After the door was shut, Roxanne smiled at Arnold.
“So…Mummy and Daddy’s little pumpkin has matured into a man,” she observed and added, “Is that Giovanni character your girlfriend?”
“That’s my business. The party is over, so you have nothing on me now. I don’t pry in your relationship with Charlie…,” he started.
“There’s nothing going on between us,” Roxanne cut.
“Yeah, right. So that lift he gave us and his paying for my items don’t mean anything?” Arnold asked, but before she could counter, he added, “You know what? I don’t know and frankly I don’t care. That’s your business. As I was saying, I don’t pry in your relationships, so don’t pry in mine.” Roxanne lifted her hands in surrender.
“Whatever. But from me to you, girls are tricky, so watch your back,” she said, then looked around at the living room and added, “This place is a mess. You know what to do, before Mom and Dad get back,” then took a piece of cake and went upstairs to her room. Arnold sighed, then looked around at the confetti.
They would really come in handy when, he thought, he and Rebecca were locked in each other’s arms kissing passionately. He pictured the glorious sight, with the confetti coming down gently upon them.
“One step at a time,” he said to himself, then hummed a tune as he cleaned up. It took a while but he finally finished. Afterwards, he went and had a shower then changed into a T-shirt and cargo pants. The doorbell rang. He whistled as he went to get the door. It was his parents.
“Mom, Dad, hi!” He said happily as he hugged them both.
“Hey Pumpkin. How was the party?” Mrs. Simmons asked as she hugged him.
“Great! I invited Erick, Duncan, and James over just like the other day and we studied and partied,” he lied.
She kissed him on both cheeks and said, “Good boy,” then got in. Mr. Simmons interacted with his son next.
“Hi son,”
“Hey Dad,” they exchanged while shaking hands, then Mr. Simmons winked at him and got in. Roxanne came down.
“Hey Mom, hey Dad, how was the massage parlor?” She asked as she hugged them both.
“Grand, as usual. Too bad you kids never want to join us,” Mr. Simmons said. Mrs. Simmons nodded her agreement.
“We’re still young and vibrant. We don’t need massages,” Arnold said.
“Yeah,” Roxanne agreed, then went to prepare supper as she always did on Saturdays. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons went to freshen up, and Arnold went and watched TV as he waited for supper.
When it was finally set, he helped in setting the table. He was hungry. Although he had a party, he didn’t eat anything solid. He survived on cola only. Roxanne, on the other hand, was full since she had eaten plenty of cakes. They were her main weakness. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons came down for supper.
“This looks good, Roxy,” Mrs. Simmons said as she took her seat. Mr. Simmons was too hungry to talk.
“Thanks. You’ll enjoy it,” Roxanne replied, and served her mother.
She served everyone else, then herself last. Arnold and his father chomped down their meals without a word, Mrs. Simmons ate reflectively at a calm pace, and Roxanne ate hesitantly, poking her food with her fork. Her mother noticed this.
“What’s the matter, Roxy?” She asked.
“I’m not hungry. I guess I had too much to eat at the party,” Roxanne replied, and stopped eating.
“Too bad. All this food going to waste?” Arnold teased, then added himself some more.
“Looks like the party rocked,” Mr. Simmons observed as he dabbed the corners of his mouth with a napkin.
“Not much. It was mainly…,” Roxanne started.
“Studying and partying,” Arnold put in, before his sister contradicted his previous description.
“Yeah,” Roxanne agreed hesitantly. Mr. Simmons nodded.
“My Arnold is a good boy,” Mrs. Simmons said with a smile, then ate the last of her food. Arnold nodded proudly. Roxanne rolled her eyes.
“That was wonderful, sweetheart. Thanks,” Mr. Simmons said to her, and got up. She nodded with a smile. “It has been a tiring day. I’m going to bed. Coming, dear?” Mr. Simmons asked his wife. She held his hand, got up, then hugged Roxanne.
