What if he doesn't want you there? I don't like this,'
she said shaking her head.
"'Granny, if there's any problem, I swear I'll just
leave and come right back,' I promised.
"'Why don't you bring this boy around here
first?' she suggested. T11 cook him a meal.'
"'He's too shy, Granny. He won't come.' "'He's too shy to come here, but not too shy to invite you there?' she asked, her eyes narrowing with
worry and suspicion.
"'He's living on his own, Granny. His daddy's
not there much.'
"'I don't like the sound of that, Star,' she said
shaking her head.
"'I won't get into trouble, Granny,' I told her.
'You don't think I'm a good girl? You don't think you
can trust me?'
"''Course I do,' she said, 'but sometimes things
happen anyway.'
"'I like him, Granny. He's a nice boy. He was
good to Rodney and you know from what you heard
Rodney say that Rodney likes him, too.'
"'You want to take Rodney with you?' she
asked. I couldn't tell if that would make her happier or
more reluctant.
"'No, Granny. I want to have some time to
myself. Thanks to Momma, I never really did,' I said.
'I'm nearly sixteen,' I told her, 'and I haven't even been
out on a real date.'
"I hated to sound like I was whining, but that
was what I was doing. Granny gave it more thought
and I guess she concluded I did deserve some