Chapter 5
Statement: Thanks everybody for your input and patience. I'm trying to use your suggestions.
They stayed at Hillside for a week, calling every day to check on Red. Hyde didn't want to get too far away from Point Place until he knew that Red was okay. By the end of the week he was relatively sure that it was safe to continue. Kitty had assured him that Red would understand his absence and that his life of crime wouldn't cause yet another heart attack. He was glad to be going. This town was dull. They had spent the days playing cards and avoiding the television for fear of game shows. Hyde didn't want to be reminded of last summer. He was trying to rebuild a relationship he had about decided was never built to code in the first place. So step one was build a solid foundation. The only way to do that was the Foreman /Pinciotti method. Friendship. So far it was working out well. There had been no more fighting. Which meant they had steered clear of any mention of Kelso. Jackie was getting good at that. That and Poker.
"So where to next?" Jackie asked coming out of the bathroom.
"Chicago"
"Oooh –can we go window-shopping?"
Some things would never change. He was glad "Sure I'll even steal you something".
"One crime at a time Steven. I'll settle for looking – and yearning."
"It has its merits" that is what he was getting good at over the past week. Sharing a room with the woman you love – who doesn't love you – yeah he knew something about yearning.
"So lets go"
They loaded up. And headed to the big city. And Chicago was big. Noisy too. And just about exciting as hell. They had spent a day walking the city. Another day seeing a baseball game. Jackie had spent an entire day trying on dresses for her "husband's work party". He tried hard to be annoyed like the old Hyde would have but he just couldn't. She'd looked so good in the dresses, ran the dumb shopkeeper ragged, and cast him in the role of her successful husband. It was about the best day of his life. The summer was starting off well. But time was passing quickly – June was almost over and they decided if they were gonna see the beach they better leave the city behind.
"Do we have to got through Kentucky?"
"If you want to go to Nashville"
Jackie had decided one night after watching some bad Elvis movie that she wanted to see the country capital. He thought it was odd that little miss Park Avenue w anted to spend time with sawdust and Honky Tonks but he wasn't into denying her anything lately. She could ask for a team of wild horses and he'd see about stealing her some.
"Can we drive through it quickly?"
"Yes"
Kentucky hadn't been that bad. It was beautiful country actually and Jackie had thought so too. They had actually taken their time. Jackie had insisted they have a picnic in a field of tall grass and although his legs were itching for hours after – he'd agreed. Like he said – he was willing to do anything. The problem was –they were running out of money. It had been a spur of the moment plan and his saving and Mrs. Foreman's generous loan wasn't proving long lasting. They –or he – were going to have to get jobs at the next destination. He figured they'd have enough money for a week in a hotel in Nashville – he hoped that was long enough to get a job busing tables or something in one of the aforementioned Honky Tonks. It better be, he thought. Because he wasn't going home. His plan was working. She seemed comfortable with him again. They were becoming the friends they had never really been in the first place. He had made considerable progress. And he wasn't going to lose ground now.
*** Thanks again guys. This chapter was kinda transitory. It is just getting you from the beginning to the bulk. The next couple of chapters will be more interesting and have some good moments. They will be longer too I promise. Chapter 6 is fun and 7 is wacky. But then I think Chapter 8 is boring again. The lackluster ones are important though for setting the scene. I just want to assure you that I have a goal. The story in my head is good. I may not be able to pull it off but I'm going to try. I have Come September finished though (but not typed as of yet) so I should be able to put more effort into this one. Please encourage me if you like it.
