couldâve been nice, like a nice guy to be friends with. I followed Lisa upstairs. The glass panes that lined the stairway made you feel like you were in a modern museum. We swung a right at the top of the stairs. The walls were painted a cool blue. Upon them hung pictures of flowers, most in color and one in black and white. The prettiest framed work was a montage of outdoor scenes: trees, flowers blossoming, petals falling, and the sun shining through the green grasslands.
âDid you make this collage?â I asked.
âYes! I get this wildlife magazine, riddled with orâshould I sayâembedded in the pictures of wildlife are these wonderful photosynthetic creatures.â I watched as Lisaâs eyes lit up.
âWhat type of plant is this one?â I pointed out the flower floating on top of a body of water, with almost tentacles in the water.
âThis one is called bladderworts. Then, of course, this is a Venus flytrap. This one is also a carnivorous plant. Itâs called a sundew.â Lisa was like a different person. âYou see the tree here. There are forests of these in Canada that are mined daily for the purpose of creating toilet paper. This mining releases a lot of carbon dioxide into the air because the forests are replete with C02. If we use green toilet paper, we can help reduce the demand for the type of toilet paper that these trees are used to make.â
âI try to be green. I recycle and Iâm the one who makes sure Edna buys organic foods, green cleansers, and items made from recycled paper. Too bad we canât compost in the city.â
âI compost at the townhouse. It was Stewartâs idea. He came home for spring break last year and had this idea of composting in the garden in the back yard. I said, âYou know what? Why not?ââ
âWhere are you now?â Sierra texted. I sent her the address. âWill GPS and get on it.â
âThe office is down at the end here.â Lisa slowly opened the door. My eyes sought retreat.
âThe light!â It was simply stunning. The whole room was surrounded by floor-to-ceiling walls of glass.
âI want to come work in here.â
âAnytime, Cookie. Our spiritual guru suggested the windows so I could be reminded of the joy that surrounds me at all times. I think spirituality is inspirational. God is all around us.â
âI believe in God. I grew up Christian. But I havenât been back to church.â
âIâm 15 minutes away, according to GPS. This place is far out in the sticks, M!â Sierra texted. I didnât reply.
âOh.â Lisa whisked out of the room and down the hall. I followed her. She turned to me and smiled. âLove, Stewart is home.â I glanced at my watch. She grabbed me by the shoulder. âI have dinner in 45 minutes. I need to get dressed.â
âMy Dad asked me out to dinner,â I said.
âYou guys donât get out much.â
âNo.â I followed her into her bedroom. It was all white with a red accent wall. Something told me to turn around. A guy stood at the door, taller than any Iâd seen around. He was six-foot-seven, at least. He was cute in an offbeat pop band-boy type of way. He had on a suit vest, a white tee, jeans, and Converse.
âMom,â he said.
âHi, Stew. This is Milan.â
âCool. I know the face. Very nice to meet you.â
âLikewise,â I smiled. âLis, my friendâs going to pick me up in 10.â
âOh, I can drop you wherever you need to go,â Stewart said.
âThanks. I have a ride, though.â
âI was telling Milan you guys can go to a Knicks game sometime.â
âSometime,â I hugged Lisa. âI should wait on the porch.â
âOh no, sweetie. Stewart can show you his new roaming rover gadget. Itâs like a baby tank with a camera for spying. Guy stuff.â Odd.
âOkay.â
Lisa gave me a
Sharon Kleve, Jennifer Conner, Danica Winters, Casey Dawes