Nancy Carmichael

Dutch Treat and My Best Friend

I had NO Idea what Laurie was talking about. No Way was I going to let her know. Too proud to show my ignorance to my best friend. She’d laugh her head off. Best to keep it to myself.

Laurie hurled at me “You don’t know what it is do you?”

Do too;

Don’t

Do too. I bowed my head and headed toward the door.

Laurie looked away and let me go. “Dutch treat, we’ll go that way, OK?”

I murmured back,” sure, Dutch treat. See you tomorrow.”

Out the door I am thinking to myself- what in Heck IS Dutch treat?

Laurie had just told me about French kissing. She had tried that with her boyfriend, who happened to be: my brother. Kinda embarrassing hearing what That was about. Tongues and braces all meshed together. My brother and best friend to boot!

Walking across the street and into my yard I was mussing over: Dutch treat? Another kind of kissing- Dutch kissing, French kissing? The treat part- what in heck does that mean?

Most of the night I pondered what Dutch treat was. Imagining all kinds of things, keeping it to myself.

Next day I walked over to Laurie’s house. Her mother was all dressed up, even wearing gloves and a hat. “Time to go. Off to Rich’s downtown. This will be fun just my 2 girls. Nancy, did you bring some money? It is Dutch treat.”

“Oh, I’m sorry Mrs. Wheeler, I forgot.”

“Well, let’s go on. I’ll pay your part and ask Teen to pay me back later.”

Heading on out the door down the steps Mrs. Wheeler first and Laurie and me following. Side by side.

Laurie was real nice, she didn’t rub it in too bad.

“So, you Didn’t know what Dutch treat meant, did you?

“No. You know, I was thinking All kinds of things. Like maybe a kiss. You know-- French kissing, Dutch treat kissing?”

Laurie giggled. “ No silly, it just means you pay for your own food when you go out to eat.”

Oh, I was wondering all day yesterday what it was.

Thanks for letting me go. You knew I didn’t know but you dropped it.

Next time I’ll ask.

Why waste a night or even a minute on worry or pride.

I asked the Dr.

What does mucousness carcinoma mean?

What are the chances for recovery?

What do I do next?

How do I pay for my part of the bill?

I’m not working

and my mother is dead.

Nancy Carmichael

May 11, 2006