Time After Time

The phone rings – Brrrrrrinnnnggg. Brrrrinnnngggg

“Hello?”

“Chanel. Can you hear me? It’s ME. Nese!”

“Hold on. You don’t have to shout.”

“Wait. Is that Michael Jackson’s Lady in My Life?”

“Yep”

“I gotta get that album. I love that song”

“It’s a good one.”

“I thought you got it when you brought the two posters for your wall.”

“Nope. Mom and I took the bus to Getty Square to get our Saturdays pizza. I waited in line at that record store for almost an hour. By time the man in front of me reached the counter, Mr. T, the store owner yelled, ‘SOLD OUT. No more Thriller albums.”

“What did you do?”

“I just stood there. He must have read my face because he offered me the posters instead. If only we left early – right after watching Soul Train.”

“Can’t miss that.”

“I know right. Not to mention, American Bandstand had Pat Benitar. I got there too late.”

“Were the posters free?”

“Well. Yes and no. Mr. T slid the posters on the side and winked, then he whispered, ‘I’ll give you both for $10.’ That’s how I got two”

“I don’t like Mr. T. He seems like a dirty old man to me.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I didn’t say it. Uncle Pete said it.”

“Wait. Uncle Pete drove you to the record store in his Jeep?”

“Yep.”

“With the cover off?”

“Yep.”

“And you didn’t call me? I remember when he took on Riverdale to get Carvel ice cream. I felt like the queen.”

“That’s uncle Pete. Always smiling and treating all his nieces and nephews.”

“So- what happened in the store that made Uncle Pete say he was a dirty old man?”

“Oh yeah. It was the way he looked at the girls coming into the store. Uncle Pete said he has a wandering eye, and he didn’t like it.”

“Wow. Isn’t Uncle Pete a Vietnam Veteran?”

“Yes, and he’s seen a lot. He knows how to read people. He told me don’t ever go in that store alone because he doesn’t want to do time.”

“Wow. Sounds like he’s not the one to mess with.”

“Nope. When he first came to stay with us, I overheard him telling my parents during a card game, ‘You all don’t have to worry about anyone in the neighborhood doing you harm. I’ll do prison time if anyone tries to bother my family.”

“It’s that Army training.”

“Maybe.”

“Thank God he’s not a Marine!”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up-”

“It’s okay.”

“Nese. Hold on for a minute.”

“Sure.”

“Tony! Tonnnnyyy! Can you turn that TV down. I’m trying to talk on the phone.”

“What’s your brother doing at home today. I didn’t know they had a half day like us.”

“He has a doctor’s appointment. His asthma’s starting up. It usually happens at the beginning of the year.”

“I think it’s the weather.”

“Don’t say it.”

“You know it’s true. The New York smog is at its worse.”

“Maybe so, but my bother has asthma.”

“Which is making it worse.”

“Give me a second-”

“Tell him I said, ‘Hi.’”

“Nese says, ‘Hi.’ Now until Uncle Pete takes you to meet mom at the doctor’s office, please turn that Atari DOWN or off.”

“Wish I had a little brother.”

“He’ll do.”

“He’s a good kid.”

“If you say so.”

“Chanel. What 8-year-old kid knows the songs to all TV shows? He’s a genius.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“When I was eight, I walked to and from school every day. My mother gave me $.50 to buy lunch. I had the key to the house and couldn’t let anyone in. I made prank phone calls on my friends’ parents with that yellow rotary house phone.”

“Stop playing. You know we have that phone in the kitchen.”

“I know, but ours had that twenty-five-foot cord.”

“I’m so glad we have the cordless is in the living room.”

“I know. Your little brother will never experience what we did – Meeting up in the park and riding our bikes through the aqueduct, and playing until the streetlights came on.”

“Those were the days!”

“When you recording him singing Different Strokes, I listened to that tape laughing, rewinding, and laughing again.”

“Did you get a new boom box?”

“No, I listened to it on my cassette Walkman. Boom box. I got better things to do with my money.”

“Your family has money. You don’t need to work.”

“Yes, I do! I don’t like asking people for money or anything.”

“What I mean is your mother buys you all the nice things at Macys and Alexanders. All while going to Catholic School. I have to work. My parents can only afford to pay my tuition.”

“But at least you have your father there with you.”

“Funny. I never thought about you not having your father. Guess it’s a good thing having both parents.”

“If my father was in my life more, things would have turned out a little different.”

“What things?”

“Nothing.”

“No seriously. What things.”

“I can’t even begin. So, did Tony stop playing Atari. I don’t hear him.

“No, he switched to Donkey Kong and turned it down.”

“At least he listened.”

“You’re right. Every now and then, I find a soft spot for him.”

“Muahhh. Aren’t you sweet. You take such good care of him. Like he’s your son.”

“Stop trying to be cute.”

“Sometimes I feel a little sorry for him when his asthma flares up. He takes nebulizer treatments.”

“That’s tough on a kid.”

