Ordinary Man
…Two and a half years later
The decision to enroll at San Diego Community College was an easy one. The work
that it entailed made Drake understand why people who go to Ivy League universities
commit suicide in their freshman year. He could barely handle junior college. Drake
hated the rules, regulations, the lack of sleep, homework, and having to pass tests
because everything was on the line. There were no "we're proud of you" verbalized
moments from the parents. Even Mrs. Watson knew Drake didn't want any fanfare over
his life decisions. If he had applied himself in Kindergarten like his brother Josh he
might have been able to be psychologist and be a counselor. If he was a mathematics
whiz who ate, slept, and breathed numbers he could've done the business end.
However, he could only be true to himself. Emme wouldn't want him to be anything other
than that.
Drake had his music and it was not easy in the slightest to find a young band that were
all willing to agree to the terms of the direction, and he had his associate's degree in
Graphic Design. Anything he created would no longer be lowly referred to as 'a doodle'.
He also did find it mildly hilarious that he was already graduated and done with what
they termed higher education and Josh and Mindy were still collectively tearing their hair
out complaining about how stressful Northwestern was. Drake had to give them credit
on their co-habitating. His parents and the Crenshaw's were still in the dark about their
living arrangements. Josh had finally learned to stop lying badly.
Drake stirred the tall glass of Mocha Cola with the 'fun' orange bendy straw. He and
Walter were having lunch at the Fletcher Hills Driving Range. The pain was still in his
heart, but he chalked it up the human spirit, that he was still able to live, breathe, and
function.
But he did have a purpose.
There were no other girls in Drake Parker's life since Emme Jessica Watson died. He
just didn't have the interest or the desire. In his mind to want any sexual need satisfied
would have been selfish. If he tried to look to anyone else for the deeper meaning he felt
it would have been an insult to Emme's memory.
And you don't look for something deeper. It was something that you felt deep down. You
couldn't force those thoughts. They had to be natural. He didn't have those feelings for
anyone. There was no one that he wanted to approach.
Drake was almost content with the fact that might never experience love's touch ever
again.
"What's on your mind, son?" Walter asked
Drake had the ability to tune everyone and everything out of his mind.
It was something his parents noticed and the only thing Audrey and Walter Nichols could
do was support him by just being there. A lecture would only turn him off besides he was
an adult now.
"I'm fine, Dad. I did pretty well on the course today." Drake did the ole subject change.
He didn't want to have this conversation with his Dad or anyone else. It was just too
painful. Besides, if by chance he did find a "special someone", she only would have
interfered with his future plans. Drake knew women and he could picture that she would
have tried to talk him out of it because she would have felt he was "ignoring her"
because of "the project". Leaving him to wonder if she really was a "special someone" in
the first place. Drake didn't need that headache.
"You did much better than Josh…"
"He tripped over the golf clubs and went into the pond to retrieve his ball." Drake
laughed. Josh's constant state of clumsiness was always good for a giggle.
"So does this mean you'd like to do this again?" Walter wasn't going to force him.
"Sure, Dad."
A pretty waitress walked by. Who was the kind of girl that Drake used to go up to start
mild chit-chat for the express purpose of wanting to get into her panties.
Her blonde hair was put up in a pony tail and she was wearing her black and white
uniform a little bit too snuggly. There was nothing wrong with looking. It was practically a
guy's 'right' to do so. But to go up to 'Traci' the name that was on her green nameplate
would have been a slap in the face the beautiful time he spent with Emme Jessica
Watson. He could tell just by the careless way she filled up the small wavy water glasses
that her hobbies probably included airy giggling and hanging onto his arm. Which back
in the day was all that he needed. But now he needed more. Drake needed to be on the
road where he and Emme were exploring. It was a two way problem. The built airheads
didn't interest him anymore and the mature women who you knew who were subscribed
to bridal magazines from the time they were fourteen years old were just not his Miss
Priss. No one has stuck their tongue out him in years and that's not counting Megan.
Who was growing up to be quite a beautiful looking young woman and god help any
Don Juanoma that tries to get into her underwear. Because Drake would have no
problem beating the living shit out of the guy for taking advantage of his sister. His cell
phone rang and Drake politely excused himself from the table so he could take this call
in private next to the two pay phone stalls by the restrooms.
"Hello?"
"Drake, I just took a look at your designs they are very beautiful."
"Thank you, Mrs. Watson."
She wished that he would someday call her Mom. He was such a sweet boy who didn't
pass judgment when she had a short weak moment a year ago when she drove to the
liquor store because watching The Wizard of Oz reminded her too much of Emme when
she played Dorothy in a school play when she was five.
"I think it's about time we tell your parents about all of this."
Drake peaked around the corner to watch Walter put two pink sugar substitute packets
in his coffee.
"Yes," Drake sighed feeling some of the burdens lift, "I think it's time too."
Author's Note: Allie, I remembered the Drake/Walter golfing trip bonding.