Secrets Overheard

Secrets Overheard

Snooping has its merits; Lela thought, as she dusted and checked the end table drawers in the living room. Unfortunately, she hadn’t found anything, yet, of interest.

She smiled to herself. Lucky thing she’d overheard Mrs. Baker, on the phone, talking about going out of town and needing somebody to stay with the kids. She could use the extra money, and it’d give her the chance to do more snooping. She wondered why Mrs. B hadn’t already asked her. She was there, every day, anyway; the kids were at school and she wouldn’t mind fixing their supper and spending the nights.

While Mrs. B. was at the grocery store, Lela finished the ironing and called her boyfriend. “Yeah, she’s gone, why? Lucas, I’m not gonna snoop for you now. Kevin will be home any minute. IF she asks me to stay with the kids, then I will, but don’t rush me! She hadn’t even asked me yet. And anyway, she may not.

What? You mean tell her I “overheard” her, and I’d be happy to stay with ‘em? She’d think I was listenin’ to her conversation. I don’t want her to… Lucas, if she asks somebody else first, I can still tell her. Why you bein’ so bossy? Yeah, you are. I gotta go. NO! I’m not gonna snoop for you, today, so just hush. I’m gonna hang up now.”

Lela walked out into the front hall and there stood Kevin, the youngest boy. “Oh. Hi, Kevin. You’re home early. You sick?”

Kevin looked around. “Is Mom here?”

“No. She’s gone to the grocery store. She ought to be back any minute. You ride the bus?”

“I got a ride with Sammy’s mom. I’m going over there. Tell Mom.” He ran upstairs, dumped his backpack, got his baseball and glove and left.

~~~

Sammy whistled. “That’s awesome. You heard all that and she doesn’t know it?”

I think she suspects I heard her, because I was just standing there in shock when she walked into the front hall. She was in the kitchen talking pretty loud. I told her I was coming over here to your house.”

“Maybe you shoulda stayed home so she couldn’t snoop.”

“I’m not gonna spy on her. She’d probably catch me at it and sic Lucas on me. I’ve seen him when he’s come to get Lela and sometimes he gets mad at her for something; he’s a mean dude. Scary!”

“He comes in the house?”

“Yeah, when Mom’s not home.”

“How’s he know she’s not home?”

“I guess Lela calls him.”

Sammy grinned. “Well, what she said can be our little secret.”

“What do you mean?”

“We could tell her you heard what she said and if she doesn’t want your mama to know, she…”

“I’m not doing that! Are you crazy?”

“Doing what?” asked Sammy’s Mom, walking into the room.

Kevin was angry. “Bye Mrs. Walker. I’m going home.”

Sammy said, “Wait a minute! You can’t…”

“Yeah, I can. Bye.”

“Mom, it wasn’t anything. I was just joshin’ Kevin.”

“Sammy, come over here and sit down. We’re going to have …”

“Aw, Mom.” Sammy started to leave the room.

“Son, I said sit down! Now. I want you to tell me what you said that got your friend so upset, and I mean now!”

“Mo-om, it’s a secret. I can’t tell …”

“Sammy, you wanted your best friend to bribe their maid. That’s what it sounded like to me. Apparently, Kevin heard her say something he wasn’t meant to hear, that was bad. Now, some secrets, if they are about a person whose feelings would be hurt if they heard it, should be kept  to themselves. But what Kevin overheard Lela tell her boyfriend, that she would snoop when his mom wasn’t there, he should tell his mother. He doesn’t want Lela stealing from her, or snooping, period!

“I didn’t really mean it, Mom.”

“Sounded to me like you did. Sammy, what if somebody came in this house and stole something of yours…”

“Mine!”

“Yes. Wouldn’t you want me to do something about it?”

“Well, sure, but…”

“But what? Think about it, Sammy. Give it a lot of thought. And think about Kevin and what you said to him. You need to realize secrets like that can ruin friendships, can destroy trust. I want to be able to trust you, too.  You know you can trust me, right?”

“Sure.”

“Isn’t that a good feeling, knowing you can always trust me, and depend on me?” That I’ve got your back?”

“Yeah.”

Well, I want to know I can trust you, too. I’m serious, darling. Okay? Deal?” She held up her hand. “High five?”

Sammy high fived his mom and she gave him a quick hug. “Okay, then. Call Kevin and apologize and ask him if he’d like to go with us for a ‘burger. That sound good?”

Sammy looked at his mom, nodded, and hugged her back.