Maricel had a productive morning...

She was once again on an eight a.m. bus and off to downtown to take her test at the temp agency. She did fine on that, then she got sent for a TB test, pee test and physical. Then she headed on out to the University of Toledo to chat with someone in the Education program about just what she'd need to do to make sure she ranked as a highly-qualified teacher in Ohio. That way she'd be eligible for employment at any school. She kindly called me about every thirty minutes so I wouldn't think she'd gotten lost on the bus. She's braver than me. Public transport gives me the heebie jeebies. Maybe it's cause I got my ass beat so much on the bus in my youth.
For no apparent reason She-who-shall-not-be named left me a voicemail. I saw no reason to reply, but probably should have since she turned up in the store.
"Hello Simon." She said very formally.
"Go away." I said.
"I think I lost something and I need to look for it." SWSNBN said in that way where she demands instead of asks. I mean, if she needs it everybody get out the way. Could it be her soul? Her heart? Perhaps her conscience?
"No." I said.
"I can't find my grandmother's diamond earrings. I think I accidentally left them upstairs somewhere."
"You should have done a better job of sneaking out." I said. "I don't think you left anything here."
Except for a bitter aftertaste in my mouth.
"I'll just go up and look for them and leave." She started to walk right past me.
"No, you won't. You don't live here." I said. "Where do you think they are, I'll look for them later."
"Well, I sort of need them now." She said.
"So often we need emergency diamond earrings." I said.
"I'm getting married next weekend. In the Virgin Islands. It's a destination wedding."
That felt more like a punch in the stomach than I would have imagined. But she meant for it to feel that way. I can't being to describe the nastiness of her tone. SWSNBN seemed to hate me and I absolutely had no clue as to why. I could understand growing bored with or annoyed with but I cannot thing of what I ever did to inspire a move-out-without-telling-him kind of hatred. If anybody else knew why, they weren't telling.
I guess I was supposed to ask who she was marrying, but I didn't. I had an idea.
"I'll look tonight or tomorrow." I said. "Where do you think they're at?"
"I think in the closet or maybe that little cubby thing in the bathroom."
"I didn't see them in your old closet. You pretty much emptied it out and I took everything else out of there last night."
"It would be easier if you just let me look."
"Not for me." I said. "I'll look. If I find them, can I just give them to your sister?"
"You won't find them." SWSNBN said. "You don't know how to look for anything."
"Do you want me to try or not? Cause I can just as easily not try."
"You are such a jackass." She said.
The bell on the door rang and Maricel came in. She smiled politely at SWSNBN and then asked if I'd eaten lunch yet. I said no and Maricel said she'd go make us some sandwiches. Then she disappeared into the back to go upstairs.
"Who's that?" SWSNBN asked.
"The girl who lives here." I said.
"How much did that cost you?" She said pretty much destroying any chance I'd look for her damn earrings.
My reply really doesn't need to be repeated aloud or written down anywhere.

By the way...

It was a hundred bucks to fix the back door. Stupid door window breakers. Maricel spent the evening curled up on the couch reading. I was reading myself, but not looking nearly as good. I had a digital music channel from the cable playing in the background and I was struck by the utter pleasantness of it all. Like Maricel, all I really want is some quiet time to enjoy my pleasures.

They said Weezer was breathing easier...

and resting comfortably. So I didn't go out to the hospital after work. I took Maricel to library to get her very own library card. It was incredibly exciting. I bypassed the two closest library locations to go to the one in Maumee that's situated in the lovely historical green space. Men fought and died in this parking lot during the War of 1812. More specifically, Dudley's Massacre happened here in the parking lot. If you follow the link, scroll down to the D's.
But we picked up some music and some reading materials. She was impressed with the library, though I liked it better before they spent a bazillion dollars rennovating it. Now it looks all historical on the outside, but just like any old office building inside. Afterwards we sat outside on a park bench for awhile. Maricel said that she had always wanted to come live here (really here to Toledo) because her father always made the US sound like home when he talked about it. He was a second generation American and he would have been quite happy to stay here, but he married a Filipino girl who didn't like the cold and didn't like not being where she considered home.
"This is where I always felt like I should live." She said.
"I hope it doesn't dissapoint." I said.
"You mean there won't be rivers of chocolate, rainbows of candy and streets paved with gold?" She replied.
"There might be." I said. "You never know."

See You in the funny papers...
Simon

Yes, I know...

that English is the official language of the Philippines. I was not surprised that Maricel spoke English well. I was surprised that she speaks it with almost a perfect American accent and with American syntax and colloquialisms. She went to a school designed for American and British expats (very important to her father), so I suppose that would reinforce it. Don't worry, I'm not completely stoopid.

See you in the funny papers...
Simon