The Adventures of Frankie – 17 – The Gift

Paulette bounced up behind Frankie digging fingers into both sides of his ribs. He nearly cleared the jewelry counter at the discount department store. Good thing nobody was waiting on him, she’d a freaked them out too.

When Frankie finally came out of the rafters she asked, “Whatcha doin’ here? Where’s your parents? How’d ya get here? You buying something pretty for me?”

First she tickles the bejeebers out of him, then she hits him with a barrage of questions, and now he was beginning to realize, he’d been caught trying to buy a girly gift. Frankie couldn’t get much redder. Oh great, just as his face was turning into a stop light, Rita the Red Head walked up.

He finally answered, “I’ve got to do something for Mother’s Day. But what are you doing here?” He glanced over at Rita, nodding as if to say hi then turned back to Paulette before looking at the floor in embarrassment. “I figured you made something for your mom weeks ago.” Paulette always finished her school projects way ahead of schedule. And she always got an A. Frankie on the other hand was the kind of kid that waited till the last minute. He’d be up late the night before it was due then just squeak by with a C. Sometimes if Mom found out about it he’d get started a day or so early then he’d wind up getting a B.

“No, silly,” she poked him in the side again, the jab nearly made him bend in half. “I made a big pillow for her last week. Then another for my grandmother and my other grandmother.” Now she was counting on her fingers. “A small one for my aunt and oh yeah, one for my other aunt too.” She didn’t even stop to take a breath. “We’re here to get some thread for a new blouse we’re making for Rita.”

Frankie did his best to explain that he didn’t have much money and everything was so expensive. Most of his money was in his savings account and Dad wouldn’t let him take any out. He pretended to sound like his father as he explained, “FRANCIS! If you’re always taking money out then you’ll never have it in there when you really need it.” All three kids laughed.

“Why don’t you make her a pillow? I can help.” How could he possibly say no to those pretty eyes, especially when she batted those long lashes as she leaned toward him?

* * *

Paulette loved playing teacher. She hovered over her students, showing them how to lie out and measure fabric, line it up before pinning it, threading the sewing machine and spinning bobbins. Frankie was getting into it as the couple of yards of material she helped him pick out actually started to look like a pillow. Rita’s little pink blouse was coming along as well.

“Now all we need is a small piece of trim for the edges. What do you think about this?” Paulette held up an old pillow case and a matching sheet with lace on the edge. “There should be more than enough here.”

“It’s a rag,” Frankie argued.

“Perfect!” Rita proclaimed.

Before long Paulette had Frankie working the seam ripper like a pro removing the flowery lace from the threadbare sheets. The color went well with his new pillow. Suddenly this home-ec stuff didn’t seem so girly. It wasn’t really that different from shop class.

* * *

Monday morning Rita walked into homeroom wearing the brand new blouse Paulette helped make. Frankie held a little bit of pride knowing that he helped prepare the lace trim that finished the hemline all the way around the bottom. Just about every girl in class stopped to comment as they walked in the room. That’s when Frankie’s eyes grew big. Rita shot him a wink. He gulped then repeated in his mind over and over, please don’t say that I helped, please don’t say that I helped.  If word got out that Frankie knew how to sew? Let’s just say that he’d be begging his parents to move to a different county!

As everyone settled into their seats for the morning announcements, Rita scooted close to whisper in Frankie’s ear, “Your secret’s safe with me.”

* * *

“Oh Frankie, this is beautiful!” Obviously Mom loved her gift.

But Frankie was quick to explain that it was for her bedroom. He continued his explanation with a little white lie, “Paulette said that it really doesn’t go with our living room.” No way was he going to let Scrawny Ronnie find out that he knew how to use a sewing machine!

On the school bus the next day, Paulette patted the seat next to her for Frankie to slide in beside. “My mom said your mom loved the pillow.” Frankie smiled. “And I figured out how you’re gonna pay me back.” Now he gulped. “In the fall I’m taking shop class!” Frankie sat up a little taller.