Chapter 57

After they left Bob and Tommy with the baby, the girls went into giggles over the stories Betty told Dora. ‘Oh Betty, you make me laugh so much with all the stories of you and Bob in all your escapades. Why do you let him talk you into those things, sis?’  

‘Dora, I cannot explain it. He makes me so mad and so crazy all the time. Yet, he is still the one I married and told mom and dad I would stay and behave.’ Dora looked at Betty. What her parents wanted was for her to want to behave and be a nice wife. They knew her temperament even as a young woman. Dora herself has seen Betty screeching at everyone, in her own life as a sister.  

The girls had to stop and get gas, the RV sucked up the fuel. Betty seemed to always find something to eat each time they stopped. Dora seemed quiet for some time. Finally, Betty asked why she was so solemn.  

She wondered how Tommy was taking all this drama. Unknown to Betty, her son emailed her every week. She was aware of the baby in the house. Dora would find some time to ask about Homer.  

Dora did not answer Betty. Her mind clouded over between her job and her separation from Tommy. She sighted the hotel and her mood shifted. ‘Hey Betty we’re here.’

The girls arrived and checked in. The room was nice and just what they wanted. Both needed a new suit so they went to find a shop. Dora watched with horror as her sister picked a white bikini with red polka dots. She looked ghastly in her suit, but Dora could not bring it up. Betty  had terrorized her when they were growing up. She did not want to find that side of Betty again.  

The shop had a buffet, and of course Betty went right for it. Dora followed and ate a salad. Betty selected everything there could be on a buffet for her plate; she ended up bringing two full plates back to the table.  Watching her walk, made Dora stop eating for a moment. Seeing her food piled high just made Dora less hungry. How could she eat all that?  

Instead of picking on Betty, she waited until the plates were empty. ‘Let’s go shopping Betty. I need to find some gifts for my coworkers.’ Betty agreed and soon they found what was most needed or wanted. Betty found some beautiful flowers she just fell in love with. A plastic bowling ball caught her eye;Tommy had lost his lawn bowling set pieces. It seems Bob had run over them with the lawn mower a week ago.  

The girls each had their own vision of what was necessary. Dora found beautiful pottery she would share with her co-workers. Betty was more involved in what she wanted to see in her house and what her family would think of her. Dora was not as self absorbed as her sister was.  

They got back and needed a break from the crowds. They redressed in their suits and went out towards the beach

Walking along the sand, watching everyone in their new suits and hair style; the two felt way out of place for the beach. For some time they walked, looking for shells. Once when Betty bent over to get a shell, a group of young men made an awful sound, watching her. Dora hated that, and had to get Betty off of beach and out of the sight of these horrid boys.

'Let's eat lunch at the MallowMarsh Burger Joint. Come on Betty, I don't want to stay out here anymore.'  The girls had cards for meals and drinks that came with their suite. As they walked in, Betty's phone rang. Betty opened and shut it and then looked up to see what to order.

While eating their meal, Dora sensed her sister’s foul mood. She thought about it and knew they would have to get back home sooner than she planned. Of course, she herself had to get over to the airport in a few days. The Corps had her going over to SimIranin to work on their bridges.  

After the meal, Dora had an idea that might bring Betty out of her mood.  'Betty, would you like to go sit on the edge of the pool and drink a beer?'

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