* * *
"C'mon, will you just tackle the guy!" Greg yelled at the television set,
on the off-chance that an Eagles defensive player might hear his pleas all
the way in San Francisco, where the Forty-Niners were currently driving
for a touchdown against the Rose family's beloved team. They all let out a
collective groan a few plays later, when the west coast opponents
successfully got the ball into the end zone. Welcoming the distraction
from her problems, Maddy sat on the couch between her mother and
oldest brother, eagerly participating in this fall Sunday ritual. She'd been
so caught up in the excitement she'd barely noticed when her mother got
up to answer a ringing telephone.
"Uh yes, one moment please," she heard Monica advise the caller,
before stepping back down into the game room to summon her daughter.
"Maddy, it's for you. I think it's Kenny!" She spoke in an excited
whisper. Maddy felt her heart catch in her throat but climbed the two
stairs into the office with renewed hopefulness. She took a deep breath
before picking up the red receiver.
"H-hello?"
"Hey, Madeline, it's Kenny!" He paced back and forth in his living
room, trying to keep his emotions in check. While his heart was beating
furiously, he was determined to come off as calm and collected. After all,
he'd had plenty of time to work through the anger; he wanted to prove to
her that he was mature enough to accept her decision graciously.
"Hi Kenny! How are you?"
"I'm fine, how are you? You watchin' the game?"
"Yeah, looks like they're gonna lose this one. Oh well! I'm just sitting
here, commiserating with the family; you know how it is." The sound of
his laughter revived a longing from deep within.
"Well, Maddy the reason I called is I just wanted to thank you for the
pictures. They turned out great! And I want you to know, there's no hard
feelings. I understand and accept your decision. But I hope we can still be
friends."
"I-I'd like that, Kenny," she replied, once again resigned to the notion
that he needed a real woman, not a scared little girl. Still, she was thrilled
that he bore no ill will towards her.
"Well, keep in touch, ok?"
"Will do," she promised. "Please take care, Kenny." And with that,
she hung up the phone and rejoined the group.
"How's Kenny?" Monica asked, surprised by the brevity of the
conversation.
"He's fine; just called to say hello and to ask if we could still be
friends. No hard feelings about the letter, thank God!"
"Madeline Rose! That's it? That's all you had to say to him?"
"Yeah, what else is there to say?"
"Look Maddy, why don't you call him back and invite him to the
Eagles game next week? We have an extra ticket. And they're playing the
Vikings, too. Didn't you tell me they were his next favorite team behind
the Eagles?" Her tone was laced with enthusiasm for a do-over of the
relationship.
"Yes, but-Mom, I don't know. I'm still so embarrassed about the
whole thing. And what if he turns me down? He probably has to work
anyway."
"So why don't you call him back right now and ask him so he has
time to find someone to cover for him?" Mrs. Rose asked forthrightly.
This young man was obviously still interested in Madeline. Perhaps the football game
would be a perfect vehicle for getting them back together again.