"Can I get a coke with two straws?" Rafe handed his menu to the waitress, without reading it (which was good since he couldn't) and Rosie blushed when the server looked at her. "Also I'll take a double cheeseburger with extra pickles and fries."
"Where are you going to put all that?" Rosie whispered in his ear. "I'll have a hotdog with mustard and chili sauce."
"Chili sauce" Beth thought, "Oh that's real ladylike."
"Did you wanna split a soda?" Danny nudged her.
"I was going to get a water."
"Okay a water with two straws. An order of onion rings, double cheeseburger no pickles, extra tomatoes. My girl'll have the grilled chicken on wheat."
They always got the same thing every time, so for Danny to order it wasn't uncommon, Beth though it was romantic. While Elizabeth thought is was sweet, if Rafe ever tried to order for her Rosie woulda belted him.
Two boys from the varsity football team walked in and over to the table. They're names were Johnny Porter and Bobby Martin, they were your basic jocks, handsome, snooty and pretty dumb.
"Hey Rafe, Danny." Bobby greeted eyeing Beth
"Hi Beth." Johnny flirted
It was funny how at that moment Rosie was just as jealous of Beth as Beth was of her. Not because she liked either Johnny or Bobby she thought they were both jerks. No she just wanted the guys to look at her the way they looked at Elizabeth. Even Rafe didn't look at her that way. So there the two sat in silent competition, neither knowing the other would've traded everything to be in the others shoes.
"Good afternoon boys." Beth replied in her best vote for my dad in the next election voice. "Would you like to join us?"
Danny shot them a jealous glare. Beth thought it was adorable when he got like that. Not that there was any reason for it. Despite the fact she was the most popular girl in Shelby, if the attention didn't come from Danny, she didn't want it.
"Nah we just wanted to come and say hi. Hey Rosie win any long distance spitting contest lately?" Bobby teased
Rosie looked down at her hands blinking back the tears that threatened. What was this emotionally abuse Rosie day? She felt Rafe put his hand on her knee in a vain attempt to comfort her. Rosie put hers on his and squeezed it gently reassuring him she was okay and to not doing anything drastic.
Johnny caught the pissed expression on Rafe's face and tapped Bobby on the shoulder.
"Hey Bobby let's get goin'."
"Yeah alright, see you late Beth."
"I can barely contain my excitement." She retorted curtly
"Hope you four aren't causing any trouble." The sheriff pulled along side them as they headed from the diner to the movies
"Course not Sheriff Gadry." Danny answered
"We're just headed to a movie uncle Arthur." Rosie informed
"That's fine Rosanna. Don't have my niece out to late Rafe."
"No sir." Rafe grinned taking Rosie's hand.
"Alright I better get a move on there must be some teenagers out there some where causing trouble." The cruiser pulled away and went in the direction of the center of town
"Charlie Chaplin awaits." Elizabeth tugged on Danny's hand and they went off toward the theater.
The moon was shining a pure white and the stars twinkled off Beth's eyes as hey stood on the porch of the mayor's mansion.
"You now I'm real proud of you, you were real nice to Rosie tonight." Danny tucked one of Beth's long blonde curls behind her ear.
"I told you I'd do it for you. I'd do anything for you Daniel Walker." Beth led Danny over to the porch swing and sat on his lap.
"I love you Elizabeth Sullivan." Danny pressed his lips to her cheek.
"You know it's good to hear somebody say that." She smiled weakly as she heard her mother stumbled drunkenly in the front door.
"Elizabeth you get you ass in this house this minute." Mrs. Sullivan slurred at her daughter, as she stood in the door way in her silk nightgown and a bottle of scotch in her hand.
"Coming mother." Beth moaned sullenly "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Definitely." Danny brushed her lips and descended down the stoop.
"You're still upset." Rafe stated as he walked Rosie up the long dusty driveway to her house.
"I'm not upset Rafe." Rose responded quietly
"Ro you're never this quiet." Rafe put his hand under her chin and forced her to look him in the eye.
"Rafe would you love me more if I was more like Beth?"
"Rosie, I love you as you." Rafe kissed her forehead gently "You're my best girl."
"Oh I better be."
"I'm taking you flying tomorrow."
"How about I take you flying tomorrow?"
"I don't love you that much."
"Thanks." Rosie replied her voice oozing with sarcasm.
"You know I love you." He pulled her to him "But I gotta go."
"Be careful, it's a long walk and it's dark."
"Yes mother."
"Rafe McCawley don't yes mother me."
