Rod, again - Chapter 2, Picnic

Rod and Cindy were enjoying a picnic at the park. It was Cindy's idea and Rod happily agreed. Cindy took the lead on most of the things they did and this was fine with Rod. As long as they were together, Rod was happy.

Rod looked across the blanket at Cindy. She was leaning back with her eyes closed. A faint breeze played with her short brown hair. Rod once again found himself wondering why she chose to spend her time with him. In his mind, she was perfect and he was flawed. Cindy opened her eyes and smiled at him. Rod smiled back.

Their relationship had started cautiously, each unsure of the other. They had adjacent apartments and both knew that if things ended poorly, someone would need to move. But things had only gotten better as they had gotten to know one another. This fact amazed Rod. Honesty was important to Cindy. Early on, she insisted that there be no secrets between them. They had shared everything of any importance about their past. Rod had not held back. He had no interest in pretending to be something that he wasn't. If Cindy didn't like it, it was better to find out early rather than get hurt later.

At first, Cindy thought Rod was kidding when he described his former self. She had trouble imagining him as the overweight, arrogant, smelly pig that he claimed he’d been. But Rod was adamant and she realized he was serious. Rod explained how his hampered sense of smell had made him unaware of his offensive body odor. His inability to discern smells also affected his sense of taste. Consequently, he’d sought refuge in a few unhealthy foods that had at least some flavor to him. His disability could not, however, excuse his behavior. Rod knew there was no good reason why he’d spent most of his life being an obnoxious jerk. The accident had been a wake-up call. When he realized how people were laughing at him behind his back, he dropped all attempts at being his old self. For a long time he just didn’t care. He was still tentative around people, assuming they might mock him at any moment. Rod knew he was a very different person that he had been, but he wasn’t sure why. He wondered if the transplant he’d received to restore his sense of smell had also implanted something else, maybe a new sense of self.

The old Rod had boasted about numerous girlfriends. The new Rod admitted that the number was vastly overinflated. There had only been a few girlfriends, none since he moved to Arizona, and only one he would classify as a serious relationship. Rod told Cindy about Debbie, how he had left her over a decade ago, how she came back into his life a couple of years ago, how things finally ended with her. Cindy listened attentively but never said anything judgmental. She did ask Rod why he left Debbie. Rod didn’t have an answer. He didn’t really know why, it was just time to move on.

Rod did his best to explain his messed up family. His mother, Patsy, still lived in the house where he grew up. She was the only immediate family member whose whereabouts Rod knew but he had little contact with her. She was obsessed with her cat, Miss Trudy. There had been a succession of cats over the years, always white Persian, always named Miss Trudy. Rod felt that his mother loved the cats more than her own children. His mother did little to disprove this.

Rod had an older sister, Rhonda. She ran away after an ugly cat-flinging incident when he was in high school. Even though Rhonda claimed it was an accident, their mother accused her of purposely trying to injure Miss Trudy (the 1st). After a couple of days of continuous bickering and shouting, Rhonda threw some things in a backpack and walked out the door. Rod had not heard from her since.

Rod’s father, Don, ran away a few months after Rod moved out. He called Rod and told him he couldn’t stay in a house where he was second fiddle to a feline. Rod realized that his father had probably wanted to leave sooner but stayed for his son’s sake. Rod didn’t know where his father was or what he was doing. Occasionally, he would receive a card in the mail or a late-night telephone call from him. The last contact with him was over five years ago. Rod had moved since then and he wondered if his father could find him if he wanted to.

Cindy listened to Rod’s history with compassion. She didn’t laugh or even giggle when he described his mother’s obsession with Miss Trudy. Rod noticed tears in her eyes when talked about his sister and his father. She genuinely seemed to care. Rod was unsure how to react to such a kind person.

Cindy’s past sounded like it had been written for a television family of the 1950s or 1960s. She was an only child. Her family was from Vermont. She still kept in contact with many friends from high school and college. Even though she was younger than Rod, she’d had many more relationships - at least eight that she considered serious. Her father, Conrad Newman, was CEO of Newman Financial Enterprises. Her mother, Beverly, volunteered for various social causes and doted over her daughter. Cindy spoke to her parents weekly and had already told them all about Rod. This information made Rod uneasy. He was pretty certain they would want someone better spending time with their little girl.

Rod had to admit that having no secrets with Cindy was liberating. She knew every flaw, every embarrassing tidbit that he could remember. He was able to simply be himself with her. He sensed that she felt the same way.

Cindy sat up and looked at her watch. “I think picnic time is about over. Shall we go home?”

Rod nodded and stood. Cindy repacked their basket and Rod folded the blanket. Arm in arm, they walked through the park. Their apartment complex was only a half mile away. They walked most of the way silently. It wasn’t until they were almost to the main entrance that Cindy noticed the heavyset woman standing in the parking lot watching them. Rod noticed her as well. She seemed vaguely familiar.