Caroline of the Whitakers - 1

Caroline, Jason and Mary Ellen spent a few more minutes laughing and talking together, then made their way through the bushes again and back to the garage that held her car.  A trip back to the Walmart, more good byes with promises to keep in touch, and she returned to the house on Whitaker Street, eager to continue what she had started, now with the addition of another quest – the obnoxious and potentially dangerous neighbor.1

Once back in the house she retrieved her large flashlight and headed upstairs, for the secret stairway to the lower room.  Once down there, she went directly to that “security system” box and examined it carefully.  Not at all familiar with electronic things she hoped what she needed to do wasn’t beyond her capability.  And, she was relieved to see that Jason’s flashlight smashing hadn’t seemed to damage things too much.  One little piece seemed to be broken and two wires were obviously disconnected.  2

She propped the flashlight and gently began prying on the broken piece and it popped out of the board.  She memorized the wire colors and where they were connected and removed the piece, putting it in her pocket.  It was easy to see where the other wires were connected and she smiled as she thought of what she was going to do.3

Thirty minutes later, she pulled into the lot and parked in front of the Radio Shack store.  Patting her pocket to be sure she had the electronic gadget, she headed in.  Inside, and out of the sun she squinted to see if she could figure out where she might find one of the darn things.4

“Hi there, can I help you?” said the deepest voice she had ever heard, and she felt her heart jump at the sound of it.  She turned and was face to face with a pair of warm, smiling, milk chocolate eyes.5

“Hope so,” she said expectantly, and fumbled with her pocket, trying to free the little electronic piece, strangely angry with herself for having so much trouble.  “Pants are just too tight,” she said, then wished she hadn’t.  Stupid!  She looked at him again, patiently waiting for her to get whatever it was she was after from that pocket.  She glanced at his name tag – Eric, in big black letters.  Finally she had it.  “Need one of these,” she said, puffing a little from the effort and surprisingly embarrassed at what had just happened and hoping that her face wasn’t too red.  She handed him the little black piece.6

“Should have one of these,” he said, still smiling.  “Right over here I think.”  He led her to a large display panel where he looked up and down the rows, then took a little plastic package off one of the hooks.  “Here ya go,” he said, handing it to her.  “Anything else?”7

“I’m not sure,” she said, “but I don’t think so.”8

“You build whatever it is that uses this?”9

“No,” she answered with a self-conscious smile.  “It just got broken and I need to repair it.”10

“Well, it will work better if you solder the wires on,” he volunteered, pointing to two small tabs through the plastic cover.  "You have a soldering iron?”11

“No,” she answered, a puzzled look on her face.12

“No problem.  This way,” he said, putting his hand on her back and directing her toward another rack.13

She could feel the friendly warmth of his hand through her thin blouse, a pleasant sensation that she was not at all used to.  He showed her a small soldering iron and a small roll of solder, then carefully explained to her how to use them, obviously sensing that she had no idea about what she was doing.  And, she took advantage of the moment to stare at those eyes and nod knowingly at his explanations, and actually enjoyed it when his hand brushed hers several times as he demonstrated the process.  What the heck was wrong with her?  It has been years since she had felt silly like this.14

“What, I’m sorry,” she fumbled.  “What did you say.”  Somehow she had lost what he was saying.15

“I said I don’t think I’ve seen you in here before.  You new to the area?”16

“Sort of,” she said and watched him pondering.  She knew he was debating about what to say next and willed him to say it – at least to say what she wanted him to say.  But, what she heard wasn’t quite what she wanted.17

“That’s nice.  If you ever need anything, we’re here.  And, if you have any trouble with that,” he gestured to the small package, “just let me know.  I’ll be more than happy to help you out.”18

What was he saying, she puzzled, her mind darting this way and that?  Was there more there than just the words he had used?  Of course not – he was being polite, and a good salesman.  But, she couldn’t help noticing how he didn’t take his eyes off hers, and the fact that he had seemed to be thinking about saying something else.19

“Mind if I ask your name,” he said suddenly, and she instantly tingled all over.  Normally she might say that it was none of his business – she’d done it before but, not today.20

“Caroline,” she said and hoped he’d repeat it as she wanted to hear what it sounded like coming from him.21

“Ah, Caroline,” he said, right on cue.  “Don’t think I’ve ever met a Caroline before.”  He was smiling good-naturedly.  “Unique!”22

She wanted to reply but wasn’t sure what to say so she just smiled her warmest, friendliest smile.  Was she flirting?  Hmmm.  Been a long time since she’d done that, and she realized that she was.  Was he?  She decided that yes, he was too.  Well, she just might have to make another trip to Radio Shack very soon.23

He rang up her purchases and she was sure he made a special effort to touch her hand when he took the money and gave her the change.  It was kind of exciting to have someone flirting with her as it hadn’t happened for some time.  For the past several years it seemed like she had always been in old work out clothes, sweaty and probably smelly too.  No one wanted to flirt with that.24

“Thanks for all your help,” she said as she turned to leave.  At the door, she heard his voice again.25

“Caroline, just a second.”  He came over to where she was, glancing right and left.  “I need to ask you something and don’t know why I hesitated.”26

She wondered if her huge smile and the color in her face gave away what she was hoping he might ask.27