she sees him every day when he gets back from school. she smiles, he smiles. she waves, he waves. one day she tries to start a conversation.
[ johnny cade ]
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CHAPTER III SEPTEMBER TENTH !
What's school like? She wrote, passing the notebook to the boy on her left.
Boring. He writes back.
Imogen frowns at the news. Really?
Yes really.
Imogen leans her head against her hands, What about the people? There's so many different people there. She writes.
Johnny runs a hand through his greased hair and grabs the pen, there's only two types of people greasers and socs.
Imogen frowns and closes her notebook, lying back in the grass. She turns to see Johnny had done the same and was lying beside her.
They had written back and forth since she stopped him outside his house. She felt extremely lucky to be able to finally meet the boy she'd admired.
Of course, he didn't know she admired him. What a weird conversation that would be: Hey Johnny it's not like I sit outside everyday just to see you walk home with your friends. It's not like I've written and drawn you many times. Imogen laughs, clutching her stomach. She can feel Johnny staring at her. She looks over at him with a large smile.
"What?" He asks. Imogen shakes her head and goes back to staring at the clouds through the tree branches and leaves. She is disturbed when Johnny nudges her side, pointing to the her mother standing not too far off from them.
Imogen stands up, her mother signing something quickly. Imogen waves her hands for her mom to stop, then asking her to start over.
"You didn't tell us where you were! You're not supposed to go out without me or your father!" Her mother signs.
Johnny stands just as quickly, watching the mother and daughter in confusion.
"Sorry, Momma," Imogen signs quickly.
She looks back at Johnny and pulls him forwards signing, "This is my friend, Johnny."
Her mother stares at him a long time before holding out her hand, "Hello, Johnny."
"Hello Mrs. Anson," Johnny replies.
She turns towards her daughter, "He's cute!" She signs with a wink, "Why don't you invite him over for dinner?"
Imogen feels her face flush and signs, "Mom!"
Mrs. Anson grins and turns towards Johnny, "Would you like to come over for dinner?"
"I wouldn't wanna—"
"It's no problem! We have enough to feed the neighborhood," Mrs. Anson smiles and Imogen hides her face in her hands.
Johnny looks over at Imogen then over at her mother. "Well, I guess."
"Do you need to ask your parents?" She asks him. Johnny shakes his head no.
Imogen takes his hand and leads him to their house, paying no attention to her mother.
—
"Who's this?" Imogen's father signs when they enter the old house.
"Johnny," Her mother signs back.
"Hello, Johnny," Imogen sees her father say.
"Nice to meet you, sir," Johnny replies and shakes his hand.
Imogen, not noting the awkwardness in the room, drags Johnny towards the living room.
"Your mom says dinner will be ready in a few minutes," Johnny tells Imogen once they're settled on the couch and she can see him.
Imogen nods in acknowledgement and grabs her notebook to read over their previous conversation. She laughs to herself and draws a tic-tac-toe board. Imogen draws an O and passes it to Johnny. He smiles and writes an X.
Johnny nudges her and points to her father ushering them to come eat dinner. She lays her notebook on the coffee table and leads Johnny to the dining room. Johnny sits across from her staring at the soup lying in front of him.
"Hope you don't mind soup," Mrs. Anson says. "We can make a sandwich if you want."
"This is great, thank you!" Johnny replies quickly but shyly.
Mr. Anson nods and that seems to indicate they can eat now because Imogen reaches for the bread and takes a bite.
Throughout dinner Imogen would pause to sign something to her parents, who would respond and then ask Johnny questions about himself that made him a bit uncomfortable (but it wasn't like they knew that). It wasn't until it was dark that her parents noticed the time.
"Should you be getting home?" Mr. Anson asked, placing his napkin on the table.
"I can walk him!" Imogen signs but Mr. Anson shakes his head no.
"I can drive him—"
"I only live across the street," Johnny interrupts, "I can walk myself, no problem."
Imogen frowns but gets up nonetheless, "I'll walk you to the door then."
"She said she'll walk you to the door," Mrs. Anson translates for Johnny.
Johnny nods and follows behind Imogen. Imogen opens the door for him and steps with him outside. She goes to sign something but stops, remembering he didn't know sign language.
"How do you say, "see you tomorrow?"" Johnny asks slowly and Imogen smiles.
She grabs his hand and shows him the way to do it. Johnny attempts and Imogen laughs and shakes her head. She shows him again and he tries. Imogen claps her hands and gives him a thumbs up, Johnny grins. He opens his arms as if to hug her but stops himself, says goodbye and walks home.
