When I left y’all last, I was stepping out of my shower into my fancy new clothes, like the ones you are supposed to wear on picture day, or some fancy get together. Mamaw was acting weird, waiting on her knitting circle sister to come visit. Shady was still snoring / grumble muttering, because Mamaw let him stay up late to play, and Uncle Muddy was dispatched by Mamaw to some strange errand somewhere.

And here I am sitting in the big chair, in the living room. Our house was company ready, spotless and ready to go. There I was waiting for that lady to show up, for some reason, wishing I was at the pond with my fishing rod. I heard the car come up, right at 10:00 AM just like Mamaw said it would. Mamaw almost ran excitedly to the door, and her sewing table was all set up in her sewing area. I heard two car doors slam.

Mamaw went outside and I heard muffled voices talking, and the front door opened. In walks a lady I had never seen, so I stood up all dressed up, and there was none other than my Jewel behind her, walking in looking drop dead gorgeous. I froze, near fainted, ran, hid and said hi all in one breath.

JEWEL was at MY HOUSE! Oh what a wonderful trick Mamaw has done played on me. Oh Mamaw, now I see. My mind was racing in ten different directions all at once. Then Jewel smiled and chattered away, “Peter Hegelund, why didn’t you tell me your house was so cozy? Oh I just love it Ms. Hegelund, its soooo pretty! The flowers, and the way you have it set up, oh it looks just like Better Homes and Gardens. I just love it! And there is a little baby picture of Pete on the wall, he is so cuuuuute!.”

I tell you, that girl could charm the wind out of a thunderstorm. Jewel went on, as her mama and Mamaw were chuckling, and exchanging pleasantries. “Oh I got so excited with the house, I forgot to tell you hi Peter. Silly silly me.” She came over and gave me a really nice hug, and she smelled like heaven itself. I could have died right then, and been ok with the universe.

I asked, “What brings y’all over today?” I was puzzled, but I made up my mind I am going with this, no matter where it leads. My dream girl is in MY house, dressed fit to kill and so pretty I can’t hardly stand to look at her. Jewel told me, “Oh, mother told us you were having some issues with your best, most trusted friends and all because of me. And that just won’t do Peter; if I like you, I have to like your friends too. That is so important in any relationship.” I raised my eyebrows, and let her continue.

She went on, “Your grandmother told us the whole story, every single detail, and it was my idea to come over here and help you make this right. Your grandmother even said they, all three guys came over last night, and the guy you call Tank, the big guy who is nice was crying! Oh no, we cannot have that at all! We must fix this at once Peter, I can’t have your best friend crying, and all because of me!” She sounded alarmed, and I was too.

The fact that my gorgeous new girlfriend would have the idea to come over and help me fix things with my friends blew me right out of the water! Kabam! Right upside the head like a fish jumped out of the water on me. You could have pushed me over with a feather, I was so light at that moment.

Anyway, Mamaw shooed me and Jewel to the den. For folks that don’t know what a den is, its a special room kept by grandmothers that is for “company” and sometimes “courting,” depending on where you might be from. Mamaw had that sliding glass door pulled open, and those beautiful furniture pieces just sitting there. She laid out tea and cookies for Jewel and me, and SHUT THE DOOR for us to sit a spell in there, by ourselves. Now Mamaw was not out of earshot, but Ms. Wellington and Mamaw went in the living room to talk over knitting.

Jewel asked me, “Pete, I am so sorry about your friends. Whatever shall you and I do to make this right? Do you have any ideas? I had no idea that I was taking up all your time.”
I told Jewel, “But I like spending every lunch and every recess and break with you, I just do.” Jewel said, “I like that very much, but I think we need to somehow, sometimes include your other friends. Now Jasper has his lady friend, she is sweet and she hangs out with my crew some, I think he will be fine.”

Jewel added, “Maybe we can invite them to sit at the lunch tables right beside us, and you and I can sit with them? Maybe not all of the time, but most times, so MY girl friends don’t get sad, and we do the same thing to them?” I replied, “That might be a good start. And maybe on first break I can hang out with the boys, and you can come say hi, and second break I will be with just you? And maybe you can make Tank and Stinky feel like part of the crowd, and even sometimes just hang with them while I watch? That way they feel more special?”

Jewel squealed, “Oh Peter, those are splendid ideas! And I bet they will forgive you too, very quickly!” I agreed but I told her, “We can’t make it seem like we are forcing it, or giving them special treatment, because that won’t go over too well neither.” She shook her head and agreed on that point too. “Oh no, we can just be sneaky, and maybe make it drag out a little bit, until they feel as if we are all part of a big team. Oh Peter, you are just so smart for thinking that up. Let’s do it! Starting Monday!”

We sat and talked awhile, and Jewel asked me, “I would like you to hold my hand, since we are together and all. Would you do that, please? Mother won’t mind at all, I am sure of it.” Shaking a little, but trying to hide it, I gently took her hand in mine. “See Peter Hegelund? I do not bite, although I do growl a bit. That’s not so bad is it, but you are nervous and I can feel you shaking a little. It’s ok, I promise just like I said, I will not bite you.” She smiled and sighed, and I just sat there, dazed, happy, confused and content all at once.

I asked her, “So what about Mullard Muldoon. He hates me, and he still has the hots for you, saying you are his girl. I heard him say it again in study hall, when he didn’t know I was anywhere around?” Jewel turned to me quickly, “Peter Hegelund, you let ME worry about Mullard Muldoon. I know exactly how to take care of people like him. He had better leave you, me and your friends alone, if he knows what’s good for him. I AM friends with the principal AND my mother is on the school board!”

Maybe this is what famous people feel like? I am not sure but all this popularity hurts my head sometimes.