The crisp poplin fabric was smooth beneath Munch’s fingers. His scissors followed the line of the pattern he had made. He was cutting out a vest to wear to the Art Club’s visit to the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. On that day he wanted to look good. Real good. The field trip was in ten more days. He was counting down not just the days but the hours. On that day he and Thahn ho would be on a field trip all day together. He figured that since they sat at the same table in art it would only make sense that they would share a seat on the bus, and eat together at Herman Park. It was something he was really looking forward to. He couldn’t wait to travel the hallowed floors of the museum with her. He would get to see his favorite painting, The Herd Boy by Frederic Remington. He wondered what Thahn Ho’s favorite art work would be.

Down stairs he heard a knock on the back door and then Lolly called out, “Hey Estelle. Munch here?”

Mama said, “He’s in the studio.”

Lolly came upstairs. She had Fluff in her arms. The fat cat leapt down and went straight to what he believed was HIS bed. Lolly said, “I just got off the phone with Thahn Ho.”

Looking up from the fabric Munch asked, “What? Why didn’t you tell me you were calling her?”

Lolly raised her eyebrows at him. “Uh, she’s my friend too ya know. Besides, she called me.”

“Oh. You didn’t tell her about the boar did you?”

“Why are you embarrassed you got chased up a tree by a pig?”

He frowned at her. “Did you just come over here to harass me?”

“Yup.”

“Why?”

She grinned and said, “Because its so easy.”

“Shut up!” He turned his attention back to his cutting.

Lolly asked, “What are you making?”

“A vest.”

“Nice.” She made this weird noise in her throat and then said, “Thahn Ho’s gonna think you are so hot in that.”

Secretly pleased but unwilling to show it, Munch put his scissors down and said, “You know, I really don’t have time for this.”

“Ya don’t. Mmm.” A spark of mischief came into her eyes. She asked, “Do you have time for a message from Thahn Ho?”

Obviously, but he wasn’t about to show it. He asked,”Lolly why you playin’ with my head?”

She sat down on her bed beside Fluff and said again, “Because its so easy.”

For a moment, Munch was perturbed and then he realized, this was the happiest Lolly had been in a while. All the drama with Trevor and his family had taken the spark right out of her, but it was back. Something good must have happened. He asked, “Are you gonna tell me the message or what?”

“What.”

“You are being way too cute! Stop it.”

She giggled. When was the last time he had heard her giggle. She teased, “You should see your face right now. You look like a grumpy old bear.”

“I am not playing this game.” He turned his attention back to his cutting.

“Okay, she wanted you to know she won’t be at church tomorrow. Some friends of her parents are having their baby christened and they will be in Houston all day.”

Munch’s heart fell. He was really looking forward to seeing her in church. Monday seemed even farther away.

Lolly began to swing her legs back and forth on the edge of the bed. She added, “Oh, I almost forgot, she also told me she is going to try to call you between 1:00 and 2:00 tomorrow.”

“You did not almost forget that.”

“Nope, I didn’t.” Lolly smiled and stood.

Munch asked, “What are you so happy about?”

“I am happy because, Trevor’s dad came home from the hospital this morning and they aren’t moving.” Lolly was positively beaming.

“What about his mom?”

She frowned a little at that question. “Amber seems to think its only a matter of time before their mom leaves their dad. But, I’m not going to dwell on that.” She turned to Fluff and said, “Time to go home.”

The cat hissed at her. Munch had never seen him hiss before.

Lolly feigned dismay, well maybe it was real. She said, “Okay, Mr. Man, you can stay.”

Just what Munch need, more cat hair. He said, “No he can’t.”

“Well, then you pick him up. I dare you.”

The look in Fluff’s eyes was sinister. He was NOT ready to leave what he considered HIS bed. Munch said, “I guess I will let him stay.”

Lolly tried again, “Come on Fluff. I will give you some tuna when we get home.”

Fluff didn’t budge and he gave her a dirty look.

Lolly threw up her hands in surrender. “He’s staying and I don’t blame him.”

Munch asked, “Why?”

With a roll of her eyes, Lolly told him, “Mitzi has been singing Verdi’s Rigoletto all afternoon.”

“Yikes, that sounds awful.”

“Oh, it is.”

*

Since Thahn Ho wasn’t at Mass, Munch wasn’t either. Mama had taken Mitzi to late Mass with her. The house was all his. This happened so rarely these days. The sewing machine hummed as he put the final touches on the vest. The lines of it were sharp and the rust brown color matched his eyes. He glanced at the clock Mama had on her drafting table. It was 12:30 p.m. He finished his last stitch, turned off his machine and went downstairs. There was no way he was going to miss this call. He took a seat at the kitchen table to wait.

It was amazing how slow a clock could go when one watched it. Even though he was doing some baste work on a pair of pants, sewing by hand never made time go faster. Too soon Mama returned from church. He heard her park the little red Volkswagen. The doors slammed. Mama was headed over to Grandma Toady’s. He sent up a desperate prayer that Thahn Ho would hurry up and call him. Mama could be so nosy.

Maybe it was just a coincidence and maybe it wasn’t, but the phone actually rang. He leapt up so fast to answer it that he almost knocked his chair over. He grabbed the phone. White stuff seemed to drift across his brain. His voice broke, when he said, “Hello.”

The sweet voice of Thahn Ho whispered, “Michael.”

“Yeah, where are you?”

“I’m in a closet. The phone cord just reaches.”

There was something kind of sexy about talking to a girl who was hiding in the closet. He asked, “So hows the party?”

“The foods good. Le is having a blast. I am the oldest kid here. So I’m having so much fun.”

Her sarcasm tickled him. Also it was good to know there were no boys her age there. He didn’t know how long she would be able to talk to him so he got right to the point, “Uhm, Mama told me you’re taking Driver’s Ed. What period do you have it?”

“Second period. Are you in my class?”

“I hope to be. I’m signing up tomorrow.”

With relief in her voice she said, “I am so glad. I’m afraid of driving. I can’t figure out why everyone wants to drive.”

He felt the same way, but he didn’t say so. Instead he said, “You will do fine. I will be cheering you on.” God, that sounded so lame, but it was true.

“Thanks Michael. Have you ever driven before? I haven’t.”

For a moment Munch felt foolish. Every guy he knew including Max had driven a car before. He never had. Still, he admitted, “Me either.” He hoped she didn’t think he was dumb or scared. Well, he was scared.

“Oh, that makes me feel so much better. I hope we get the same instructor and the same car. I am terrified of driving in front of other people and possibly killing them.”

This struck Munch as funny. He laughed and said, “That’s not going to happen.”

“I hope not.”

There was a rustling sound and then he heard some once call out her name. It sounded like her mom.

Thahn Ho said, “Shoot. I gotta go. It sure was nice talking to you.”

“You too, see you tomorrow.”

“Bye.” The phone clicked.

For several seconds he just held the phone in his hand. He hadn’t gotten to tell her about the boar or anything. Dammit. Just his luck. Still there was tomorrow. He felt another goofy grin slide across his face.