Old Friends (Patricia)

[Julia Clark]

During her time at Hammel, Julia had made friends with several of the teachers and staff. Even as a young student, she had always been the one sticking around after class to chat with the teacher or stop and talk to the janitors in the hall. Once she made the move back to Pilot Ridge after dropping out of college her sophomore year, she had reestablished many of those relationships.

So it wasn’t unusual to see her wondering around Hammel of the days she had off to chat with her older friends. She usually brought along Watson because he enjoyed playing with the students and running around the courtyard. She was tossing a tennis ball to him when she noticed Patricia working on some landscaping near one of the buildings.

“Addie!” she said, waving to her friend. She ran over to meet her, a smile on her face as Watson raced alongside her, the tennis ball in his mouth. “Enjoying the weather?” she asked.

Watson also barked a greeting, dropping the ball at the older woman’s feet. Julia rolled her eyes at him, but was used to his begging for attention from anyone and everyone he came across. Much like his owner, Watson considered just about everyone an instant friend.

[Patricia Reed]

Addie had been neglecting shaping and trimming some of the other plants in favor for planting the new ones. It was her favorite part of spring. She could plant a range of different flowers in as many colors as anybody could imagine. As silly as it is, Addie liked to think of it as her responsibility to try to bring the grounds to life or make the school less intimidating to the new students.

But like I said, that’s not what she was doing right then. The seeds had been planted; the flowers were beginning to bloom. And she had hedges that were trying to become wildly out of control. So with large gardening sheers, she made cuts, stepped back, accessed the appearance, and would make more cuts.

When she heard her name hollered, she made one last cut before turning around. The older woman smiled and wave. “Hey there Jules!” She stabbed the sheers into the mulch around shrubs, keeping it in an upright position when she walked away from them.

Kneeling down to the ground, Addie immediately began showing Watson affection, rubbing his head and scratching behind his ears. “I am enjoying the weather actually. You know I love when it’s warm.” But anybody who didn’t know Addie very well, but well enough to know her name could probably guess. Her generally happier disposition was enough of an indicator. And her shirt, a dark green tank top, provided optimal amount of sun to warm her.

Snatching the ball off the ground, she gave it a good, hard throw, laughing as she stood up. “How have you been doing Jules? We’ve missed you around here.”

[Julia Clark]

Normally Julia would have bounded over and hugged Addie, but she was a little wary of doing that when the older woman was holding a pair of hedge trimmers in her hands. Instead she waited until Addie had them safely stuck in the ground before hugging her friend. “Yes ma’am I sure do,” she said. She grinned as Watson gave a bark before running off to find his tennis ball.

“I’ve been…” she said, actually wondering a bit herself. Sometimes she wondered just what the heck people about her life. She was a college dropout with a minimum pay job at a thrift store and a roommate twice her age. She knew it wasn’t the norm. But she had never enjoyed living the cookie cutter life that everyone seemed to strive for. “I’m good,” she finished. She felt more than good actually, but she couldn’t think of a stronger word. So instead she grinned like an idiot. “And I miss this place. I really should stop by more often.”

Waston, who seemed to have gotten distracted from his ball by a group of young students, was only one reason to stop by Hammel. Sure it was a good excuse to say she wanted to let him run around and play with the kids. But truthfully, Julia felt that she’d find some sort of excuse even if she didn’t have a dog.

“I put up a sign offering tutoring for any students,” she continued. “So if you hear anybody looking for one…” she let her sentence die off figuring Addie would catch her drift.

“I see you’ve been busy around here,” Julia said, gesturing towards the many color flowers blooming around the grounds. “Looks real nice Addie.”

[Patricia Reed]

Addie wasn’t normally one for affection. She wasn’t raised in family where hugging was a common occurrence. But she could sometimes manage. Especially with some of the students she took a kind liking too. Such as Julia. Or even Caroline. So when Julia hugged her, Addie didn’t feel awkward in hugging the young girl back like she would with if she were to hug a number of other people.

If anybody understood not wanting the cookie cutter life, it was Addie. That was something she admired in her young friend. At Julia’s age, Addie was still hiding who she was from her parents. But more importantly, hiding it from herself. But Julia seemed to embrace everything about herself. “Well I’m glad you’re doing well.” And after nudging the Hammel graduate, Addie nodded in agreement. “You do. We miss you around here. Or swing by my house. Something. I started to forget what you looked like.” Of course, she was teasing. “You should bring Watson by the house. Tally and Rocks could use somebody new to play with.” She said, mentioning her own pets.