“Yeah, tell me about it. When I’m not working on Saturdays, I watch the Hanna Barbera line up: Dick Dastardly and the Wacky Races and the Super friends.”

“No Tom and Jerry?”

“We watch that weekdays when I’m not working.”

“I know that’s your favorite. You are so good to him.”

“I try.”

“He’s young. The cutest thing is when he showed me his Fantastic Four lunchbox.”

“That is cute. But what’s cuter than that is the way he sings Dukes of Hazzard and The Facts of Life at the top of his lungs.”

“I can’t wait until the next time I come to your house to hear him sing that. You’re practically raising him you know?”

“I know.”

“Hey, I just heard on the news the Iran-Iraq war will soon end. Reganonmics are still in full effect.”

“Are you saying we will not get that free government cheese block?”

“I hope not. They make the best grilled cheese sandwich.”

“And my mother makes the best Macaroni & Cheese dish using that cheese.”

“Don’t tell anyone else that. Our mothers are proud women. They want a better life for you and for me.”

“I get it. . .You’re mumbling. Are you eating sunflower seeds?”

“Yes, and Sweedish Fish.”

“Nese, you are the only person I know that eats the salty-sweet combo like that. Thought I was bad with my Chick-o-sticks and Tootsie Rolls.”

“That’s just disgusting.”

 “Don’t judge me.”

 “Ha-Ha. Touche.”

“On another note, did you see the previews of that new Freddie

Krueger movie?”

“Can you say Nightmares for days?”

“Being scared out of my seat. I love it.”

“You go right ahead.”

“We should go see it next Friday night.”

“Too scary.”

“Come on. I can’t go without my best friend. Besides, I’m paying It’s only $5.”

“Let me think about it.”

“Okay.”

“Okay – let’s talk about something else then.”

“If you’re going to the skating rink with me, you need a new wardrobe.”

“What’s wrong with my wardrobe now?”

“I’m not a fan of those shoulder pads.

“Seriously?”

“Yes. You look like a preppy in that oversized man’s jacket.”

“I’m like really rad.”

“Now you sound like a valley girl.”

“My outfit is like totally rad. It’s like. Like totally cool. No. I think I’m more like a preppy look than a Valley girl.”

“If you say so.”

“What about you and that headband and matching leg warmers?”

“What’s wrong with my headband?”

“The same thing that’s wrong with your Member’s Only jacket. It’s umm. What’s the word?”

“Wack.”

“Played out. No one wears leg warmers anymore. Only in the movies.”

“Like that girl from Breakin?”

“More like the movie Fame.”

“You got jokes. That was a good one. . . Okay. Maybe I won’t wear leg warmers. But the headband stays.”

“I can live with that.”

“Good.”

“Think your will pick us up from the skating rink like before?”

“I’ll ask. Either her or Uncle Pete.”

“Cool.”

“Maybe she’ll let me stay out until 12. Afterall, it is the weekend.”

“I know right. I was so tired of hearing: You better be home before the streetlight comes on.’”

“That was yesterday.”

“Oh, so now you got jokes.”

“Sorry. I know that’s a sore spot.”

“Everyone can’t have the cool mom like you.”

“Your mom is cool too. When she’s not being so strict.”

“I’m glad she likes you. That’s the only reason she lets me stay out. She trusts you and your mom.”

“Your mother reminds me of Tina Turner.”

“Don’t do it.”

“What?”

“Don’t grin and don’t sing Private Dancer.”

“Okay. I’ll stop teasing you about your mom. . . Did you go to bed late?”

“A little. Why?”

“Because you keep yawning in my ear.”

“Sorry. I was up all night and earlier when I should have been sleeping, I was watching MTV.”

“That explains it.”

“I’m listening Really I am – Wait. Don’t try to change the subject. My outfit will be dope. Shoulder pads and all. You should try it. The boys like it.”

“Ahh, so that’s what this is about.”

“I should have known you would find a way to mention Terry.”

“He’s not in boot camp yet.”

“Well. I know but I hope he will come back and get me like Officer and a Gentleman.”

“He loves you. You two were meant to be.”

“Thanks for saying that.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I didn’t get my period this month.”

“Nese?”

“I know.”

“Does Terry know.”

“No, and I don’t want to tell him until I’m sure.”

“I’ll take you to the free clinic.”

“Why don’t I pick up a test at the drug store.”

“This will change your life.”

“This will change all of our lives.”

“What if you are. Have you thought about what you and Terry are going to do?”

“We’re going to raise our child the same way that our parent’s raised us. With ole-skool morals and values.”

“You’re right. It’s the only way! My stomach’s been acting funny all day. Can you hold on one second? I’ll be right back.”

“No problem”

“Chanel-”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m not pregnant. My friend came.”

“That’s good. You’ll finish Senior year, go on to college, and marry Terry.”

“Whew. What a relief. Thank you for being my friend.”

“We’re like Salt & Peppa. Forever!”

“Forever.”

“You’re going to make a wonderful aunt!”