“I can’t believe this weather,” says Krystal, stopping beside the wooded path that leads to Fyfield House.
Oscar says, “I agree, it’s better than what we had for summer,” as he shakes the blanket, letting it billow out and settle on the grass under the huge weeping willow.
“Pity it won’t last,” says Maggie as she sits cross legged in the middle of the blanket, balancing her laptop in her lap. Oscar positions his bag in the corner of the blanket and drops down beside Maggie, laying back and using the computer as a pillow.
Krystal holds a finger to her lips and cautions Maggie, “Shhhh … mother nature might hear you,” then she lays down along the blanket’s other edge, parallel to Oscar, but on her stomach, propped on her elbows as she opens her email account.
Oscar laughs and says “Climate change seems pretty real to me. Never know what we’re going to get. Perhaps winter will give us a miss altogether this year.”
“In your dreams, Oz,” says Krystal. “Hey, didn’t you go home this summer?”
Oscar says, “If you knew my family you’d understand why.”
Maggie watches Krystal type. “I don’t know how you can type like that. I tried that once and lost all circulation.”
Krystal smiles. “I dunno … works for me.” She scans the subject column, routinely marking obvious spam for destruction.
Maggie clears her throat. “Uh, Krys, there’s something I have to tell you.” Maggie says. Krystal rolls over on her side, looking up at her friend.
“That doesn’t sound good, Maggie.”
“Yeah, because I think you’re going to be mad.” Krystal watches Maggie, who is having a hard time making eye contact. “I’m sorry Krys, but I was really down and I, well, I kind of told Oz.”
“You what?”
From his side of the blanket, Oscar looks over at Krystal, meeting her eyes firmly. “I dragged it out of her. I’m sorry. And in future we’ll be very careful not to let it go any further.”
“Further? What further?” Krystal’s eyes narrow. “Who else knows? What did you do, run an ad on Craigslist?”
“Worse. We discussed it in the common room.”
Krystal shakes her head and sits up. “I don’t believe you Maggie. First you haunt me until I tell you and when I do you broadcast it to the world. It’s my life, don’t you get that?”
“I’m sorry. I thought we were alone but Jake came in and heard too. I’m so sorry.”
“It wasn’t intentional, I promise you that.” adds Oscar.
“Jake? Jesus, you guys. So that’s everybody? You didn’t tell anybody else? I mean, Jose doesn’t know, right?” Both Oscar and Maggie shake their heads solemnly, looking dejected. “Look, you guys need to understand. It’s hard enough for me to be here, but if the whole world knows I won’t be able to stick it out.”
“I get it Krystal, and I can’t tell you. I’m just sorry.” Maggie tells her with feeling.
“Okay.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask, I may not tell.” Krystal replies wryly.
“Why are you here? I mean, I don’t know that I’d go to school if it was me.”
“Really? Where else would I be? I’m here for the same reason you are, I love computers. I like working with them, getting them to do what I want them to. I like learning to make them do stuff I don’t even know I want them to do. It’s fun.”
“But, if I only had … ”
“You think so? You could be hit by a bus tomorrow Maggie. Why waste your time if this isn’t what you want to do?”
Maggie nods, “I guess. I hadn’t thought about it.”
“Well, I have, and I decided to live like I mean it.”
“I guess you have. I can’t tell you how sorry I am, Krys.”
“Yeah, I know you are. So now you can stop apologizing and move on, okay?” Krystal holds her eye, “I just want a normal life.”
“I understand.” Maggie nods.
Krystal smiles, “On the other hand if Hugh Jackman called me up and asked me to loll in the sun on the French Riviera it might be different.” Krystal looks at her unhappy companions. “Okay, who knows a good funny story?”
Sniffling, Maggie asks, “Funny story?”
“That’s what I want, to hang out with friends and have fun.”
Krystal turns to Oscar. “Come on Oz, got any more Oscar Wilde stories? I really liked the one about the cowboy.”
“That was good, wasn’t it.” Oscar grins, “You know, Maggie has her own wild story. Did she ever tell you about her flasher?”
Krystal’s eyes widen, “Flasher? No way. Tell!”
Maggie rolls her eyes. “But it wasn’t funny.”
“Ah, but it was,” says Oscar.
Krystal turns to Oscar, “Come on, then, Oz, spill it.”
