Walking the Dog — Chapters 11 and 12

The mayor wasn't a professional speaker and his going on was making everybody fidget. I'd never been to a Family Decision Day before which is one reason I decided to stay. The other, of course, was to see Tracie.

Before today my only exposure to this event was in our small town newspaper in a carefully coded and short article. The Families and their affairs were our secret; we didn't broadcast them to the wide world.

Frank sat next to Tracie and had a huge shit-eating grin on his face. Tracie looked nervous. Her eyes never rested on me. Mrs. Johnston looked tired and she smiled a lot but the smile wasn't manic like Frank's. Mr. Johnston didn't sit at the main table, he was off to the side with Donald. I couldn't see their hands but I thought they were holding them under the table. Trish sat next to Mrs. Johnston, dressed thank goodness, with little Mike next to her. Little Mike looked like he wanted all the speachifying to be over and the birthday party to begin.

Other Families were in the room, Mrs. Cooper's, Miss Arnold's, Mrs. Burl's and Mr. Jewett's, the town council, police chief and informal head of the informal chamber of commerce, along with guests, walkers, and me. Somewhere between fifty and seventy-five people attended.

Lisa moved across the room and sat next to me. "Looks like I'm out of a job."

I nodded, not glancing at her.

"I've decided I'm bisexual. Can you imagine that?"

I smiled and relaxed. "Rick was that good."

"He's okay. I mean it. It wasn't traumatic or anything."

"Not like this party."

"It'll liven up in a few minutes. Tracie's new meat. Even if she doesn't decide to, she's going to be popular tonight."

"I can't imagine doing it with old people."

"She's older than you and there didn't seem to be a problem, Jasper."

"A year older."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Still," Lisa touched my wrist, "you never know. You need to keep your mind open."

"I'm happy the way it is."

"What are your feelings about doing it with bisexuals? Hypothetically of course. We wouldn't actually do it or anything so stupid or foolish."

"That's good. I'm pretty open to red-haired bisexuals but not tonight."

"This is all hypothetical, Jasper. I'm only testing the waters right now. I'm trying to imagine you without any clothes on." She pressed her temples with her fingers. "Not as nauseating as I thought it might be. I might even enjoy it. Hypothetically, of course. Naked. With no clothes on."

"The two usually go together. Naked and no clothes."

Lisa clapped enthusiastically. "The old fart is finished finally." She touched my wrist. "Favorite ice cream flavor?"

"Vanilla."

She made a face. "Vanilla. Would you be willing to experiment? Try chocolate, strawberry or a little bondage?"

"Shush," I said.

Tracie stood, looked across the room. Her fingers were fiddling with something on the table. "Today is my eighteenth birthday and I must decide to stay in a Family or leave." She paused; her eyes momentarily rested on me, moved on. "My decision is yes." She sat down to applause, jumped up. "I forgot. I'm nervous as all get out as you can tell. There's food out by the pool. After I've eaten I'll be able to celebrate. Ummm. Oh. Frank here is my walker." She smiled across the room. "Have a good time and at eight or so the birthday girl will be in the guest room." She paused. "There are so many people I want to thank tonight. Some, I know I'll have to thank later." She looked at me, gave a slight nod. "Thank you." She sat down blushing and leaned to say something to her mother.

"That was short and sweet. Brave girl," Lisa said. "Do you want me to get you anything?"

I shook my head.

"Vanilla ice cream, right?" She grinned at me. "Don't you want to see if the birthday girl gets her wish?"

"I'm going to sit here for a while."

"I'll be back, Jasper. Don't run away. I find myself strangely attracted to you. Are you a closet bisexual by chance?" She didn't wait for my answer.

Mrs. Stevens sat next to me. "I need help getting my garden ready. I'll pay. My daughter said you'll do a good job."

"I'm walking her, Mrs. Stevens."

"I know that. After school next week. You're not afraid of a little work, are you?"

I smiled and shook my head. "No, Mrs. Stevens."

"Then you'll do it?"

I nodded. "I was planning to come over and visit anyway."

"Then all this subterfuge was wasted. A shame. Still, it'll be nice to see you and finally get to know your name. And the garden does need work, pitiful thing."

"Thanks, Mrs. Stevens."

"The girls call me Connie."

"Maybe in a bit, Mrs. Stevens."

"That's fair. Who's that interesting young woman who was sitting next to you?"

"That's Lisa."

"Maybe Lisa should come too. Is she good in bed?" Mrs. Stevens raised her eyebrows and waited.

