After they thanked us profusely for saving at least a fifty dollar repair bill we went in the kitchen.
"What was that you said about lying earlier?" he said with a smile. When I told him the rest of the story he seemed to get a kick out of it.
That night in bed I couldn't stop thinking about Jan. I gave up on sleep after a while and went to the supply of firewood on the back porch.
I found a likely candidate and returned to my room. After picking a good whittling knife from my collection I sat in front of the fireplace in my room to carve while I gave the situation more thought.
I was attracted to Jan now for the same reasons I was before. She was intelligent, precocious, outgoing and witty.
Funny thing is I didn't remember the fact that she was also pretty. It was the other things that had attracted me.
I knew we would move in a few months and there was no way people as young as us could (or should) have a relationship when they lived thirty miles apart.
I didn't want to hurt her but it seems I had screwed up again. The first time by NOT doing anything and this time by doing what I had wanted to the first time.
What made it worse was the undeniable fact that I was NOT eleven years old mentally and she was. Sure, she was a very bright eleven but there was a gap bigger than the Grand Canyon between her experience and mine.
I liked her, don't get me wrong, but I also felt like shit about what we had done (or more precisely, what I had done). We could never have a relationship and I wondered if I EVER would be able to.
This is one aspect of the "gift" I hadn't anticipated. Maybe I screwed up again after all. I might have doomed myself into another life as a loner without even thinking about it. Oh well, no sense in worrying about it now.
What I needed to do was to get some things done while protecting my secret. One of which was urgent and my new accomplice would be helpful.
I put my work down to make a trip to Al's room. He was still awake doing his homework when I knocked on his door. "What's up?" he asked.
I told him about mom's inevitable surgery and that it would be a lot less painful and require less recuperation if it was done quickly.
We needed to get her to see a certain doctor who would finally find the problem. If we didn't push her in his direction it would be months before she found him. He readily agreed and I went back to my room feeling a lot better.
That didn't mean I was tired though. I was done with my carving before I noticed it was three in the morning. I began to think school was going to be rough before I took a closer look at what I had been doing.
I hadn't really been paying attention to what my hands had been up to, just thinking. The small statue I had carved was the best work I had ever done. There was no doubt in my mind that it was of Loki.
I smiled as I placed it on the mantle. I'd been wondering where I could get a statue for my shrine but hadn't even thought of making one myself. Now if I could find some incense I'd be in business.
When I hit the street the next morning three people were waiting for me and at least two of them seemed disgustingly happy.
Jan was much quieter this morning when I kissed her and seemed a little shy. "I wonder if she's having second thoughts, too" I pondered. I guess I'd find out sooner or later.
I said hi to Mark and Janelle and asked Mark if everything turned out o.k. at the doctor's but was careful not to give any indication of what he went for.
He saw me glance at Janelle and said "She knows, and thanks. My eyes are pretty bad and they did try to force those ugly black glasses on me.
I couldn't get my mom to spring for the wire frames until I told her that it didn't make much sense to buy something that would never leave the house so we probably shouldn't buy any at all. I think she saw the light then.
She even got them to put a rush on them. They'll be ready on Monday. Think we could practice some? Tryouts are Wednesday you know."
I think I was almost as happy as he was when I agreed. School was really difficult. I had to go unbelievably slow to keep from looking too out of place.
I refused to make mistakes on purpose but this didn't cause any suspicion since I had always done well. I learned the lesson about speed the hard way.
We were doing math and of course the problems were 5th grade level. Ten minutes into a half hour assignment I got busted for looking out the window.
"Mister Sussmann! Bring your paper up here." I winced and complied. When Mrs. McAllister saw that not only was every problem complete but correct she eyed me with suspicion. "See me after class. Return to your seat."
I did so, mentally groaning all the way at my stupidity. "She's probably wondering how I've been cheating" I thought.
I hung around as everyone else left. When they were gone she surprised me. "I'm worried about you Matt" she said. "You have always done well but I'm afraid that you're in the wrong class.
You seem to be too advanced for the fifth grade. I'm planning on asking the counselor to arrange for you to be tested.
I believe you should be moved to a level that would challenge your mind and allow you to move at the speed you deserve."
I had liked this teacher before but now I respected her. Most teachers would have accused a student of dishonesty in a case like this. She had actually sensed the problem.
I had to convince her to drop her idea without offending her. "I appreciate the thought Mrs. McAllister but I don't want to skip any grades.
I know what happens to people when they do. The thought of being victimized by high school bullies with twice my size and half of my intelligence doesn't appeal to me.
The school system isn't set up to cope with people like me so I'll move at their pace. I actually prefer it that way. It will give me time to do other things like sports without worrying about studying."
When she persisted I politely interrupted. "I'm sorry but if you insist on placement tests I will make sure I miss the questions that will keep me where I am.
I know which ones they are and can easily do that in a way that will make it seem like I'm just a normal fifth grade student. I don't want to embarrass you by doing that.
I think you believe you're doing the right thing but it's not right for me." She looked at me with new respect I think and told me she would do as I asked.
Jan and I stopped at my house and went straight to my room. When she asked if we could just make out a little because she was still sore I said "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten so carried away yesterday.
We could just talk if you want. Speaking of which, what did Joyce have to say about my brother?"
Jan smiled and said "she's going to call Al today. I told her all about him. You should have seen her face when I told her what he said about her. She was smiling all evening, at least every time I saw her.
I was on the phone almost all night." She saw my raised eyebrows and smiled "you know Kim and Janie, right? At my nod she explained that they had questioned her extensively about me.
She could tell I was worried about what she might have told them I guess because she added "relax, I'd never tell them EVERYTHING. I did tell them you were a fantastic kisser though.
They mostly griped that you were the only guy who ever even talked to us and I got you before they could." I breathed a sigh of relief but didn't even finish before she started again.
"What they said kind of got me thinking about us." She looked very worried before I asked her to say what was on her mind and even more so when she did.
"Matt, please don't take this the wrong way but I think we're too young to be going together. I mean, we're only eleven, you know? I loved doing the things we did together too but..."
I shut her up with a kiss and when we broke apart I was smiling. She looked more relieved by the moment as I told her I thought she was right. I even told her about us possibly moving before too long.
Jan decided to reveal her secret then. She wanted to know if we could have Janie and Kim come over to my house after school and play some games.
I asked what kind of games and she blushed deeper than I thought possible as she shyly said "I thought maybe spin the bottle or post office but strip poker would be my vote."
She looked at the obvious tent in my jeans and cracked up. "I think you like that idea", she quipped. I agreed that I did and agreed she could ask them to come over tomorrow.