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all that had happened. She felt peaceful and lazy. The good feel of his hand made her eyelids heavy. |
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'There you are again,' he said. |
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Lifting her gaze to the television screen, Denise saw herself in a sunny backyard, laughing hard and trying to dodge a water balloon hurled by Kara. As she twisted away, the balloon caught her in the hip. It burst to shreds. Clear, gleaming water exploded out, darkening her red shorts, gluing her T-shirt to her side, splashing down her leg. |
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Kara didn't. Not even when two of her friends charged into view and nailed Denise with more balloons, drenching her, and she cried out and snatched up the garden hose and went after them. |
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Denise looked over her shoulder. Kara, with her Alf slippers resting on the edge of the table, was slumped back against the sofa asleep. |
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'Our little friend's zonked,' she whispered. |
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She looked at him. From his smile, she realized that Kara's dropping off had been his cue to reach for her. 'We might as well turn this off,' she said, and picked up the remote. |
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'Kara wouldn't like us watching it without her. She's the star.' Denise pushed the 'off' button. The birthday party vanished, replaced by a Jeep commercial. |
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'Aw. It was just starting to get good.' |
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