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him
in Posie’s living room, groping my friend.
    I moved over.
    “Don’t pretend,” he said.
    “No,” I said, keeping my distance, “I
actually am repulsed by you.”
    He smelled wrong.  Like his own
B.O., plus something else I didn’t like very much and couldn’t exactly
identify, although it must have been eau de Marlena Hazard.  Spare me.
    “What’re you girls up to?” Jason
asked.
    Somehow I didn’t feel like chit
chat.  Not since he broke my heart.  “I’m about to leave.  Poz, I really should
go.  My dad—”
    “Right,” she answered, getting up. 
She gauged the situation perfectly.
    “I’ll take you,” Jason offered.
    “No,” Posie and I answered in
unison.
    “My dad doesn’t like guys hanging
around,” I said.
    “I’ll stay in the car.  Come on.  I’m
bored.”
    “Go home,” Posie ordered.
    “Why are you here anyway?” I asked.
    “Just cruisin’,” Jason said.
    “Finished so soon with Marlen—”
    Posie shot me a look.  I didn’t
finish the sentence.  She was right—it was totally uncool.
    Jason pinched my cheek.  “I love
that you’re jealous.  C’mon, I’ll ride with you guys.”
     
    [3]
    We pulled up in front of my house.
    “Looks normal enough,” Jason said. 
He opened his door and started to get out.
    “Stay  here,” I told him.  “You
promised.”
    “What’s the deal with your dad? 
Doesn’t he realize what a hot little number you are?  Of course there’ll be
guys hanging around.”
    I couldn’t let him see I was
flattered.  “He calls the cops on guys like you.”
    “Really?  This I gotta see.”  Jason
bounded out of the car before I could stop him.
    Our front blinds parted.  Someone
peeked out.
    I jumped out to catch him.  “Jason,
go back.  I’m serious.”
    “Oh, Lizzie,” he shouted, “I love
you, too.”  He corralled me into his arms.
    “It isn’t funny,” I said, pushing
him away.  “You’re going to get me in trouble.”
    The front door opened.
    “Who’s this?” my father asked.
    Great.
    Jason stepped forward.  “Jason
Wilder, sir, petitioner for your daughter’s hand.”
    I was having a serious problem
deciding whether to be happy or horrified.
    My father ignored Jason’s
outstretched hand.  “It’s late,” he told me.
    “Sorry,” I said.  “Posie and I were
doing homework.”
    My father squinted toward the car. 
Posie waved.
    Jason couldn’t take a hint.  “Yeah,
Lizzie was helping me with calculus.  Do you know your daughter’s a genius?”
    “Good night,” I said, giving Jason
a push.  I widened my eyes and murmured, “Go away.”
    My father finally gave Jason the
attention he so obviously craved.  “My daughter is not allowed to date.”
    “That’s a shame, sir, because she’s
a sweet girl.”
    My father’s face reddened.  Never a
good sign.
    “Dad,” I interjected, “Jason is
Posie’s boyfriend.”
    “Oh, that’s not true, sir.  It’s
Lizzie I love.”  Jason threw his arm around my shoulders to prove it.  I
elbowed him in the gut.
    “Jason!” Posie called from the
car.  “Get in here!”
    “See?” Jason said.  “I could never
date that.”
    “You think you’re funny?” my father
asked.  He bent down and picked up a rock, then drew it back like he was about
to throw it.
    “Dad!”
    “Get out of here,” my father
warned.  “Don’t come back.”
    Jason walked backwards toward the
car, still trying to charm my father all the way.  “Lizzie’s a fine girl, sir. 
She’ll make someone a wonderful wife.”
    This was exactly the wrong thing to
say, considering that my father was still waiting for his adulterous wife to
bring their son home.
    “Get out!” my father shouted.  “Or
I’ll call the police!”
    Jason nodded at me approvingly, as
if to say You were right!
    Posie honked her horn.  I shoved
Jason into the passenger seat.
    “You are a bastard,” I told him
angrily.  “That was not funny at all.”
    Jason scratched the side of