"My mother used to say. 'Flattery brings up one question only: What do you want?'You have to separate the baloney from the sincere compliment."
"But how can you tell the difference, Mommy? Especially when a man gives it?" I asked her.
She thought for a while and then said something I don't think I'll ever forget. "When it makes them happier than it makes you, it's sincere. Some people might call it pride, I guess. They are proud of you, proud you care for them."
Pride was an important word to a Navy man and a Navy wife. It didn't surprise me that Mommy chose it to help her explain what she meant. I saw how proudly Daddy stood in his uniform at ceremonies. but I also saw how proud he was when we went to social affairs and he had Mommy at his side. I saw it in her eyes as well. Their pride in each other made their love that much stronger and more passionate. Whenever he returned home, even if he had been away for only a short period, he would take her in his arms, and they would kiss as if they hadn't seen each other for years.
"You busy tomorrow night?" Roger asked when we stopped at my condo.
"My mother doesn't like me going out on school nights," I said. "She works every night at the restaurant, doesn't she?"
"Every night but Monday," I said.
"Well, how about I come around tomorrow night? That way you don't go out," he said.
"I like to get my homework done." "So? I'll help you."
I thought a moment. His request excited a part of me but made another part of me nervous. Phoebe would go ballistic if she found out. Maybe I was playing with fire and I would lose the little control I had.
"Relax," he urged. "You've got to learn to have more fun. We're not going to be teenagers forever, you know. This is supposed to be the best time of our lives."
"All right." I said, and wished I could pull the words back into my mouth the moment I had uttered them, but another saving of Mommy's came roaring back to me: "You can't unring a bell."
"Thanks for the ride." I cried, getting out quickly. This was my own fault. Why had I asked him to take me home?
I heard him laugh, and he drove off as I rushed into the house. Mommy was getting ready to leave far work. Twice this week, because of the time it took me to get home on the bus. I had missed her, and we didn't see each other until the following morning.
"Grace," she called from her bedroom.
"Hi," I said, stepping in. She was at her bathroom mirror, doing her makeup.
"How was school today?"
"Better," I said. "I found out I've already read half the new required assignments in English."
"I bet. Remember how Daddy used to tease you about leaving your nose in a book?"
"Yes."
Time had made it possible for me to smile at most of my good memories and not feel as if I was about to cry out my heart.
I watched her a moment, wondering:, if I should tell her about Roger. I didn't think she would be angry about it, and yet I couldn't help feeling guilty. I decided I wouldn't tell her, because I would find a way to cancel his coming, and why mention it if I not was going to have him come over?
Roger caught me completely by surprise the next day, however. He was with Wally and a group of boys when I spotted him in the hallway between classes. Phoebe wasn't too far off. with Ashley at her side listening to her hold court with some of her devoted followers. I approached Roger. There was only three minutes between classes, and we didn't have more than a minute or so left.
"Hi." I said.
He looked at me and then at the other boys as if he was surprised I would greet him so openly. They all smiled. Wally had no hesitation whatsoever when it came to recognizing and speaking to me. He gave me a big hello.
"Looking for a card game?" he asked.
"No. I wanted to speak to Roger."
"Me?" He looked to his right to see if Phoebe was watching. She was. "What for?"
"I wanted to tell you tonight was no good."
"For what?" he said, looking confused.