Figuring she could probably find a few kids who needed help, Addie nodded. “Sure thing. I’ll spread the word to the teachers too. They’ll know better than me. But I’ll keep my eye out for you.” Looking around, Addie surveyed the land she’d been working hard to beautify with bright explosions of color. And with her little gift, most of the flowers were in full bloom. “Thanks. I’ve been working hard lately. But I’ve got some help.” Looking back at Julia, she smiled. “Her name’s Caroline. She’s cute as button and likes helping be plant. You’d adore her.” That Addie was sure about. Both girls were bubbly and the Hammel worker was very fond of both of them.

“So what have you been up to lately Julia? Fill me in on stuff. How’s work been?” Tired of standing, Addie settled herself onto the grass. She figured she and Julia would be talking for some time, so she might as well get comfortable.

[Julia Clark]

Julia had always been a physical kind of person. Hugging was just in her nature. So even if Addie had been uncomfortable that wouldn’t have necessarily stopped her. Over time, most of her friends just got used to her affection on them. And even the once who were awkward about it at first warmed up over time.

“He’d love that,” Julia said, watching the dog run around the field. “We’ll have to set up a play date for them.” She laughed. Often she treated Watson like he was her child instead of a pet and although the idea was funny to her, she couldn’t help it. Besides her roommate, Watson was the only family she really had.

”Thanks,” she said, hugging the older lady again. She smiled as her friend explained about her new helper. “Glad you have some help. She sounds great. Maybe I’ll run into her around here, since I’ll be here more…and all…to see you..and stuff,” she shrugged as her sentence became a bit repetitive. The habit wasn’t really something she was ashamed of though.

”Well I’m still working at that thrift store in town. It’s great, I just wish I could sneak Watson in more, but my boss worries he’ll frighten customers or something,” she explained as she plopped down on the grass as well. Watson came running back with his soggy ball to see what fun the woman were having on the ground. “Can’t see why she’d think that.” She patted the dog on the head and rubbed his ears as he licked her cheek.

“We get along on everything else though, so I can’t complain. Not much else to report. Still livin over at the same place and all. No big news or nothin’.” Julia couldn’t recall if Addie ever said how she felt about the younger woman’s living arrangements. Not that it would have changed anything. “How about you?” she said, tossing Watson his ball again.

[Patricia Reed]

Addie understood perfectly the way of thinking of pets as children. Even though she had birthed a child, Addie hadn’t been the one who raised the girl. So in a way, Tally and Rocks were her children. And her only family. “Absolutely. You could bring them by. They’ll play in the yard. And you can help me with my garden.” The older woman said with a laugh. “I’m kidding. I won’t put you to work. But you should come over. Dinner one night?” That would be when Addie would put Julia to work, in the kitchen.

“Any time Julia.” With another hug, Addie chuckled. Julia was so affectionate. And quite frankly she loved it. “She is great. Chatty as hell to.” The older woman couldn’t help but smile and giggle. “She gets so excited her words jumble together and you can’t tell what she’s saying.” The maintenance worker gave Julia’s arm a light and playful whack. “You better be around more to see me. Hammel’s not the same without you and Watson around.”

“You must be kidding, right?” Said the older woman with a smile on her face as the one they were speaking of came running back to them. “Watson wouldn’t hurt a flyyy.” Though, she seriously doubted that Watson could even scare a fly. “You should set her and Watson up on a play date of their own. Then she’d see. And then he could be like one of those small boutique store dogs and get spoiled with love and affection.” As if that didn’t happen at Hammel already. “Isn’t that right Watson?” She said using a baby voice to speak to the dog as she wrestled the ball carefully and gently out of his mouth. Then proceeded to chuck it again.

Addie had no particular feelings on Julia’s living arrangement. Not that she didn’t care. But Julia’s living arrangement was Julia’s living arrangement. The girl was free to do as she wished. And frankly, Addie didn’t think living with somebody so much older was a bad thing. Just a different experience. “Nothing new really. Hammel, home, Tally and Rocks. All good. I am going out more though. Bars. And clubs.” She felt a little funny telling Julia that. Only because she was old enough to be her mother though.

