotted her grandfather through the tinted glass. She almost fell off her bike when she noticed who was sitting next to him. David! Davidâand Ann Logan.
âWhat a mess,â she muttered. She became angry with herself when she felt her hands begin to tremble.
Plastering a smile on her face, she entered the shop and went directly over to her grandfather. âMomâs looking for you,â she stated a bit briskly.
She looked only at her grandfather, concentrating on his face in her bid to completely ignore David and Ann. It was rude, but she didnât care.
A part of her brain registered the fact that her grandfather seemed completely aware of where he was and what he was doing. His expression didnât look the least bit confused.
âWhy would your mother be looking for me?â He didnât appear to want an answer as he dug into his pocket for some change. âDavid, nice to see you again. Come by the house sometime and Iâll show you my latest invention. I miss your visits.â
So do I, Summer wanted to say. But of course she didnât and couldnât, not with Ann hanging all over him. Ann wore the smile of the contented, the smile of the victorious. She knows how miserable I am, and sheâs relishing it, Summer thought.
âNice to see you again, David, Ann,â Summer finally said, pleased that her voice sounded just right, not too surly. She still couldnât look into Davidâs eyes, but she got close, staring at his shirt collar while she spoke.
Grandpa was ready to leave, and without a backward glance, Summer followed him out the door.
âMom didnât know where you were. She got worried,â she said. She walked beside her grandfather, pushing the bicycle between them.
âJust doing a few errands. I left her a note,â Grandpa replied. âNo need for her to get upset.â
âYou know Mom,â she answered. âShe likes to get uptight. Keeps her slim and trim.â
Grandpa laughed at Summerâs astute description.
âDid you sit down with David and Ann? Or did they come in and sit down with you?â For some reason, her grandfatherâs reply was terribly important.
âWhy, they sat down with me,â he answered. âWhat difference does it make?â
âI just wondered. I didnât want David to feel funnyâ¦since we arenât dating anymore.â
âThat Ann girl have an eye ailment?â
Summer turned to her grandfather with a frown. When he saw he had her complete attention, he started batting his eyelashes furiously, and Summer broke into gales of laughter. His imitation of Ann was priceless.
âThe boys all seem to like the way Ann flirts,â she said. âI think she looks like she has a problem.â
âYour claws are showing, kitten,â her grandfather admonished. âYouâre very pretty, as pretty as Ann, and youâre Irish besides. David will come around. You mark my words.â
Wishful thinking, Summer concluded.
âJust hope you find a little confidence in yourself soon, girl. After you win the race, weâll have to concentrate on that area.â
; âSo Iâm going to win the race, am I?â she teased.
âOf course,â her grandfather answered immediately. âBet a fiver on you with Clancy. Easy money. Course I had to talk him into betting against you. He finally gave in, though.â
âI think I have a good chance,â she said, âbut I havenât seen the competition. They might all be pros.â
âNope. The pros, as you call them, donât stand a chance against you. Now, Iâve got a few suggestions for increasing your speed just a wee bit more.â¦â
âSummer! Wait up a minute!â The summons came from David.
They turned and watched David jog toward them. Out of the corner of her eye, Summer noticed the smug expression on her grandfatherâs face.
âHi, David,â she said in a breathless little voice.
David seemed to be having a little trouble looking directly at her. In fact, he seemed downright fascinated with the part in her hair. She reacted by nonchalantly tossing her hair back over her shoulder.
âListen, you did say you were going to help with the project, and Iâve got over thirty posters that need to be delivered. Annâs going to take ten, and Iâll do ten, andââ
âIâll be happy to take ten,â Summer interjected. âAnything else?â
âWell, the T-shirts are just sitting in boxes at Annâs house. She was supposed to sell them yesterday at the grocery store, but she couldnât. Annâs very busy, you know,â he added.
Sure, she is, Summer thought. Sheâs always busy when real work is involved.
âLook, David, maybe Regina and I could sell them this Saturday.â A sudden inspiration penetrated Summerâs brain. âUh, you know, that is, Regina is going to have this party, and if I bring the shirts, maybe I could talk some of the kids into buying them. Regina could even make it a T-shirt party or something.â
David perked up over that suggestion. âWhen is it?â
âNext Fridayâno, I mean itâs next Saturday, I think. Iâll have to check with Regina and let you know.â
âI should probably go to Reginaâs party,â David said. âSince Iâm in charge of the T-shirts, that would probably be the smart thing to do.â He was addressing her feet now, having apparently lost interest in her hair.
âOh, I agree,â she said a little more enthusiastically than she intended.
âIâll come by tomorrow with your posters, and you can tell me when the party is.â
âFine.â
âYou might as well ride with me to deliver them.â
Summer nodded, and David left. Grandpa started chuckling. He never said a word about the conversation, only gave her a broad wink that told her he was mighty pleased.
The rest of the trip home was spent discussing her strategy for increasing her running speed. She barely listened, planning her own strategy with one David Marshall.
When the pair entered the house, Summerâs mother was so relieved that Grandpa was behaving rationally that she hugged him and planted a big kiss on his ruddy cheek.
âRead my notes before you get yourself all worked up,â her grandfather chided. His expression was firm, but the gentleness in his voice suggested he liked the fact that she was concerned about him.
Summer felt very close to her family all of a sudden. They were caring people, and even if they were a little weird most of the time, they belonged to her; and no one, not even Ann Logan, could take them away.
âSummer, please help me set the table,â her mother asked.
âShe needs to call Regina first,â Grandpa interjected with a wide grin.
