“Ok” I said, taking a sip of my drink, my eyes on the night sky, “I’m going to say something, but it’s going to sound so corny! So you can’t laugh, ok?”

 

Barbie settled back in her chair and said, “Well, I’ll try, but I am half toasted.”

 

I laughed and said, “Ok. Well, you know it’s true what they say about the stars here. They are big and bright. It’s almost like you could scoop up a handful and stick them in a jar for later.”

 

“It is beautiful, isn’t it? I wish you’d let me turn the lights back on though, it won’t seem so pretty when you get a whiff of a Javelena.”

 

“We have flashlights, and Clay is just a holler away. Don’t you want to see some shooting stars?  If you make a wish, it comes true.”

 

“What are you going to wish for?” she asked, lighting a cigarette.

 

“You can’t tell or it won’t come true! Sheesh, don’t you know anything? Dumb ass. ” I started laughing that uncontrollable half drunk laugh.

 

“Oh god, you aren’t going to pee your pants are you?” Laughing, she sat up and watched me. “You’re drunk already? Ya damn window licker! Whatever you do, don’t snort!” I snorted, which sent her off into peals of laughter too.

 

Clay stuck his head out of the door and asked, “What are you girls doing that’s so funny?”

 

Between gasps for breath Barbie said, “It’s ‘I’m drunk so every things funny’ laughter”, she said. He shook his head and went back inside. 

 

I yawned and curled up in the chair, reaching for my cigarettes. “What are we going to do tomorrow, boss?” I asked

 

“Well, it’s a feed day, so we have to do that first. We should get home by 1 or so, and we’ll go from there.” She rolled her head over to look at me. “Do you think you can sleep now?” Despite being tired from a long day herself, she wouldn’t go to bed until I said I was ready.

 

“Yeah, I think so. There aren’t any clown dolls in there are there?”

 

Laughing again, she said “No. Damn it I wish I had thought to get one!”

 

“Not only are you cruel, you are one mean, twisted chick, “ I said, standing up and gathering our glasses.

 

Standing herself and stretching she asked, “So what would you have wished for?”

 

“Wished for when, Bean?”

 

“Oh my god! If we’d seen a shooting star!”

 

I laughed, “Oh. Well, I’d have wished not to get mauled by a mountain lion.”

 

 

 

 

“Do you have everything? Tickets? License? Dirty underwear?” Barbie asked through the screen door.  “You have 10 minutes before we have to hit the road.”

 

I looked away from the view, and smiled, “Everything but the dirty underwear!” I jumped up and sauntered past her into the kitchen.

 

She turned and asked, hands on hips, “You’re leaving your dirty underwear???”

 

I laughed and said, “No, darlin’, I don’t wear underwear!”

 

“Oh my god!!! I could have lived without that visual!”

 

We both started laughing so hard we had to race each other to the bathroom. She beat me, so I stood outside the bathroom; legs crossed, and cussed her out.

 

“You better not make me late for my flight! I don’t think you could handle another week with me, hurry UP!”

 

Through the door she yelled back, “ It’s your fault panty less girl! And I AM hurrying! Don’t talk to me while I go!” She came out zipping her pants and still laughing.

 

“FINALLY! Did you even wash?” I asked, not bothering to close the door.

 

“How could I with you dancing out in the hall making me rush. Were you born in a barn, I don’t want to watch you pee!”

 

“So pull it closed! I had an emergency! It’s not like you’ve never seen me pee before, remember the windmill?” With that we both started laughing again.

 

I flushed and turned the water on, and smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Her chin started to tremble and she looked away.

 

Drying my hands I cleared my throat, and started to thank her for having me, and for everything we’d done in this short week we had, but she walked quickly away. I knew she did not want to cry in front of me, so I let her go, and checked my room one more time. Walking back down the hall, I could see her through the window, getting the truck ready. Seizing my chance, I went into her bedroom and left an envelope on her pillow. Last night I had written her a letter. I’m so much better with the written word then the spoken one. I only wish I could have seen her read it. Turning to leave, I jumped to see her standing in the doorway watching me.

“What’s that?” she asked, walking over to the bed and picking it up.

“I meant for you to find it after you came home. Just leave it and read it then, ok?”

“No, we still have some time. I’m going to read it now.” Suddenly faced with the chance to watch her as she read something I’ve written, I was shy, and didn’t want it.

“I’m going to go take my stuff out to the truck,” I said, brushing quickly past her.

 

“Oh no you’re not, sit here next to me on the bed,” she requested, sitting down herself and ripping open the envelope.

 

I sat in uncomfortable silence, unable to look away from her face.  Her expression went from curiosity, to sadness, to outright tears. “Damn it, Melissa.” She said, putting the letter down on the bed and reaching across for me.

 

“I told you not to read it now,” I said, my voice thick with emotion.

 

“You are such an important person in my life,” she said through her tears. “You don’t even know, and I’m sorry I’m not good at showing it.”

 

I hugged her tighter and said “ I think I probably show it enough for both of us.”

 

“I’m so glad you came out to see me. Now you know, how lonely and isolated it is here, but how beautiful and indescribable it is too.”

 

“ I can see why you love it here, I really can,” I said.

 

She looked at the clock on the bedside table. “We really need to get going, come on, we still have the ride to the airport together.”

 

We walked out arm in arm, both of us still sniffling.

 

“Barbie?” I asked

 

“Yes?”

 

“Can we listen to The Partridge Family on the way?”

 

“Oh my god! Again?!?!?”