In The Garden Chapter TWO

Chapter 2


While skateboarding with Levi on an overcast fall Saturday George asks Levi what he thinks of Jen.
“Oh, does George have a crush?” Levi asks mockingly.
“I may”, George answers honestly. “Do you think she likes me?”
“I don’t think she’s your type dude. She’s just too trendy,” Levi says.
“But that’s what I want in a girlfriend, some normalcy.”
Levi reminds George how quickly he forgets his promise to his God.
“Yes I know. I will pray for my one and only and allow God to guide her into my life.” But George is quick to realize that Jen is a possibility.
“Then let God work his miracle,” says Levi. Levi is a skeptic, always was, so naturally he wonders what George is to do. With sincerity he asks George if Jen will pursue after him if she is the one.
“I honestly don’t know Levi,” says George. “You raise a good question, my friend and instinct tells me to be nonchalant. God is in no hurry.”
“The grape vine told me Clarissa likes you,” Levi says as he sits next to his best friend, different as they are. Living only 15 miles away their whole lives allowed for their parents to meet at church and subsequently George and Levi grew up together.
“Clarissa?” George asks not yet familiar with her. “Oh, you mean the girl with the secretive eyes.”
“Whatever man, she’s hot!” Exclaims Levi.
“Don’t be so quick to accept her into the realm of…”
Thinking what George was Levi says “What? Into the realm of being you one and only base solely on her looks? So count Jen out, she’s far too beautiful.” Levi says sarcastically.
“But what secret lies behind those eyes? I saw her on the first day of school and she holds back something…sacred?” George just guesses.
“Dude, any other dude would be all over her,” says Levi.
“But I’m not just any other dude Levi. I’m George Schuby, searcher of my one and only. Searching for my Eve. I just hope she’s searching too.”

Clarissa spent the same Saturday doing household chores: dishes, vacuuming. She was in a very good mood this day and not even the man in her nightmares could spoil the positive energy she exuberated.
Oh, the man in her recurring nightmare! The man who…well let’s just say he wants to do things to Clarissa that scare her. This is a nightmare that Clarissa hopes will never come true.
‘But what if it does?’ she asks herself as she lays down on her bed, taking a break from the chores of the day. For the first time today a notch has been chopped into her good mood.
She had woken up around 8 am and she did some yoga. Her mother was probably over at some stranger’s house recovering from a hang over.
Clarissa likes to do household chores. She likes to think ‘I’m preparing for being a housewife.’ This makes her feel real good. She feels her natural place in life is marriage.
She does not drink like her mother. She doesn’t look up to her mother. She would rather forge a path for herself, one that centers on true love.
‘But what is true love?’ she asks herself. She reaches over to her sketchpad to draw her visuals on true love. George comes to mind but she realizes he is just a crush and may pass from her heart to be replaced by another crush. So she draws herself with many arms grabbing different guys and she has hearts for eyes.
After drawing the picture she wonders if she should portray the man from her nightmares. In the midst of her contemplation the phone rings. Clarissa only has to reach for it since it lies next to her bed.
“Hello,” says Clarissa and in the time taken for the caller to respond Clarissa wonders if George may be on the other end. Her hear rate suddenly increases. Until…
“Hi Clarissa,” says a familiar voice.
“Hi Stephanie,” says Clarissa with a sigh. “I thought for a moment you might be George.”
“You like him a lot, huh?” Says Clarissa’s best friend since grade school. “You know his phone number is in the phone book.”
“Oh, I can’t call,” says Clarissa. “I wouldn’t even know what to say.”
“Ask him if he wants to join us for a movie,” Stephanie. “My mom could take the three of us to the theater. That way you won’t have to be alone with him.”
“But I don’t even know if he likes me,” says Clarissa. “I think he’s fond of Jen.”
“Jen’s a flake,” says Stephanie. “You’re about as real as the come. Anyway let’s talk more when I’m at your house. I hope you don’t mind that I spend the night tonight.”
“No, of course not,” says Clarissa. “I look forward to seeing you.”
“I’ll be there in a half hour, bye my friend.” Stephanie hung up before Clarissa could utter the word goodbye. She said it to her empty room.

