Mark & Lou’s Story
Louise sat down at her computer that Saturday afternoon she had the
whole house to herself or so she had thought.
Lou-Lou: Are u there???
He-Man: Hey babe whassup?
Lou-Lo: Nothing just wanna talk
He-Man: Sure Babe!!!
Lou-Lou: So what u been up to?
He-Man: Not much u
Lou-Lou: Just school an stuff
He-Man: Yeah same here!!!
Lou-Lou: So what u doin now???
He-Man: Talkin to u babe
Lou-Lou: That’s not what I meant!!!
He-Man: Not much I gotta go out soon I got a few errands to run
Lou-Lou: Oh right
He-Man: What about u?
Lou-Lou: Might go out later
He-Man: With anyone special?
Lou-Lou: No I usually meet my sister and a whole bunch of kids from
school
He-Man: Cool Well Lou I gotta go talk to u soon hon
Lou-Lou: k bye
He-Man: Bye
Louise
smiled to herself then switched off her computer, Hayley had asked her to come
down to Lori’s but she had declined, now she was planning on going “Hey sweetie
I didn’t think anyone was home” she heard her mother say “I’m just going out
actually” she replied as she pulled on her jacket “Do you know anything about
this Ben boy Hayley is seeing?” Louise drew in a deep breath she couldn’t
understand why adults did this why couldn’t they just come right out and ask
the person? “He is nice and he makes Hayley happy”
“Nice?
Well he has a nice car I’ll give him that”
“What?”
Mrs Parker glanced down to where her daughter
sat lacing her boots.
“Well he has a nice car…which would probably be
quite fast…does Ben drive fast Louise?”
Louise glanced up at her mother then sighed,
she knew what she was getting at “Mom Hayley will be absolutely fine…I think we
all learned our lesson the last time!” her mother frowned “Yeah well I hope so
that’s all I’m saying” Louise stood up watching as her mother slowly turned away
“This car of this boy’s” Louise rolled her eyes “What about it?” she hissed
“It’s not what’s the word you kids use…hot that’s it…it’s not hot is it?”
Louise grinned “Yeah it’s very hot…it’s super…but no mom it ain’t stolen if
that’s what you think” she relaxed “Well that’s okay…so you going out?” Louise
nodded “Yep I’m meeting Hayley in Lori’s” she said happily “I’m glad the car
isn’t stolen” Louise frowned recalling what had happened on the last day of
term the previous year.
~***~
Mark turned into the tree lined street that cold November afternoon, the
snow which had fallen days before was still lying somewhat undisturbed although
a pathway had been cleared along the side walks the teenager pulled up outside
the house with the two massive snowmen then blasted the horn. Within seconds the front door opened and out
ran two excitable 4 year olds their long blond hair flowing freely behind
“Maaark” they both squealed in unison Mark smiled as they neared, dressed
identically in pink dungarees and white sweaters “Get inside!” they were firmly
told “We’re just saying hi to Mark…you don’t have to get all moody Christian”
said Ingrid who was older than her sister by ten minutes their elder brother
glanced down at them then let out a deep sigh “Yeah well you’ve said high now
scoot”
“No we ain’t…not properly,” said Irma smiling
fondly in Mark’s direction
“Well how are my girls?” said Mark
“Fine Mark” they replied together as huge
smiles crossed their faces
“What’d you bring us today Mark?” asked Ingrid
“Ingrid!” Chris chastised
“It’s okay…I got you some candy is that okay?”
They smiled happily at him then took the candy
bars.
“There…now get inside before you catch cold and
mom has my hide” Chris cut in as he got into the car beside Mark
“Where are you going?” asked Irma holding her
candy bar as if it was something sacred “We’re just gonna cruise about then
maybe end up in Lori’s” said Mark
“Can…” said Ingrid
“No!” hissed her brother her green eyes darted
to where Chris sat
“But you don’t even know what I was gonna say?”
she pouted
“Yeah I do…you’re gonna wangle it so you come
along for the ride…well the answer is no!”
Both girls flashed Mark a disappointed look
before turning on their heals and running back towards the house shouting at
the top of their squeaky little voices “Mmmoooommm…Chris is being so mean to
us!” Chris on the other hand merely laughed then instructed Mark to drive.
He
started the engine then slowly pulled away from the sidewalk “Where d’you wanna
go?” he inquired
“I’m easy”
“Hey we all know how easy you are
buddy…seriously where do you want to go?”
“I don’t care as long as it’s as far away from
here!”
“Fine we’ll head to Lori’s”
“Sure” said Chris as he looked back to find his
sisters standing on the sidewalk wearing their pink anoraks and Wellingtons,
all set for a day out in the snow, he loved them dearly but they just bugged
the hell outa him sometimes and he needed to get away from them.
Mark had his own reasons for going to Lori’s he’d a feeling that’s where
he’d find Louise Parker, he’d asked Hayley earlier and she’d said she might be
there “God can’t we go someplace else?” Chris groaned
“Why?”
“Coz like I feel as thou I’m here 24/7”
“Sorry buddy…we can go if you want?”
Chris noted the disappointed look on his
friends face then sighed.
“Nah we’re here now…may as well go in”
Mark pulled open the door and stepped inside.
“Hey you guys over here,” cried Hayley happily
waving over to them
Mark was quick to make his way over and slip
onto the seat next to Louise who rolled her eyes and shifted nervously away
from him
“What d’you want to eat?” Chris inquired
“Err I’ll just have a coffee” said Mark
“Coffee…he drinks coffee…Jesus my dad drinks
coffee…how old is he?” thought Louise as she side glanced him. Maybe it was a journalistic trait now did
J-J drink coffee? Louise tried to recall.
Louise smiled as Chris brought over the tray with a massive chocolate
milk shake and plate of ice cream “Here one cup of coffee” he said as he handed
it over Mark took hold of the large white mug then took a few sips “Thanks
buddy” he replied Louise side glanced him then pouted “Why does he have to be
so damn…what’s the word yeah old fashioned…that’s it he’s old fashioned” she thought
as she caught Hayley’s eye she was trying to convey something to her but
what? What was Hayley trying to
say? Usually they were quite good at
mental telepathy “Oh God! She wants me
to talk to the geek!” she suddenly realised “So how are you Louise?” he spoke
she forced a smile “Okay…you?”
“Yeah I’m doing good…so are you err.”
Oh Christ he’s gonna ask me out! “Excuse me…I just gotta go powder my nose”
she said hastily.
“Oh okay” Mark muttered downheartedly as he
watched her slip away and not return.