Poison -9- by Melanie Brown

Copyright © 2024

Part 9

“Go clean your room and then help me with dinner.”

“My room’s clean enough,” I whined. “We’re just doing math.”

Mom frowned at me. “I checked your room when we got home. I saw one of your panties on the floor, and your bed wasn’t made. And that was just from a thirty-second inspection.”

Scowling, I said, “I saw worse in Zach’s room. His underwear is all over the floor!”

From his position on the couch watching TV, Zach said, “The maid will pick it up.”

Frowning at Zach, I said, “We don’t have a maid.”

Not turning his attention from the TV, Zach said, “We have you.”

“Moooom!” I whined.

Mom came out of the kitchen and turned the TV off. “Zach, go pick up your room. Your little sister is not your maid. And neither am I. Scoot.”

As Zach got up from the couch, he turned to Corey. “You’re right. She is poison.”

Mom said, “Go clean your room too, Corey.”

Corey scowled at me. “Why? Her boyfriend isn’t going to come into my room.”

I folded my arms. “He’s not my boyfriend!”

From the kitchen, Mom shouted, “Go pick up your room, Diane! I need you to help                  in the kitchen.”

I scowled at Mom. “Why can’t the boys help in the kitchen?”

“Go!”

I sighed heavily and walked slowly into my newly appointed room. The offending panty was easy to find. I picked it up and stared at it. “One panty. Oh, the humanity!”

As I dropped it in the dirty clothes hamper, I knew Mom would make the case that you don’t want boys to see your panties on the floor. Or on the bed. I quickly made my bed, thinking how I doubted Gene would care what my room looked like. I haven’t even had a chance to decorate it.

How would I decorate it anyway?

I walked into the kitchen and announced, “Okay, Mom. I’m done.”

Mom handed me a large bowl. “Could you make the salad?”

I held the bowl up. “That’s it?”

Mom just smiled at me. “I just want you to get used to helping out in the kitchen.”

                    *

I was in my room changing into shorts and my Dirty Pair t-shirt. It’s actually Zach’s, but he can’t wear it anymore. I jumped when the doorbell rang. It had to be Gene. Why did that excite me? Nothing exciting about Algebra.

“Diane!” called out Mom. “You have a guest.”

Tugging my t-shirt down, I walked out of my room. I saw Gene and smiled. “Hey, Gene! Ready to learn some math?”

Grinning, Gene looked at Mom and said, “Hello, Mrs. Williams. Oh! There she is. I was just going to ask if Diane was home.”

Zach looked up from the TV and ran toward the front door, shouting, “The Rock! My man! Mom. This guy was voted MVP of the Horned Frogs this year.” He held out his hand for Gene to shake. He continued gushing, “Wow. The Rock. The Rangers are looking forward to some of that Rock magic in the fall.”

Gene shook Zach’s hand. “That’s why I’m here. Diane’s going to help me get through this stupid Algebra test.” He pointed at Zach and said, “Oh and too bad about that fumble.”

Zach frowned. “Yeah. Cost us going to state.”

I folded my arms. “Well, Gene. Are you going to talk shop all night, or do you want to pass that test?”

“Let’s do it.” Gene slapped Zach’s shoulder. “See ya ‘round.”

“My room’s right over here,” I said while pointing. I closed the door after Gene entered my room. “Take a seat at the computer, and we’ll get started.” I pointed at the chair.

Ten seconds later, my door opened and Mom said, “This door stays open.”

“Mooom!” I whined. I wanted our math session to be somewhat private.

Gene chuckled. “No problem. My parents do the same thing to my sister.”

“That’s so annoying!” I exclaimed. “We’re just doing math. Let’s get started. Show me the problems you’re having trouble with.” I sat in my other chair and scooted up closer to Gene.

Gene opened his device to a page filled with problems similar to what would be on the test. “I just can’t figure out how to do these. They make no sense to me.”

I smiled. “I know it’s annoying to say these are easy problems when they’re not easy for you. But really, they are. So watch. I’ll work this first one slowly and show you how it’s done.” I worked the problem, showing him exactly what to do. “Now you try the next one.”

Gene started off well, and then he, well, to use a term he’d understand, he fumbled. I pointed out where he made his mistake. He went on to complete the problem. Then he worked the next problem successfully on his own.

We high-fived, and I giggled. “See? That wasn’t hard. Now let’s try some harder ones.”

We went back and forth for the next two hours. Some things were easy for him, and some he just couldn’t get. He eventually would.

About an hour into it, Mom came in with a plate of homemade chocolate chip cookies and a glass each of milk. Milk. As if we were five-year-olds. Well, it’s not like she was going to bring in a couple of beers.

“What are you thinking about?” asked Gene when I’d taken a long pause looking at my glass of milk.

“Oh, nothing. Sorry.” Actually, I was just thinking that it’d been weeks since my last beer. Of course, I’m not going to tell Gene that. I need to check the fridge.

“I like your Mom,” said Gene matter-of-factly. “She knew just when to bring in a snack. I was really starting to fade.”

I smiled after taking a drink of my really ice-cold milk. “Yeah. I’ll probably keep her.”

Swallowing a bit of his cookie, Gene said, “Good idea.”

“I’m getting a bit tired, too,” I said after I drained what was left of my milk. “Let’s hit it for another half hour and then call it a night”

Gene grinned. “You’re the boss.”

I laughed.

“How did it go?” asked Mom after I closed the door behind Gene.

“I think he’s getting it,” I said sincerely. “There’re some advanced problems that we’ll hit tomorrow night. I think he’s going to pass with flying colors.”

