Just as Long as We're Together ( PDFDrive.com )

JustasLongasWe’reTogether-Blume,Judy.

1.
Hunks.
“Stephanieisintohunks,”mymothersaidtomyauntonSundayafternoon.
TheywereinthekitchenmakingpotatosaladandIwasstretchedoutonthe
grassinouryard,reading.ButthekitchenwindowwaswideopensoIcould
heareverywordmymotherandauntweresaying.Iwasn’tpayingmuch
attentionthough,untilIheardmyname.
AtfirstIwasn’tsurewhatmymothermeantbyStephanieisintohunks,butIgot
themessagewhensheadded,“She’stapedaposterofRichardGereonthe
ceilingaboveherbed.Shesaysshelikestolookupathimwhileshe’stryingto
fallasleepatnight.”
“Oh-oh,”AuntDenisesaid.“You’dbetterhaveatalkwithher.”
“Shealreadyknowsaboutthebirdsandthebees,”Momsaid.
“Yes,butwhatdoessheknowaboutboys?”AuntDeniseasked.
ItsohappensIknowplentyaboutboys.Asforhunks,I’veneverknownone
personally.Mostboysmyage-andI’mstartingseventhgradeintwoweeks-are
babies.AsformyRichardGereposter,Ididn’tevenknowhewasfamouswhen
Iboughtit.Igotitonsale.Thepicturemusthavebeentakenalongtimeago
becausehelooksyoung,aroundseventeen.Hewasreallycutebackthen.Ilove
theexpressiononhisface,kindofahalf-smile,asifhe’ssharingasecretwith
me.
Actually,Idon’tcallhimRichardGere.IcallhimBenjaminbutmymother
doesn’tknowthat.Toherhe’ssomefamousactor.Tome,he’sBenjaminMoore,
he’sseventeenandhe’smyfirstboyfriend.Ilovethatname-BenjaminMoore.I
gotitoffapaintcan.Wemovedoverthesummerandforweeksournewhouse
reekedofpaint.WhilemyroomwasbeingdoneIsleptinmybrother’sroom.
HisnameisBruceandhe’sten.Ididn’tgetagoodnight’ssleepallthatweek
becauseBrucehasnightmares.
Anyway,assoonasthepainterswereoutof

myroomImovedbackinandtapedupmyposters.Ihavenineteenofthem,not
countingBenjaminMoore.Andhe’stheonlyoneontheceiling.Ittookmeall
daytoarrangemypostersinjusttherightwayandthatnight,assoonasmy
mothergothomefromwork,Icalledheruptoseethem.
“Oh,Stephanie!”shesaid.“Youshouldhaveusedtacks,nottape.Tapepullsthe
paintoffthewalls.”
“No,itdoesn’t,”Isaid.
“Yes,itdoes.”
“Look…I’llproveittoyou,”Isaid,takingdownaposterofalionwithher
cubs.Butmymotherwasright.Thetapedidpullchipsofpaintoffthewall.“I
guessIbetternotmovemypostersaround,”Isaid.
“Iguessnot,”Momsaid.“We’llhavetoaskthepainterstotouchupthatwall.”
IfeltkindofbadthenandIguessMomcouldtellbecauseshesaid,“Your
postersdolooknicethough.You’vearrangedthemveryartistically.Especially
theoneoveryourbed.”

2.
Rachel
“Ican’tbelievethisroom!”mybestfriend,RachelRobinson,said.Shecame
overthesecondshegothomefrommusiccamp.Weshriekedwhenwesaweach
other.Dadsayshedoesn’tunderstandwhygirlshavetoshrieklikethat.There’s
nowayIcanexplainittohim.
Rachelmusthavegrownanothertwoinchesoverthesummerbecausewhen
Momhuggedher,Rachelwastaller.She’llprobablybethetallestgirlinseventh
grade.
“I’veneverseensomanyposters!”Rachelstoodinthemiddleofmyroom,
shakingherhead.WhenshenoticedBenjaminMooresheasked,“Howcome
thatone’sonyourceiling?”
“Liedown,”Isaid.
“Notnow.”
“Yes,now…”Ipushedhertowardthebed.“It’stheonlywayyoucanreallysee
him.”
Rachelshovedanarmloadofstuffedanimalsoutofthewayandlaydown.
Ifloppedbesideher.“Isn’thecute?”“Yeah…heis.”
“Mymothercallshimahunk.”Rachellaughed.
“YouknowwhatIcallhim?”“What?”
“BenjaminMoore.”
“BenjaminMoore…”Rachelsaid,proppingherselfupononeelbow.“Isn’tthat
abrandofpaint?”
“Yes,butIlovethename.”