"Good morning Rosanna." Rafe's mother met her at the door
Rosie liked her boyfriend's mom, while every other women in the city treated her like she had the plague because she liked planes, Mrs. McCawley treated her like a normal girl. "Morning Mrs. McCawley, is Rafe up yet?"
"Yes dear, he said something bout fuelin' up the plane, I haven't seen him in a hour. He was actually up before Danny this morning. I reckon he could use you this is your line of expertise."
"Thank you." Rosie bubbled bounding out the back door toward the hangar.
"Hey you." Rosie wrapped her arms around Rafe from behind
Rafe smiled devilishly
"Marilyn I told you my girlfriend should be here any minute."
His girlfriend punched him in the shoulder
"She's already here."
"Ready to go flyin'?" He turned around and tickled her sides
Rose giggled
"Why don't you take your other girl friend? I was thinkin' we haven't been fishin' in a long time can we go? Maybe after you take me up?"
"Anything you want Ro." Rafe climbed into the cockpit and pulled Rosanna up onto his lap.
"Um honey I've got to tell you somethin'." Danny rolled over in his bed, his face only inches from Beth's
"Hmmm what is it?" She asked emotionally strained
"I'll tell you later let's go for a picnic."
"That's a good idea I didn't eat any of my breakfast, dad made grits."
"Let's get goin then." Danny hopped up from his bed and paced over to his dresser. Beth watched his cat like movements in awe. This toned arms and muscular legs being displayed by his tank top and boxers.
"Elizabeth Sullivan you must have done somethin right in a past life to get him." Beth thought to her self as Danny took his close in the closet to change. They had been together since they were twelve and he was still shy around her at times.
"Why can't I catch anything?" Rosie whined as she pulled her pole up yet again
"Because you're not a master like me." Rafe goofed
"They keep eating my bait, that's makin' me really angry. Don't let this go to you head Rafe McCawley, I'm still a better mechanic then you." She lowered the worm back into the water. And the two fell into an eerie silence
"Danny and I are joining the Army." Rafe's voice shattered the serenity of the lake
"What?" She stared at him in disbelief.
"I'm not goin' to Tennessee State with you Ro. I wanna fly so does Danny, we're joinin' the air corps. I wouldn't get into college anyway on the count I'm stupid."
"Firstly you're not stupid, but this maybe the most stupid decision you've ever made."
"I don't see it that way."
"Does this mean we're over Rafe are you leavin' me for good?"
"Oh hell no, you're gonna be my girl till the day we die. I'll never love anyone else."
"You know what Rafe I love you and if this is what's best for you then do it."
Beth's reaction had been quiet different
"You're doing what? Oh no Danny you can't be serious. You can't leave me. You're the only person that loves me. No, no you can't." Tears spilled down her ace from the second time that day
"Shhh, it's okay baby. I'm still her for you now."
If the day could get any worse for Beth, she would tie a rock to her neck and jump in the creek, seriously. First, she is told she is going to college, an all girls' college in Massachusetts. Then, that the love of her life since she was twelve, tells her he's joining the Army…this was her day…yeah right.
But of course, things could only worse for her. Her mother met her on the porch, which was a rarity because her mother didn't come outside. It was like Shelby's best-kept secret. The mayor's wife was a psycho drunk. So, when there were functions and Bethany was acting the part of the mayor's wife that was ok.
"Mama…why are you out?" Beth asked sweetly, taking a seat on the porch swing next to her mother. Her mother didn't look over, or stop sipping her scotch. So, Beth got up and started to walk in the door, but her mother stopped her.
"Elizabeth dear, come sit with mama for awhile…" her mother slurred her speech and patted a seat next to her.
"Sure mama…" Bethany replied cautiously taking the seat next to her. The thick cloud of smoke and alcohol that surrounded her mother was choking her.
"You don't think I hear you, you and your daddy talkin'. I didn't know you were applyin' to colleges…"
"I didn't think you cared mama…"
Her mother sat in silence for a few minutes, "You don't know shit about me Elizabeth…you and you're daddy, you surround me with all these doctors and watchmen, you don't even talk to me. Your daddy's to busy with bein' the mayor of this crap one horse town, and you, you don't even wanna get me started Elizabeth. You and Danny Walker. Elizabeth, this may come as a surprise to you, bein' you think your mamas a good for nothin' drunk, but I knew Danny's daddy, I knew Danny's daddy before he went off to the war. I knew Danny's daddy before I knew your daddy. Lets just say, I knew Danny's daddy, how you know Danny now, so to speak. And those Walker men ain't no good Elizabeth. They use you and leave you."
"That ain't true mama…" Beth choked back tears for the third time that day, "Danny loves me…"
"Elizabeth…" Her mama looked over and looked her straight in the eye, "Danny Walker aint nothing but a good for nothin' farm boy who can read."
"Shut up, Mama, don't say that…" Beth was now on to full out gut wrenching sobs.
