The first part of the journey is often the hardest.
"No ma'am, I was just...I was just..."
Dobie gulped. Why did Zenobia Matthews always make him feel like he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar? Ray was right about the girls around town and not just in that mushy romantic way. If all the girls in Kalispell were like Zenobia, or for that matter, Arabella Mudd, then he and Ray stood no chance. Maybe going to school was a good idea as it would widen his acquaintance and hopefully, he could meet some nice, normal girls.
Looking over Zenobia, he could see that she was still waiting for them to move. However, helping out in the barber shop was the last thing he wanted to do. Even though he would be helping Ray out and it would give him the opportunity to talk him out of this being in love thing, Dobie didn't want to spend any longer than it was necessary in Zenobia's presence.
"Ahh...I have to get back. Mr. Wentworth wants me to clean the stable."
Turning to his friend, Dobie gave him a look of sympathy, "Sorry."
After patting Ray on the shoulder, he said, "You can tell me more about, you know what, next time."
"Go ahead and hang me, it was worth it!"
"No ma'am, I was just...I was just..."
"Just-just what?! Just about to offer to help me?!" Zenobia suggested.
"Ahh...I have to get back. Mr. Wentworth wants me to clean the stable."
"Oh really? How convenient!" said Zenobia, folding her arms over her chest and giving a withering look to he who, she was guessing, talked with forked tongue.
Turning to his friend, Dobie gave him a look of sympathy, "Sorry." After patting Ray on the shoulder, he said, "You can tell me more about, you know what, next time."
"DOBIE JEFFERSON... COME HERE!!" Ray's sister suddenly commanded, in a voice that made nearby horses shy and whinny and caused the flimsy wooden buildings of Kalispell Main street rock on their very foundations.
"I will not enquire what 'You know what' is meant to mean, as I have little doubt it is something quite disgusting and of a nature that only little boys would be interested in talking about. But tell me the truth: have you really to clean Mr Wentworth's stable and if so how much does he pay you to do it? And tell me the truth now..." her black-brown eyes with the slight turn bored into his "... and remember, I can always tell when a boy is lying!" she said, searching his face, making out that she was looking for some tell-tale sign of a fib.
The first part of the journey is often the hardest.
Dobie felt a bit angry at the grilling Zenobia was giving him. She was almost accusing of him of lying right now. He knew he didn't have to tell her exactly what his job entailed but decided to do so as it might stop her from annoying him again. "I get a wage as well as room and board. The Wentworths were mighty kind to both me and my Ma after what happened to us in Whitefish. So, if I say I got work to do for him, I got work. Besides I don't think it's any business of yours what I do and what I don't do."
Even though going to clean up the stables had started out as an excuse, it wasn't now. Cleaning up the stables was something he could do at any time but right now he really needed to get away from Zenobia. No wonder she had no friends.
Turning back to Ray, he once again patted his friend on the shoulder, "I'm really sorry, Ray...real sorry."
With that, he headed back home.
"Go ahead and hang me, it was worth it!"
"I get a wage as well as room and board. The Wentworths were mighty kind to both me and my Ma after what happened to us in Whitefish. So, if I say I got work to do for him, I got work. Besides I don't think it's any business of yours what I do and what I don't do."
Zenobia gasped at the boy's effrontery. "How dare you talk to me like that Dobie Jefferson!! I was about to offer you a job because I felt sorry for you, well that charitable gesture was clearly a case of throwing pearls before swine. Go on then, go and clean out your smelly stables! But when you eventually grow up, and get some stubble on your chin, don't go coming to me for a shave!!" she chided him.
Turning back to Ray, he once again patted his friend on the shoulder, "I'm really sorry, Ray...real sorry."
"Dobie Jefferson, come back here immediately, I haven't finished talking to you!!" Zenobia bellowed, but the lad was gone.
The annoying young woman's shoulders sagged for a second, before the ire that came to her so naturally buoyed her up again and she turned on Raymond. "I forbid you to to talk to that boy ever again!!"
Ray just shook his head wearily. "Come on, let's clean up the shop" he said.