"All right hun, Ill try to meet up with Danny 'fore he leaves Beth's"
"Okay. Love you."
"Love you too." Rafe called disappearing into the darkness of the night.
"Beth, did you get the mail?" Her father asked stirring his grits.
"I did…" Beth knew what question was coming next, did you hear anything from Smith?"
"Did you hear anything from Smith?" Her father looked over at her, "Beth, you haven't touched your grits, at all…"
"I think I'm the only southerner that doesn't like grits…"Beth looked at the bowl in distaste.
"Don't change the subject Elizabeth Jean…did you hear from Smith?"
"I did…"
"And?"
"And what?"
Did you get in or not Elizabeth…don't get testy with me…"
"I did…" Beth answered solemnly.
"Beth dear, that's great news, aren't you excited?"
"Sure, I'm bubbling over with excitement…" Beth mumbled.
"Beth, Smith is a perfectly respectful school…"
"Its all the way in Massachusetts …" Beth whined, "Why cant I stay in Tennessee?"
"Beth, I love Tennessee as much as the next person, but there aren't any opportunities here for you. I hate to say this as I am the mayor of this town, but you wont get far on your own here." Her father explained, as he did many times before. "Why don't you want to go? Is it that Walker boy?"
"No, it isn't just about that Walker boy, his name is Danny daddy, you seem to like him when we aren't talking about college…"
"Danny's a fine boy, you know I think highly of him, but when he's hinderin; my daughters future, I kinda take a dislike to him…"
"Daddy, Danny never said anything about me not goin' off to college, he doesn't even know about it…"
"Elizabeth, listen to me, you don't have any opportunities here. You can go off to Massachusetts get a degree then come back to Shelby and make your fortune I don't care. Just please, I want you to see what's out there."
"Why don't I just join the navy? I'm sure I can see the world like that too, and it wont cost you a dime."
"ELIZABETH, shut your smart mouth right now…no daughter of mine is going to join the navy, and you bein' my only daughter, that means you."
"Fine…" Beth got up, "May I be excused?"
"Yes."
"Rosie, is that Beth Sullivan Danny's girl?" her father Alexander looked out the window, and then over at Rosie who was frying eggs on the stovetop.
Rosie leaned over and saw Beth walking down the road towards Rafe's where Danny had lived since his dad died, "Sure is…I wonder why she isn't goin' to see Danny in her chauffeured car."
"She doesn't have a chauffeured car…" Alexander replied in awe, "No really?"
"Well, not technically, but sometimes her fathers assistants drive her around." Rosie said laughing and flipping the egg, "She's going over there at this hour? I doubt he's awake."
"Will he be mad?" her father sipped on his coffee, "Ro, bring the coffee here."
"Danny mad at Beth?" Rosie laughed, "No. I don't think he's ever gotten seriously mad at that girl. He's totally one hundred percent smitten. Even though she can act like a total brat."
"How is she a brat?" Alex asked interested.
"Well…she doesn't like to get dirty."
"Most girls your age don't, Ro."
"Ok, but she can't fix anything, like one time we were in Bradford, and something happened to Rafe's dads car, and I tried to let her fix it, but she had no clue!"
"Rosie, most girls can't fix anything, you're just incredibly lucky your daddy is an ace mechanic, and he taught you everything. But I'm sure Beth Sullivan can run a town like nobody's business." Alexander pointed out.
"Sure, I suppose…" Rosie served the eggs.
"Ah! My girls done just in time, I have to be at the shop in about 15 minutes to work on the Frailers car." Her father ate hurriedly.
Beth walked into Danny's room quietly, so she wouldn't have to wake him up before she had to. He looked so cute curled in a ball with his blanket, like a little angel. She smiled to herself when she passed by his nightstand and saw a picture of her in a frame. She sat down softly and stroked a stray piece of hair away from his forehead.
He stirred, "Beth…" he whispered softly.
"Morning sweetie." Beth smiled, trying to fight back tears.
"Beth, why are you cryin'?" Danny say up, "I don't like to start my day with seein' my girl cry. Darlin', lay down…" Danny pulled his covers over her and wrapped his arms tightly around her.
"I, I'm not…" Beth sniffled.
"Sure you are, what are those tears for then?" Danny cracked a smile, "What's wrong? Did your momma say somethin'?"
"No…" Beth tried to stop, "My, my dad…he's makin' me…"
"He's makin you do what?"
"Go to college, in Massachusetts…" Beth sobbed, even harder, "I don't want to, but I have to…"
"Ohh…" Was all Danny could say, the school year was almost over, and they only had one more summer left together, because Danny had plans of his own.