"I don't know."

"Good Lord, then you'd better bring her along with you."

"I'll ask her."

"How are you doing?"

"Okay, I guess."

"Next week I expect an honest answer, son." Mrs. Stevens rose slowly. "The eighteen rule is a bit too hard and fast to my thinking. As you well know." She winked at me and walked off toward the sliding glass doors to the outside.

I could watch the party out the window to my left. Clusters of people ate a variety of foods, from the catered dinner to just ice cream and cake. It was too cool outside to swim otherwise the pool would be full of noisy people. Mrs. Johnston came in for something and sat next to me.

Neither of us said anything for a minute; I didn't look at her. "Jasper, if you decide not to continue walking me, that's perfectly all right. It's up to you." She paused and I wasn't sure if she had anything else to say. I turned to her. "Tracie did the best she could. It's never easy on the steady."

"I'll walk you, Mrs. Johnston. With pleasure."

She smiled. "The other thing I mentioned yesterday still stands, no matter what. With pleasure."

"I don't think I'd better do that, Mrs. Johnston. You understand?"

"I do. The offer's still there." She rose. "I need more silverware."

"Need help?"

She studied me for a moment. "No, I can do it."

Mr. Johnston and Donald came in holding hands and walked past me toward the stairs. Mr. Johnston gave me a wicked grin.

Everybody called Donald by his first name rather than Mr. Diembowski because that's how he preferred it. Of all the various Families he and Mrs. Cooper were the least formal.

Lori joined me for a moment. "I'm going to leave before things get too wild. As you know, I'm looking for a steady. And as I know, you feel like crap now so if you want we can talk next week sometime. If you just want a quickie, don't hesitate."

Lori looked like hell, rings under her eyes and her voice was dull and without inflection. "Next week is fine. I'd love a quickie but I feel like all four tires are flat."

"So that's my problem. Four flat tires." Lori stood, watching out the window. "You know, Tracie talked you up a whole lot. You don't need to rush into anything out of desperation."

I stood and held her. "I've always liked you, Lori. If I choose you, it won't be out of desperation."

"Throw some gravel on the window if you feel the urge." She pushed away from me. "I'd better go. That felt good, Jasper. Thanks."

Lisa was waiting with two plates. She joined me on the couch and handed me a plate. "There's vanilla, we'll save the whips for later. You doing okay?"

"I'm okay."

"Yeah. Right. And I'm a flaming heterosexual. Tracie is liking being the center of attention. I understand you're walking Mrs. Johnston. Need any help?"

"I don't think so."

"Don't be bashful, just ask." She took a bite and ate, watching me. "My understanding is you're spending the night here."

"Who told you that?"

"Trish. With obvious glee and a twinkle in her eye."

I grinned.

"So I'm wondering. It's between twinkles, Lori and me. Any more? Just so I know if I have a fighting chance."

"It's going to be no one for a while."

"That's okay. As the only other closet bisexual it's not like I have a lot of choice out there."

"That's hard to believe."

"Flatterer." She winked at me. "Do you want to eat first and then talk? Just eat? Or do you want me to go away and leave you in peace?"

"This is okay?" I took a bite of cake.

"You're so romantic. Whoa. The rush is on."

Tracie passed us with several members of the town council in tow.

"I wonder where Frank is?" Lisa said. "I never figured Mrs. Sylvere was into this kind of thing."

"You'd be surprised."

"Decide yet?"

"Stay awhile. I might need your help getting my bookbag from Trish's room."

Three more passed us en route to the guest room.

"Where's Frank? He's not going to last long if he doesn't pay attention to his responsibilities." Lisa poked me with her elbow. "You know. I think you're going to have to do the bookbag thing yourself. There's no way I'm going to get between a horny fifteen-year-old girl and the object of her affections. That's you, Jasper."

"Twinkles."

"If the name fits."

"Were you ever like that?"

"I'm always like that, Jasper. Try me out at least."

"Not tonight."

"Saving yourself for twinkles."

"No, I'm just tired."

"I give passable backrubs."

"I already turned down one offer today." Tracie was starting to get loud in the guest room. "I'm going outside."

"I'll join you."

Chapter 12

There was a knock on the door and Mr. Johnston said from the hall, "Trish, you have twenty minutes to get ready for church."

"Okay, father."

She snuggled a little closer to me. "See. I can be a good girl if I try hard enough."

"Thank you for trying," I said. I kept still as she crawled over me to get out of bed.

