Diane and Norm

Wednesday

Diane was in the sauna, wrapped in a towel, still in her bathing suit. She had just finished water aerobics and came in to warm up before showering. Just as she settled in her favorite corner spot, another woman from the class sprang in, holding herself tightly. 

“That hallway is freezing!” she said as she spread her towel on the bench and sat down. Diane recognized this woman by her swimsuit: bright yellow with a red waist band. She was three rows behind and to the right of her and every time she jumped up, the flash of yellow and red caught Diane’s eye. 

“I agree,” Diane said. “I see you have the same idea as me, to warm up before showering.”

“I know,” the woman chuckled. “ I don’t know why others don’t do it, but it doesn’t matter— more room for us to spread out. I’m Barb. I don’t think I noticed you in the pool. Have you been to this class before?”

“Many times,” Diane replied, glancing down at her navy T shirt and shorts she wore instead of typical woman’s swimsuit. She saw men on the beach in this outfit. Why does a woman always have to reveal everything, just because it’s the style? She could never get the the difference between walking around in her bra and underwear on the beach, or in a bikini. “I’ve seen you. I’m in the second to last row.”

“Oh!” Barb said. “I’ll look out for you next time. I didn’t think of this sauna warm up idea until today. I see you are way ahead of me.”

“Let’s keep it our little secret,” Diane smiled, 

“Absolutely!” Barb sighed and closed her eyes and leaned back. Diane did the same. 

Perhaps, this could be a new friend, Diane thought. She craved more back and forth conversation, though she didn’t fault Norm. Despite never quite understanding her, he was always there to listen and comfort her. 

After their showers, they continued chatting in the locker room as they got dressed. 

“I love your suit,” Diane told Barb.

“Oh, thank you! Bright isn’t it? I love to wear bright colors. Helps me to enjoy going out into the world every day. Being a legal secretary it not always as exciting as it might seem,” she said sarcastically, “But I can adore my flashing rings as I type.”

“Huh!” Was all Diane could say. She never looked at clothes that way. She just put on her uniform that she called “The Jay Leno”. If he could wear nothing but jeans, white sneakers and a blue work shirt every day, why couldn’t she? 

“What do you do?” Barb asked, while drying her hair with a towel. “Are you married? Kids?”

“Uhh,” Diane hesitated, as if trying to remember if she were married or not. “Yes!” She said. “I am married. To Norm. He is such a sweetheart.” Diane’s face began to glow. 

“A happy marriage, it seems, from the look on your face. That’s great! How long have you been married?”

“Oh, it seems like forever, but in a good way. How about you?”

“Been married to Peter for fifteen years. Met him playing softball. We are both part of the co-ed adult softball league. Ever play?”

“Me? No. I never knew there was such a thing. I don’t know much about sports, and Norm never shows much of an interest either.”

“Really? That’s rare for a guy. Not to stereotype or anything. You two should come to one of our games some time. Watch a few games and maybe you’ll want to join. We don’t play as much as we used to because we have two kids now, a girl and a boy and they’re both in Little League, and you know of course, the kids come first!. How about you? You have any kids?”

“Kids!” Diane said, as if she suddenly spotted a mob of children. Again, she hesitated as if she were trying to remember if she had kids or not. “No,” she said as if she suddenly decided.

“Hold on,” Diane said, and began fumbling in her purse in the locker, then pulled out a card and a pen. She leaned on the locker and wrote on the back of the card the date, time and place. “Here,” she said. “We have a game this Sunday. You and Norm should definitely come. I’ll look out for you.”

Diane took her business card with the instructions on the back, and said thank you as she slipped it into the back pocket of her jeans. 

Sunday

Diane found a parking space on the white gravel by the bent fence, full of holes. The place was mobbed. Cars entering, tooting hello, men and women carrying bats and gloves, walking and talking loudly above the noise of their cleats. Kids were running around and families and friends gathered on bleachers. Many had dogs on leashes, barking their own greetings and trying to snag the softballs. She walked through the fence opening and spotted Barb at once. The bright red socks and matching bandana around her neck stood out just like her bathing suit. She was waving to Diane and shouting, “Over here!” Barb hugged Diane hello as if they have been friends forever and asked, “Where’s Norm?”

“He was so excited to come but then he woke up with a sore throat. He was afraid of spreading germs so we agreed he would come next time.” 

“Aww, too bad. Defintely next time though.” Barb sat Diane next to her parents and her two kids and introduced them all. Peter’s parents were there also, along with Peter’s sister and her wife. They had a baby that they watched far more than the game or anything else. 

So many people for Diane to keep track of, but they all made her feel as one of the family instantly. A cute yellow lab pushed into her, begging for pats. “Well, aren't you a sweet thing,” she said, petting the dog’s head. “Too bad Norm isn’t here. He would love you!”

“So sorry your husband couldn’t come, but I also thank him for keeping his germs at home,” Barb’s mother Sarah said. “This day and age, you never know what you’re going to catch or where.” She was bouncing her eight year old grand daughter on her knee who was sucking a lollipop. 

“Yes, he was so sorry to miss this. I can’t wait to tell him about all of you.”

Diane was having the time of her life! The cheering and mock booing (everyone was supportive), the food coolers and sandwiches and sodas and chips and beers. It was a grand buffet of a perfect day. She and Norm didn’t have much family and lead a relatively quiet life, and therefore didn’t spend much times with crowds at parks. Their life was simple and comfortable. Mostly they just stayed home and snuggled in front of movies. It felt so great on this sunny day to be out and part of such a lively affair. 

At the end of the game, she was part of the hugs good-bye as if she had been in the family forever. 

“I’m so glad you came,” Barb said, hugging Diane. They both said they looked forward to seeing each other Wednesday in the pool, and in the sauna. “Shhhh,” they both put their fingers to their lips indicating not to tell anyone about their warm up routine. 

That night, she came home all a-flutter, talking so fast, trying to tell Norm everything all at once. “Oh Norm, I wish you could have been there. Everyone was so friendly and fun. And there was this adorable yellow lab you would have loved. There were so many dogs, and kids and people laughing and sharing food. And guess what? I had a beer! A beer in the afternoon! Me! It was delicious. I never knew I could like beer.” After talking non-stop while putting away her things and taking out pots and pans to start dinner, she said, “Tonight, instead of a movie, let’s watch baseball. We should learn more about the game, don’t you think?”

Norm agreed and after dinner they did just that. 

Diane grabbled the remote and got herself comfortable on her corner of the couch. Norm plopped beside her and she kissed and stroked his head. Then, she grabbed his cheeks and looked into his eyes and said, “I love you more than anyone Norm, you know that, but today—well, today just opened up a whole new life for me, for us. Are you happy that I found these new friends?”

“Arf! Arf” Norm barked, meaning “Yes! Yes! “ Then he proceeded to to lick her face. She laughed, scratched his ears, rubbed his belly, and then they snuggled in, as she turned on the game.