Part 6

At the same time as Ben openend his door, Meg opened hers and heard Jason's words.

Jason jumped when he heard his mother. He looked very guilty. That was the second time in a very short time today his mother used his full name. And he knew what that meant. He was in trouble. Big trouble. He looked down on his shoes.

"It's not me you should apologize to, it's to..." Meg realized she didn't know the girls name. "What's your name, honey?"

"Katie Evans. I just moved in there" Katie turned around to point at their house and saw Ben standing there. "Daddy!" she shouted. "That's my dad." she said to Meg.

Ben stood leaning against the door post. He'd been watching the entire scene. When he walked out the door and heard that boy yelling at his Katies he was on his way over in a flash, but then the door opened and a very attractive woman stepped out. And by the look on that boys face she'd done a pretty good job lecturing him. Ben smiled, waved to Katie and went back into the house. He knew his Katie would give that boy a piece of her mind as soon as the woman went back inside.

"Welcome to the neighbourhood, Katie. I'm sure you will like it here despite my son's lack of manners." She gave Jason another look that had him suddenly very interersted in his shoes again. "I'm going back inside. Jason, be nice."

"Yes, mom," Jason answered with a sigh. He knew his mother would not forget this. "You want to play ball?" he asked Katie, cause he knew his mother was still listening to them.

"No, you called med stupid. I don't play with people who call me stupid" Katie stuck her tounge out and ran across the street to her own house.

"She stuck her tounge out at me. That's not very nice. Are you going to tell her dad she did that?" Jason gave Meg a hopeful look. If his mom told Katies dad he wouldn't be the only one in trouble.

"No," Meg said and then she went inside and closed the door. She opened it right away again. " I thought we could go for pizza tonight, but now I'm not sure." She closed the door again.

Jason sat down at the stairs. How come he was the only one getting into trouble here? Sticking your tounge out at somebody must be as bad as calling someone stupid? Well, almost as bad. I wonder what I will have to do to make mom take me out for pizza, he thought. He looked at the closed door to the house across the street. I am never going to play with her, he decided. But she was kind of cute....

"Katie, if you keep that up we won't have a door in a week or so. Don't you think it will be kind of weird to have the neighbours take a peek inside every time they walk past our door-less house?" Ben shook his head at his daughter.

"Dad!" Katie gave him a look that clearly said 'you're nuts' and went into her room.

"Oh, nothing really. That boy called me a stupid girl and his mother came out and heard it and she almost chewed his head off..."

"No. If he thinks I'm a stupid girl I think he's a stupid boy. But I won't say it" Katie quickly added when she saw the look on her father's face.

" I don't know, she didn't say. Dad, can we go to the grocery store and buy some ice-cream for desert?" Katie gave him her best puppy-eyed look.

Ben hugged her and gave her a kiss. "Of course we can, sweetie. Anything for my little angel. Besides, we have to celelbrate our move. How about we go out for pizza tonight?"

"Buckle up" he said before he got in and started the car. Maybe I should go talk to that Jason anyway, he thought as he drove off. It could never hurt. But it wasn't really Jason who was on him mind.

Jason rose from the stairs. He'd been sitting there trying to figure out how to make his mom forgive him so she would take him out for pizza tonight.

-Oh, ok. Jason looked down on his shoes. Now he had to come up with something else.

-Oh really. Do you remember what happened the last time you helped me with the dishes??

Great, Jason thought, that was a brilliant idea. He'd forgotten that he'd broken two glasses last time he did the dishes. Meg looked at her son. She could see his mind spinning. She knew exactly what he was trying to do. She smiled and ruffled his hair.

-Yeah! You're the best mom! I'm sorry for what I said earlier. That Katie seems like nice girl. I'll be nice to her, I promise.

-Katie, look. Our new neighbours just walked in. Maybe we should ask them to sit here? It's always good to get to know your neighbours. He looked hopefully at Katie.

- Well, young lady. Don't you think I didn't see what you did? The house have windows, you know. I saw you sticking your tounge out at him. That's not very nice either so I'd say you're even.

Katie looked down. She didn't think her dad had seen her do that. Just her luck!

Meg looked over to the table and found herself looking straight into a pair of blue eyes attached to a gorgeous face. Oh oh, she thought. This is not good. Not good at all.