"Where are you going to put all that?" Rosie whispered in his ear. "I'll have a hotdog with mustard and chili sauce."
"Chili sauce" Beth thought, "Oh that's real ladylike."
"Did you wanna split a soda?" Danny nudged her.
"I was going to get a water."
"Okay a water with two straws. An order of onion rings, double cheeseburger no pickles, extra tomatoes. My girl'll have the grilled chicken on wheat."
They always got the same thing every time, so for Danny to order it wasn't uncommon, Beth though it was romantic. While Elizabeth thought is was sweet, if Rafe ever tried to order for her Rosie woulda belted him.
Two boys from the varsity football team walked in and over to the table. They're names were Johnny Porter and Bobby Martin, they were your basic jocks, handsome, snooty and pretty dumb.
"Hey Rafe, Danny." Bobby greeted eyeing Beth
"Hi Beth." Johnny flirted
It was funny how at that moment Rosie was just as jealous of Beth as Beth was of her. Not because she liked either Johnny or Bobby she thought they were both jerks. No she just wanted the guys to look at her the way they looked at Elizabeth. Even Rafe didn't look at her that way. So there the two sat in silent competition, neither knowing the other would've traded everything to be in the others shoes.
"Good afternoon boys." Beth replied in her best vote for my dad in the next election voice. "Would you like to join us?"
Danny shot them a jealous glare. Beth thought it was adorable when he got like that. Not that there was any reason for it. Despite the fact she was the most popular girl in Shelby, if the attention didn't come from Danny, she didn't want it.
"Nah we just wanted to come and say hi. Hey Rosie win any long distance spitting contest lately?" Bobby teased
Rosie looked down at her hands blinking back the tears that threatened. What was this emotionally abuse Rosie day? She felt Rafe put his hand on her knee in a vain attempt to comfort her. Rosie put hers on his and squeezed it gently reassuring him she was okay and to not doing anything drastic.
Johnny caught the pissed expression on Rafe's face and tapped Bobby on the shoulder.
"Hey Bobby let's get goin'."
"Yeah alright, see you late Beth."
"I can barely contain my excitement." She retorted curtly
"Hope you four aren't causing any trouble." The sheriff pulled along side them as they headed from the diner to the movies
"Course not Sheriff Gadry." Danny answered
"We're just headed to a movie uncle Arthur." Rosie informed
"That's fine Rosanna. Don't have my niece out to late Rafe."
"No sir." Rafe grinned taking Rosie's hand.
"Alright I better get a move on there must be some teenagers out there some where causing trouble." The cruiser pulled away and went in the direction of the center of town
"Charlie Chaplin awaits." Elizabeth tugged on Danny's hand and they went off toward the theater.
The moon was shining a pure white and the stars twinkled off Beth's eyes as hey stood on the porch of the mayor's mansion.
"You now I'm real proud of you, you were real nice to Rosie tonight." Danny tucked one of Beth's long blonde curls behind her ear.
"I told you I'd do it for you. I'd do anything for you Daniel Walker." Beth led Danny over to the porch swing and sat on his lap.
"I love you Elizabeth Sullivan." Danny pressed his lips to her cheek.
"You know it's good to hear somebody say that." She smiled weakly as she heard her mother stumbled drunkenly in the front door.
"Elizabeth you get you ass in this house this minute." Mrs. Sullivan slurred at her daughter, as she stood in the door way in her silk nightgown and a bottle of scotch in her hand.
"Coming mother." Beth moaned sullenly "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Definitely." Danny brushed her lips and descended down the stoop.
"You're still upset." Rafe stated as he walked Rosie up the long dusty driveway to her house.
"I'm not upset Rafe." Rose responded quietly
"Ro you're never this quiet." Rafe put his hand under her chin and forced her to look him in the eye.
"Rafe would you love me more if I was more like Beth?"
"Rosie, I love you as you." Rafe kissed her forehead gently "You're my best girl."
"Oh I better be."
"I'm taking you flying tomorrow."
"How about I take you flying tomorrow?"
"I don't love you that much."
"Thanks." Rosie replied her voice oozing with sarcasm.
"You know I love you." He pulled her to him "But I gotta go."
"Be careful, it's a long walk and it's dark."
"Yes mother."
"Rafe McCawley don't yes mother me."
"All right hun, Ill try to meet up with Danny 'fore he leaves Beth's"
"Okay. Love you."
