-1959-
Autumn rain can be so dismal. Especially when it downpours and you have no overcoat. That was the predicament I was in as I stood at the train depot, waiting for a ride that I was sure would never come.
Charlie was never really reliable. I had known this for quite a while, ever since he had forgotten I was home alone when I was about five. He had gone outside to the sand lot with the rest of his little friends and didn't even remember that I was all alone without anyone else around. He came back four hours later to find me crouched, terrified under my bed. Of course, he felt guilty as hell and took me out for ice cream afterwards. He was definitely very irresponsible, yet always seemed to cheer me up. Right now I was going to need a lot of that.
The depot was hardly anything to be praised for, a little shelter that didn't stop the wet from seeping into my clothing, and dripping from my soaked hair. Unlike my brother's, it was auburn colored, long and thick. Also, when there was damp weather, it curled uncontrollably. I looked like a wet dog. Hugging my arms across my chest, I kicked the puddles forming around my feet. The shiny black of them matched my prepatory school uniform, complete with the mid calf length plaid skirt, white lapel button up shirt, with a green cloth tie, and sports coat, with the Traster-Collins School for Ladies emblem on the breast pocket. Everything soaked, everything drenched to the bone. I had been standing there; waiting for a full twenty five minutes for Charlie to come pick me up. He had said in his letter that he would be here at promptly 3:30 with his teacher's car to bring me to the guest house at Wellton. I was to stay there for the two week holiday vacation.
I glanced at my watch again. 4:00, lord I was going to kill him. Then, to my relief, I saw a very old, very clunky car round the corner. I didn't care what it look looked like, as long as I was dry. As it pulled up, I saw that it was not Charlie in the car, but another boy. The door slammed as he got out.
"Hello! Are you Rachael Dalton?" He asked.
"Yes," I answered warily, "Who are you?"
"I'm Charlie's friend, Neil Perry; he was unable to come and pick you up so he asked me if I would take Keating's car and get you out of this downpour." He said, running up under the depot and picking up my suitcase.
"Oh, well thank you." I replied as he opened the back door and put my leather bag in the back seat.
He opened the door for me, something I was not used to and surprised me. I got into the car, thankful to be out of the rain.
"How long have you been waiting there?" He asked, as he got into the automobile himself, and started up the car.
I gathered my hair across one shoulder and attempted to wring out the water and smooth the waves, "About a half an hour."
I saw the boy cringe, "Sorry about that. Charlie got into a little trouble, and asked me to come pick you up ten minutes ago."
"Its fine, don't worry about it." I said wearily, "Charlie's always forgetting about me, among other things."
Neil chuckled, running his hand through his dark hair, damp like mine, "Well, at least we got you out of that downpour. You would think this storm would let up after a couple of hours."
"I see the clouds have a different agenda," I replied, throwing my hopeless locks behind my shoulder and playing with the silver band on my index finger.
"So Mr. Perry, what's Wellton like? I've been only once when Charlie first started there," I asked, trying to break the silence that had descended and threaten to suffocate any hope of conversation.
"Mr. Perry?" the boy said looking over at me with a grin that made me blush, "Well then, Miss. Dalton, we can't have ourselves be on formal terms. Call me Neil, please."
"Alright Neil," I answered with a smile back, "Than you will have to call me Rachael, if you please."
"Wellton, Rachael, is more widely known as, if you will excuse my language, Hellton."
"Ah," I said, beginning to enjoy this Neil Perry's company, "Hellton? Then my question is answered."
"Nolan, the headmaster, conducts it like a military school." He continued dark eyes not leaving the road, "He's a cranky old man, Nolan. My parents approve of the school however, and it is known for spouting some of the most brilliant men in the country."
"And dullest," I muttered. I didn't mean to have him hear it, but obviously he did because he let out a short breath of laughter.
"You're true on that. They aren't the most excitable of guys, but they get their jobs done and they're pretty decent."
I smiled softly and turned my attention to my window. The rain was relentless.
"You don't look a whole lot like your brother do you?" He said.
I turned to see him looking at me, as if trying to find Charlie somewhere in my light features.
"No, he took after our father. Personally, I wish I had as well, but instead I am the spitting image of our mother." I answered regretfully.
"Ah, I see," He said, smiling again and turning back to the road.
The clouds did not let up as we pulled up to the guest house. It was situated a few feet from the main campus and dormitories, and was created so visiting family members of students or teachers would have a place to stay. I had learned all this in father's letter to me. He was off in England on business and I would not be able to come home for the holiday, but if I wished I could visit my brother at Wellton Academy. It was either that or stay at Traster-Collins for the two weeks of break, which did not appeal to me. So I was packed up and sent off to Wellton. Wellton Academy was not on break like T.C, however, so I was prepared for a long, boring two weeks. Well, at least, perhaps Neil could keep me company sometimes so I wouldn't have to just see my brother all the time. I wasn't the most outgoing person in groups, unlike my brother who thrived in a crowd.
"We're going to have to make another run for it," Said Neil, stopping the car.
"Won't bother me, I'm already wet enough." I said opening the door,
"Yes, but I'm not," and with that Neil opened his door and bolted over to the back seat where my bags were. I already had the backdoor unlocked and was reaching for my suitcase, but he insisted on carrying it in.
"You've probably had it hard all day; I'll take care of this."
"Thanks." I said, idly following him.
We entered the lobby to find Charlie sitting on the couch reading a magazine. It irked me how careless he was.
"Dolly," He said when he saw me enter, using my pet name, much to my consternation, especially in front of Neil.
He came up and gave me as distant a hug as possible, "You're soaked."
"No kidding," I said caustically, I was not happy with him.
"Now it's not my fault I couldn't come and pick you up, it was my science professor. There were some complications in his class today he had to discuss with me about after class."
"He means he 'accidentally' dropped a test tube out the window onto Nolan's car." Neil interjected, handing over my suitcase to Charlie, "Well I have to get back to do some history. It was nice to meet you Rachael,"
"Nice to meet you too," I answered, watching him close the glass doors behind him and run for the dorms.
"So, was Neil a good driver?" Charlie asked, as he carried my things to the elevator. The Guest house was like a hotel, you wouldn't even think you were on school grounds.
"Better than you," I said. I was not in a good mood. Charlie chuckled as the elevator doors closed.
"Dads going to be in England for another three weeks." Charlie said quietly.
"Yes, I know, he wrote me." I replied, I really didn't feel like talking about dad, but he persisted.
"Don't worry about it, Dolly, he's a busy man. He's liable to make some mistakes and forget things. You know about his memory," Charlie continued.
I understood he was trying to make me feel better but it really wasn't helping.
"Charlie, I'm fine. I understand his position, maybe next year he'll remember. I mean it's an out of the way date anyhow, November 3? I understand completely. I can also understand why he would want to forget it as well." I stared hard at the wood of the elevator door.
"I'll throw a birthday party, or something for you Dolls, don't worry. I won't forget." I looked over at him. Charlie smiled that annoying grin of his that always made me smile back. For all his flaws, Charlie was a pretty good older brother.