The Story Teller: A Roller Coaster for Your Mind
2nd Edition
Max M. Power
Published by: Max M. Power at Smashwords
Copyright 2011 Max M. Power
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be constructed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Please send all questions or comments to:
Writing With Power
P.O. Box 62315
Houston, Tx 77205
For Veronica and Gabrielle.
Thank you for believing I could become a writer.
I would like to say a special thank you to all women in the world. You have a stronger influence in the world, more than you will ever know. Even if we do not show it at times, men would be lost without the women in our lives.
I have had the good fortune to have been influenced by very strong women. From my grandmother who taught me that a lack of funds did not mean I could not live a rich and fulfilling life, to my many aunts who would slap me around, reminding me how good I had it while their own children did not.
From my mother who always rode my ass, remaining tough and strict, despite her feelings of wanting to give in, making sure I walked a path of light instead of slipping into an abyss of darkness forever, to my sisters who would pick fights with me for no other reason than they could because they are my sisters and it's their job to torment me as such. To my dying day I know one of my sisters will still make me scream in frustration and smile, that's what siblings do.
From the many teachers who put up with the headache that was me as a student, desperately trying to teach me something to the one teacher who planted the seed that grew into my path that is writing. Thank you Mrs. Williams.
From my wife who gave me the greatest gift of all, our daughter, another strong woman that will drive me crazy because that is her role as a daughter. Everything I do I do for my family, to provide a better life than I have.
From my many friends who read what I write and demand I give them more, to those that threaten I would regret it if I ever stopped writing.
To Tyra Banks, whom I have never met, but with one single general question to the world, unlocked the flood gates that allows me to write so freely.
To the many future women I will meet in my life and in one way, shape, or form will inspire me to write something.
Even the bible acknowledges women as a great army. They certainly are the backbone of my life and for that I wish to say, "THANK YOU!!!"
I would like to thank the members of my fan club. For pushing me to be a better writer than I thought I could be. For always demanding more of me and never accepting NO for answer, this book is for you. As always:
Submitted for your approval…
Lover's Lane
Stories For Your Soul
Pulling No Punches
Welcome To The Dark Side
Lover's Lane
Looking up from his seat in the front row, Danny was still amazed at how huge the church is. From the outside it looked more like a Cathedral from the Vatican than a church for a small town of two thousand people. The church is actually the oldest building still standing in the community. It's a beacon of hope, a safe haven, for those who need to be saved.
Today the church was packed. Nearly everyone in town was in attendance. Silence filled the room as Father Andrew stood up and slowly made his way to the podium. Father Andrew had retired from the priesthood fifteen years ago. His health was failing him and at age ninety, he was not expected to live much longer.
Father Daniels is the head priest of the church now but when Father Andrew informed Father Daniels that he wanted to perform the eulogy today, how could Father Daniels refuse. This is the first time since Father Andrew's retirement that he has come before the congregation to speak.
"When I first met Henry he was seventeen. I had moved here with my son from Oakland, California. I was to be the new head priest. Henry was waiting here at the church for our arrival. He wanted to be the first one to welcome the new priest."
"Henry was my first friend here in this new town. Everyone knew that was just the way Henry was, very outgoing. He was well known and well loved in this town. Everyone at one time or another came to Henry for help or advise just as much as they came here. Henry would never turn away anyone who truly needed him."
"We will miss him. He lived a full life and was very blessed."
As Father Andrew continued with his eulogy Danny's mind began to drift. He could not bear the thought of Henry, his grandfather, lying still in a coffin. Danny's father had run off when Danny was only six months old. The only father Danny ever knew was his grandfather. Danny's mother passed away when he was ten. His grandparents became the only family Danny had left.
Henry use to take Danny for a walk everyday around the farm since Danny was three years old. It was their time together and no one else was allowed to share it.
Until Danny learned how to read Henry would retell a classic story. Pirate stories were Danny's favorite because Henry would act out the sword fighting scenes, making Danny laugh with excitement.
As Danny got older the conversations grew more serious. Henry would allow Danny to ask anything that was on his mind. No subject was off limits. Whatever they talked about out in the field stayed there. Most days Danny just wanted to hear about his grandfather's time in World War II. The places he went. The things he saw. The people he met.
When Danny turned fifteen Henry started teaching Danny what it took to be a real man, a gentleman. Henry taught Danny the importance of respecting his elders, treating a woman properly, being polite at all times, and showing manners. Henry told Danny that it was important to help those who truly needed help because it was the Lord who sent them to him for help in the first place.
