So now, on top of everything else we had to worry about, we now faced the prospect of going to hell. We were already half the way there for reading that dirty book Wally had given us, the previous summer. We repented that one sincerely and we hoped that it had bought us a few more miles further away from hell. We didn’t tell Jacee about that either. She would have thought we were scraggs. She has a way of doing that.
But at the moment, all that was fast fading into the background. The minutes were ticking down and Jacee had not found her camera. Anda and I were going crazy and since it was her house, we had no idea where to look. So we just sat down and stood up, sat down and stood up, nerves jangling to high heaven. With two minutes left to go Jacee yelps “I GOT IT!” and runs out the back door. She flew past us so fast that at first we just stood there. Then we looked at each and screamed. We were sure we were going to have heart failure, going through all of this, as well. Crap! It’s time! Oh my God!
We are positioned in the kitchen window and trying to inconspicuously watch Jacee as she makes her way, through the snow, without Wally seeing her, without him even being aware of her. Her cue, that she can take the picture, is when we pretend to wave to Wally. “Oh my God she’s got no coat or boots! She’s in her stocking feet!” wails Anda. I look in her direction without moving my head. I worry he will see my eyes too. Then duh! I realize that he’s too far away to see my eyes! Ah fear…what it will do to your guilty brain! But Anda’s right. Jacee is in the snow up to her knees, in stocking feet!
Anda elbows me and the moment is upon us. We are like cackling chickens. Are you gonna look? No! Me neither. Let’s just watch Jacee and make it look like were watching. Oh my God… the blinds are going up in his bedroom! Shriek! I can’t look! Me neither! Oh my God he’s so gross! Where’s Jacee? She’s right under his window! Crap! We almost pointed at her! WAVE! Wave at Wally but don’t look at him! Come on Jacee! Take the picture! There’s the flash! Oh my God! I think he saw her! Run Jacee! Run!…Did you look at him!? NO!! Me neither!!
The back door flies open and Jacee and her bronchitis are in high gear. “He saw the flash!” she coughs. “Did you see him?! Did you see his thing?!” she gasps. “NO!!!” we yell. “Me neither!” she coughs again. Just then the phone rings and we scream. “It’s him!” we babble, but we don’t answer. Jacee changes into dry socks and we’re freaking at her for not putting her boots on. “I didn’t have time!” she yells. The phone rings again. She’ll have to answer it soon, in case it’s her mom.
Right now, we’re not interested in who calls. Our eminent release from the clutches of Wally The Perv is at hand. The proof to nail him is about to show itself. Jacee has the precious Polaroid photo in her hand and she’s shaking it. I’m jumping up and down in time and Anda is biting her nails. Ever so slowly the photo comes together and there it is…in glorious living color…the window sill and side of Wally’s house….
Next -> Winning the War
Tags: bronchitis, going to hell, heart failure, stocking feet