Black Rose

sweater. It was a birthday gift, so I’ve only had it since November, and I’m still mad she ruined it.”
    “Tell me exactly what happened.”
    When she had, he sat back, tapped his fingers on the wheel. “She didn’t want you coming out with me tonight.”
    “Apparently not, but that’s too bad. Here I am.”
    He looked at her again. “Why?”
    “I said I would, and I do what I say I will. Then you can add that she made me mad, and I don’t back down, either. And lastly, I wanted to explore whether or not I’m going to like your company on a purely social level.”
    “You shoot very straight.”
    “I do. It irritates some people.”
    “I’m not one of them. Sorry about the sweater.”
    “So am I.”
    “We could speculate—”
    “We could,” Roz interrupted. “But I’d just as soon not, right now. She didn’t stop the evening, so I don’t see why she should drive it, either. Why don’t we talk about something else until it’s time to get down to business again?”
    “Sure. What would you like to talk about?”
    “I could start by wondering out loud how long you intend to sit here beside the road, and how late that’s going to make us to your son’s game.”
    “Oh. Right.” He pulled onto the road again. “How about if I start this conversation off by telling you I’ve got a new cleaning lady.”
    “Is that so?”
    “She’s a friend of a friend of a friend. Sort of. She’s into feng shui, so she’s rearranging everything in the place—career areas, and health areas, I dunno. And making me lists for things I have to buy, like a money frog for my prosperity corner—or something. And these Chinese coins. And she says I have to have a green plant. I think it’s for the health area, I’m not sure, and I’m too afraid of her to ask. So I was wondering if I could possibly have that plant back you took from my place last spring.”
    “The one you were murdering.”
    “I didn’t know I was murdering it. I didn’t even know it was there.”
    “Benign neglect is still neglect.”
    “Hardass. How about I sign an oath to take better care of it? The fact is, she’ll be the one taking care of it, at least every other week. And you could have visitation rights.”
    “I’ll think about it.”
    THE AUDITORIUM WAS already packed when they arrived, and humming with pregame excitement. They moved through the noise and color and excitement, scooting down the row to their seats while both teams practiced layups on the court.
    “That’s Josh there, number eight.”
    She watched the tall boy in his trimmed-in-blue white jersey lope forward and tap the ball off the backboard and into the net. “Nice form.”
    “He was the NBA’s number-ten draft pick. He’ll play for the Celtics next year. It’s hard for me to believe it. I’m not going to brag all night, but I had to get that one in.”
    “He’s going pro? The Celtics? Brag all you want. I would.”
    “I’ll keep it to a minimum. In any case, Josh is point guard, that’s the position that directs the team’s offense from the point.”
    She listened, sipping the soft drink he’d bought her, as he ran through a primer of basketball terms and explanations.
    At tip-off she watched the action, enjoyed the lightning movements on court, the echoing voices, the thunder of the ball on wood.
    Now and again through the first quarter, Mitch would lean closer to explain a call, a strategy, or a play.
    Until she got to her feet with the rest of the Memphis crowd to boo a blown call. “What, do those refs need eye surgery? We had established position, didn’t we—does he need three feet planted on the ground? That was charging, for God’s sake. All he was missing was a Visa card!”
    When she sat again, with a disgusted huff, Mitch scratched his chin. “Okay, either I’m an exceptional teacher or you know basketball.”

    “I have three sons. I know basketball. I know football and baseball, and at one time I knew entirely too much about professional wrestling. But they mostly outgrew that one.” She took her eyes from the game long enough to smile at him. “But you were having such a nice time educating the little lady, I didn’t want to break your stride.”
    “Thanks. Want some nachos?”
    “I wouldn’t mind.”
    She enjoyed herself, and was amused at halftime when Josh zeroed in on his father in the crowd and grinned. More amused when the boy’s gaze drifted to her, then back to his father before Josh executed an