“What’s he up to” Shelia said softy to herself.

     “Who?”

     “Huh?” waking up from her slight stupor turning toward her husband, Alex. 

     After 20 years of marriage Alex knew better than to ask questions of her when she had that look of confused amazement on her face. She may hear – sort of – but nothing really registered. 

     “Who are you talking about” he asked. 

     Shelia stood there peering down the hall spying on her son, Russell. 

     “Huh – Oh,  Rus ---  he’s back and forth from the bathroom to his room and the laundry . . . “ she said with the rising intonation that her whole family hated and that drove them all crazy. 

     “Stop spying on the kid and leave him alone” Alex coerced. His wife was a great Mom – as long as she remembered when to back off and when to . . . 

     “Are you OK, Rus?” Sheila yelled out. 

     “Yessss“ came the muffled you’re cramping my style reply from behind his closed door. 

     “Are you sure?” Shelia said in that disbelief and skeptical tone in her voice only Moms have.

     “Everything is cool – leave me alone!” 

Alex headed out to the garage to put his clubs in the trunk. He

 and the guys had an 11AM tee-off. As he came back in he passed Russell and noticed the spicy smell of the after-shave he said his older son could borrow. He smiled. His eyes rose to the ceiling. He just shook his head.

     “Russell! What in the world are you up to?” Sheila demanded seeing her son with a clean shirt and pants on and wearing new sneakers. 

     “Nothing. I’ll see ya latter,” he said hurriedly heading out the door. He hung a right at the end of the walkway, looking back to make sure no one followed him. 

     “Alex, what do you suppose he’s up to?” She stared down her husband. 

     “And I don’t appreciate no support from you when …” 

     “Cool your jets, hon . . . ” he said interrupting her. 

     A slight smile came to Alex’s face. Memory Book page 76 opened. 

     6^th grade. Schoolyard. Swings. Cindy Shepard. Orange Crush. Another type of crush. Pants torn -- in the wrong place. 

Total Embarrassment!!

     “Relax. Its no big deal” he said pausing a moment. 

     “What do . . “ his wife tried to chirp in . . . 

     “The kid’s got himself a girlfriend.

  

End