[NOVEMBER 2, 1990 – Friday, 7:45 pm]
Peter
“I’d like to build a road,” I said as I handed two cards to Drew Bishop. Even though he’d graduated the previous June and now worked as a music teacher in Trimont, Drew never missed a Friday game night. Beside me, Drew was Derek’s best friend, and the two shared an easy intimacy that stirred up feelings of jealousy in my stomach. Even though I knew Drew wasn’t Derek’s type—Derek didn’t care for blondes—it still got to me sometimes.
Tonight, Drew was acting as the banker. He accepted the cards from me and pushed his glasses up on his rounded face. “OK, go ahead,” he said and handed me a small piece of blue-painted wood from the neat pile at the side of the table.
We were deep into our latest game, “Settlers of Catan”, and I was most definitely winning. I took the small blue rectangle and placed it carefully on the game board.
“One two three four five…six!” I declared. “That gives me the longest road.” I held out my hand and made a ‘come here’ gesture. “Give it over, Sherri.”
With a grumble, Sherri Delgado placed the “Longest Road” card on my open palm. “Robber baron,” she commented. “Catan shark.”
I just smiled. “I’ve got nine victory points, now and that’s my turn; you’re up Derek,” I called to my boyfriend who was in the kitchen fetching snacks.
Derek’s reply was drowned out by a loud crash.
We leapt from our seats and flew to the kitchen.
“Derek! Are you alright?” I cried as I ran.
We were brought up short at the sight that greeted us in the kitchen: Derek covered all down his front in guacamole, shards of the broken dip bowl spread around his feet.
“Peter don’t come in here without shoes!” he called out as Drew and I moved in to help clean up. As usual, I was barefoot, so I gave the mess on the floor a wide pass and went instead to the under-sink cabinet where we kept the cleaning supplies.
“It’s OK ‘Mom’, he’ll be careful,” Drew commented as he grabbed the paper towels. I started filling the mop bucket with soap and warm water.
Sherri moved to stand next to Derek, who gave her a look. “What? Like I’m going to help clean!” She shook her dark hair and spread her arms wide. “You all know I’m not the cleaning-caring-wiping of runny noses-type.” She ran a finger along Derek’s shirt and licked it.
“Damn, Derek, I was really looking forward to your guac, and it’s just as good as I expected,” she sighed and shook her head sadly. “Such a waste.”
Derek smiled as Drew wiped guacamole off his clothing. “It’s OK, Sher, there’s another bowl in the fridge.”
Sherri fairly leaped across the small kitchen to throw open the refrigerator door. “WooHoo!” she cried out as she grabbed the second bowl. “This one’s all mine!” she grabbed a bag of chips off the counter and sprinted back into the living room.
I just shook my head as I mopped the dip from the floor. “How’d you know we’d need a second bowl?”
“Are you kidding me? Sherri’s here; of course, we need two bowls.” Derek pulled off his slimy shirt and tossed it into the sink. “Besides, I know things go wrong and accidents happen; I like to be prepared.”
“You do take good care of us,” Drew said as he helped Derek out of his guac covered jeans.
“Yes, we’re lucky to have you,” I agreed. I pushed aside the twinge of jealousy that rushed through me as I watched Drew help Derek. “If we were left with only Sherri to take care of us, we’d be doomed.”
“Derek is definitely more nurturing than she is,” Drew said.
“That’s because Derek’s a natural mother and I’m just not,” Sherri commented from the doorway where she was standing with the guacamole bowl in her arms. “Are you guys coming back to the game or what?”
The View from Mt. Hope 