“Good night, honey. Thumbs up for the meal,” she complimented as she hugged her.
“Thanks, Mum. Slept tight,” Roxanne replied enthusiastically. Afterwards, Mrs. Simmons kissed Arnold on both cheeks. Mr. Simmons sighed. Mrs. Simmons ignored him.
“Good night, Pumpkin,” she whispered lovingly to her son.
“Same here, Mom,” he replied.
“Good night kids,” Mr. Simmons said to his children after he wrapped his arm around his wife’s shoulder as they went.
“Good night, Dad,” they said in unison, and watched their parents disappear to their room. After they had left, Roxanne turned to her brother with a mocking smile.
“I’m going to bed,” he said, then stood up. Roxanne imitated the kissing sounds made as he was being kissed by their mother, then mimicked her: “Good night, Pumpkin.”
“Shut up,” Arnold said moodily and went to his room, leaving his sister laughing heartily. She cleared the table then went to bed. The day to her was fun.
Carla and Jack Al had gone for lunch at a diner that wasn’t all that, but was preferable in hygiene compared to Pleasure Treasure.
It had wide, comfortable couches that curved out around the polished, black tables. They could accommodate at least ten people each. It had a marbled floor, and each table had several menus. Its waiters and waitresses were clad in exorbitant-looking black suits—pants for men and skirts for women—and bow ties. Its name was Bon Cuisine.
Jack Al smiled as he and Carla took a seat at a table they had selected.
“Your workplace could borrow a few leaves from here, don’t you think?” He mocked her as they scrutinized the menus. She ignored him. They had finally ordered after initially having trouble deciding what to pick. The foods listed all sounded classy, delicious, and superb.
Once their orders arrived and after Carla uttered “merci beaucoup” to the waiter who had served them, Jack Al began eating immediately. Carla watched him eating and giggled as he tore the flesh off the sheep’s leg he had ordered ferociously. She was in the mood for a conversation but clearly he wasn’t, forcing her to eat in silence while occasionally watching him.
It was only after the meal that he gazed at her while he wiped his mouth. She finished her food, and paid the waiter who had served them when he came again with the check. He was puzzled. He was used to being paid by the man in the couple for the meals ordered. A steely gaze from Jack Al made him retreat with their empty dishes.
“Let’s go?” Carla suggested to Jack Al after grabbing her purse. He nodded, and they left the diner together. Carla studied his face. He looked moody and grouchy as usual. “So where next?” She finally asked as they walked.
“Your place,” he murmured. She beamed and wanted to hold his hand, but refrained. He had a loose and unpredictable temper, and it was that that pulled her to him.
After a long, silent stroll, they finally arrived at Carla’s place. It was a simple apartment with four rooms: A bathroom cum toilet, a bedroom, a dining room that was combined with a kitchen, and a living room.
“Make yourself at home,” she said to Jack Al after they got into the living room, then went off to her bedroom to change.
Jack Al took off his sweater and sprawled onto one of the fur-coated seats in the living room and looked around. There was a radio on a stool at one of the corners of the room.
“I’ve always been a radio girl,” said a voice behind him. He turned to its source. It was Carla, when she walked in and found him eyeing it. She had changed into a vest and tracksuit bottoms. “What will you have?” She asked.
“Nothing. I’m fine,” Jack Al replied.
“Alright,” she said with a slight shrug, then joined him where he sat. He cleared his throat and looked into her eyes.
“Carla, I have something to ask you,” he said. She faced him. “I need to go to the East Side to tend to some business, but I’m broke,” he explained. She rubbed her chin thoughtfully and stood up, then faced away.
“The East Side? That’s miles away from here,” she replied, while maintaining her position.
He looked at her hair then replied, “That’s why I need the cash. Please help me.”
“I will help you,” she declared, then turned to him and added, “I will help you Jack, and do you know why? Because I love and care for you,” and once again joined him on the seat. He held her hands.