"You can watch if you want. I mean if you're a voyeur or something."

I turned on my side and saw her grab a towel. My bookbag lay on the floor next to the door. That's as far as it ever got last night. She wrapped the towel around her torso and left the room.

Mrs. Johnston stood in the doorway. "I'll be needing you to walk me tonight. We'll have dinner first. I can pick you up at six thirty at your house or here." She waited, no real emotion registering on her face. Mrs. Johnston could be coldly efficient at times.

It was a toss up. I needed to go home anyway to change but I didn't want to sit around and watch TV with Dad. "Here, if that's okay."

"I'll leave the key on the dining room table." Mom gave a tight smile and left.

Trish was back a few minutes later, dropped the towel on the floor and did a slow spin for me. "Not bad, hunh?"

"You're very mature for a fifteen-year-old."

"I don't know why I bother." She turned and opened a drawer, looked over her shoulder at me. "Do you want me to go to church with panties on or without."

"Why don't you surprise everyone and wear panties."

She stuck her tongue out at me; dug what she needed out of the drawer and dressed.

She turned and asked, "Zip my dress for me?"

I sat up, the sheet over my lap, and zipped the dress.

Trish turned to me. "You'll find I'm not a virgin, a disappointment for sure for you but I couldn't help myself." She eyed the ceiling and did a little sway. Her eyes dropped and held mine. "Last night was my first time sleeping with a man. Other than a major disappointment in one department . . ."

"Ready?" Mr. Johnston asked from the door.

"As soon as I finish my little speech." Mr. Johnston waited. "Well!" She turned back to me. "Other than a disappointment in one department, it was fantastic and I'll treasure the memory for ever and ever."

"We have to go now, Trish."

She stamped her foot, lunged at me, kissed my cheek and left.

My first thought was, Tracie has a crazy sister. Of course Tracie was out of the equation now for me. It was going to take some getting used to.

I spent just a few minutes at home, checked on Dad who didn't have much to say as usual and walked back to the Johnstons. They came back from church without Tracie. I figured if Tracie were around I wouldn't have been invited to stay. I had lunch and a nap in the guest room.

The sheets still smelled of her and a zillion others.

I found a book to read, later, in the library that Mr. Johnston said I could borrow. He was grading papers but was in a good mood. I wonder if Donald had spent the night.

I sat out by the pool and Trish joined me until Mom hustled her away. I liked Trish but wasn't ready for a constant nympho companion.

At six-thirty Mom and I left the house. She drove, didn't speak. I looked out the window. We went out of town for dinner, I guess so we wouldn't be bothered. Mom was dressed in black: black sandals, jeans, blouse and lightweight jacket with a colorful printed design that looked oriental. Mom wore her dog collar but it wasn't obvious what it was.

The restaurant was dimly lit, subdued in tone though people at the tables were talking and enjoying themselves. Mom and I, other than our ages, went well together as the most underdressed couple. Nobody paid any attention.

"How are you doing, Jasper?" The dim lighting, candles, and perhaps the way she was dressed made Mom look younger. She was relaxed and smiling now.

"Okay, Mrs. Johnston."

"You'll call me Barbara one of these days." She paused. "It's all right to not be okay, Jasper."

"One of these days you'll be calling me Jas, Mrs. Johnston."

She grinned. "In fact, I think we'd all be a little more comfortable with signs of outrage, angst or soap opera melodrama."

"You'd be happier if I asked you where Tracie was."

"She's out of town for a few days." She laid her fork down. "I don't want to eat too much beforehand. We won't be out very late tonight."

"Not like last week." I raised my eyes and smiled.

"Not at all like last week." She took a drink from her wineglass. "Where shall I start?" She watched me. "Okay. Did you know some of your relatives were Goffs?"

This was new. Dad hadn't said anything. "No. Not recent?"

"Several generations back. You know we live in a multiracial community. And you know we have a lot less," a pause, "friction than most communities in the area. Black and white together, even today, are still frowned upon elsewhere."

I'd taken American history last year. "Slavery and stuff."

"And stuff. What do you think the purpose of the Families is?"

"Keep everybody happy? Less frustration?"

"That's part of it. There is less frustration. One of my functions is to fix things, to make things better. It started as an idea shared by your ancestor and others. It's evolved since then. The rule of eighteen for instance."

I wasn't sure I want to hear explanations of why Tracie and I couldn't be together. I looked across the room.

