“Thomas Donner……Liz Douglas……..Elizabeth Echer……,” the dean droned on as her handed out diplomas. Liz confidently strode across the platform and accepted her diploma giving both Brian and me a 10,000-watt smile.
When it was over, I walked over to her, but turned when I heard a slight commotion behind me. Brian was walking, or trying to walk our direction with two of Liz’s three younger sisters attached to him. To make matters worse, Nick and his little brother Aaron were racing up and down isles of chairs with Liz’s three little brothers and Nicole was trying to calm them down, but to no avail.
Brian deposited the younger Douglas siblings with their mother and walked over to Liz. I glanced over at her, and saw her green eyes sparkle like never before.
“Hi, my name’s Brian,” he said politely.
“Hey, mine’s Liz,” she said.
“Congratulations on the graduation,” he said giving her a bear hug.
“Thanks.”
“All right, now that you two know each other let’s get moving to dinner,” I said as I moved toward my car leaving Liz to get congratulated by her family.
“Hey Brian, where are we going by the way?” I asked when Liz was out of earshot.
“Well, where do you want to go?” asked Brian.
“McDonald’s.”
“God… there’s more than one of you Mickey D’s freaks,” he said exasperatedly.
“Sorry, old habit.”
“No biggie. Anyhow, I was thinking--”
“Oh no! Not again!” AJ said as he joined the conversation.
“Shhh! Liz's coming. Where do you want to eat? And NOT McDonald’s,” Brian said.
“Man! Why do you have to shoot me down like that?!” he whined, but continued, “How about that fancy French place we saw on the way. I can go and get reservations.”
“Look at what I am wearing,” I said,” This won’t get me into a fancy French restaurant.” I motioned to my khakis and blouse.
“We could go to the mall…” AJ said brightening at the mention of one of his favorite pastimes.
“Cool! You know, I need some new shoes. You can never have enough shoes…” I said.
“Don’t let them in a mall!” Liz called, as she approached, “At least don’t let her near a shoe store, she’ll never come out. By the way, why is she going to the mall? And, where are we eating?”
“We are going to either Mickey D’s or some French place,” I said sticking my tongue out at Brian.
“The French place. Robin needs something dressy to wear. Do you?” said Brian taking charge since Kevin wasn’t there yet to do so.
“No, I think I have something in my dorm that’ll work, but thanks”
“AJ, you take Robin to the mall, and take Nicole if she needs to go. I’ll drive Liz back to her dorm. OK?”
“Sure. Now let’s get moving. Hey Nicks!” They both looked up, which was what AJ had been hoping for. “We’re going to a fancy French place or dinner, do either of you want to go with us to the mall for anything?”
“Oh sure!” said Nicole running over to me.
“No thanks, they’re too many people to recognize us if we go together,” Nick said trying to weasel his way out of going shopping.
“Don’t worry, Robin will not shop with me. She can take AJ with her. Both of them have interesting tastes in style which will make what she buys very interesting,” Nicole said giving Nick her best puppy eyes.
There are two people in this world that are immune to the power of those eyes. Julie and me. Nick finally cracked and hopped in the front seat of the car. Citing this need because he was so tall and the back seat was so cramped.
Chapter 13