Summer 10 - August 19, 2010

For summer we always go to the Hamptons. It is a great place to get away from the hectic of the city. We own a house there. Actually it's two houses. A main building where my parents live and the guesthouse where my brother, our friends and I sleep. I like the guesthouse. It's smaller and much cosier. Often when I'm lying at the pool I look at the guesthouse. I like its sight. It has two floors. In the middle of the house it's smaller than on the sides. It has two chimneys in the endings of the middle part. The house facade is out of wood and stone. Practically everything is wood except the roof and the pillars that hold certain parts of the house together. The patio is so lovely. There are two white sunshades at both endings of the patio. In the middle is a wooden table with wooden chairs around it. That's where the whole family eats breakfast together- if we get up at the same time-which is a very rare event. In front of the patio on the lawn are two huge bushes of pansies.
„Can I use your suntan cream?“ It was Ronny’s loud voice that interrupted my train of thoughts.
„Course you can. I left it in the pool house.“
Ronny went to get the cream. And my mind began thinking about her. Ronny is beautiful in the classical way. She has long brown thick hair that curls immediately after washing it. Her face is long and thin and her hair makes it seem even slimmer. In summer she is always perfectly suntanned. She spends hours lying in the sun. Her eyes have an almond shape. I really think you could take an almond and stick it into her eye socket and it would fit perfectly. Since we were little we are our own opponents. She is thin and looks like a little girl, the perfect town wife.
I on the other hand am totally contrary. People tell me I'm pretty, I look like Marilyn Monroe. Boys look at me first, then at Ronny. That's what brings tensions between my best friend and me. „Where do you want to go out tonight? Ah, and when is David coming?“ Again it was Ronny who brought me back to reality.
„David is coming tomorrow. So we can have our last girls night out this summer.“
„Oi, I wasn't aware that he was coming so soon already. So, I guess I'll leave tomorrow.“ I didn't like being around Lisa and her boyfriend so much. It made me realise that I was alone.
„But you don't have to leave when he comes. You know he likes you. We could find you a date for the rest of the week. Then we could hang out all four.“

Yeah, I was her little Ronny who wasn't able to find a guy on her own. Now I had to find a good way of getting me out of this: „ Well actually. I have to leave anyway. I forgot to tell you that my grandmother is coming to town the day after tomorrow“
„Oh well, ok. I didn't know that. Should I call the car service? „
„No, thanks. I'm taking the Hampton Jitney. You know, sometimes I want to feel like the normal people“

That was a typical Ronny remark. She thinks money is something terrible. But anyway, I could have guessed that she wasn't going to stay once David arrived. She didn't like being around him. She wanted me alone for her self.
Ronny and I spent the rest of the day lying at the pool getting tanned and sleepy.
In the evening we had to eat dinner with the whole family. With whole I mean everyone except my mother who was already in the city for her social appointments. It was quite a lovely dinner until a classical family scenario happened. I was telling my father about my plans. „So Ronny is leaving tomorrow, unfortunately. You know her grandmother from San Diego is coming to town for a visit. So I invited David to stay with us for the rest of the summer. He is coming tomorrow in the evening.“
My Dad had wrinkles on his forehead. That couldn't mean anything good. „ You informed me about this before? I simply can't remember you telling me about David coming to visit us.“
„Well I did just now.“
„Well yes. But honestly I have to say no.“
„What do you mean? He's coming!“
„Then you better call him. Because he's not invited.“
„You don't mean that! You like him.“
„Yes, I do. He's a decent guy. But I think the rest of the summer should be for family. You, your brother and me.“
„No! I want to be with my friends! If David can't come, I'm going home as well!“
„Your mother don't wants you home just yet. She's glad having some free time from you kids, you know“
„I don't actually like it very much either that mom is always around telling me what to do.“
„Dearest, I doubt it that you are in the position to make such a statement.“

