The Girl. Read online

  Ella helped set a final plate onto the table and replied, “Thanks it is nice just being around a family”. Curious, “Your mother isn’t with you?” Frowning. Nodding her head, Ella said, “My folks have busy careers, so I got use to many sandwiches”.

  Rose eyebrows high, Brenda gasped and wanted to get to know Ella a bit better. Later that evening, Ella joined them all for a Wiley dinner and the food was so good and filling. Ella ate and glanced at Saul a lot, as Paul Gene noticed her looking.

  Especially the way she did at his boy and gave a little grin to himself, Saul did not notice though, he thought she was a nice kid.

  The other boys thought she is cool, when dinner was done, near 6:00 pm, the Wiley boys all got ready quickly with Ella watching Saul’s every move and right out of the kitchen. Brenda was clearing off the table and Ella asked her, “Where is the bathroom?” Holding plates, Brenda pointed down a long hallway and Ella went walking off quickly going down the long hallway.

  She walked by many rooms with the door closed except one, and paused peeking into the room. Ella’s eyes became large looking into Saul’s bedroom, as he was dressing and she just stood there frozen actually looking at his bare chest that was broad and perfect.

  Suddenly, Ella’s eyes almost popped out of her head, when Saul jumped down onto the bedroom floor immediately started doing pushups, Ella mumbled, “Oh my god!”

  Stood with a glow watching him go up and down in fast pace, as she started fanning herself saying, “Oh my, he is hot”. Dreamy, sighs with eyes glued at Saul and said, “He is the one I want”.

  Moving up and down much faster, Saul noticed Ella standing outside of his door, and lifted his head up and winked towards the door.

  Stumbling back against the wall, Ella gasped, “Ah”, and rushed off nervously, as Saul continued, laughing.

  Ella made it back into the kitchen quickly and was still nervous, Brenda asked, “Did you find the bathroom ok sugar?” Ella just nodded with her eyes very big.

  Phone ringing, and Brenda clearing off the table went answering it.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello, look I can hear you breathing”.

  Sour look, Brenda seem to be getting aggravated, as her hand swung and putting the dirty dishes in the sink Ella rolled her eyes.

  Brenda become surprised and her black eyebrows raised high she said, “Seth!” “Sure hold on girl”.

  Holding the receiver, Brenda told Ella, “Can you believe it a darn girl?” Now yelled, “Seth”. Ella and Brenda giggled when Seth rushed into the kitchen and his maw reached the phone to him.

  “Who is it?” Brenda batted her eyelashes saying, “Woo-wee a girl”.

  Ella smiled as she started washing the dishes and Seth took the receiver, “Hello?” “Hello, are you there?”

  Brenda was now helping Ella and they both looked at Seth that said, “Maw no one was there”. “Boy it was a girl wanting you”, replied Brenda holding the dishtowel he just shook his long curls and replied, “Big deal”, walking away.

  Phone ringing again, as Ella now rose her red eyebrows and Brenda threw the dishrag.

  Rambling on with her eyebrows rose as usual, “I’m changing this number for sure”, she said, annoyed Ella kept scrubbing the big kettle, Brenda said, “Hello?”

  Becoming angry now, Brenda yelled again, “Oh Seth boy!”

  Coming back into the kitchen fast with one boot on and the other off he said, “Aw not again”. Brenda grinned reaching him the receiver saying, “The girl again?”

  He took it covering the receiver and said, “Heck I wish I knew who this chick is”. His mother grinned almost snarling saying, “Oh me too boy”.

  “Hello?”

  Brenda was back helping Ella, as they both listened to him keep asking, “Hello?” Seth seem to be getting upset, he kept saying, “Woe, hold up here”. “Hey why are you crying girl?”

  “Wait, how you know my name?”

  Brenda with Ella were both really looking at him, because he was highly upset and hollering into the receiver a lot.

  His father and three brothers comes into the kitchen when Paul Gene pointing asked, “What’s up with him, he looks jittery?” Brenda shrugged drying a dish, as everyone looked at Seth and listen.

  Then Seth slammed the receiver down with his family staring at him and Ella too.

  Filling his mouth with chewing tobacco, Paul Gene asked, “Seth boy you look like you saw a ghost”.