- Yes, I think that if they are nice enough to ask even after your behaviour...she stared at Jason who looked down on his shoes... then I think we should say yes.

They walked over to the table where Ben was sitting. He'd been watching them and he smiled to himself when he again saw Jason look down on his shoes. That boy must really like his shoes, he thought. Or could it be that he don't like what his mother has to say to him?

- Dad, here's Jason and his mom. Katie stood next to him and put her hand on his shoulder.

Meg took his outstretched hand. And immediately she regrettet it. Come on Meg, she told herselt, he's just a man. Yeah, but what a man! she answered herself. She pulled her hand away.

- Please, have a seat. Ben offered her a chair. Jason was looking very strangley at her.

- Sure, Ben and Meg said at the same time. Ben looked at her and she couldn't help smiling.

- I don't believe this! Meg exclamied. Stupid car! She kicked at one of the tires.

Meg could feel herself turning all red. Great, she thought, now I'm behaving like a little kid.

- Let me have a look. Ben took the keyes from her and got into the car. He took one look at the instruments and shook his head and then got out again.

Meg felt herself turn even more red. Now would be a good time for the ground to open under me, she thought. I forgot to get more gas! How could I do that?? I won't even guess what he's thinking about me right now.

- Thanks. She opened the back door for Jason to get in and sat in the front next to Ben herself.

- Dad, do you always have to say that! Katie complained. I'm not a little kid! I'm six years old! She stuck her chin in the air and stared at Ben.

Meg could see that he was trying very hard not to laugh. She was doing the same.

- I'm going to be six next week, Jason said. I'm goint go have a party. You want to come? He put both of his hands over his mouth as soon as he realized what he had said. He had just invited a girl to his party. Maybe she didn't hear!

Meg and Ben both looked surprised. Meg because Jason had actually invited Katie, and Ben because Katie had said yes.

- Of course, if you're sure you want to. Ben gave Meg a look. Is it ok with you?

- Thanks, that would be great. Gives me a chance to meet some of my new neighbours, Ben said. And gives me a chance to get to know one of them better, he thought to himself.

-He did what??? Jennifer stared at Meg. Jason invited our new neighbour's daughter to his birthdayparty? Did he hit his head or something? Last time I heard he thought girls were..what was that word he used?

-Icky, Meg said. I know. I was just as surprised as you are. And to tell you the truth I think Jason was too. I don't think he realized what he said until afterwards. You should have seen the look on his face! But, he did ask her and she did say yes so I guess he'll just have to live with that.

- So, Jason invited a girl to his party. What are all his little macho friends gonna say about that?

-He decided to invite a couple of girls from his class. That way no-one can tease him about only inviting one girl. And Katie won't feel alone.

-Ok, Meg said. I decided. But I thought it better to let him think it was his idea.

Meg and Jennifer were sitting in Jennifer's kitchen the day after the pizza night. Jenniger had of course seen Meg and Jason riding home in Ben's car and she couldn't wait to give Meg the third degree. She had been standing in the doorway when Meg got back after getting her car back and practically dragged her in.

-So.....Jennifer looked at Meg over her teacup. I hear the partents are coming. Are a certain dark, handsom englishman going to accompanie his daughter to this fancy get-together?

Meg tried to look like she didn't care if Ben came or went to Timbuktu.

-Oh, come on Meg! Don't try to pretend you don't care. You want him to come, admit it!

-Oh no? Then how come your face has that interesting shade all of a sudden. Is it hot in here?

-Stop it Jennifer. Alright, maybe I do want him to come. So what? He's our new neighbour. It's always a good thing to get to know your neighbours.

-Ok, ok, I give up! Jennifer held both hands up in the air. She knew she wasn't going to get anywhere on this subject today. God, Meg could be so stubborn!

-What time? What do you mean? Meg gave Jennifer a puzzled look.

-Oh, Jason invited you, did he? Meg said with a twinkle in her eyes.

-No, he didn't. I invited myself. To keep you company. And like you said, what better way to get to know our new handsome neighbour? Jennifer tried to give Meg a puppy-eye look.

-Cut it out Jennifer, that won't work on me. But I know you're going to find som excuse to show up here so you might as well help me out a bit.

When she walked over to her house she kept thinking about what Jannifer had said. Was it only because she wanted to get to know her neighbour that she had invited Ben too?