Chapter 3

Luke and Helen


Lebonnie woke up the next morning. The alarm clock said 11:30. 'How could I have slept in so late?' She thought.

She rolled out of bed and headed down the hall. She peaked in Dixie's room and saw she was not there.

"Baby?" She called. It was Friday and Chase was off work. 'Maybe they're outside.' She thought. She pulled on her sweatshirt and slipped on her flip-flops. Then She grabbed a Pepsi out of the refrigerator and Chases' half-eaten maple donut, then headed out the front door.

Just as she suspected, Dixie was pushing a Tonka Truck on her knees as the neighbor kids filled the bed of it with pebbles and rocks. Chase was under the hood of his red Ford truck as Luke was discussing the problems at work.

'Just like normal.' Lebonnie thought.

She set herself down on the lawn chair and took a few deep gulps of her morning soda followed by a loud belch.

Chase looked out from under the hood. "I thought I heard my Lady."

She smiled and stretched out her legs. It was a beautiful day.

"Hi Mommy!" Dixie yelled.

Lebonnie waved at her hard-working daughter who was now digging a hole in the ground for all the pebbles she collected.

Just as Lebonnie finished off the Maple donut, their phone rang. She jogged back into the trailer, and answered it.

"Hello?" It was Helen. She wanted to know if she was planning on attending Math class in twenty minutes.

Lebonnie sighed. She hated math with a passion. She always skipped this class but knew she was on her final limb and she needed to at least pass before the year ended.

"Yeah, all right."

"Are you gonna drop Dixie off at my parents house or is Chase gonna watch her?" Helen asked.

"Eh, I'll give yer poor Mom a brake. Chase can watch her; besides, he's got nothin' else goin' on 'til tonight."

"K, see ya."

"Bye Hel"

She hung up the phone and groaned. She didn't have time to shower; she wasn't planning on taking one anyway. She changed into her torn jeans and threw on a blue halter-top which had, 'I love the Rodeo life.' written in white letters. She slabbed on some deodorant and grabbed Chases ball cap.

"Baby I got a class. Can you watch Dixie fer an hour?"She shouted at her husband as she gathered her books and paper together.

"Uh huh." Chase replied though he had no clue what he was agreeing to.

She threw her school bag over her shoulder along with her denim purse and drove off.


Lebonnie arrived late as usual and snuck into class without her teacher noticing, or so she thought.

"Nice of you to join us Ms. Tyrien." He said writing fractions on the chalkboard.

She so badly wanted to correct him. It was Mrs. Smooter now; it's been that way for three years! But he knew Lebonnie since the day she was born. She'll always be Lebonnie Tyrien to him. He was almost like, an Uncle to her.

"Sorry, woke up late." She pulled out her math book titled, 'The basics, for first year college'

"Glad I called?" Helen whispered from behind her.

"Not really" She replied.

"Well you will be after I tell you this. Mr. Filch moved the exam to Wednesday! We're goin' over it today only."

Lebonnie turned around. "Well as long as you listen and take notes, you'll fer sure pass it right?"

"Heck I know I'll pass it, it's you I'm worried 'bout."

"Hey, as long as you're still my best friend, I can still copy off yer work. So I got nothin' to worry 'bout as long as you show up." She said.

Helen grinned. 'Just like it High School' she thought.

Mr. Filch just finished an extremely long fraction problem and was starring Lebonnie down. "If you've finished your conversation with Ms. Gellar, maybe you can attempt to find what X equals for us?"

Lebonnie rolled her eyes and drug her feet to the chalkboard. She glanced behind her to see the scrawny professor examining her attempt. 'Okay, twenty-five multiplied by twelve is...shit, oh three hundred. So three hundred over fifty. Cross-multiply with seven hundred and ten with...'

"Wrong already Lebonnie. You have to simplify first."

She ignored the interruption and continued. 'Helen, you better show up Wednesday.' She pleaded.


"Just think Bunny, two more weeks and your done!" Helen squealed as they left the classroom. "Oh by the way, how'd yer Mom take the news?"

She laughed. "About as well as the day I told her I was pregnant."

"That well huh?"

"Yeah. I'm not phased though. At least I can say I've been to college, which is more than most can say."

Helen laughed. "True. So what are yer plans tonight?"

