“Oh, of course.” Gretchen wrinkled her nose as if that was supposed to mean anything to her. “What was hers?”
“Jezebel!”
“Hey, I know that one. Don’t worry. I love a good Jezebel.”
Once again, she had taken Thelma aback. Yet, this time, it was with a slight nod and a flirtatious tone that implied Thelma was welcome to flirt back.Dare I?She hadn’t opened flirtations with a woman since Sandy first tried to kiss her back in college.I was so nervous. So naïve.Thelma was the type of girl who wanted to try anything and everything—within reason. And sex with a woman as pretty, soft, and tender as Sandy was definitelywithinreason.But she had pushed Sandy away the first time the other girl tried something.Sandy was so afraid of me afterward that I had to go out of my way to find her.And flirt with her. To make her intentions clear once the initial shock of being attracted to another woman wore off.
She didn’t want to make that mistake again. Especially with someone who had become one of her first friends in this new world, who knewnothingabout her.
So, maybe she shouldn’t flirt right now. She might do it wrong. She might accidentally offend the attractive neighbor who had invited Thelma into her home.
Headlights flashed in the living room window. Thelma immediately got up, announcing, “That must be Robbie. He said he was out late tonight.”
“Oh.” Gretchen slowly got up as well. “Are you on curfew or something?”
“Huh? Of course not. I just don’t have a phone thing, you know. He might worry about me if I’m not home yet.”
“You don’t have a phone?”
“Is that weird?”
“What part of California are you from, again? Central-East?”
Thelma thanked her for the tea and, grabbing her purse, headed outside to intercept her son in the driveway. Robbie fiddled with his keys by his SUV and looked up to see Thelma coming from the neighbor’s.
“Welcome home,” she said. “Did you have a nice time tonight with your friends?”
Robbie looked between her and the other woman also coming out of the same house. “Hey, Rob,” Gretchen said, staying by the gate between their properties.
With the sour smell of beer on his breath, Robbie dropped his keys on the cement and shocked Thelma by raising his voice in Gretchen’s direction.
“What were you doing with her?”
While Thelma was left speechless, Gretchen took a step back from the gate.
“We were justtalking,Rob! You know? That shit neighbors do? Or have you forgotten all those cookouts you did with my parents?”
“You stay away from her! I know what you are!”
As Gretchen’s visage twisted in disgust, Thelma finally stepped in. “What’s going on?” She slapped a hand on her son’s chest, willing to put her body between him and Gretchen. “What do you mean you know what she is?”
“He means I’m a queer!”
“The whole damn neighborhood can hear you!” Robbie shouted.
“Yeah, they can hear you, too, old bastard!”
“Both of you stop it right now!” Instantly, Thelma was transported back two months—only instead of two small children fighting over toys and pulling each other’s hair, it was an elderly man and the younger neighbor who was probably strong enough to fight him one-on-one.I think not!Thelma was tired of childish fighting and how much immaturity had followed her into the future. “Do you know how late it is?” she asked them both. “Let’s everyone get inside and to bed. This is ridiculous.”
Although Robbie stayed back, he shook a hand in Gretchen’s direction, the whole strength of his body surging against his mother’s arm. “You don’t know anything about her! She doesn’t need your alternative influence! And neither does my daughter!” More sour beer odors poured from his lips. It was all Thelma could do to keep Robbie from falling over.Did he drive like this?Was this even her son? “I should haveneverlet you babysit her!”
“Queer women exist, Rob! Get over it! I’m not some fucking boogeyman!”
Grunting, Robbie pulled himself away from Thelma and marched toward his own house. “Stay away from them!”
After watching him double-back to grab his keys off the driveway and unsteadily unlock his front door, Thelma swung her head back toward Gretchen, who looked at her with pity.
“I’m sorry,” Thelma whispered, knowing that the neighbor couldn’t hear her. She then chased after Robbie, purse smacking against her side and shoes slapping against the concrete.
