| Time for a Story |
This story first appeared in our writing group’s third anthology, A Little Off the Page
Bennett and Kingsleigh
..sometimes the younger you are, the more you know about love.
Installment 2
Next day Michelle stopped by Doug’s hardware store. He nodded hello when she entered with Kingsleigh and Kevin in tow.
Kingsleigh peered up and down the aisles. “There’s Bennett. I’m gonna go talk with him, okay?”
“Sure. Don’t distract him if he’s doing chores. DeeDee told me Doug is teaching him about the store.”
“Okay!” Kingsleigh threw over her shoulder. She hopped on one foot over to Bennett and started a conversation about school.
Michelle watched them for a minute, noting after the conversation with DeeDee that he was only a few inches taller than Kingsleigh, but he certainly wasn’t small. She shook off the observation and turned to her shopping. She needed paint for the closet next to Kingsleigh’s room, something on sale; no one really looked at closet walls. The paint section had its own register located strategically near the stock room door, which also led to the office area. Doug had ducked back there after finishing with his customer, and now Michelle saw Kevin step through the door with a determined expression on his face, his hand raised as if to knock.
Must be going to see about a job. They’d discussed summer or part-time employment for Kevin this week. Michelle had warned him it wasn’t too common for fourteen-year-olds to be hired, but he had the idea maybe Mr. Kussler might be willing to hire him for a few hours a week.
She narrowed her paint selection down to two color choices. Then she discovered there wasn’t enough of either color to do the job. Of course, she could ask Doug to mix her more, but then she’d have to pay regular price. She closed her eyes, trying to picture what it would look like if she mixed a paint labeled ‘Silver Wings’ with the other one on sale, ‘Raging Plum’. She’d almost talked herself into trying it when Kevin blew by her, his face set and his arms swinging in time to his legs.
Uh-oh. Her instinct was to go after him, but she knew it was futile until he calmed down. He’d come to her when he was ready.
Doug came out from the back and stopped by the paint counter. He tapped on the Formica surface, a little red in the face, not meeting her eyes. Instead he watched the entrance door swing shut, rattling the old-fashioned bell. Trouble was, it was signaling Kevin’s exit, not heralding a fresh customer’s entrance.
“Hey, uh, listen, Michelle. I— I had to tell Kevin no dice. They won’t let us hire anybody under sixteen. I tried to explain, but he didn’t hang around to hear it.”
Michelle nodded. “I get it, Doug. I warned him that might happen. He’ll be okay.”
Doug’s expression brightened. “Well, that’s good. Hey, need paint? What can I get you?”
“I’m thinking about taking these two. I’ve got a closet that needs painting. Thought I’d mix them together to be sure I’ll have enough.”
Doug scratched an ear. “You don’t want to do that, Michelle. They’re different brands and all. Let me mix you up a custom blend—”
Michelle shook her head. “No, don’t go to all that trouble. I know they’re different brands, but I checked. They’re both latex and have a glossy finish. I prefer that in a closet. Hangers bang around and scuff the walls, you know?”
“I hate to see you settle for the color that’s gonna make. You sure you don’t want another paint? Is it the price? I can make you a deal that’s—” He glanced down at the stickers “almost this good. Things are tough with Cam gone. I get it.”
Michelle felt herself bristling. Her circumstances were none of his business, and his assumptions were all wrong at that. “I’ve already pictured how this is going to turn out. That’s the paint I want, Doug.” She added, “Thanks.”
His face brightened. “No problem.” He swung the two gallons up onto the counter. “Here they are. What else can I help you find?”
“Oh, nothing yet. I need to poke around some. There’s some chisels I need to replace for Dad; I want to pick those out special. And I need a new hammer— but I need to size it. So, I’ll just find everything . . . .” She turned away.
Doug laid a hand on her arm.
“Hey, Michelle. Is everything all right for you? Does Kevin— do you need for him to have a job? Maybe I can—”
Michelle shook her head. “No, Doug. Everything’s fine. Kevin is just at that age where he’s trying to be a grown-up. I want him to have a job only if he wants it. We’re fine.”
Kingsleigh came up behind her mother and stood listening, waiting for her turn to speak.
Doug blushed again. “Oh, well, if things are okay . . . ,Hey, what about football? I mentioned it to Kevin, but he told me he wasn’t interested. I mean, what boy isn’t interested in football? He’d make some new friends and the Junior Bantam coach is a great guy. Good role model for Kevin now that— well, now that there’s not a man around the house. It’s good discipline too.”
Michelle executed a mental eye roll. How on earth did DeeDee live with this?
“Look, Doug, I know you mean well, but I really don’t need any help right now. Cam and I worked out how to raise our children a long time ago. He provided well for us. I don’t need any interference from—”
“Interference? Well, pardon me for trying to be helpful. Jeez, you think you know it all, don’t you? I should think you’d welcome my help—getting Kevin on the team, maybe finding someone who could hire him for something, but no. Hey, you want to do it on your own?” He stood back to catch his breath. “You see how that works out!”
