Chapter 26 Heaven
Heaven
It’s a holiday, but here I am in the Yeuns’ kitchen having a serious business meeting with my mom and Miss Kelly.
Dad and Mr. Rick are probably talking over the grill about Tony Hawk and what it’s like being an aging skater.
Their favorite subject. Axel and Jake are in the front waiting for me.
Jake wants to film something with sparklers using his new Steadicam rig. I’m happy to help, but first business.
“Real quick, I just want to say, nice hair,” Miss Kelly says.
“Thanks, my dad did it,” I say, trying not to mess with the two rope twists hanging over my shoulders.
“Impressive.”
“A remnant of the bingo makeover,” Mom tells her. “After, what, like six years, she asked Warren to open Dad’s Kitchen Salon again.” She leaves out the part where Dad hugged me, pretended to cry, and then turned right back to his mad scientist self, insistent on getting my parts just right.
“Love it. Okay, back to the matter at hand. I gotta give it to Cristine Ford, she remains thorough,” Miss Kelly says. “I just asked her what exactly she wanted you to do at the party and she sent me a whole dossier. This feels more like a convention than a slumber party.”
“Do you think I should do it?” I ask her. I glance over at Mom. She’s already talked to Mrs. Ford and given her approval, pending my approval, which for me also means pending Miss Kelly’s approval.
“Heaven, my dear, I think it’s time to go over your first big business lesson.”
“Okay,” I say, my voice quivering a little. “Lay it on me.” I don’t mean to take this big gulping swallow, but I can’t stop myself. I’m nervous!
Miss Kelly chuckles a little before she goes on.
“As a tattooer, you’re an independent contractor, even while working in a shop.
You’ll constantly be asking yourself, is this something you want to do?
Yes, I need clients, but if there’s a piece I don’t want to do or a client is giving me a bad vibe, it’s a no.
So, the first question I have to ask you is do you want to do it? ”
I swallow and give my honest answer. “Yes.”
“Okay, good. Are you okay with the rate Mrs. Ford has offered you?” This feels like a test, I’ll be honest.
“Is this a good rate for this sort of thing?” I ask.
Miss Kelly glances at Mom and smiles. “Another good lesson. Ask questions. I think it’s a great rate, actually. I’m glad she didn’t offer to pay you in pizza. Okay, so it’s a yes. Now let’s go over everything you’re gonna need.”
Our super-serious business meeting goes on longer than I expect, but Miss Kelly gives me a lot to think about.
Like how she’s going to ask Mrs. Ford to get permission slips from all the parents beforehand, because there’s nothing worse than a pissed-off parent after the fact.
She and Mom also don’t think I should do any ad content.
“First of all, those pens suck, so I’m not sending you out there to use them,” Miss Kelly says.
“Maybe when you’re older, we can think about that sort of content, but that’s more Mrs. Ford’s thing. Your art comes first,” Mom adds.
“I’m okay with that.” I nod, probably looking a little less panicked.
Of course, I was nervous, but hearing that from Mom just lifted a huge weight from my shoulders.
I want people to come to me for tattoos.
I don’t want to make sponsored content. We talk a little bit more, and when we’re all done, Mom pulls me in for a hug. I might be hyperventilating a little.
“You’re doing great, Heav. We’re all really proud of you. Your IG account is killing it,” Miss Kelly says.
“Thanks.” That was all Saylor.
“Heaven’s really stepping up,” Mom says, turning back to Ms. Kelly.
“She sent a great email to a bakery owner yesterday, so she and Saylor can complete another bingo square.” And that was thanks to my undying love for Saylor.
She jumped right in with Miss Anita, and it was definitely my turn to pull my weight with this square.
I did send the email and it was a good one, but that was after I texted Saylor asking her advice on what exactly I should say.
I feel like such a fraud. Saylor and now Miss Kelly are helping me with everything.
One day I have to figure out how to finish this all on my own.
“Mom! Is Heaven in there?” Jake calls from the front door.
“Oh right. It’s the Fourth of July. Go play.”