  Seth was quiet and as he went to walk away, stumbled into the china hutch and almost went down.

  Suddenly, he did go down on the floor and his brothers rushed over to him.

  His parents both at the same time yelled, “SETH!” Ella was shocked along with the rest of the family that was all knelt down to him on the kitchen floor in Saul’s arms.

  Paul Gene said, “Boy tell me what that there call was about”.

  “She is going to kill herself”.

  Everyone looked stunned and froze actually, Paul Gene asked, “Who is boy?” “Paw I don’t know, because I barely heard her over crying”.

  Saul just sat on the kitchen floor holding his youngest brother in his arms tightly and Ella sure

  noticed their strong family bond at that moment.

  Between brothers definitely that were right at Seth’s side.

  Paul Gene asked, “Seth boy was she a girl of yours?”

  He shook his head and said, “Nah can’t be, I have not dated any girls yet”.

  Looking at his other boys, Paul Gene said, “Boys get over to the bar, heck were running behind”. “Sorry paw”.

  “Nah never mind that your first Seth boy”.

  The other three boys rushed out after Saul gently set his brother out from under his secure arms. Paul Gene said, “Seth let's get you up here boy”, Brenda and Ella watched Paul Gene practically lifting Seth up.

  “Paw I’ll be fine now really because we have work to do”. Paul Gene winked at his youngest boy showing strength. Then asking, “You sure about working at the bar tonight?” Standing now Seth replied, “Yeah paw”.

  Paul Gene smiled and he and Seth walked out the back kitchen door, Brenda stood by the screen door and could see her husband really talking to Seth, as he even put his arm around him. Brenda smiled holding her locket.

  Walking down the driveway, “Do not be long Brenda it’s a Friday night”, yelled Paul Gene. “We will be there just pipe down old man”. Ella actually laughed out, as she was drying dishes.

  “Heck don’t have a cow paw, because I think y’all can handle it”.

  Ella laughed harder, “Lord let me catch my breath here after Seth took it away”, said Brenda patting her chest.

  Smiling, “Brenda I think you two are so cool”, said Ella.

  Waving her hand, “Oh not that old buzzard”, remarked Brenda smiling.

  “Is it okay to ask you something”?

  “Sure sugar anything”.

  Ella asked, “Paul Gene’s older isn’t he?”

  “Oh yes many years older than me doll”.

  “Really”, replied, Ella excitedly with a surprised look upon her face, Brenda added, “Over twenty years older”.

  “Wow”, said Ella and thought like her feelings about Saul.

  Ella also thought, Brenda was very pretty and cool she was full-blooded Cherokee Indian. Brenda wore tight blue jeans with flannel shirts it seemed always. She even wore the same black steel toe boots her four boys did and sometimes will wear Indian Moccasins.

  Brenda looked tough in a way thought Ella, she was medium built, probably 125 pounds or 130, the most and looked good for having four sons.

  Young also and a lot like her one boy, Shane, as they resembled a great deal, he was the only one who looked almost like her out of the boys.

  Ella genuinely liked her and they still talked finishing cleaning the kitchen then Brenda said, “Well Ella come on, I told you it was all right, besides you’re not drinking or I would kill you”.

  “Yes I know the
Wiley rule”, smiling. Brenda winked at her and they went over to the bar as it was packed, Ella had a funny feeling about those phone calls.

  Where is her friend Dana also? Did something happen between her and Seth Wiley? Ella had the best time again and as she became the new dishwasher, she and Brenda become like mother and daughter.

  A few weeks pass.

  Ella had still not heard from her friend Dana and one day decided to call at Dana’s place. When Dana’s father answered and told her that Dana had to leave town. Ella was shocked and wondered why? Therefore, Ella just let it go, as she had no choice, she also had new friends and Brenda was very fond of her too.

  In addition, glad to have a girl around the house.

  The crank calls even stopped and Brenda wondered though if maybe the girl did hurt herself. Seth was doing better and forgotten about the call.

  Chapter 4.

  Those few weeks seem to fly by and Ella for the first time in her life felt like she had a family that was around. Even though owning a bar they were such decent people not as her friend had told her for owning a bar. Ella really cared for them all and they felt the same, as she became a part of the Wiley clan. She even played basketball with Seth, Sebastian and Shane, as they paired up on teams.