âWhy?â Summer and her mother asked in unison.
âDonât you need to tell her sheâs having a party?â
Chapter 14
Loaded down with posters, David rang the doorbell of Summerâs house with his elbow.
âDo you have time to go with me now and deliver some of the posters?â he asked.
âOf course,â she said, but she tried to keep her expression neutral.
They made two stops, the first at the bank and the second at a dry cleaners, before he said a single word. âWhatâs that book youâve got with you?â
âItâs a joke book,â she explained. âThere are some really great jokes in here,â she lied. Well, it wasnât an actual lie. She hadnât had time to open the book, but she was sure it had wonderful jokes inside. âWant me to read some of them to you?â she suggested eagerly.
David agreed, and she immediately began reading. She could tell, after the third joke, that David was beginning to relax and enjoy himself. She considered switching the subject to their fight and was trying to figure out how she could apologize for yelling at himâand lying to himâwithout groveling, when David launched into a rather long joke of his own.
Summer decided that no matter what, she was going to love it. As soon as David paused, Summer laughed. She even dabbed at her eyes the way Ann did when she laughed.
âYouâre supposed to wait for the punch line before you laugh,â he told her. He was looking at her as if she had one too many heads, and Summer wanted to slip under the seat.
They didnât say another word until all the posters had been delivered and they were back in front of Summerâs house.
âThe party is Saturday night,â she mumbled as she opened the car door. âDonât forget to bring the T-shirts.â
âOkay,â David said.
He smiled, and she decided to go for broke. âDavid, if you want, you could go to the party with me. Iâll help you carry in the boxes of T-shirts andâ¦stuff.â
He looked embarrassed, and Summer wanted to kick herself. âAnn already suggested that we go together. I told her about the party,â he explained in a halting voice.
âRight.â She couldnât get out another word. She nodded good-bye and started running toward the house.
âSummer? We could come by and pick you up,â David yelled.
âThatâs okay,â Summer said. âUhâ¦Gregg asked me to be his date, but I thought I would help you out with the T-shirts and all. Iâll just call him back and tell him okay. No big deal, David. See you.â
She wasnât even able to wait until she got to the bedroom. She was crying before she reached the front door.
âSummer, youâve got to come over here and see me. I look great.â The boast was bellowed through the phone the next afternoon.
âYeah, Yeahâ¦you always look great.â
âNo, I mean it.â Regina replied. âI got my hair cut, and it looks incredible.â
âTerrific,â she said. âLook, Regina, Iâm in a terrible mood. The whole family is hiding from me. If I come over, Iâll ruin our friendship.â
âDonât argue. Come over and tell me whatâs happening.â
She did exactly that and, after pouring out her heart, had to admit she did feel a little better.
âDo you or do you not want David back?â Regina demanded.
âI do,â she admitted. âBut I donât know why. Heâs stubborn andâ¦â
âEnough of that. Weâll plan our strategy. Heâs coming to the party, right?â
âWith Ann,â she reminded her friend.
âOkay,â Regina replied. âI seem to remember your telling me that you were going to become a flirt and dethrone Ann. The partyâs a good time. Iâm going to ask Luke to be my date,â she added.
âYouâll look beautiful with your new haircut,â Summer said. Regina did look good. Gone were the long, limp strands, replaced by short, cropped layers that ended just below her delicate ears.
Reginaâs enthusiasm was contagious. âConfidence is the name of the game,â Summer decided. âThatâs what Ann has and Iâm going to get.â
âHow?â
âThatâs the tricky part, Regina. Iâm not sure.â¦â
âI always feel more confident if Iâm wearing something new. Letâs buy new clothes for the party.â
âOkay,â Summer agreed. âWeâll go shopping tomorrow.â
âRemember, Saturday we attack,â Regina announced. S
he sounded just like a general.
Chapter 15
âMom, could I get a loan?â Summer waited while her mother dried her hands on the dish towel before rushing into her prepared explanation. It wouldnât be half as convincing unless she had her motherâs full attention.
âRegina is having a party, and I donât have a thing to wear,â she began. âIâll pay you back real soon.â
âYou donât have to pay me back, Summer. Youâve been such a help. This will be my treat.â
âHonest?â Summer could hardly believe her ears. âI thought things were tight right now,â she said.
âWe arenât poor, honey,â her mother answered. âWe budget our expenses like everyone else. Iâll give you some money tomorrow.â
Reginaâs mother insisted on driving Regina and Summer to the mall.
âIâll pick you both up in exactly two hours. If you canât find something suitable to wear in that amount of time, itâs just too bad,â she told the girls.
âMom, quit treating me like a baby. Iâm fifteen,â Regina said.
âNow, behave yourselves.â
âYes, maâam,â Summer answered. She used the same tone of voice she used when talking to her own mother, for she had realized a long time ago that all mothers were basically alike. They all loved to worry and give orders, and they all said the same things.
âYour mother is a carbon copy of mine,â she said when she and Regina walked into the mall. âDo you suppose they all read a special manual or something before they have children, so they all say the same things?â
Regina laughed and nodded. âAll mothers have the same traits, and theyâre all hung up on hygiene. Ever notice that?â
âYou mean, âbrush your teeth,â âcomb your hairâ?â
âExactly,â Regina replied. âAnd they all go crazy if they find any holes in anythingâespecially underwear.â
âRegina, thatâs disgusting. True, but disgusting.â
âHeaven forbid if I was in an accident and had on anything with holes in it. Whatever would the doctors say?â
âTears, rips, holes,â Summer said, âare a direct reflection of incompetent motherhood.â