[Julia Clark]

“You know I wouldn’t mind helping you in the garden,” Julia said, laughing along with her friend. “I’m no…gr…green thumb, but I could give it a try.” Not that she was all that great in the kitchen either. She was wonderful with desserts, but anything considered a real meal never worked out quite like she had planned. Admittedly, it didn’t bother her much. Dessert should always be the best part of the meal anyway, right?

“Sounds like someone I can relate to,” Julia continued. She often mixed up her words in a jumble, although it was necessarily from excitement. Sometimes her sentences just died halfway thought because she forgot how she was going to finish them. Like the connection between her brain and tongue ran on a line that wasn’t completely connected. “Good,” she said, giving Addie a playful shove. “Cuz I miss being around here too.”

“I know. Other than licking everyone to death he never bothers anyone,” Julia said. Although she could understand her bosses concerns, Julia wished she could see that Watson wasn’t just any dog in the world. He might even improve sales with those puppy dog eyes of his. “Still I like my job so I don’t wanna push…press?...the issue. Ya know?”

Julia didn’t think it was odd that Addie told her about going to bars and such. Although the woman was probably old enough to be her mother, Julia never saw it that was. She had always felt like she had a adjustable age that increased or decreased depending on the company she was with at the moment. “Oh really?” she asked. “Any good ones around town?” Julia was not much for going out to bars and clubs usually. Not that she had anything against drinking or anything. She just didn’t care for the kind of people those sorts of places tended to draw in.

[Patricia Reed]

“Well at the very least then you can keep me company while I do some work in my garden. After I’ll make a nice lunch.” She was already thinking of what exactly she could do for their meal. Addie liked only using the freshest ingredients while she cooked. It meant going to the market almost daily and buying only enough for the day. It also meant very little of what she bought was wasted. “I could go to the market, get some fruit, and make us a nice fruit salad.” That would usually be enough to fill Addie, but if she was going to have a guest, she needed to think of their needs too. “Do you have any preferences as to what we eat?”

With a smile, the older woman nodded. She knew very well what Julia meant. While Julia stumbling over her words was the case, it wasn’t anymore noticeable than how it occasionally happened to every person. Though, Addie might not notice anymore as they were friends. Laughing, Addie let herself fall back onto the ground when Julia gave her a soft push. “I’m telling you, if I didn’t like planting so much, Hammel would almost seem like a job without you guys around.”

Addie could understand not wanting to push the issue. Or was it press? Now she was questioning the common phrase too. Anyway, she understood. Especially with the economy being the way it is. And it made her thankful again that she had such freedom with her job. “Well, if you don’t want to keep him at home while you work, you can bring him here sometimes and I can take care of him? That way he can run around with the kids. And you have an excuse to come around more.”

“I usually go to ones outside of town.” Yes, it meant a little bit of a drive on her part. But one, she liked driving. And two, the idea of meeting somebody in town and attempting to start something with that person… Well the idea frightened her quite a bit. It was outside of her comfort zone. “But I there is one bar I’ve been to in town. When I just want to have a quick drink. It’s nice. The servers are too.” When she went there, she allowed herself to dress more comfortable, but still nice. And she wasn’t looking for somebody to meet. Just looking for a relaxing evening away from home. “You should join me sometime."

[Julia Clark]

Julia smiled and nodded along as Addie started to plan their get together. Keeping someone company sounded like something she’d feel more comfortable doing than helping out in the kitchen. “I’m sure whatever you make will be delicious,” she said. “If ya want, I could bring something for dessert? You’re not allergic to peanuts or anything, right?” Because dessert was always a must. And it’d been a while since she’d made peanut butter pie.

“Wait, this is your job?” Julia asked, faking surprise for a moment before she laughed. Truly, the older woman always seemed to enjoy herself at Hammel so much that it never seemed like she was working. Although Julia was sure there were evenings Addie went home tired and perhaps a little sore, she couldn’t imagine Addie dreading coming back the next day.

“I might have to took…take you up on that sometime,” she said. She was sure Waston would love running around Hammel while she was at work. It had to be excited than sitting by the front window waiting for her to return.

Julia’s first thought was to kindly decline the older woman’s offer to go out with her. But after a moment she decided that it would be nice. After all any place that Addie went to couldn’t be that horrible of a location. And if nothing else, she would enjoy the time with her friend. “Sure,” she said slowly, still debating the idea in her head even as she agreed. “It’s been a while since I’ve had an evening out. When do you usually go?”