"Mabel and Jake are havin' a little 'newlywed' party tonight. Chase and I are gonna go." She replied as they sat themselves down at a cafeteria table.

"Who's watchin' Dixie?"

"Jorjanna."

"Luke goin?" Helen asked casually.

"Yeah, and he should probably go with someone. Hell, who'd wanna go anywhere with him?" Lebonnie teased as her friend cheeks turned pink. "Oh I can think of someone!"

"Knock it off!" Helen said grinning. "You know he's too old fer me."

"Yet yall have had yer flings together fer, 'bout a year now?" Lebonnie pushed returning the smile.

"Yeah...flings. Nothing more. Besides, he's seven years older than I am!"

Lebonnie took a gulp of her Coke. "Well, I still think you should show up tonight."

"I'll think on it."


Helen arrived an hour into the party. She was dressed in a tight denim skirt with cowboy boots, a red tube top, and a diamond necklace her wealthy parents gave her for High School Graduation. Her long dark hair was worn in glossy curls under her cowboy hat. She looked great, she always looked great. Lebonnie was jealous of her best friend's glamour, but would never admit to it.

"Well look who showed up?" Lebonnie said hugging Helen and handing her a beer. "Thought you'd changed yer mind or somethin?"

"Well, Had nothin' else to do tonight." Helen replied accepting the Budweiser. "How do I look?"

"Oh can we please not start this. You look great Hel, now shut up and go talk to Luke."

Helen glanced behind her. Luke was listening to Jakes opinion on the latest county rodeo. 'I think we need to git some better rodeo clowns.' Jake said. 'That bull dun nearly ran me over cause the clown was hidden' in his barrel my whole ride!'

"Not yet, I'll wait till he's alone."Helen said pulling up her tube top, adjusting her cleavage.

Chase invited himself in the serious discussion about rodeo clowns neglecting their duty of defending the Bull Riders lives when Lebonnie got an idea.

"Oh!" She said excitedly. "Now we have a reason to go over there! I'll ask Chase somethin' and you come with me. Then you can complement Luke on his shirt or somethin' and then Chase and me will leave and then yall can talk! Perfect!"

Helen rolled her eyes. "He wears that shirt all the time! Each time I see him he's got it on!"

"Well think of a different excuse cause we're headin' over." Lebonnie said as she pulled Helen by the arm.

"Hey Babe." Chase said as the two girls became part of the circle.

"Hey hun. How's it goin' Jake?" Lebonnie began as Chase put his arm around her.

"All right. How's college treatin' ya?" Jake asked with a smirk. He was in Lebonnies grade backin High School.

Lebonnie snorted. "It's more fun then gittin' kicked by a mule." Jake laughed at the expression. He use to say that all the time in High School.

"We was just talkin' 'bout old Ernie Smits. We figure he needs to retire 'bout now before I git trampled by a bull again..." Jake began. Lebonnie elbowed Helen in the ribs. 'Alright, alright.' Helen said under her breath.

Luke was starring at her the whole time, as was Chase. "Damn girl, you sure fill out that skirt right." Chase whispered. His wife overheard and stomped on his foot.

"Thanks." Helen said to Luke as if he made the comment.

Luke didn't care. He took off his ball cap and scratched his head; this was something he and every redneck did when they were nervous. "How's it been Helen?"

Helen smiled and played with her curls. "All right I guess. How 'bout you?"

Chase rolled his eyes and retreated back to Jake and Lebonnies conversation about 'ole Ernie Smits. 'Why don't they quit playin' games and git together already?' He thought.

"I'm fine. How's school?"

"Next year I'll graduate."

"You still plannin' on being a Tooth Doctor?"

"You mean Dental Assistant?"

Luke laughed. "Yeah, that's what I meant."

"Well, that's my plan anyway." She replied.

"You uh...wanna 'nother drink or somethin?" Luke asked though Helen was holding a full bottle of beer in her hand.

"Sure."

Luke and Helen sat down on the only unoccupied sofa and talked for about an hour. When the party was over, Jake and his wife Mabel pushed everyone out. Lebonnie searched for her best friend.

"Chase where's Helen?" She asked as they walked out the door.

They walked down the street and noticed Lukes pick-up truck was gone but Helens speedy Pontiac was still parked out front. 'Well, guess that answers my question.'