Green Eyed Girl - Chapter 2

As I entered the flat I suddenly felt embarrassed. How was I going to explain away this green substance? I’m really not the type of guy who buys groceries, especially things that look like they need some cooking to turn into anything edible. It’d be different if I walked in sporting a sack full of take out. I mean, a guy’s gotta eat sometimes. But the Green Thing was definitely not in my diet plan. I swallowed a lungful of totally unhelpful air and opened the door.



Of course, I couldn’t catch a break and walk in to find the place devoid of pesky family members. There, sitting on the couch with a look on her face that told me I was definitely not getting away with this was my sister in law. No, wait. Not just my sister in law, but BOTH of her equally puzzled kids. I checked my watch. It’s just after five. “Before you say anything, Tris. Why don’t you tell me what you all think you’re doing lounging about?”



Her face changed then, slightly embarrassed now. I bet it matched my own expression. “We were just taking a break from um,” She looked around at the wreck I like to call my home, “cleaning?” She shrugged. I knew this was a lie. I’d asked her to do the chores this morning, knowing they wouldn’t get done.



“I worked all day, man. I pay the bills, I let you guys crash here for going on, 5 months now? The least you could do is clean up once in a while.” She nodded, a knowing look in her eyes. “I’ll do it tomorrow, Rick. I promise. But uh,” here it goes, “you wanna explain what the hell that thing is?”



My nephew laughed, probably due to the “hell” part of that question and nothing more. He’s barely 2 years old and usually bears an expression that exudes he has no clue what’s going on but is happy to be included in the conversation. I used this as a stalling point. “Hey man, what are you laughing at?” I dropped my briefcase and jacket on the end table by the door and crossed over to him, egging him on. “C’mon, tell us the joke, buddy.”



He giggled more and leaned in to my ear. “Hell!” he cried into my ear. I’ve got to teach this kid how to whisper. “Jamie!” Tris scolded with equal volume, which made both Jamie and me grin in accomplishment. But then she fixed her eyes on me and pointed the the Green Thing, “alright really, what is it?”



I sighed, caught in the trap. I decided to admit defeat, “I have no freaking clue.” This perked up my shy but very bright five year old niece, Piper. “You don’t know what it is? But you buyed it, Uncle Rick.” Her big doe eyes got even wider and then she relaxed into a giggle. “You’re silly.”



“YOU’RE silly!” I replied, laying the Green Thing on the coffee table and lunging at her mismatched socked feet, prepared to tickle until the heat of this embarrassing predicament simmered down. I made a mental note amidst Piper’s peals of laughter, to be more spontaneous so as to avoid situations like this one.