Chapter 8

Lacking decorum, Trish cynically remarks, "Yeah…you know…pictures played on a big screen in a theater." This was the kind of condescending remark all too familiar to Adele; the kind she came to expect. Perhaps the dream was coming to an end, and she was getting ready to awaken from it. Regardless of whether this was all a dream or actually happening, Adele now feels awkward, and her eyes aim even lower to the ground; as her neck subtly begins to draw back into her shoulders. Noticing this, Nadine's afraid that Trish's insensitive comment might have scared off Adele from accepting her most sincere invitation to go with them to the movies; so she shoots Trish a reprimanding look to cut it out. "What?" "Anyway…" Nadine addresses Adele, "So; you want to go?" Had it just been Nadine, Adele would have jumped at the invite; but the "we're" part means more than just her. "I don't know." "Come on; it'll be fun." Adele hesitantly sort of accepts with a meekly uttered, "I guess." "Great. My mom and I will pick you up. Where do you live?" Exhibiting her childlike mannerism, Adele answers as any child might answer, "I live with my grandma." Nadine chuckles. "Okay…so where does your grandmother live?' Again, the child within her prevails. "She lives with me." With Adele's pure innocence radiating through in those simplistic childish responses, Nadine can't help but to laugh. Not to be mean though…they just honestly struck her funny bone. And Adele realizes this; especially since she was now being given a friendly hug from Nadine. Trish, on the other hand, isn't so amused. She just rolls her eyes and shakes her head. Nadine's friends are standing in line outside the theatre when Cheryl Martin's car pulls up. Janice is the first to notice Nadine and Adele exiting the vehicle. "I can't believe she actually brought her." Trish, who had already informed them about Nadine's intended guest, simply remarks, "Told you." Back at the car, Cheryl tells Nadine, "Look…I know you just had to see the new Johnny Depp movie on opening day…but it's a school night. So I'll be back to pick you up out here in two hours. Got it?" Nadine smiles as she gives her a sharp, sloppy salute, "Yes, sir; Mom." Cheryl shakes her head while smiling, "Alright, smarty pants; go on and have fun." Nadine playfully tells her, "Love you, Mommy." Cheryl jocularly retorts, "Yeah, yeah; love you, too. Now beat it." And as Nadine starts to walk away; she calls out once more, "Two hours." Before walking away, Adele bends down and leans into the open passenger window. "Thank you very much for picking me up and bringing me to the movies, Mrs. Martin." Cheryl's still a little amazed at the politeness and sincerity exuded from this teenager. None of Nadine's other friends had ever been so well-mannered or behaved as this child had been in their brief acquaintance so far. "You're welcome, Adele." Adele gives her a tender smile; then leaves to join Nadine and her friends. As Adele walks away, Cheryl watches with a pleased smile on her face. "Adele…you already know Janice from Mr. Trudeaux's class…and Trish was with me when I asked you to the movies. And this is Sarah. Hey, guys; you know Adele." They give Adele a quick nod and terse "hey", just to be quasi-sociable; but only for Nadine's sake. Meanwhile; Adele, in her typical fashion, remains silent while staring at the ground. As Nadine and her friends partake in some idle chit-chat, Adele begins to observe her foreign surroundings. With the exception of school, she rarely goes into town; preferring to either stay at home with Grandma or meander through the woods behind their house, enjoying all the simple pleasures that Mother Nature has to offer…like she used to do with Grandpa Joe. Adele feels it's best to avoid going into town anyway; because on those rare occasions when she does go, she always finds herself being teased or made fun of by someone or another there. If it wasn't for the fact that Nadine Martin had asked her to go to the movies with her, Adele would be home right now with Grandma. Suddenly, her attention is drawn to a pair of young siblings being teased by three other children eating ice cream.