okay?”
“Fine,” she lied, still facing forward.
“I saw the doc heading back without you.”
“Where’s Matt?” she asked.
“He’s watching TV in the waiting room.”
“I should get back to him.” Lucy stood, smoothed the front of her shirt and put the straps of her handbag on her shoulder.
“Give yourself another minute,” Drew suggested, standing behind her.
“Why?” she asked.
“Because you look like you’ve been crying.”
“It could be because I’m upset about my son getting hit in the head.”
“Could be, but that’s not the reason. Want to tell me?”
She walked past him, through the chapel doors and into the hallway. “No.”
“I was once his age. Nothing would surprise me.”
“I’m sure it wouldn’t.”
Drew matched her stride, fell in step with her. “If you change your mind, you’ve got my number.”
And you’ve got a girlfriend!
Why she was suddenly aggravated about his circumstances…why the anger welled, knowing he was “taken,” just when he appeared to express real concern for her and her son…she just didn’t want to address it.
So she said nothing further.
Later that night, Drew dropped her off to pick up her car from the field. Lucy brought Jason home, put him to bed, but she didn’t bring up the roach clip. She needed to sleep on it, figure out how she was going to deal with him, what the consequences would be.
Perhaps she’d been naive when she thought she’d never have to revisit this again.
The reality settled like a weight on her shoulders. It was going to be a long night.
Journal of Mackenzie Taylor
I graduated high school! Peabody Marsh sat in front of me and he lit off a smoke bomb just as the valley-victorian valvictorian was giving her speech. Principle Walton had a conniption fit.
I kept looking in the audience and I only saw Aunt Lynette. I wished Momma was sitting right next to her. I started crying and I had to hide it so my mascara wouldn’t run.
When the commencement was over, everyone threw their caps in the air. Then a streaker ran across the gym. He wore a Sponge Bob mask, but we all knew whose bare behind it was. Our best pitcher on the baseball team. Brad Smith. He was gone before any of the teachers could catch him. I would have known that butt anywhere. I’ve had a crush on it for the entire semester. Brad and I went to prom together.
I’ve always had a thing for baseball players. Funny how that works out…considering.
I got my diploma and my picture taken next to the United States flag. I guess I am now officially done with school.
Some friends and I spent our first days in the real world by hunting crawfish. Brad and I made out on the beach. We didn’t do anything, but kiss. I love how he kisses. All of us ended up going swimming to start our summer.
Now I’ve got my whole life ahead of me. I’m not sure if I can last four years in college, but Aunt Lynette says I need to try. A girl without a degree won’t go far. But I like to do hair and make up and look at how much money the cosmetologists to the stars make.
Besides, college costs big bucks. But Aunt Lynette said not to worry about that because my “daddy” said he was paying.
Drew sent me a graduation present and I almost didn’t open it. I let it sit on my bureau for three days. I didn’t want it to ruin my big day. Just in case it was something bad.
So I opened it this morning.
I keep staring at the present, wondering how he knew. I asked Aunt Lynette and she swore she never said a thing about it. That Drew did it on his own. I asked Aunt Lynette to get out her Bible and swear on it. She did. So I know she’s telling the truth.
Drew got me a diary.
How he knew, I can’t guess. Must have been a lucky guess, though. Or he probably asked the clerk in a store and she made a lucky guess. In any case, here I have it and what am I going to do with it?
I can’t stop looking at my present from Drew and I
“Fine,” she lied, still facing forward.
“I saw the doc heading back without you.”
“Where’s Matt?” she asked.
“He’s watching TV in the waiting room.”
“I should get back to him.” Lucy stood, smoothed the front of her shirt and put the straps of her handbag on her shoulder.
“Give yourself another minute,” Drew suggested, standing behind her.
“Why?” she asked.
“Because you look like you’ve been crying.”
“It could be because I’m upset about my son getting hit in the head.”
“Could be, but that’s not the reason. Want to tell me?”
She walked past him, through the chapel doors and into the hallway. “No.”
“I was once his age. Nothing would surprise me.”
“I’m sure it wouldn’t.”
Drew matched her stride, fell in step with her. “If you change your mind, you’ve got my number.”
And you’ve got a girlfriend!
Why she was suddenly aggravated about his circumstances…why the anger welled, knowing he was “taken,” just when he appeared to express real concern for her and her son…she just didn’t want to address it.
So she said nothing further.
Later that night, Drew dropped her off to pick up her car from the field. Lucy brought Jason home, put him to bed, but she didn’t bring up the roach clip. She needed to sleep on it, figure out how she was going to deal with him, what the consequences would be.
Perhaps she’d been naive when she thought she’d never have to revisit this again.
The reality settled like a weight on her shoulders. It was going to be a long night.
Journal of Mackenzie Taylor
I graduated high school! Peabody Marsh sat in front of me and he lit off a smoke bomb just as the valley-victorian valvictorian was giving her speech. Principle Walton had a conniption fit.
I kept looking in the audience and I only saw Aunt Lynette. I wished Momma was sitting right next to her. I started crying and I had to hide it so my mascara wouldn’t run.
When the commencement was over, everyone threw their caps in the air. Then a streaker ran across the gym. He wore a Sponge Bob mask, but we all knew whose bare behind it was. Our best pitcher on the baseball team. Brad Smith. He was gone before any of the teachers could catch him. I would have known that butt anywhere. I’ve had a crush on it for the entire semester. Brad and I went to prom together.
I’ve always had a thing for baseball players. Funny how that works out…considering.
I got my diploma and my picture taken next to the United States flag. I guess I am now officially done with school.
Some friends and I spent our first days in the real world by hunting crawfish. Brad and I made out on the beach. We didn’t do anything, but kiss. I love how he kisses. All of us ended up going swimming to start our summer.
Now I’ve got my whole life ahead of me. I’m not sure if I can last four years in college, but Aunt Lynette says I need to try. A girl without a degree won’t go far. But I like to do hair and make up and look at how much money the cosmetologists to the stars make.
Besides, college costs big bucks. But Aunt Lynette said not to worry about that because my “daddy” said he was paying.
Drew sent me a graduation present and I almost didn’t open it. I let it sit on my bureau for three days. I didn’t want it to ruin my big day. Just in case it was something bad.
So I opened it this morning.
I keep staring at the present, wondering how he knew. I asked Aunt Lynette and she swore she never said a thing about it. That Drew did it on his own. I asked Aunt Lynette to get out her Bible and swear on it. She did. So I know she’s telling the truth.
Drew got me a diary.
How he knew, I can’t guess. Must have been a lucky guess, though. Or he probably asked the clerk in a store and she made a lucky guess. In any case, here I have it and what am I going to do with it?
I can’t stop looking at my present from Drew and I
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