Now Lisa was crying already. It was hard to follow this fight. I was a war of words. There was no blood but there certainly were internal injuries that wouldn't heal for quite some time. The discussion ended when Lisa stood up, threw her cocktail into her fathers face and run away. I followed her. I had never seen her cry like this before. It was hard to calm her down but after two more hours of crying she finally fell asleep. I couldn't sleep that night at all. I had to think a long time about Lisa’s father. He didn't always have it easy. From outside this family might seem like an idealistic picture: society wife, successful father and a beautiful son and daughter.
But their family was surely not without problems. Lisa’s father was the one who took care that the family wouldn't fall apart. Lisa’s mother is a typical high-society wife with alcohol problems. She has never fully recovered from her addiction and every time she falls back to her „bad habit“ her husband sends her into a very expensive Rehab. Additional to taking care of his wife, Lisa’s father has a very high position in a law firm where he is working his but off. Next to his firm and his complicated wife there is not much time left for his children. He doesn't really know them, and neither do they know him. Summer was always the time where they used to bond. But since the kids got older and pubertal, it’s hard for him to find a minute where he can spend some time alone with his kids. And as they grew older the quality time with their father became less important to Lisa and her brother, they cared for other things.

In the morning when I woke up I saw Ronny packing. I didn't want her to leave just yet. I needed her. The only one who could comfort me after a family fight is Ronny. Always has. „Do you really need to go now? I could really need you today.“
„But David is coming in the evening, isn't he?“
„Yeah. But he's not you. You always help me recover from a family fight. Just stay another day. You can leave tomorrow in the evening. Please?“
„OK, if you want it so badly. I guess I can stay another night.“
Ronny and I had one of the most wonderful days. Ronny is really a pro in organising a recovery day. In the morning she told Mathew the cook to make the most delicious breakfast. Afterwards she took me shopping and for lunch we went into our favourite bakery, Levain Bakery. In the late afternoon we took the Jeep and drove to the beach. It was wonderful. At six we had to be home to welcome David. It made the day complete. Ronny and I were sitting at the porch in front of the guesthouse waiting for him to arrive. While we were talking about the new semester that would start soon David drove up the driveway towards us. He was sitting in his black Porsche 997 listening to Jamie Cullums new record. He wore a light blue Ralph Laurent Polo shirt and it fit him marvellously with his lightly tanned skin and his Ray Ban pilot glasses. While I was getting up to greet him, Ronny stayed seated with a non-caring face. David climbed gracefully out of the car and gave me a passionate hello-again-kiss. I started babbling about all kinds of things. We walked towards the porch and Ronny stood up. Ronny and David kissed each other on one cheek and Ronny asked him how his getting here was. Those were the only words David and Ronny would share with each other for hours.

I was feeling totally in the way. Useless. Why did I stay in the first place? I knew it would be like that. It was always like that. Since the minute David arrived, Lisa was taking care of her dearest. It was like I wasn't there. The only words that were meant for me were about reaching her something or if I wanted some more water. David didn't even bother to look at me not mentioning speak to me. He was so rude.
Later when Lisa and I were getting ready to go out we were alone for some minutes. But there wasn't even one moment where I could have talked with her, really talked. She was in her David world again and there was nothing that could take her out of it again. „Do you like the dress with the black rose on the one shoulder side better or should I wear my new trousers with the blue-white striped shirt with the ribbon in the middle?“ Lisa was always very slow on picking her going-out outfit. „Why don't you wear the pink tight dress? I'm sure David would love you in it.“ Lisa thought it was a wonderful idea and after an hour we were finally ready to go. David was waiting downstairs with a drink in his hand. I hated letting him drive when he had had a drink. While we were walking towards the car, Lisa’s father called for us to wait. When he saw David a smile came to his face. „David, my old boy! Nice to have you here!“ They greeted each other with a friendly hug. But then he remembered that David shouldn't be here, that he told his daughter no. „David. Could I borrow Lisa for a sec? There is something we need to discus.“ He took Lisa at her arm and walked with her so far that we couldn't here them talk. But we could see. They screamed at each other with added vehement gestures. It was last night all over again. But after some minutes they seemed to agree on something. They came back. „Sorry David, my daughter and I had some problem understanding each other correctly. I told Lisa yesterday that she should call you to tell you that you can't come.“ He gazed at his daughter with annoyed eyes. „You know, she didn't inform me about your arrival until yesterday at dinner. As you can imagine, I wasn't too happy about it. First I need to know such things in forward and second I planed to spend those last weeks alone with my kids. You know I like you very much David, I know you’re a decent guy. But I think this family needs one week to be alone. So I have to ask you kindly if it would be possible for you to leave tomorrow already.“
„I'm so sorry, Sir. I should have called first, my fault! But I assure you; I'll be gone by tomorrow night. But I have something for you. I brought you those Cuban cigars you like so much.”
„Oh, David you shouldn't have! Thanks a lot, I appreciate it! You know what guys? I'll join you for dinner if you don't mind.“
I drove in the car with Lisa’s father and brother while Lisa was driving with David. At least this way I didn't have to drive with one-drink-David.
At dinner everyone was busy asking David about his family and how his first year in Colombia had been. Lisa’s brother was so kind to talk with me about half an hour. When Lisa and David wanted to go dancing I had to tell them that I had a terrible headache and that I had to go to bed. On the drive home Lisa’s father was still amazed by David.

