A Place To Stay

Elli and Claire sipped tea in the Doctor’s study. Claire looked across at her best friend. Elli was a pretty girl, with short, ruffled brown hair and sparkling brown eyes. What really made her beautiful was her friendly, caring personality. Claire jokingly called her “Mama-chan” or “little mama” when she was acting particularly motherly. Elli would pout and stick out her tongue. “Don’t call me that!” she’d say. “You’re making me feel old!”

Elli looked across at her and sighed. “I wish that you hadn’t made a mortal enemy out of the innkeeper’s daughter! I like going there. Now we have to drink tea in Doctor’s stuffy old study.”

Claire sheepishly smiled. “Sorry about that! Man, is she a firecracker or what?” Claire had already recounted the previous night’s events to Elli.

“That’s an understatement. You don’t know Ann like I do. When we were kids, she had a crush on Rick, and when he gave me a kiss while we were all playing, her head almost exploded and she tried to pull all of my hair out!” Elli pointed to her scalp. “It’s never been the same…that’s why I have to keep it short.”

Claire gaped at her. “I-I-is that true?” She started to get really scared at the idea of having this volatile girl as her enemy.

Elli burst out in laughter. “No! I’m just kidding. About the hair part anyway. The rest is true. She did get really mad and threw a clump of dirt at me. But we were four years old! I doubt she will be pulling your hair or throwing stuff at you over Cliff.”

Claire still looked uneasy. Elli gave her a sly look. “So, speaking of that, how’s it coming along?”

Claire sighed. “Geez, Elli. He’s been living with me for two days. Nothing is happening.”

Elli stuck her tongue out at Claire. “Wimp. If I were you, I’d already have been all over him.”

Claire cocked an eyebrow at Elli. “Liar! You live here with Doctor and you haven’t tried anything with him!”

Elli mused this. “True…but that’s different. Doctor is older and sophisticated. I’m trying to get HIM to pursue ME. It would be more fun that way.”

“Good luck with that,” Claire said, sipping her tea.

“I need more than luck,” Elli groaned. “The man is clueless! I’ve dropped hints, flirted, baked him special presents (oh, and all I got for that was a lecture on how bad cake frosting is for your health) and tried everything I could think of. He gets all red and stammers, but he doesn’t get the picture.”

Claire shrugged. “Maybe you’ll just have to pursue him.”

Elli shook her head. “Uh uh. No way. I can hold out. One day. One day he will sweep me up in his big strong arms and whisk me away to make love to me passionately!” Elli gestured wildly with her hands, almost upsetting her teacup in her excitement. Claire giggled as she grabbed at it.

Just at that moment, the Doctor himself walked in, smiling. “What’s all the giggling about, girls?”

Elli flushed and tried to act nonchalant. “Oh, just girl stuff. You know, getting swept away in some man‘s arms and all that.” She smiled innocently at him.

“Ah, that’s good. You two enjoy your girl time.” He smiled at them and walked out again.

Once he was far enough away, Elli turned to Claire and mock swooned. “Oh! You see? He’s the epitome of tall, dark, and clueless.”

Claire laughed and finished up her tea. “I better get back home. I feel almost guilty having so much free time, but Cliff is a machine.”

Elli smirked. “But is he a…love machine?”

Claire balled up her napkin and threw it at Elli, who deftly ducked it. “You and your dirty mind,” she groaned.

Claire walked down the road, making sure to bypass the inn so as not to run into the angry red head. Her plan failed though, as she nearly barreled into Ann coming out of the supermarket.

Ann glared at her. “Hello, Claire,” she said icily.

Claire sighed and stuffed her hands in her pockets. “Come on, Ann,” Claire mumbled. “I’m not your enemy. And hey, if I hadn’t given Cliff the job, he would have had to leave town, you know? So what are you so mad at?”

Ann’s face wavered for a second, then she scowled again. “You. I’m mad at you and your sneaky little blonde self.” Claire looked startled. “You know what you’re doing, inviting him into your house. I know you like him too. But I met him first, and it‘s not fair!”

Claire groaned. “Oh, now you’re just acting like a little kid.”

“I am not!” Ann yelled, stomping her foot. She suddenly became aware that other people were watching. Rick and Karen were sitting on their usual bench in front of the supermarket, a look of amusement on both their faces. Ann scowled at Claire one more time, and then stormed off in the direction of the inn.

Claire turned to Rick and Karen. “Sorry about that.”

Karen just laughed and clapped her hands. “I thought I was going to see a catfight this morning! Catfight over Cliff!” She made yowling cat noises and slashed her hands like claws through the air.

Claire scratched the back of her neck nervously. “It wasn’t all that…she’s just getting all worked up over nothing.”

Rick nodded. “That’s just Ann. She had a crush on me when we were kids, and she’d get so mad at anyone who would smile at me, even the teacher! She got quite a few detentions for that!”

Claire laughed. “Well, see you guys later.” They waved at each other and Claire headed back to the farm.

Claire and Cliff talked as she cooked dinner. Claire carefully avoided the subject of Ann.

Cliff pushed his plate away, satisfied. “You make the best curry, Claire.” He smiled shyly. “That’s my favorite food, you know.”

“Oh, really? That’s my favorite food too!” Claire responded.

“Really? Okay, then, what’s your favorite dessert?”

Claire thought for a minute. “Mmm… coconut ice cream.”

Cliff mused this. “I’ve never had that. Well, my favorite dessert is chocolate mousse. Actually, anything chocolate!”

Claire grinned. “I’ll have to remember that. Okay, I like this game. What else? Oh!” She clasped her hands together. “My favorite fruit is watermelon. What about you?”

Cliff didn’t hesitate. “Grapes!”

Claire nodded. “I like grapes too. I like all fruit, really. The only thing I don’t like is grapefruit.” She wrinkled her nose at the thought.

“Me neither!” Cliff exclaimed. “It’s so bitter! How can anyone eat it! And they always say...”

“Just put some sugar on it!” Claire finished.

Cliff laughed. “Exactly! Like that helps. Then it’s just bitter AND sweet!”

Cliff and Claire sat at the dinner table for two hours, laughing and comparing likes and dislikes. They finally noticed the time and started getting ready for bed.

As Claire lay in bed that night, she thought to herself that it was going to be pretty fun having Cliff around.