                    *

“Does Mom know you breeze through stop signs?”

“Is someone going to tell her?” asked Zach. Corey glared at me from his ‘shotgun’ position. Zach was taking Corey and I to school.

“Maybe.”

“Give me a break, Diane!” exclaimed Zach. “Mom just recently let me have my license back! In fact, I told her that we’d still have our dad if I’d been able to drive myself up to the University for the tour.”

I folded my arms. “I wanted to go with you.”

Zach drove his car up to the curve. “Well, as Dad would say, that’s all water under the bridge. See ya this afternoon. Hop out.”

With a chirp of tires, Zach peeled away from the curb. I guess I’m going to be more poison as I’m definitely telling Mom about Zach’s wild driving. Does that make me a tattletale or just the more reasoned little sister? Or both? I’m still pissed from Mom telling me last night that she’d thrown all my beers out.

As I approached the school entrance, Karen came trotting up beside me. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

“Johnny told me that the Rock was pretty psyched about the math help you gave him last night. He thinks he has a chance at passing now,” said Karen with a grin.

I nodded. “We’re having another review tonight. If he can remember what he learned, he’ll have it in the bag.”

“That’s good. I heard the Ranger’s coach is pissed that Ms Snodgrass refuses to let the Rock have yet another chance,” smirked Karen.

“He won’t need it.”

                    *

As I exited the lunch line with what was labeled “Salisbury Steak” and tater tots, Gene rapidly approached me with a huge grin. He took the lunch tray from my grasp and then took my hand.

“Come with me for a second,” he said, then led me to a table where many of what appeared to be football players were sitting. Still holding my hand, he set my tray down. “Guys. I want you to meet someone. This is Diane. She’s my little angel that’s going to get me through my algebra test.”

Embarrassed all to hell, I laughed nervously. “Well, let’s not count our quadratic equations until they hatch. You still have to actually pass the test.”

“Go ahead and sit down. I’m confident I’ll pass thanks to you,” exclaimed Gene.

One of the players said, “Yeah, man, thanks. We were all pretty worried that the Rock wasn’t going to be joining us next fall with the rest of the Rangers. Now, because of you, he has a chance.”

Gene looked at me and said, “Yeah, I’ve been talking about you.”

Feeling horrified if he doesn’t pass, I said, “You have a better chance of passing, but no guarantees. It’s really up to you.”

Another player said, “Don’t be so modest.”

A coach walked up to Gene, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Is this the little girl who’s helping you?”

Gene nodded. “She’s the one.”

Trying to shrink into a tiny ball, I said, “I promise nothing.”

Gene laughed. “Chill, Diane. If I fail, no one is blaming you.”

The coach pointed at Gene and said, “You better pass that test. I don’t want to see your ugly carcass at this school in the fall.”

Gene grinned. “That’s the game plan, coach!”

They all sat around me and ate their lunches. I relaxed. I was surrounded by all these large, muscular boys, but I didn’t feel put off by it. I wasn’t sure what I felt but I couldn’t stop smiling and they all smiled back.

                    *

I was sitting on the couch between Zach and Corey, watching a movie. It was after dinner, and I was shocked they weren’t bothering me. I couldn’t enjoy the movie as much as I would have liked as I was waiting for Gene to arrive for his final tutoring session.

The doorbell rang, and I jumped up. “That must be Gene.”

Corey shook his head. “Again? When is he moving in?”

As I walked briskly to the door, I said, “Don’t be stupid. This is only the second time he’s been here.”

I opened the door and grinned. “Hey, Gene!”

Gene chuckled. “Feels like I’m living here.”

I frowned. “Well, you’re not. Let’s get started.” He followed me into my room. This time, I left my door open like a good girl.

As Gene sat down at my desk, I said, “Gene, I truly believe that for most of the test, you won’t have a problem. We’re going to focus on the tougher problems tonight.” I sat next to him and opened my notebook PC. He draped his arm across my shoulders.

It seemed natural, and I didn’t flinch away.

Gene said, “Honestly, one of the biggest things you’ve helped me with is knuckling down and getting serious. I thought football alone would carry me through.”

I smiled at him. “I’m glad. Let’s get started.”

I put some of the harder problems in front of him. He struggled and messed up a few times, but he managed to work them through. A few he couldn’t get no matter how hard he tried. It didn’t help that I couldn’t do them either.

I chuckled. “I doubt there’ll be many of those on the test.” I leaned back in my chair.  “You’ve got this! I’m confident you’ll pass this test. I’m not just saying that.”

Gene gave me a sappy grin. “I think I have more than a fighting chance now, thanks to you.” He surprised me with a hug that I didn’t really expect and almost made me giggle.

He picked up his phone and looked at it. “I didn’t realize the time. My dad’s out front waiting. Wish me luck tomorrow.”

I grinned at him. “You’ve got more than luck on your side now.”

“Thanks for your help.” He turned and exited my room. I followed.

As we entered the living room, Mom stood up to walk with us to the door. She said, “Good luck on your test.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Gene reached over and ruffled my hair. “You have one smart little girl here.”

I wasn’t sure how  I felt about that so I opened the front door and held it as I watched Gene walk to his dad’s car and then watched the car drive away. I may have sighed.

In a low whisper in my ear, Mom said, “It’s okay, Diane.”

As I closed the door and set the lock, I looked at Mom. “What’s okay, Mom?”

With a wry smile, she said, “To like a boy.”

Surprised by her comment, I asked, “What makes you think I like Gene?”

Mom smiled. “I know that look. Come on. It’s past your bedtime.”

She can’t possibly be right, can she?

End of Part 9