Becca by Dean Krystek Page A

him no clue. He said, “And I was
worried because you took me to Harmarville for Pete’s sake.”
    The girl hesitated, blinking
her eyes as if to ward off tears, and then she burst out laughing, leaning her
forehead against the steering wheel. Her shoulders heaved and shook her head
slowly, slapped her thigh a couple of times and then Bert’s and finally
bringing herself under control she leaned back in the seat and took some deep
breaths.
    Bert loved her laugh. It
sounded as though it had been wanting out for a long time. “Feel better?” he
asked.
    She dabbed at her eyes. “Yes.”
Her voice sounded sad in spite of her outburst of laughter. Looking sad and on
the verge of tears, she nodded at his house and said, “Looks like someone is
waiting up for you.”
    “Yeah, my mother.”
    “How sweet. Does she wait
up for all of you?”
    “My brothers don’t live
here.”
    “Well, it’s nice that she
waits up for you.”
    “She’s going to ask me a
million questions.”
    “Well they won’t be like
questions I’m going to get.” She opened the door and got out with Bert, stretched,
yawned, and came around to the passenger side to offer Bert her hand. “Thanks
for listening to me, Josh.”
    “I enjoyed it…er…um…Miss?”
He loved the warm softness of her hand in his.
    “Oh, yes, I forgot. You
don’t know my name. It’s Rebecca Smith.”
    “Rebecca Smith. Becky?”
    She shook her head. “No. Don’t ever call me Becky. Okay? It’s Becca, or Rebecca. But never Becky.”
    “Okay, Becca.”
    “And if you’d like
perhaps we can do this again. I mean…if you’d want. You know, just go somewhere
and talk…just talk.”
    “Sure, why not?”
    “Oh, so you don’t care
one way or another?”
    “No…sorry. I would like
to listen to you again.”
    She smiled. “Good night.”
    “Good night, Becca.”
    IV
    Greg’s car sat in front
of her house. Becca parked behind it and as walked to the front door, it opened
and Bill stood beside Greg. Greg’s eyes barely met hers, while Bill glared at
her.
    “Becky,” Greg said when
she stepped onto the porch.
    “You had us worried,”
Bill said, adding too much feeling to his voice.
    “Where did you go?” Greg
asked.
    “Where’s Mom?” Becca
asked.
    “She’s inside,” Bill said.
“She’s been crying all evening.”
    “It’s not a wonder,” Becca
said sharply.
    “Where did you go?” Greg
asked again. He looked away when her eyes struck his.
    “I went to get some
coffee, Greg.” She walked past the two men and went into the house. Her mother
was sitting in the kitchen with a half-empty cup of coffee in front of her.
    “Rebecca, honey!” her
mother said as she stood up and hugged her daughter. “I was so worried ! You
were so upset when you left.”
    Bill and Greg joined them.
Becca stood at the table next to her mother.
    “Greg said you called
him, you two had a fight,” Bill said.
    “We didn’t have a fight,”
Becca said, “I broke up with him.”
    “Why?”
    “Ask him.”
    “I did ask him. He’s
very upset, Becky. He came over hoping to find you here.”
    “Becky,” Greg said, “I
need to talk to you.”
    “I’m tired.” Becca
started rubbing her leg. The pain had flared up again.
    “We need to talk.”
    “It’s late,” Becca said. “I’m
going to bed.”
    “Becky,” Bill said and
blocked the door to the hallway when Becca started for it. “You can not walk
away from this. Sit down and let’s talk.”
    “Honey, please,” her
mother said and grabbed her hand.
    “Mom, I’m tired. My leg
hurts.”
    “Why does your leg hurt?”
    “I don’t know. It just
does. It’s nothing.
    “Honey, sit down please.”
    Becca sat.
    “Now,” Bill said,
striking a match and lighting his pipe, “what’s this about you breaking up with
Greg?”
    “That’s private.”
    “No it’s not. Not when he
comes here and tells us about it.”
    Becca looked at Greg, who
could not meet her eyes with his. “What did you tell them?” He