Friday night, Munch lay on the studio floor staring up at the ceiling. He had an idea for a drawing, but he couldn't get his pencil to do what his brain envisioned. At her drafting table, Mama had finally settled down long enough to work on an illustration she’d started two months ago. She was a bit fidgety, which meant a certain someone would be calling tonight. Once upon a time, Munch used to listen in on their phone conversations, but he no longer wanted to hear anything they said to each other. In less than six days THAT MAN would be in the house with his Mama again. Time was moving too fast. If there was just some way to skip, or avoid or erase that week when THAT MAN invaded the house. Munch had no idea how it would be or how it would go, he was however very certain that he did NOT want to be there. He let out a long sigh.

Usually Mama would ask him what the matter was, but not tonight. Her entire being was focused on the impending ring of the telephone. Munch rolled over on his stomach and got up. He said, “I think I’ll go for a walk.”

Mama asked, “Kinda dark isn’t it?”

“I'll take my flash light.”

“Okay, but don't be gone long.” Mama was such a worry wart.

Munch went down stairs, grabbed his London Fog overcoat and headed out the back door. In the pocket was his flash light. He flipped it on and made his way passed the chicken coop and stepped into the cow pasture. Under the trees were the large dark forms of the sleeping cows. The beam of the flash light was shining on the ground directly in front of his feet. One never knew when one might step in a soft squishy cow patty. He breathed the night air through his nostrils. It was cold and smelled of damp earth. The stars above where so big and so clear. On nights like tonight he really missed Daddy. Daddy liked to take him for walks at night and show him the stars and tell him their names. Next year he would be able to take astronomy and he planned on doing it. It would bring his dad a little bit closer, at least that is what he hoped.

All the sudden a large shadow came bounding out of the tall grass, Munch was just about to cry out when Bruno, the stupid Pitt Bull, tackled him and smothered him with kisses. Munch hit the ground hard. He felt the squish of a cow pat beneath him. Oh great! Furious he shouted, “Get off of me you stupid dog.”

Aunt Jessie was laughing when she said, “Get off him you big goof!”

The dog considered it a second and then resumed plastering Munch with his sloppy wet kisses. It was disgusting. Aunt Jessie’s shadow loomed over Munch. Her small hands gripped Bruno’s collar and she hauled him off of him. With a touch of giggle still in her voice, she said,“I’m really sorry about that. Are you okay?”

Ruefully, Munch said, “My coat’s not. I got cow poop all over the back of it.”

“Oh, wow, sorry. I will get it cleaned for you. Just come on up to the trailer and I will switch it out with one of Max’s jackets.” The jacket would be too big.

Munch really didn’t want to go to the trailer. The last place he wanted to be was anywhere that damned dog was. “Uh, its okay.”

“No it’s not. I don’t want your mama to have to deal with that. I should have had Bruno on a leash or at least called out a warning to you when I saw your flashlight."

This was true and it miffed Munch that she had done neither. He reached down and picked up his flash light.

Aunt Jessie, like her daughter Mitzi, didn’t take no for an answer when she had other ideas. She said, "Come on. It won't take but a sec."

Reluctantly he said, "Okay.”

As they made their way to the trailer, Aunt Jessie held onto Bruno’s collar. The dog was whining and really wanted to give Munch more kisses. If that dog got loose from her, Munch knew he was done for. He waved the flashlight's beam on the ground searching out cow patties. He didn't want to get anymore cow poop on him than he already had.

They were almost to the trailer when Aunt Jessie asked, “Are you gonna be okay when my brother gets here?”

Munch shrugged.

“Well if being with those love birds gets to be too much, you are welcome to come over her. To be honest seeing them all sappy in love makes me want to barf sometimes."

"Really?"

"Yup. I’ll give you a key to my trailer. You are welcome to come over any time day or night.”

This was a very generous offer. It also felt a little like sabotage. Aunt Jessie was working against Mama’s wishes. It was an action she would not tolerate if Mama did it to her. Munch was torn. Aunt Jessie worked four nights out of seven. When she worked, Max and Mitzi had to stay with Grandma Toady or their dad. Bruno worked the night shift with Aunt Jessie at the Pensky’s Gas Station, so no one would be in the trailer. Maybe he could even sneak out and sleep over there a couple nights, that would help. He just had to get up and leave before Aunt Jessie got home or his mother missed him. Yeah, right like his mom would miss him when THAT MAN was around. He bet she wouldn't even notice he was missing.

On the front porch of the trailer Mitzi stood bundled up in her pink robe, clutching Puccini with all her might. Indignantly she asked her mother, “Why’d you sneak out without me again?”

