Bee Happy by Marcia C Brandt Page B

eat supper at 4:30 in the afternoon?  She supposed if people fell asleep in their recliners after the 6 o’clock news, they probably should eat early.  She was grateful that her grandfather hadn’t gotten into that routine, he was still active and good company in the evenings at home.  The waitress took their orders and now the ‘test’ began.  Could they find anything interesting to talk about?  Calli was right where she imaged she’d be, sitting across the table, looking at Jim straight on and wondering what she should say.  Lucky for her Jim began the conversation and she didn’t have to keep it going.  He talked about the ‘safe’ subjects, gardening, pest control, selling at the farmers market, the weather, and how to grow bigger crops.  Calli actually enjoyed sharing ideas with another gardener; she was amazed that he didn’t feel like such a competitor to her this evening.  Maybe it was the fact that they weren’t at the market with buying customers that made the difference.  “I know that you were engaged and that he was killed in the service.  I hope that I’m not intruding when I ask about how you’ve ma naged to move on with your life? ”  Jim had a concerned look on his face, they’d talked about everything gardening they could and now it seemed that he wanted to get to know her on a deeper level.  Without hesitation Calli began to relate the events that followed Cal’s death, the funeral, the mourning and then the immersion into her gardening.  “I don’t know how I could have moved on with my life if it hadn’t been for the plants and watching them grow, digging in the earth, making that connection with Mother Nature, the elements and of  course harvesting my efforts.  All of that gave me a new direction and an actual purpose.  It eased my pain in ways that are difficult to explain.  I know I would still be in a deep depression if I hadn’t worked with my friend Sally and her healing methods.  She was truly a life saver for me and helped me get out of the hole I’d dug with self pity.  The combination of healing and the connection to the earth and life is something that I’ll always be grateful for.”  Calli had surprised herself by sharing this with Jim, and by the look on his face, she knew that he’d listened to her story with his heart and not his head.  She could see the starting of tears in his eyes.  That almost made her like him, and it did make the third item on her check list, Three-- Sensitive and willing to have feelings, check. 
      Before he could say anything about her story , the waitress brought the bill and Jim pulled out his wallet.  He looked at his watch, “Oops, we’ve been so busy talking and eating, we almost missed the movie.  We’d better hurry if we don’t want to si t in the front row and crane our necks.”  Relief poured through Calli, they were going to be sitting side by side now, and she wouldn’t have to be looking at him straight on for awhile.  Something inside was feeling different, she couldn’t identify this new feeling.  Rather than trying to figure out what was happening, she just decided to go with the evening and not analyze every little moment.  That wasn’t the way to live life, if she’d learned anything after Cal’s death, it was not to over think anything but to relax and make the best of each day.  There wasn’t a guarantee about tomorrow, she did understand that.  Jim opened the car door for her again, and Calli grinned to herself, at least he’s consistent with his manners.  Keep that list going.  We’ll see what happens in the movie. 

Chapter 9 The Movie
      As the lights dimmed, Jim leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Are you sure this is an okay place to sit?”  They were in the back row in the corner, which was normally ‘reserved’ for those who planned to make out instead of watch the movie.  “Yes, this is fine as long as the make out energy doesn’t envelope us.”