  It was Ella and Seth then Shane with Sebastian.

  Sitting on the back porch watching the game Paul Gene and Brenda smile at Ella having so much fun, as she even did a cartwheel after making a winning shot.

  The boys all watched her smirking, as Brenda actually whistled very loudly and they all cracked up laughing. Brenda told Paul Gene, “You know look at Seth and Ella, they make a cute couple”. Rocking on the wooden gliding chair Paul Gene gave a big grin carving a big piece of wood. Brenda sitting on the wooden bench asked, “I know that look, what is it Paul Gene?”

  “Sugar get with it”.

  “I am that’s why I said they seem cute together”. Grinning bigger he said, “Heck can't you tell by now”.

  “What they have is a good time together that is what I see Paul Gene”.

  “Yes maw they do but they are just friends dear, believe me nothing more”, chewing his tobacco. Brenda put her knitting down to her lap, “How do you know Paul Gene, shoot you don’t know everything”, sarcastically remarked.

  Wiggling his eyebrows, “Yes I do, especially with this one dear”. Brenda waved her hand at her husband that added, “Just ask Ella, because you picked the wrong boy of ours”. Putting her hand to her head, “Oh no”, said Brenda looking at them all shooting hoops having fun.

  Paul Gene chewing on his tobacco said, “Yep maw it’s the truth, trust me, because I am always right about things”.

  Brenda really shook her head and said, “Oh lord not that boy of ours”.

  “Yep maw, Saul the winner of Ella’s heart”.

  Upset, “You know I hate to say this, but he is awful with women”, said Brenda knitting roughly. “Well maw nothing you can do about it”.

  Brenda still carried on and said, “I think Saul sleeps with one then dumps her moving on to another”. Paul Gene was putting more chew into his mouth as he said, “Maybe with the real thing he wouldn’t, sooner or later he has to find true love”.

  “Says who Paul Gene, you and another Wiley rule”, as he grinned at Brenda who got quiet and back to her knitting.

  Walking up to the porch, Saul said, “Hey y’all”, smiling.

  Brenda now saw the way Ella stared at him when he walked by, “Yes Paul Gene your always right”, said Brenda with an angry look.

  With his palest eyebrows high, “Heck what did I do?” Looking at his mother. “Nothing yet”, said Brenda with such a cocky attitude knitting the yarn roughly and tangling string.

  “What paw?” Cracking chewing gum then blew a bubble.

  “Nothing son just go get ready for your night”.

  “Okay paw”, as he looked over at his maw almost growling he mumbles, “That’s where Sebastian gets that attitude from”, and went into the house Ella did watch his every move.

  Knitting Brenda said, “Paul Gene maybe I should talk to her or at least Saul”. “No maw, we don’t get into our boys life like that, no need to tell them how or what with females”.

  Pointing at her husband she said, “What Paul Gene, another rule that you made up, please get over your bull, because you just buried yourself in it”. He just grinned and kept carving the wood.

  “She is just a baby that can get hurt by our playboy son, who has too much experience”, said Brenda watching Ella do another cartwheel happily.

  Shaking her head practically off and highly upset, as she knew how Saul was such a player and would probably break Ella’s heart.

  Nodding his head Paul Gene said, “No Brenda please, you’ve always listened to me, maybe Ella is right for Saul, and it’s about time his clock is ticking”. Waving her hands all up she replied, “Says who Paul Gene, once again you, he just turned twenty and she is only seventeen”.

  “Tick tock”, said Paul Gene laughing.

  Brenda threw a ball of yarn at him and he hit her behind, as she got up going into the house. Where she saw Saul ironing his jeans, as he glanced at his mother, but kept ironing and said, “Hey maw”.

  “Oh getting ready son”, acting as if she was looking for something and going over to the counter. “You okay, because it don’t seem it at all”.

  “No I am fine, really son”, as she was tearing a drawer apart with papers falling all out on the floor. Saul mumbles, “Yeah sure” and just kept ironing.

  Brenda was about to get more involved, as she slammed the messy drawer and it would not close.