“Doug, this isn’t—” Michelle began.
“Mr. Kussler? I think I know why Kevin doesn’t want to play football with you, Mr. Kussler,” offered Kingsleigh.
“Oh, you do, do you?” Doug’s expression, barely under control, was skeptical at best.
“Yes. He’s probably afraid he’ll hurt his hands. He plays piano, you know.”
“Piano! He plays piano!” Doug stomped in a circle, hands on hips and shaking his head.
Kingsleigh’s eyes went wide.
“What kind of boy plays piano? I mean, music is all well and good, but – why not guitar! Join a band! Get real.” He turned to Michelle, barking his words like a dog barking up a slender tree. “You can’t make friends playing piano! Where’s he going to learn teamwork? You gonna put ten guys on the piano bench with him? C’mon, Michelle. Cam would’ve wanted better than this for his son.”
“My dad played the piano, Mr. Kussler.” Kingsleigh’s lip trembled as she spoke. “He was Kevin’s first teacher just like he was my first skating coach. He’d be glad we’re still doing things he taught us. Like—like being polite to people even if they make us mad!” Kingsleigh turned and stomped down the electrical aisle to the front door, swiping at her eyes with her forearm.
Michelle drew breath to say something—she didn’t know what—to placate Doug. She hated doing what she criticized DeeDee for, but she also didn’t want to be in a bad relationship with Bennett’s parents. I don’t want to be in any relationship with them, she told herself. I can’t deal with the intricacies of someone else’s family life.
But Doug beat her to the punch. “You can have Jared ring you up when you’re done making your ‘special choices.’ I won’t pester Kevin again. Probably wouldn’t know which way to run on the field anyway. But Bennett is going to be playing football. I’m setting up some informal practices for him next week. So,” he jerked his head in the direction of the aisle Kingsleigh had taken. “You folks won’t be seeing much of Bennett—or DeeDee—anymore. We wouldn’t want to interfere.” He sneered the last word at her and strode back to his office.
Michelle heaved a big sigh and reached for the paint cans. A small figure hurtled down the aisle toward her and flung itself at her waist. Sobs shook Kingsleigh’s shoulders.
“Mom! Mom! I could hear him all the way up front! Please, please don’t let him keep Bennett away. Please, I’ll apologize, anything! I can’t not see Bennett! I can’t!” Kingsleigh’s eyes were welling up. The catch in her voice tugged at Michelle’s heart.
Just then Doug came back to the register. He opened it, scanned the cash inside, then closed it with a sharp push. He studied Michelle and Kingsleigh. Michelle held Kingsleigh close in case she attempted to confront Doug again.
“Should’ve done this a long time ago. Judging from that little scene, you’re a worse influence on Bennett than I would’ve thought.” Then he addressed Kingsleigh directly. “You’ll have to figure on just seeing Bennett at school, young lady. He’s going to be much too busy to spend time with little girls like you.” Then he turned and walked up to the front of the store to consult with Jared at the front counter.
Michelle considered her options. Only one seemed viable.
She squatted down beside her daughter. “Remember how we learned not to cry in front of people when Daddy died?”
Kingsleigh nodded a tearstained face.
“Okay. We’re going to do that now. Dry your face, here.” She pulled a scrap of tissue from her pocket. “Okay. No tears. You don’t have to say anything. Just come with me.”
Leaving the paint cans where they sat, she took Kingsleigh by the hand and headed up the third aisle over. She smiled at a frightened-looking Bennett and told him in a cheery voice, “Have a nice day, Bennett. We’ll see you Monday, just like usual.”
Bennett’s expression changed to one of puzzlement, but Michelle and Kingsleigh moved on. Michelle stepped up to the counter and, ignoring Doug’s presence entirely, spoke to Jared.
“Jared, I recall my father has a standing order for some woodworking supplies—I think it’s that special Danish oil you carry and some of the glues and brushes?” Her hand squeezed Kingsleigh’s. Kingsleigh stared straight ahead out the plate glass window.
Jared checked an order book in the drawer. “We order a couple stains from Europe for him too. ‘Bout every six months. Do you need me to order some now, Mrs. Barnes?” He reached for a scratch pad. “I can put these in at the end of the day.”
Michelle shook her head and smiled. “No. Thank you. Cancel the orders for me, Jared.”
From the corner of her eye Michelle saw Doug start just as Jared said, “You sure, Mrs. Barnes?”
She nodded firmly. “I’m sure, Jared. We don’t need those anymore.” She paused just long enough to see Doug’s shoulders relax a little. “I’ve heard good things about that new Lumber Box company that opened up over on the state road. We’re going to try them out.” With another squeeze of their hands, Michelle and Kingsleigh left the building.