[Patricia Reed]

“Oh dessert would be absolutely wonderful.” Addie agreed one hundred and ten percent, dessert was absolutely necessary. “And no, I’m not allergic to nuts of any kind.” She smiled at her friend, already trying to guess as to what dessert would be. Other than delicious of course. “Nah, I’m not allergic to any kind of nuts. No food actually. So anything you bring will be wonderful.”

Throwing her head back, Addie laughed. Loudly. Julia was right. Doing this, working at Hammel and tending to the grounds, well it was wonderful. Nothing felt ‘job-like’ about it. “I know, right? They could get me to do this for free.” Addie said with a big smile on her face, looking around. But then she looked back at her friend. “Don’t tell anybody I said that though. I really do prefer being paid to do this.” Especially in today’s economy. And it wasn’t as if a maintenance worker made a large salary.

“Absolutely! Please. The kids would love it I’m sure. And Watson’s not ever a bother around ‘ere. You know that.” She smiled at the dog. “Besides, I kinda like him. I’ve thought about bringing Tally and Rocks a few times. But they have each other at the house to keep them company. And Tally’s still just a baby. I don’t want her getting lost.” Plus, she wouldn’t mind the company. Addie didn’t always have a student tagging along with her, asking questions about the plants. So some days were pretty quiet. But she could talk to Watson.

Smiling, Addie could kind of sense that Julia wasn’t sold on the idea, especially when she dragged out her agreement. “I usually go during the week. About seven or eight. It’s slower then. I don’t like too much hustle and bustle. I usually only go long enough for just a drink. Maybe two.” Shrugging her shoulders, she didn’t want the younger girl to feel as if she had to tag along. “You absolutely don’t have to go if you don’t wish to. I just thought I’d offer it to you.”

[Julia Clark]

“Great!” Julia said, grinning. “Sounds like a great. I mean good plan.” She was glad Addie was okay with her bringing dessert. Because although she could make sweets and the like easy enough, it always seemed to her that the moment she tried to make a more substantial part of the meal she was destined for disaster. Perhaps her cooking skills knew that dessert was the best part of the meal.

“Oh I’m telling,” Julia said joking. She looked around the courtyard as if she were looking for the appropriate authority figure to blab too, before turning back to Addie to elbow her in the side. “Don’t worry you’re secret’s safe with me.” She was always amazed by people who enjoyed their jobs as much as Addie obviously did. Although Julia loved her job, she knew it wasn’t something she’d be doing if it didn’t come with a paycheck.

Watson, as if on cue to what they were discussing, jumped up to lick at Addie’s face. “I think that means he’s up for the idea,” Julia said, laughing at his antics. She rubbed his ears, before throwing his ball for him to fetch again.

Although Julia wasn’t what one might call excited about this idea, that didn’t mean she regretted accepting the invitations. After all, Addie said things were slower during the week and she didn’t stay for long. “Nah,” she said, waving off the older woman’s shrug. “Sounds like it could be fun.” Besides, it wasn’t like she had to go again if she really hated it.

[Patricia Reed]

“It’s settled then!” Addie said with a smile. It would be nice to have a visitor. She didn’t often have any. The occasional out of town friend would visit. But more often than not she spent her time by herself. Aside from her pets of course. “How about next weekend? Say… eleven? I’ll get started on some food at about noon for us?” Of course, there was another reason she wanted Julia to come over. Addie was very proud of the little home she’d built for herself. And loved showing it off. Even if Julia had seen it before.

Laughing, Addie lightly thwamped her friend’s leg. “Don’t you dare Julia Clark. I’ll get you if I do.” But the older woman knew that her friend wouldn’t rat her out. Not that enjoying your job were grounds for termination anyway. “Good. For a second I thought I was going to have take care of you. And I’m a gardener. I can hide a body pretty easily.” She said with a smile and laugh, of course she was joking.

“Oooh hiya boy!” Addie said with a large smile, enjoying the affection the dog gave her as she rubbed and scratched behind his ears. “Good.” The Hammel employee couldn’t help but speak to the dog in a baby voice, the way she had talked to her animals when she first got them. “Youwe jus’ a big snuggwe bug, arenchya?” She watched, smiling, as the dog ran off again.

“Oh good, I’m glad.” She said as she turned to her friend. Julia actually reminded her somewhat of herself when she was that young. Though, Addie didn’t go out for different reasons. “I promise. I don’t get too wild. Just a glass of wine. And I sometimes take a book. I’m really kind of boring.” Addie assure the younger girl with a wink and smile.