"Without the rule of eighteen, girls like Trish would be going out," she smiled and paused, "with men almost twice her age. Which wouldn't be fair to her. Or them. But mostly her. If we . . . I don't know how to put this. In the past there was a problem. Since the rule of eighteen there's been less of a problem, or rather a new problem. We think Tracie and you are mature enough to deal with the problem as adults."

"Even if we can't see each other. It's crazy." My voice was rising. "Mrs. Johnston, it's crazy."

"It's not perfect. No rule is. It was better for Tracie to have a younger steady. Especially since she didn't know how she'd decide. If she decided yes, there needed to be a clean break. Do you know how many couples like the Conners there have been over the years? Most are like Mike and me, a matter of convenience. And while I love Mike, I don't love him." She looked down.

"So everything was planned?" My voice was becoming shrill.

Mom looked up. "Not at all. You'll find, over the next few months, this will be explained to you. Your options, recommendations from collective past experience. I'm jumping the gun somewhat. For Tracie's sake and yours. You're a walker, a good one, and that's rare. You weren't told in advance that you'd be eligible for a scholarship because it's best you don't know that beforehand. You know now. Congratulations. So you can go to college, do what you want. Or not, if you choose, We know you've been approached by three women to be their steadies and I can make suggestions but the decision is yours. Something to remember is that Lisa, like Tracie, will be eighteen before you. Lori and Trish, like you, will be too young when you reach eighteen. Your decision will affect them all, yourself, their families, like ripples in a lake. No thank you," she said to the waiter. "Did you want a dessert, Jasper? No? A cup of coffee for me please." She looked at me and said to the waiter. "Two cups of coffee, please."

"I don't feel like deciding anything now."

"If Trish becomes a pest and you need help handling her, let Mike or me know. Your father was my steady, like you, until the last moment. He became bitter afterwards."

"I can see why."

"That was a hurdle we couldn't overcome. Fortunately or unfortunately - it's impossible to tell. He's never said anything?"

"Not a word."

"I'm glad he's not angry any more. You're welcome to spend the night at my home this week. Trish's room or the guest room. I can't guarantee Trish won't try to join you in the guest room. You'd be welcome anyway but I understand a romance is blooming and you might feel more comfortable away from cupids, flowers and schmaltzy music."

Dad hadn't said a thing. "How do you know all this?"

"My mother is very nosy. She knows a lot of people in town, including Dawn's mother, Lori's and Lisa's grandmothers; the network is quite extensive. I understand you'll be helping her garden."

"That was the ploy, yes."

"She and I don't agree on many things. But she's very effective and if you can come up with a reasonable alternative to the rule of eighteen, try it out on her. How are you really?"

"I'm not going to hurt anyone." I watched the waiter at the next table for a moment, turned my eyes to hers. "I think."

She smiled at me. "It's okay to be angry. It's okay to be frustrated. And it's okay to go on a binge. I'm sure Lori will join you wholeheartedly. A couple more bits. Tracie is in her probationary period for the first year. She can leave any time she wishes and attend college, like she told me you two discussed. She can come back, resume her role as head of a Family, or choose not to. She'll not be the first."

Mom finished her coffee. "Friday is an away game and Lori has volunteered to be available for team members under eighteen. There'll be a motel and Jim will be present in case there's a problem. She'd like you to be her walker."

I was nodding. Jim was a town policeman. He was okay.

"Tracie will be in another room. I'll understand if you say no and Lori will also. She did ask for you. Frank's been a disappointment; he won't be there for Tracie. I'm afraid what was done to Frank wasn't fair to him. More unfair than what was done to you."

"What about Lori?" My voice was soft.

"Ask her Friday if you want. Anytime. He wasn't a good walker. And Lori's steady needs to be a good walker for her."

The frustrating thing was I could see that. Frank was a good guy but he was getting a kick out of sharing Lori and didn't always pay attention. "She loved him."

"Ask her if she still loves Frank and ask yourself if you still love Tracie and you'll see the difference. Ready to walk me?"

I wasn't going to finish the coffee. "Sure."

"Leash me here or in the car?"

"You can be a tease, Mrs. Johnston." I stood.

"Where do you think my daughters get it from?" She left a good tip and joined me.

Read the next two chapters

Walking the Dog Page
Chapters 1 and 2 | Chapters 3 and 4 | Chapters 5 and 6
Chapters 7 and 8 | Chapters 9 and 10 | Chapters 11 and 12
Chapters 13 and 14 | Chapters 15 and 16 | Chapters 17 and 18
Chapter 19

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