“I needed a little air.”

“We got a little air here.” Mitzi wrinkled her nose and said, “I smell cow poop.”

Aunt Jessie said, “Yup. Bad Bruno knocked Munch into a wet patty.”

Mitzi giggled and pinched her nose.

Aunt Jessie said, “Come one Mitzi, lets go inside." To Munch she said, “Just leave your coat on the porch.”

Munch took the soiled coat off. He looked at in the porch light. The stinky, sticky stuff covered a large area. If he had paid for full price this coat he would would be furious but it was one of his Good Will finds, so it was okay sort of. Honestly he doubted Aunt Jessie would be able to get that big stain out. He was sure he would never wear the coat again. He tossed it on the porch and went inside.

On the sofa, that looked like it was an island for clean laundry, sat Max. He didn’t even look in Munch’s direction when he entered. So the little baby was still sulking.

Aunt Jessie said, “Here take this.” She pulled Max’s CPO jacket off the hook by the door.

Max growled, “What are you gonna do with that?”

Dramatically, Aunt Jessie said, “Ah, he speaks,”

Max shot her a dirty look.

Mitzi volunteered, “Bruno knocked Munch down into a big cow patty and it squished all over his coat, Mama’s gotta clean it up.”

Max raised his eyebrows, but didn’t say more. He turned his attention back to the episode of Samford and Son that he was watching.

From her purse, Aunt Jessie pulled a spare key and slipped into the pocket of the jacket. She gave the jacket to Munch and said, "Here put this on." He hated these big plaid CPO jackets. They were butt ugly. Still, he put it on, one did not protest when Aunt Jessie issued a command. He said, "Thanks," and headed out the door. He glanced at his house. The studio light was off. Mama must be on the phone, He really wasn’t ready to go home , so he decided to stop by Lolly’s.

There was music playing inside the trailer. It was Elvis Presley singing, “You Ain’t Nothin’ but a Hound Dog.” Munch opened the door and was surprised to see, Lolly, Thahn Ho, Lisa, Grace and another girl, who he suspected was Grace’s little sister, swaying to the music with Grandma Toady.

Grandma Toady called, “Come join us Munch.”

“Sure thing.” He ripped off the ugly jacket and tossed it on the recliner. He glanced in Thahn Ho’s direction. She had stopped swaying and looked embarrassed. She would get over it. Grandma Toady would see to that.

The next song was “Jail House Rock.”

Grace’s little sister could dance. Her body was amazingly fluid as she swung around just like she was Elvis Presley. Thahn Ho loosened up and started dancing too. In no time they were all dancing and working up a sweat. Munch loved dancing. He showed off his moves for Thahn Ho. Grace’s little sister took his hand and they did an impromptu jitter bug. Everyone was laughing when they finished, even Thahn Ho. Fluff, the cat was no where in sight. He must be in hiding. He didn't like crowds or loud noises.

The album ended, Munch said, “Sorry to crash your slumber party, I didn’t know y’all were having one.” None of the girls had mentioned it at school.

Lolly said, “We didn’t know we were having one either, it just sort of happened.”

Grandma Toady said, “Let me get y’all something to drink. I worked up a powerful thrust."

Grace said, “I’ll help.”

Munch and the rest of the girls flopped onto the floor. They were all out of breath. Grace’s little sister said, “I’m Tina, who are you, you wild dancing man?”

“I’m Munch.”

“Nice to meet you.” She gave him a big smile. She looked to be around twelve, maybe thirteen.

“Nice to meet you too.”

Grandma Toady and Grace came in with tall glasses of sweet tea. Grandma Toady made the best sweet tea. Much had a suspicion that once he drank his tea, he was going to be asked to leave. It was their party after all. The only thing he could do to forestall that exit was to drink his tea really slow. So he did, casting covert glances in Thahn Ho’s direction. She looked at him from time to time too.”

The kitchen phone rang. Grandma Toady got up to answer it. She wasnt’ gone long. When she returned, she told Munch, "That was your mama, you got her worried. So you best get on home.”

Munch didn’t care if she was worried. He wanted to stay here with Thahn Ho, but when Grandma Toady said git, one got. He stood up, took his glass to the kitchen put it in the sink. He really did not want to go, but then he realized he just might see Thahn Ho in the morning before she left. That was something to hang on to. He went into the living room, scooped up the coat and bowed to the ladies. When he came out of his bow his eyes lingered ever so briefly on Thahn Ho. Her lips turned into a gentle smile and his heart did a kerthump. He was never going to be able to get to sleep tonight knowing she was so close.