The Apple Tree - 4. Chapter 4

The next thing I knew the alarm was going off. I woke up with Tony lying on my chest. I kissed him on his head, “Tony, it’s time to get up.”

He stretched, looked at me, smiled, and kissed me on my chest. We untangled ourselves, “You go get a shower while I start the coffee and breakfast. Then while you eat, I’ll shower. So let’s go, chop-chop.”

We were ready to go at 7:15, “Hang on tight, we’ll have to travel fast to get there by 7:30.” Tony grabbed me tightly around the waist and away we went. I usually don’t travel this fast but if we were going to be on time, I had to go over the speed limit. Thankfully, we weren’t stopped and we made it as the clock in the store showed 7:30. Mr. Thomas took one look at us and smiled. I’m sure he noticed how tight Tony was holding me. We just smiled back as we got the store open.

Every chance I got I’d look at Tony. I didn’t fully realize it at the time, but I was falling in love with Tony. When lunchtime came, Mr. Thomas relieved me and smiling wished me a nice lunch. I just smiled as I saw Tony coming up to the front of the store. Just as we were leaving, Tony’s friend from yesterday came into the store. Tony introduced him and said we were on our way to lunch. Tony invited him to join us, he accepted of course.

When we entered the café, Anna winked at me. I guess I had a confused look. She just smiled and nodded toward Tony. I smiled and winked at her. We sat in the same booth, only this time Tony sat next to me. Anna came and got our orders with a big shit-eating grin. I didn’t realize that we were broadcasting our friendship, but evidently, we were.

While Tony was talking to his friend, he had his hand on my thigh. Mr. happy was straining to get out. I excused myself and rushed to the men’s room. I quickly relieved myself and splashed cold water on my face. Once I felt cooled off, I went back to the table. Tony looked at me with a wicked smile. He knew why I went to the men’s room.

After lunch Tony said goodbye to his friend, taking my hand we walked back to the store. I looked over my shoulder at the café, Anna was waving.

When we got home grandfather stopped us before we turned to go to the shack. “Your grandmother made some stew for your dinner. Tony, would you please go get it? Jim, I talked to a fellow who knows where Tony lived. He pretty much confirmed what Tony said. I think when you have a day off; we should drive over there and see what we can do.” Before I had a chance to say anything Tony came out with a pot of stew.

“Jump on the back, hold the pot steady and I’ll more or less push us home.” I didn’t push, but if you walked beside the cycle you’d have beaten us. When we got to the shack, I fired up the cookstove and placed the pot to heat on the stove.

While the stew was heating, I gathered all the dirty clothes to take to grandmother's to wash. I’ll get up extra early tomorrow morning, start the wash, and then when I come home I’ll pick them up. Grandmother usually had them dried and folded. Of course on my day off, I’d run errands for them.