"You can tell me to shut up all you want to Elizabeth, but I know and you'll see!" Her mother stumbled into the house as Beth ran away into the woods.
Beth sat by the creek and damned herself for forgetting the rope for the rock, but the creek wasn't deep enough for that anyway. So, as for ideas for suicide, Beth was pretty out of them. She sat on a rock and watched the shallow water run over the rocks, and thought about what her mom said. What Danny had told her, and that she was going to college in Massachusetts, and cried, she had a really good cry. For some, reason life didn't seem worth living to her anymore.
"Beth, is that you?" Rosie called out from behind her.
Beth turned around startled, "Yeah, hi Rosie…"
"What are you doin' out here? The suns damn near down."
Beth quickly wiped her tears, and turned to face Rosie, "Just thinkin'. What are you doin'?"
"Oh, this is a short cut from Rafe's, he had to so some chores for his dad, so I just walked home."
"Danny couldn't give you a ride?"
"I didn't want to bother, he looked kinda upset. Beth, is that why you're upset?" Rosie sat down next to her.
"No, not really."
"Well, it must be kinda really, if its not really…" Rosie saw Beth wasn't going to open up, "Beth, I know we aren't the greatest of friends, but I'd like you to consider you a friend…and I like to help my friends, and you look in need of help."
"It's my mom…" Beth sighed, "She told me Danny was a good for nothin' farm boy who could read…"
"Oh…" Rosie let out a long whistle, "That ain't to kind…"
"Not really…and my dad's makin me go to school in Massachusetts, I've never left Tennessee… and here my dad goes, makin me go all the way to Massachusetts, on my own.."
"Well, maybe Danny will come…" Rosie said cheerily, not knowing if Danny had broken the news to her.
"I wish, he's joinin' the Army Air Corps…" Beth let out a sarcastic laugh, "I always knew I would be left for a plane, or the opportunity to fly one."
"Beth, don't say that, you and Danny have been together for longer than I can remember…I don't think he would leave you for a plane."
"Ain't that what he's doin now?" Beth asked.
"Nah, you just haven't talked him out of it yet. Now I know Rafe, there ain't no talkin that boy outta anything. But Danny's different, all he needs is a reason."
"You think?" Beth actually smiled.
"I'm almost positive… " Rosie replied, "Wanna walk home now?"
"Sure." Beth smiled again, "Thank you Rosie, I really needed that."
"Don't worry, you can pay me in charm lessons…" Rosie laughed.
Rosie liked her boyfriend's mom, while every other women in the city treated her like she had the plague because she liked planes, Mrs. McCawley treated her like a normal girl. "Morning Mrs. McCawley, is Rafe up yet?"
"Yes dear, he said something bout fuelin' up the plane, I haven't seen him in a hour. He was actually up before Danny this morning. I reckon he could use you this is your line of expertise."
"Thank you." Rosie bubbled bounding out the back door toward the hangar.
"Hey you." Rosie wrapped her arms around Rafe from behind
Rafe smiled devilishly
"Marilyn I told you my girlfriend should be here any minute."
His girlfriend punched him in the shoulder
"She's already here."
"Ready to go flyin'?" He turned around and tickled her sides
Rose giggled
"Why don't you take your other girl friend? I was thinkin' we haven't been fishin' in a long time can we go? Maybe after you take me up?"
"Anything you want Ro." Rafe climbed into the cockpit and pulled Rosanna up onto his lap.
"Um honey I've got to tell you somethin'." Danny rolled over in his bed, his face only inches from Beth's
"Hmmm what is it?" She asked emotionally strained
"I'll tell you later let's go for a picnic."
"That's a good idea I didn't eat any of my breakfast, dad made grits."
"Let's get goin then." Danny hopped up from his bed and paced over to his dresser. Beth watched his cat like movements in awe. This toned arms and muscular legs being displayed by his tank top and boxers.
"Elizabeth Sullivan you must have done somethin right in a past life to get him." Beth thought to her self as Danny took his close in the closet to change. They had been together since they were twelve and he was still shy around her at times.
"Why can't I catch anything?" Rosie whined as she pulled her pole up yet again
"Because you're not a master like me." Rafe goofed
"They keep eating my bait, that's makin' me really angry. Don't let this go to you head Rafe McCawley, I'm still a better mechanic then you." She lowered the worm back into the water. And the two fell into an eerie silence
"Danny and I are joining the Army." Rafe's voice shattered the serenity of the lake
"What?" She stared at him in disbelief.
"I'm not goin' to Tennessee State with you Ro. I wanna fly so does Danny, we're joinin' the air corps. I wouldn't get into college anyway on the count I'm stupid."
"Firstly you're not stupid, but this maybe the most stupid decision you've ever made."
"I don't see it that way."
"Does this mean we're over Rafe are you leavin' me for good?"
"Oh hell no, you're gonna be my girl till the day we die. I'll never love anyone else."
