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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • DECEMBER 2017 Awkward moments abound as date night nears When we left off last month,
Ashley had told Kenneth in no uncertain terms that she was going on a date with Clay Garrison on Saturday night and there was nothing he could do or say to stop her. Rural Redemption, part 93, continues.
Woodshed
Chronicles by BOB COLLINS
Kenneth Henderson poked
away at his lukewarm dinner and took glum stock of his situation. He was home alone eating microwaved lasagna. His ankle was throbbing, his wife and daughter and son were all off to who-knows- where doing who-knows- what until who-knows-when. His daughter had informed him that she was going to start dating some smooth- talking cowboy wannabe whether he liked it or not. His wife had given that sordid little enterprise the go-ahead and told him it didn’t really matter what he thought
about it. His son had grown three inches taller and surprisingly self-confidant since the fall. Kenneth poured himself another glass of Scotch and contemplated the Henderson family universe. The rural galaxy was nothing at all like he imagined it would be. He was never able to fall into a comfortable orbit; never able to
become the star he’d imagined. And now the centre of gravity seemed to have shifted. Deborah and the kids were picking up speed near the middle while his own orbit had grown so distant and erratic that he was little more than a comet, with occasional close encounters but little real influence. He wondered how had he reached this pass. Half-way through another glass of Scotch, he turned his thoughts to Janice Newberry. He sent her a text and convinced himself that she would reply. Eventually, he
began to torture himself with imaginings about where she was, what she was doing and who she was or wasn’t doing it with. It never dawned on him that Janice Newberry was the sparkling star that had pulled his orbit out so far, or that he couldn’t circle two stars at once.
ttt It was after four when
Doug McLeod arrived at Jade Song’s. Deborah was waiting for him. “Hi, Jade. Hi, Deborah.
Sorry I’m late. I had to deal with a problem after last class.” “Trouble?” asked Deborah “No, no. Nothing out of the
ordinary. Just more teenage angst and drama.”
“Not either one of mine, I
hope.” “No. Actually, both of yours
seem refreshingly free of either one.” Just like you, thought Deborah. “Shall we run through this
then?” asked Jade. “You nailed Namely You last time so why don’t we run through Love in a Home?”
They stood 10 feet apart and sang it flawlessly. When they were done, Jade turned from the piano and looked from one to the other. “I can’t wait to see you two do this on stage. When you sing together, it’s like sparks are flying across the room. It’s absolutely electric! You must be able to feel it?” Deborah looked across the
room and met Doug McLeod’s stare. She knew Jade was right about the electricity; she could feel its tingle lingering the whole length of her spine. “I think we can thank Deborah for that,” said Doug. Deborah’s cheeks flushed. “Not me.” “Well, whoever we have to
thank for it, everyone who comes to see it is going to be in for a treat,” said Jade. Outside, as they were
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leaving, Deborah asked if Doug would be at the rehearsal that evening. “I’ll be there. You?” Deborah nodded.
“Do you think we could try to tone all this down a bit at the rehearsals?” “Sure, if you’d be more
comfortable.” “I think it would be less
distracting.” “Alright,” said Doug. “We’ll
save up and sing it whole hog at show time.” Later that evening at the community hall, Val Zimmer handed out the rehearsal schedule: Evenings Monday through Thursday and afternoons on the weekend. Li’l Abner was about to take over the lives of all involved.
ttt
The daily rehearsal absences were a provocation to Kenneth. The cold distance he kept from the rest of the family was routinely punctuated by outbursts of acrimony. It was wearing on all of them and when Deborah announced she was going shopping in town on Friday afternoon, Ashley jumped at the chance to go with her. “Do you think we could go to the drug store? There’s something I want to get for tomorrow night.” Deborah hesitated for an
instant. “Sure. I could use a few things myself.”
Deborah waited for Ashley in the car, pondering the approaching date and wondering what she needed for it from the drug store. It was all happening so quickly. Last week there was no Clayton Garrison and tomorrow night, he was taking Ashley out on her first real date. It was time for the talk – the big talk. She knew that every school student was taught the basic biology but that she wasn’t sure how much more. Three years ago, when
she’d tried to raise the subject, Ashley told her the teacher said they didn’t have to discuss it with anyone else if it made them uncomfortable. Deborah told her she just wanted her to know that she was free to talk about it anytime. But it never happened.
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Deborah thought about the talk her mother had with her. It was more like a sermon and it raised more questions than it answered. She winced at the thought of having one like it with her own daughter. But she knew she had to try. Ashley climbed into the
car. “So, are you excited about
tomorrow night?” “Yeah, I really am.” “Is there anything you want to ask me. About your date, I mean? Because you can ask me about anything, you know? I still remember my first real date and I couldn’t talk to my mother because she was so uptight about it, but I want you to be totally comfortable asking me anything okay?” Deborah was starting to
ramble. Ashley looked at her quizzically. “There is one thing I wanted to ask you.” “That’s good. See? This isn’t going to be a problem.” “What are you talking about, Mom?” “About us having this time
to talk. About answering your questions. What do you want to know, honey?” “I was wondering what
time I have to be home by?” The question stopped Deborah in her tracks. “What time were you
thinking?” Ashley was hoping Deborah would say midnight, so she said, “Maybe one?” “I think that might be a
little late,” said Deborah. “What if we say midnight?” “Okay.” “Anything else?” “Else?” “Yeah, like what you want to get at the drug store? Maybe I could give you some advice or help you find something?” “No, that’s okay.” said
Ashley. “I know what I want.” “This is all new to you,
honey. I really think we should talk about it.” “Alright, Mom. This
conversation is getting really weird. I started using this when I was 13 and I don’t know why you want to start talking about it now.” “Thirteen? “ “Yes, I started wearing lipstick at school when I was thirteen. I thought you had that figured out.” “Lipstick? Of course I
figured that out. I figured there was no harm in it as long as your father never saw you wearing it.” “Right. So what the heck
are you on about now?” “Nothing, really, I just…” A look of amazement
spread over Ashley’s face. “Oh my gawd, Mother! Is this supposed to be THE talk?”
... to be continued
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