8

“Thank you again, and have a nice day.” Back in her shop, Melinda had sold the antique lamp she had just acquired the week before, and for just a bit more than she had acquired it. She rang up the purchase, placed the money in the drawer and looked up to Delia looking at her. She grinned a bit, opened her mouth to say something then hesitated before continuing with her thought.

“Are you sure you want to be here?” Delia stated the obvious. “I mean, you were tossed out a window the other day. I can take care of things if you want to go home and relax that arm.” She held up the cast on Melinda’s arm for example.

“I’m much happier here.” Melinda shined. “We Gordons are made from study stuff. Besides, I don’t think I could stay home and watch nothing but an old Party of Five marathon on Cable.”

“But still…” Delia turned round to clean and dust the display when the bell on the door jingled and Jackie Stiles came in dressed in her form-fitting pink sweater and tight Capri pants against the cold temperature outside. She was definitely all-girl once more from the rosy makeup on her face to the Jesse McCartney music playing on her I-pod. Running a delivery for her mother, her personality had returned to exuberant and out-going instead of withdrawn and studious.

“Sandwiches from my mom, on the house.” She glided into the antique store as if she were on strings. “Thanks from her for bringing her little back to her. God, she’s driving me nuts again.”

“How you feeling, honey?” Melinda noticed the free lunch. It was her regular vegetable delight sandwich and Delia’s favorite seafood combo.

“I’m feeling….good.” Jackie started hedging backward eager to get to the mall. “I mean, “ She stepped forward again. “The last week seems like a bad dream, and yet, I remember all of it. Was I… I mean, do you think I’m throwing my life away by shopping and partying?”

“Well,” Melinda looked to Delia and back to the young lady. “You’re just enjoying the last vestiges of your freedom, but I think you ought to start looking forward to what you want to be after you graduate. Maturity does have its virtues.” She took Jackie’s hand. “Do you recall what happened to you?”

“Melinda,” Jackie rolled her eyes covertly to Delia and back to Melinda. “You don’t share your body with someone and not forget it.” She paused thinking about it. “Jimmy really had a bad life, didn’t he?”

“Yes, he did.”

“Do you think he’s happy now?”

“He crossed over.” Melinda shined. “Of course, he’s happy. He’s in a better place now.”

“In a little way, I kind of miss him.” Jackie acquiesced for a second. “He actually made me feel like a better person.”

“You know, it’s not that hard.” Delia added her two cents.

“I know, but….” Jackie’s thought was interrupted by Tricia and Sheera in their open convertible honking the horn in front of her mother’s shop next door. It was time for the mall. “Got to go!” The flighty teenager spun on her heel and raced out to jump into the convertible with her friends. Melinda mused with a smile and lightly shook her head debating whether she had really changed for the better.

“Would you want to live your teenage years over again?” Delia asked out loud.

“Heck, no!” Melinda didn’t want to consider it.

“I wouldn’t mind having her figure though….” Delia mumbled under breath.

END