Crystal Trino's Journal Sep 5 2006 Entry

September 5. Tuesday Night.

Hi Journey.

I waited to go out. Waited to go back to the alley behind our shop where that empty red journal leaned up against the wall of my shop like a delinquent waif.

I waited all through Labor Day. You should be proud of me, J--I only spent two hours there at the shop yesterday, culling through some paint swatches for Joni’s baby’s room. I know it’s a good three months away, yet, but I want everything we do for that kid to be so spot-on. Cora’s halfway around the world, and I suppose deep down I feel this new baby can be a surrogate niece (OK, or nephew) for me, right here at home.

Remind me to give Carm a call later this week, OK, Journey?

Joni emailed me the rough draft for this month’s home edition of our newsletter yesterday, so I spent a few minutes correcting a few typos on it. No need for any big overhaul of her draft; she’s turning into a decent writer.

But I snuck a look in the alley Monday. The book was still there, ramrod stiff as a soldier at attention. And it was still there this morning when I cracked open the back door for a quick peak, and again at noon, and yes it still hadn’t moved this evening when I called it a day.

I left work through the back door and looked up and down the alley to guarantee nobody was out snooping. I bent down quickly and snatched up the journal and stashed it inside my briefcase. There was a faint trace of scent about it, pleasant enough, but I couldn’t quite place it as I drove home with the book sitting on the Corolla’s passenger seat.

And now it’s tucked safely under my mattress. It’s mine now, J, and I know it seems silly but I don’t want anybody else finding it.

Goodnight, Journey