1962

When my eyes roamed over the school courtyard they never found Vinnie, he was finished with high school and unlike Lawson, Vinnie enrolled in college, he was going to work for his father.

My brother was starting college at ASU, it felt like he was a world away, at times it was hard with him gone. My parents never changed, I just saved all my money and had my college funds for when I go myself. Peggy was watching me with hawk-like eyes as we started home, she was still with Wayne and she knew I was with Vinnie. In no way was she hip to the idea but she let me live my life on my terms.

Her voice was soothing, "Hay now, Elizabeth you lost in your own world?"

"Yes, as normal,"

I walked down my street alone leaving Peggy at her house, the trees hung overhead forming a canopy of shade in the heat. I was going out with Vinnie tonight, guess he was still in Lawson's gang but even Lawson had a job at the local car shop putting his little bit of brains to use.

The air was crisp, it was still hot like it was fresh out of a bread oven, rising to blast our open eyes and kiss our faces with its fiery breath. It smelled of flowers in bloom and sugar to me, I was in no hurry to be home alone but all too soon I am.

I glance through the door on my left after taking the stairs, where a quite spacious room folds out. The walls are lavender, along with the ceiling and the door to the walk-in closet. Light filters into the warm room from the large window facing the driveway below, it has a bench built in for when I liked to read. A bookcase stood on both sides of my desk, I was what they called a geek.

I was prim and proper, a real lady as my mother said, my dad thought I was a princess. I just moved to the bay window looking out seeing the trees blowing in the summer breeze it was peaceful to just watch but the insistent ringing of the phone made me move to answer it.

I spoke clearly, "Monroe residence, Elizabeth speaking,"

Vinnie's tired voice echoed back, "Hey doll face, how was school?" he always cared, cared about me and my day.

"It was cool, got a tad hacked off during History. Glad David has this single year left," this bothered Vinnie, that David North was still in school but at least he was a Senior this year. I calmed Vinnie down and told him everything was kosher.

I could hear the smile from here, "I am coming now, it is our Anniversary," my heart raced because he remembered when I thought he would have forgotten.

"I will get dressed," hanging up pretty fast. My hair was down and a dark blue headband was nestled into it, a sleeveless checked white and blue dress, a blue belt and white shoes. I was done, knowing I had to talk to Vinnie about something.

His smile was the first thing I noticed about him, it at times was manic and creepy but the side he lets me see it means so much more. His hand touched my face before helping me into his Corvette, the top was up as he drove off. "We have a long drive ahead of us," he kissed my hand.

I just started talking, "Vinnie, my Debutante Cotillion and Christmas Ball is coming soon. You should know all about it since your mother was a debutante herself. I will be presented to society so eligible young men can court me,"

"I heard about it, I will be there it is a tradition with the funds raised going to the Children's hospital. Lawson will have to deal with me going for the night," like that my worries faded as we just had a blast, we ate in a park instead of the drive-in. He read to me, sang even and by the end of the night with his gift in hand he was beaming.

"Thank you doll face, I will never take it off," I was a pocket watch, he hooked it to his jeans before he gazed at it again. "It is engraved?"

"With our names and the date we started to date," so thrilled he liked it.

On my finger was a ring, yellow gold with three pear-shaped diamonds resting in the metal. It was his grandmothers and now it was mine, it was his promise he would leave Lawson's gang and we will be married when I finished all my schooling.

His breath touched my neck, "I love you, Lizzie,"

"I love you too, Vinnie. From now until the day we both die,"

He was risking a lot by walking me to the door, his gang was always lurking. His eyes touched on mine, "I want to see you tomorrow too, maybe just watch a flick at my place?"

This was new, "Groovy, but what about Lawson and your gang. You will get out right?" it was hard to believe.

"I promise,"

I was going to hold him to it.