George and Levi played music very well. They have a band, just the two of them, called ‘The Opposite.’ George plays the electric guitar and Levi tears up on the drums. This is how they spent Saturday night.
In the middle of a bad ass riff George suddenly stops.
“What’s the matter?” asks Levi with sincerity in his voice.
“I can’t get Clarissa out of my mind,” says George honestly. “Ever since you told me she likes me I haven’t been able to stop wondering if she’s the one.”
“Dude, just call her. And call her tonight.” Says Levi.
“Can we break from this jam session for a few?” Asks George. “I have a book I need to look at.”
At first Levi was puzzled but then he realized what “book” George was referring to. “The phone book.” Levi says resolutely.
You’ve got it my friend.” Said George with a smile on his face.

Stephanie had arrived at Clarissa’s house and they had George’s number written on a piece of paper with a heart around it. The heart was Stephanie’s idea; she said it would bring good luck to the phone conversation.
Clarissa dialed the first numbers tentatively, her heart pounding and hung up.
“Clarissa,” Stephanie says, “do you want me to call?”
“No,” says Clarissa, “I can do it. I’m just so nervous. How do I calm my nerves?”
“Do you need a cigarette?” asks Stephanie.
“Yeah. Let’s go outside,” Clarissa says with authority in her voice, confident that her decision will lead to calmed nerves and an ability to call George.
The evening was a bit chilly. Clarissa wrapped herself in her overly big hooded sweatshirt.
“This cigarette is just a way to put off calling him,” Clarissa stated to Stephanie.
“Well, you’re nervous and you need to relax. Nicotine will do that for you,” says Stephanie.
“I wish he would call me,” says Clarissa. “I just fear he doesn’t pay any attention to me and is head over heals in love with Jen.”
“He does look at her adoringly,” says Stephanie “but she would never date him. She’s too busy sticking her nose in the air?
The both let out a cathartic chuckle and shared a moment of silence.
Stephanie is good at knowing her best friend. She senses the importance of the phone call. She senses this crush is different from the numerous previous crushes.
“You really like this one?” Stephanie asks, breaking the silence.
“I have never felt so nervous about a boy before,” says Clarissa.
Finishing their cigarettes the two friends walked back inside; Clarissa putting on a courageous mentality and Stephanie excitedly imagining how the soon to be phone call would go.

“What am I going to say to her?” asks George. “Uh, I hear you liked me. Are you my soul mate?”
“Don’t be a fool, you fool,” says Levi. “You’ve got to get to know this woman. And I don’t mean sexually because I know you believe sex is best for married people. I mean you need to date her and feel comfortable around her.
“And then,” George says triumphantly, “I ask God to confirm she is the one.”
“Hey dude, whatever floats your boat. Personally I think she’d be a good sex pal but that’s not your way.”
“No, of course not,” says George. “So what do I say to her?”
“Ask her is she wants to come over here to your house and have a movie party with your folks,” says Levi.
“Yeah, I like that. That way we’re not uncomfortably alone and she can meet my parents,” says George.
“So…” Levi says expectantly.
“So what?” asks George.
“Call her you fool.”
“Yes, of course,” says George and then “You read the number and I’ll push these buttons, which will connect me to her house. I hope she’s home,” says George honestly.
The numbers have been pressed and now we wail for… “A busy signal,” says George. “She’s probably busy talking to some other dude.”
“You never know dude,” says Levi. “She may have been busy trying to reach you.”

Clarissa had finally completed the dialing of George’s number.
“I hope he’s home,” she tells Stephanie.
“Well if not we’ll just keep trying,” says Stephanie.
Anticipating a ring and getting a busy signal brought despair into Clarissa’s soul.
“He’s probably calling Jen,” says Clarissa disappointedly.
“Well, if he’s smart he’s calling you,” says Stephanie.