“Thanks.”
Mom gives me one more quick squeeze and I practically sprint out of the kitchen. I’m doing everything that everyone is asking me to do, and somehow I feel more nervous and unsure than ever. And Saylor isn’t here for me to make out with. Life isn’t fair.
· · ·
I’m still a little jittery when Jake explains exactly what he wants Axel and I to do.
We both hop on our boards. And while I think Axel, rapid movement, and a lighter aren’t a good combination, no one gets hurt.
The final product of me and Axel zooming back and forth across the mouth of the driveway with sparklers in our hands ends up looking pretty cool on the monitor of Jake’s Canon.
After I get a cheeseburger and a can of Coke that feels like it’s been chilling on ice for no less than three years, I feel better.
There are freezer pops and more chips than one should eat.
We can see fireworks from the park, and Mr. Yeun sets off one rocket for us in the driveway.
Last time he set off three and one of the neighbors called the Culver City cops.
After my parents leave, Mr. Rick lets us go up on the roof.
It feels like all of LA County is setting off fireworks, and we can see at least half of them.
Eventually it gets a little breezy up there, so we grab all our stuff, including the mountain of blankets Miss Kelly set out for us, and set up shop in the living room.
Esther taps out after we finish The Sandlot. And Axel is sprawled out on the floor snoring halfway through Independence Day.
I look at my phone, wishing some fresh texts from Saylor would magically appear.
She’s messaged me a bunch and sent me a couple cute selfies and a cute picture of her holding her baby cousin.
I sent her a picture of my fresh hair, to which she responded with a bunch of emojis and exclamations, telling me how good I look. Still, I miss her. I wanna talk to her.
Suddenly I hear the sound of fireworks from the other end of the couch.
“Sorry,” Jake says. “Bethany sent me a video. They let them up on the roof where they are staying. It looks pretty cool. Here.” Jake hands me his phone, and sure enough, there’s a video of a really cool view of the New York City skyline, fireworks bursting everywhere.
Then Bethany’s face is filling the screen.
“Anyway, I love you so much and I—”
“Whoops, that part is not for me,” I say, tossing the phone back.
“Yeah, I didn’t know that was in there. My bad.”
I focus back on the TV. “It seems like the only way to survive an alien invasion is with a cute kid, a dog, or a pilot’s license,” I say more to myself. But Jake replies.
“Well, you have Fergie and Di, and Esther’s cute enough in a pinch. I think we’d make it.”
“True,” I snort.
“Your dad said the bingo’s going well. You and Saylor getting along now?” Jake asks. “Bethany said Saylor’s having fun.”
I swallow and hope Jake can’t tell what kind of fun Saylor and I have been having.
I don’t think we’re keeping it a secret, exactly.
I just don’t think I should say anything to Jake about it.
Me and girls isn’t something we really talk about.
Me and Saylor would be too much of a bombshell during a Will Smith movie.
Besides, I kinda like that we have this thing that’s just ours.
I’m not ready to share it with anyone yet.
“Yeah, we’re good. I like hanging out with her,” I say honestly.
“I like Saylor,” Axel says, scaring the crap out of me.
“Jesus, Axe. Are you awake?”
“No,” he replies. I think he’s joking, but a second later, his mouth goes slack and he’s snoring even louder than before.
“Poor little guy’s all tuckered out from his grown-man job.”
“Yeah, I could never do all that. Manual labor is not for me.”
“Anyway,” Jake says, looking back in my direction. “You think you’d actually wanna hang out with Bethany and the rest of her friends in the fall instead of avoiding them in a corner?”
“God, was I that obvious?”
“Yes.” Jake laughs.
“Whatever,” I say, trying to look anywhere but at my friend.
“I will continue to be dark and mysterious and grace whomever I choose with my presence when I feel the time is right.” No matter how I feel about sports, I am not going to suddenly become a basketball fan overnight just because of Saylor.
Will I show up to every single one of her games if she asks me?
Yes, yes, I will. That’s just what #MoreThanFriends do.