  Slamming it shut, taking a deep breath, she said, “All better”, brushing her hands together. With curiosity asked, “Ella is a nice girl isn’t she Saul?”

  “Sure for a kid”, as he just kept ironing.

  Then looked at him thinking, um what should I say or how and smiling she said, “You know she looks older than a kid and boys do notice them things”.

  “Maybe Seth”, smirking.

  “Well I am not asking Seth, you Saul”, pointing at him.

  “Maw you know what I mean, shoot just seventeen”.

  “What Saul does that mean?” Folding her arms.

  Poker faced, “Heck maw, you know, jail bait”, said Saul turning over his jeans. “Oh like if you thought of her in that way”.

  “Yep maw, I couldn’t”.

  Raising her eyebrows high Brenda said, “Oh so you haven’t thought about her?” “Look maw we are not down home any more”.

  Brenda was quiet a minute and he added, “Times have changed”, really ironed the jeans now.

  Watching him almost burning his pants, Brenda added. “But did you notice her Saul?” That rolled his bluest eyes, “Maw why all this, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing boy”, said Brenda waving her hand.

  With a cocky tone he said, “Bull, I’m twenty, not dumb or dim-witted Shane either, do you think I messed with her?”

  Putting her hands up, “Oh no boy, I didn’t mean that Saul”, said Brenda shaking her head. Outside on the porch, Paul Gene shook his head carving a piece of wood, as he heard, Saul becomes upset and raises his voice.

  He knew Brenda could not keep still and would say the wrong thing, as Ella with Saul’s brothers are really into the game having fun.

  Inside.

  “Maw, I am tired tonight, got a long night ahead with jerks probably”.

  Brenda was silent, as he added, “I got women trouble”.

  Breaking her minute of silence she said, “Gloria again boy, why do you even go around her”.

  Made an ugly face mumbling, “Yuck trashy, wonder if she was Dana’s sister?” “Maw please just stop”, and was really ironing in the same spot. Putting her one hand up said, “Sorry Saul, I apologize”, as he rolled his eyes.

  Saul stopped ironing, and said, “Okay maw, what’s this really about, don’t play games, because

  you never did”.
r />   “It’s nothing boy”, and went to walk out when he ran up to her saying, “Please maw what is this

  about?” Now curious.

  “Just do not ever hurt her”.

  Dumbfounded, Saul asked, “Who?” Then saw Brenda watching the game outside and gives a slight smirk asking, “Is that it maw, Ella likes me?”

  “I told you nothing boy”, and Brenda walked outside.

  Paul Gene said, “Aw woman tell you a secret just forget it”, shaking his head.

  Grabbing her knitting sitting back down, Brenda said, “Oh hush already Paul Gene, because you drowned”, and he smiled, Brenda went back to knitting and appeared worried. Saul finished his ironing with a smile and said, “Boy I got it, girls really do go for me”.

  Rushing in grabbing a huge drink of water and out of breath Shane asked, “Got what bro?” “It Shane”, and flexed his arms at his brother who almost choked on the water from laughing at Saul?

  “You’re a goof”, filling the glass with more water, Saul waved his hand at his brother walking out of the kitchen still carrying on saying, “I got it, girls dig me!”

  Shane shook his head at his brother taking a huge drink.

  Back outside.

  Holding the ball Seth yelled, “Come on Shane you wimp”.

  That took a final big drink rushing back out to the game when Seth on accident threw the ball hitting Ella in her nose instantly blood was running down.

  “Aw, I am sorry Ella”, said Seth uneasily and Ella held her nose. Sebastian whipped the ball hard at Seth and said, “Way to go little brother, she is not a boy”. Noticing blood running, Shane said, “Let’s get her in”, as Seth held his stomach saying, “Owe Sebastian did you have to do that”.

  Brenda runs in the house fast getting a rag with Paul Gene following. Ella sat on the kitchen chair and Paul Gene said, “I think it will not stop, we may need to squeeze”.

  “Paw she is a girl”, said Seth excitedly.

  Grinning Sebastian said, “Did you notice”. Seth pushed him saying, “Hush man, this is serious”.

  Standing before Ella sitting on the chair Paul Gene said, “Seth boy it works”. Squinting his face Seth said, “But pain paw, she is a girl”.