April Shadows (Shadows 1)

"Don't worry," she said. "You'll find what you're good at, too."

She held me a little too long for my comfort. I looked nervously at the students who were looking our way. Finally. Brenda came out of the locker room. and Celia jumped up.

"Hey, hey, hey!" she cried. They gave each other the high five and hugged.

I stepped up behind them, feeling overlooked and tentative while Celia raved about the game. Other students passing by congratulated Brenda as well. If I didn't feel as if I were just tagging along before. I certainly did now.

"What did you think, little sister?" Brenda finally asked me. "You were fantastic. Brenda. I never saw you do so well."

She laughed and gave me a quick hug. Then she and Celia put their arms around me, and the three of us walked out.

"I'm starving," Brenda declared.

"So are we," Celia said. "Doheny's?"

"You think you-know-who is ready for it?"

"Sure, why not?" Celia replied. "It's sort of a hangout,'" she explained to me.

Hangout for whom? I wanted to ask, but it didn't take long to get there and find out.

There wasn't a male in the place.

Everyone there knew who Celia and Brenda were, too. What struck me about the bar and restaurant beside the absence of men was that the women there didn't look at all like college students. Most looked older: some looked much older.

"Didn't you want to go somewhere to celebrate with your team?" I asked Brenda.

"No. I don't care to relive every moment. It's done and gone. On to the next thing," she told me.

We had taken a table to the rear in the right corner. From there, we viewed the crowded bar. Brenda and Celia looked at the menu.

"What do you feel like?" Celia asked her.

"I could eat a horse on a gallop. I'm going for the Philadelphia steak sandwich. I know you'll order the Oriental chicken salad."

Celia laughed and leaned toward her. "You know me too well,"

Brenda smiled at her in a way unlike any smile she had given me or even Daddy during the good days. She put her menu down, and they touched each other's hand.

/> "You were amazing out there," Celia continued. "There were times I thought you had actually learned how to fly."

"You saw how that big, ugly blonde was elbowing me,I'm sure."

"I did."

"Too bad the ref didn't." Brenda muttered.

"Are you sore? I'll put some of that ointment on you later, if you like."

"I'm all right. I got one shot in before the end of the third quarter which kept her off me for a while..

"I was tempted to get up and scream at the ref myself," Celia said.

Brenda laughed, "Yeah, right," she said. "You come down on the court to yell at someone."

I felt I was outside looking in at them or maybe even invisible. Perhaps I had disappeared.

"I thought we were going to call Mama right after the game." I interjected the moment there was a pause.