"Love you too." Rafe called disappearing into the darkness of the night.
"Beth, did you get the mail?" Her father asked stirring his grits.
"I did…" Beth knew what question was coming next, did you hear anything from Smith?"
"Did you hear anything from Smith?" Her father looked over at her, "Beth, you haven't touched your grits, at all…"
"I think I'm the only southerner that doesn't like grits…"Beth looked at the bowl in distaste.
"Don't change the subject Elizabeth Jean…did you hear from Smith?"
"I did…"
"And?"
"And what?"
Did you get in or not Elizabeth…don't get testy with me…"
"I did…" Beth answered solemnly.
"Beth dear, that's great news, aren't you excited?"
"Sure, I'm bubbling over with excitement…" Beth mumbled.
"Beth, Smith is a perfectly respectful school…"
"Its all the way in Massachusetts …" Beth whined, "Why cant I stay in Tennessee?"
"Beth, I love Tennessee as much as the next person, but there aren't any opportunities here for you. I hate to say this as I am the mayor of this town, but you wont get far on your own here." Her father explained, as he did many times before. "Why don't you want to go? Is it that Walker boy?"
"No, it isn't just about that Walker boy, his name is Danny daddy, you seem to like him when we aren't talking about college…"
"Danny's a fine boy, you know I think highly of him, but when he's hinderin; my daughters future, I kinda take a dislike to him…"
"Daddy, Danny never said anything about me not goin' off to college, he doesn't even know about it…"
"Elizabeth, listen to me, you don't have any opportunities here. You can go off to Massachusetts get a degree then come back to Shelby and make your fortune I don't care. Just please, I want you to see what's out there."
"Why don't I just join the navy? I'm sure I can see the world like that too, and it wont cost you a dime."
"ELIZABETH, shut your smart mouth right now…no daughter of mine is going to join the navy, and you bein' my only daughter, that means you."
"Fine…" Beth got up, "May I be excused?"
"Yes."
"Rosie, is that Beth Sullivan Danny's girl?" her father Alexander looked out the window, and then over at Rosie who was frying eggs on the stovetop.
Rosie leaned over and saw Beth walking down the road towards Rafe's where Danny had lived since his dad died, "Sure is…I wonder why she isn't goin' to see Danny in her chauffeured car."
"She doesn't have a chauffeured car…" Alexander replied in awe, "No really?"
"Well, not technically, but sometimes her fathers assistants drive her around." Rosie said laughing and flipping the egg, "She's going over there at this hour? I doubt he's awake."
"Will he be mad?" her father sipped on his coffee, "Ro, bring the coffee here."
"Danny mad at Beth?" Rosie laughed, "No. I don't think he's ever gotten seriously mad at that girl. He's totally one hundred percent smitten. Even though she can act like a total brat."
"How is she a brat?" Alex asked interested.
"Well…she doesn't like to get dirty."
"Most girls your age don't, Ro."
"Ok, but she can't fix anything, like one time we were in Bradford, and something happened to Rafe's dads car, and I tried to let her fix it, but she had no clue!"
"Rosie, most girls can't fix anything, you're just incredibly lucky your daddy is an ace mechanic, and he taught you everything. But I'm sure Beth Sullivan can run a town like nobody's business." Alexander pointed out.
"Sure, I suppose…" Rosie served the eggs.
"Ah! My girls done just in time, I have to be at the shop in about 15 minutes to work on the Frailers car." Her father ate hurriedly.
Beth walked into Danny's room quietly, so she wouldn't have to wake him up before she had to. He looked so cute curled in a ball with his blanket, like a little angel. She smiled to herself when she passed by his nightstand and saw a picture of her in a frame. She sat down softly and stroked a stray piece of hair away from his forehead.
He stirred, "Beth…" he whispered softly.
"Morning sweetie." Beth smiled, trying to fight back tears.
"Beth, why are you cryin'?" Danny say up, "I don't like to start my day with seein' my girl cry. Darlin', lay down…" Danny pulled his covers over her and wrapped his arms tightly around her.
"I, I'm not…" Beth sniffled.
"Sure you are, what are those tears for then?" Danny cracked a smile, "What's wrong? Did your momma say somethin'?"
"No…" Beth tried to stop, "My, my dad…he's makin' me…"
"He's makin you do what?"
"Go to college, in Massachusetts…" Beth sobbed, even harder, "I don't want to, but I have to…"
"Ohh…" Was all Danny could say, the school year was almost over, and they only had one more summer left together, because Danny had plans of his own.