It was a terrible night. And now I had to tell Ronny all about it. She would help me process. When I walked into Ronny’s room, she was watching TV. „Oh Ronny, it was terrible!“
„What?“
„I have to tell you about the rest of the night.“
„I listen.“
„So, David and I went to the Pink Elephant. And first everything was perfect but then David saw his first love.“

Lisa told me for an eternity about her night. How she felt left out and how terribly mean David could sometimes be. I think it was the first time that Lisa had the feeling she had to worry about their always so perfect relationship. There was no crucial reason to do so, but Lisa has always been a Drama Queen. I listen to her for the half night and eventually put mhms and ohs into the conversation.
When Lisa finally let me sleep, my thoughts went on and on about Lisa and her obsessions. I tried to remember the last time when she actually asked me how I was feeling, what was going on in my head. I couldn't help but wonder whether she just didn’t care or if she was just too busy thinking about herself.


When I walked into my room, David was asleep. I lied next to him and closed my eyes. But my mind found no rest. This time it wasn't about him. My thoughts turned around Ronny. She is such a wonderful friend. She is perfect in everything she does. She learned doing things with perfection when she was little. She lives alone with her father and does everything to keep the household upstanding. Her father doesn't have a lot of time for her. But when he does, he listens to her. He tries to be there as much as he can, but it's most certainly not easy being president of an international firm and father.
Ronny doesn't have a lot of friends. She has her household, her good grades and her dreams. We have always been happy to have each other. I needed her to listen and she needed me to notice her and sometimes take her into my arms.
One of my favourite memories of our friendship happened in the holidays here on the Hamptons. We were five and it wasn't too long ago that her mother died. We had great days playing in the sun but in the evening in bed Ronny always started to cry. I asked her what the matter was. She didn't answer but asked if could hold her. And so I did, for hours until she fell asleep. We were so close that summer. Having that summer in my mind, I fell asleep.

When I woke up in the morning I packed quickly. I couldn't just leave in the evening. I had to be gone by noon. I couldn’t stand another day of being ignored. When I came down for breakfast the happy couple was sitting there already. „Good morning sleepy! How are you?“ We had a short but nice breakfast. When I told Lisa that I would leave at noon, she was disappointed. When she helped carrying my luggage down she told me that she needed to talk to me. I was hoping it was about us. So I listened. „I thought about last night. And I noticed some details I didn't mention to you. Nathalie still has the D-Tattoo on her wrist. I mean she could have just let it erase when they separated. David did so. I-“ „Dammit Lisa! Stop! I can't listen to you! Can you hear your self? And your stupid problems?“ I walked away and called: „I'll call a car anyway, this way I'll be gone faster!“

Ronny's car was there in 10 minutes. They didn't talk those everlasting minutes. When Ronny climbed into the car she only said goodbye. Those were the last words those friends would share for some time. They would run into each other from time to time since they were living in the same city. But summer 2010 was the season that ended their friendship.

-Claude