"You know what Rafe I love you and if this is what's best for you then do it."
Beth's reaction had been quiet different
"You're doing what? Oh no Danny you can't be serious. You can't leave me. You're the only person that loves me. No, no you can't." Tears spilled down her ace from the second time that day
"Shhh, it's okay baby. I'm still her for you now."
If the day could get any worse for Beth, she would tie a rock to her neck and jump in the creek, seriously. First, she is told she is going to college, an all girls' college in Massachusetts. Then, that the love of her life since she was twelve, tells her he's joining the Army…this was her day…yeah right.
But of course, things could only worse for her. Her mother met her on the porch, which was a rarity because her mother didn't come outside. It was like Shelby's best-kept secret. The mayor's wife was a psycho drunk. So, when there were functions and Bethany was acting the part of the mayor's wife that was ok.
"Mama…why are you out?" Beth asked sweetly, taking a seat on the porch swing next to her mother. Her mother didn't look over, or stop sipping her scotch. So, Beth got up and started to walk in the door, but her mother stopped her.
"Elizabeth dear, come sit with mama for awhile…" her mother slurred her speech and patted a seat next to her.
"Sure mama…" Bethany replied cautiously taking the seat next to her. The thick cloud of smoke and alcohol that surrounded her mother was choking her.
"You don't think I hear you, you and your daddy talkin'. I didn't know you were applyin' to colleges…"
"I didn't think you cared mama…"
Her mother sat in silence for a few minutes, "You don't know shit about me Elizabeth…you and you're daddy, you surround me with all these doctors and watchmen, you don't even talk to me. Your daddy's to busy with bein' the mayor of this crap one horse town, and you, you don't even wanna get me started Elizabeth. You and Danny Walker. Elizabeth, this may come as a surprise to you, bein' you think your mamas a good for nothin' drunk, but I knew Danny's daddy, I knew Danny's daddy before he went off to the war. I knew Danny's daddy before I knew your daddy. Lets just say, I knew Danny's daddy, how you know Danny now, so to speak. And those Walker men ain't no good Elizabeth. They use you and leave you."
"That ain't true mama…" Beth choked back tears for the third time that day, "Danny loves me…"
"Elizabeth…" Her mama looked over and looked her straight in the eye, "Danny Walker aint nothing but a good for nothin' farm boy who can read."
"Shut up, Mama, don't say that…" Beth was now on to full out gut wrenching sobs.
"You can tell me to shut up all you want to Elizabeth, but I know and you'll see!" Her mother stumbled into the house as Beth ran away into the woods.
Beth sat by the creek and damned herself for forgetting the rope for the rock, but the creek wasn't deep enough for that anyway. So, as for ideas for suicide, Beth was pretty out of them. She sat on a rock and watched the shallow water run over the rocks, and thought about what her mom said. What Danny had told her, and that she was going to college in Massachusetts, and cried, she had a really good cry. For some, reason life didn't seem worth living to her anymore.
"Beth, is that you?" Rosie called out from behind her.
Beth turned around startled, "Yeah, hi Rosie…"
"What are you doin' out here? The suns damn near down."
Beth quickly wiped her tears, and turned to face Rosie, "Just thinkin'. What are you doin'?"
"Oh, this is a short cut from Rafe's, he had to so some chores for his dad, so I just walked home."
"Danny couldn't give you a ride?"
"I didn't want to bother, he looked kinda upset. Beth, is that why you're upset?" Rosie sat down next to her.
"No, not really."
"Well, it must be kinda really, if its not really…" Rosie saw Beth wasn't going to open up, "Beth, I know we aren't the greatest of friends, but I'd like you to consider you a friend…and I like to help my friends, and you look in need of help."
"It's my mom…" Beth sighed, "She told me Danny was a good for nothin' farm boy who could read…"
"Oh…" Rosie let out a long whistle, "That ain't to kind…"
"Not really…and my dad's makin me go to school in Massachusetts, I've never left Tennessee… and here my dad goes, makin me go all the way to Massachusetts, on my own.."
"Well, maybe Danny will come…" Rosie said cheerily, not knowing if Danny had broken the news to her.
"I wish, he's joinin' the Army Air Corps…" Beth let out a sarcastic laugh, "I always knew I would be left for a plane, or the opportunity to fly one."
"Beth, don't say that, you and Danny have been together for longer than I can remember…I don't think he would leave you for a plane."
"Ain't that what he's doin now?" Beth asked.
"Nah, you just haven't talked him out of it yet. Now I know Rafe, there ain't no talkin that boy outta anything. But Danny's different, all he needs is a reason."
"You think?" Beth actually smiled.
"I'm almost positive… " Rosie replied, "Wanna walk home now?"
"Sure." Beth smiled again, "Thank you Rosie, I really needed that."
"Don't worry, you can pay me in charm lessons…" Rosie laughed.