A Wonderful Afternoon

The bocce and the pleasant socializing continues. You were still the outsider here but with each passing minute you were welcomed in among them more and more. They were fun and lively to be around. Perhaps it wasn’t fair to Stephen and your old high school buddies but being around people like this just felt…right. Your old friendships had been built of convenience and proximity, your conversations rigid and restrained and homogeneous and more often than not stuck in the past. They were the friendships of the old meek fearful conforming Jesse. But these folks spoke about interesting things, shared their exciting dreams and ambitions, and each brought in their own unique perspective from their own disparate backgrounds. Of the group only you and Jermaine was from this city. Enthusiasm and vivacious energy infused everything they did and said. Their focus wasn’t the past but the present and future. Just being with them you could feel your horizons expanding. Aunt Peg had always told you that college would change you but, despite the fact that you had already been in university for a year now, it was only today that you really felt the significance of what that meant. Well, if there was going to be a time for this to come to light this was certainly the day.

Curious about you they start to ask questions about your major, your plans, and so forth. Eventually the conversation turns to your family.

“You guys really should see his little sister Elsie.” Casey says. “She is GORGEOUS! She looks so much like Audrey Hepburn it’s uncanny, though with her own unique je ne sais quoi as well. Really smart too. She knows her stuff when it comes to computers. She’s an absolute sweetheart.”

This causes a bit of stir among them.

“Yeah, El’s the best.” You say proudly, then ask. “Who is Audrey Hepburn?”

They all fall quiet and turn to look at you as if you’d just taken a shit right there in front of them.

“Oh Casey.” Jamil says grimly. “You have to educate this boy!”

“I will.” She chuckles and subtly brushes her hand against yours. The pair of you share a quick glance and a flirty grin. Everybody sees it but they are cool enough not to call it out. “He has another sister too, Fiona. I haven’t met her yet but if she’s anything like her younger siblings I am sure she must be a stunner.”

“She is.” You say before quickly adding. “I mean…for my sister. Not that I’d notice that sort of thing.”

Jermaine, the quietest one of the group, surprises you by interjecting quite vehemently. “Your last name is Bailey. Fiona? Fiona Bailey?”

You notice Sean’s eyes light up as he catches on a few seconds later. “Tall, blonde, hazel eyes? Always wears those long skirts?”

“Uh, yeah. That’s her.”

“You’re Fiona Bailey’s brother!?”

“Yeah.” You say suspiciously. “Do you know her?”

“Only by reputation. The Goddess.” Jermaine nearly swoons. “I’ve seen her around the campus once or twice.”

“I accidentally bumped into her once and fell down the stairs in front of her. She stepped on me and called me a vapid bitch.” Sean sighs wistfully. “Best day of my life! I swear…I’d go straight for her.”

“Hey!” His partner protests…before actually nodding in agreement and sighing along with him. “I can’t blame you.”

Anthony laughs at his friends dramatics. “Sounds like you come from an interesting family.”

“You could say that.” You admit.

Not that they needed any more reason to like you, but hearing about your sisters just further cements their acceptance of you. All in all you spend a wonderful afternoon with Casey and her friends. By the end you are throwing balls with the best of them and joining in on their conversations more and more. Your team even wins one game! As much as you were enjoying yourself the sun was beginning to dip toward the West and you had a supper to get to.

“Ba ba ba BOOM!” Anthony fires the last ball like a cannon shot sending others careening out into the grass lawn. “Aw damn.”

“We win.” Felix says. “Again.”

You slap Anthony’s back. “We’ll get them next time big guy.”

He and Bianca grin warmly at you. “That’s right. Next time. We’ll have Casey let you know when we do this again.”

“That would be awesome.” With one last look around at this amiable group you say. “I should get going. Family supper tonight.”

“Nothing more important than family.” Anthony gives you a nod of respect.

Bianca agrees and adds. “It was good meeting you finally.”

You go around to say your goodbyes, each one of them giving you either a handshake or that European double cheek kiss thing. At last you come to Casey. She looked so lovely in the late day sun. “Walk with me?” You ask. She nods and follows you out of the yard toward your car.

As you approach your vehicle the pair of you come to a stop and turn to face each other on the sidewalk. “I’m glad you stopped by.” She says softly.

“I am so glad I came.” You say. “You have great friends.”

“Yeah. They were on their best behavior today. They’re a lot to take sometimes, but I love them.” She says. Something about the way she said that made you realize there was a deeper story here. You then recall the night before her telling you that outside of Felix you were the one friend she had that never looked at her differently. “They make being away from home so much easier.”

“Thank you for singing. That was…incredible.”

She smiles bashfully. “I’m glad you liked it.”

There is a moment of quiet before you can’t hold it in any longer. “Oh Casey, if I don’t ask you now I swear I’m going to explode.”

“Mmm?”

Reaching out you take her hands in yours, they were so soft. “We’re going on a date. You and me.” You state. “I’m not taking no for an answer.”

“Oh?” She smirks.

“I, um, I was thinking…” You swallow.

“What about tomorrow?” She interjects, revealing that you weren’t the only one about to explode. “I’m free tomorrow if you’re available.”

You can’t stop the big silly grin from spreading across your face. “I’m available.”

“They have that Street Festival going on right now.”

“Oh yeah, just off downtown.” You say. “Yeah! That sounds great.”

“I can pick you up around…11? We can make a day of it.”

“Pick me up? Who is asking who out here?” You quip.

She giggles. “11 am?”

“I’ll be ready.” You squeeze her hands. “And Casey.”

“Yeah?”

“You look so good in that dress.” You say as you gaze into her emerald eyes. “But if you wanted to wear your tweed hat…that would be cool too.”

The message in your words gets across loud and clear. You catch a little tremble in her chin and bottom lip and the glimmering hint of a tear at the corner of her eyes. She gives you one slow nod and whispers. “I’ll see you tomorrow Jesse.”

“I can’t wait.” You bow slightly and kiss her hand. “Until then.”

You are walking on air as you walk around your car to the driver’s side. You felt like you could fly home right now! Casey stands on the sidewalk, her fire red hair and gossamer sundress flowing with the breeze, to watch you go in the dappled shade beneath the old oaks of this quiet street.