It was the simple things in life that meant the most.
One day Danny told his grandfather that there was a girl he liked but her father did not like Danny. Plain and simple, the girl was from a rich family and Danny was not.
Henry started to laugh. Danny felt embarrassed. Danny had started to walk away when Henry grabbed his shoulder.
"Boy I want to show you something."
Henry reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. It was yellow in color and looked very fragile, signs of the age of the paper.
"Your grandma wrote me this note the night before we got married. I have carried it with me every day of my life since then. I want you to read it."
Danny took the envelope from his grandfather's outstretched hand. He opened it carefully so as not to rip it. Danny pulled out a single sheet of paper. The letter was short but powerful.
When Danny had finished reading it he looked up at his grandfather with a puzzled expression. Danny did not understand why his grandfather was showing him this letter. Henry could see the question in his grandson's face.
"I'm showing you this note because I know what you're going through. See, your grandma came from a nice home. Her daddy too had money. Most of it had come from prohibition. Supplying illegal booze to people was a money maker back then."
Henry took the note back from Danny and folded it up. He put it back in his pocket and placed his arm around his grandson's shoulder.
"Your grandma's daddy didn't like me one bit. I didn't care about what he thought because I was madly in love with your grandma, still am. She felt the same way about me, still does too. Nothing else really matters after that. We vowed nothing would ever keep us apart, not even death."
"So if you really like this girl and she likes you in return then that is the only thing in this world that matters. Don't ever let anyone stop you, not even yourself. If it's meant to be then love will blossom and grow. Don't ever force it either or it will die."
Danny looked over at his wife as the memory of his grandfather's words echoed in his ears. His grandfather was right too, love did grow. Danny felt blessed to have someone to love as much as his grandparents loved each other.
Tiffany felt her husband staring at her and smiled to herself. She turned to give him a kiss on the cheek.
"You'll be fine," Tiffany whispered, "just speak from your heart."
"Huh?"
"Sweetie, everyone's waiting for you to say a few words."
Danny looked up again and seen that Father Andrew was done with his eulogy and had sat back down. Father Daniels was standing at the podium now with an outstretched arm toward Danny.
Danny stood up slowly and made his way to the podium. He was not sure what he was going to say. Danny took a deep breath and then, as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders, Danny knew what to say.
"The doctors say my grandfather died from heart failure. No one wants to believe that because at eighty years old my grandfather could wrestle a twenty-year-old and still come out on top. My grandfather was very strong for his age."
"But I have to tell you that the doctors were only half right. My grandfather did die from heart failure but just not like everyone thinks."
"See my grandfather use to say to me the only thing that could kill him was a broken heart. And the only way he could have a broken heart was if he lost his beloved Gina."
"Two weeks ago we were all in this very same place to bury my grandmother, Gina. During the past two weeks my grandfather was making sure everything was being taken care of in his will. He knew he was leaving."
"The morning he passed away he gave me something special. This was his way of saying goodbye to me and I knew that at last he was at peace. He had fulfilled his vow to his wife."
Danny reached into his coat pocket and pulled out an old envelope.
"My grandfather carried this note everyday of his life since the day he received it. He showed it to me once when I needed it most. If not for this note I would never have been able to marry my lovely wife. I'd like to share it with you now."
"My dearest love,
I am so sorry for my father's behavior. He had no right to speak to you in that manner. I don't care what anyone says, tonight at sixteen years old you were more of a man than my father was.
I realized then, at that moment, when you did not fight back with my father how much I love you.
I decided that yes, I will marry you. I don't care what my father says or does to me as long as we are together.
Meet me at the old oak tree tomorrow at noon. If you get there before I do, don't give up my love, I'll be there. Nothing will ever keep us from being together. Not even death.
Tomorrow I start my new life as Mrs. Henry Lomus. I thank God he put you in my life.
Love you always,
Gina."
Danny pulled into the gravel driveway leading up to his grandparent's house, his childhood home. Danny pulled the car up to the barn door. As he put the car in park, Danny looked up to the basketball hoop hanging just above the barn door.
The ride home had been filled with silence. Danny had not spoken a word since he gave his eulogy for his grandfather. Tiffany wished she knew what to say to make her husband feel better. Losing his grandmother had been hard. Losing his grandfather and best friend just two weeks later, well, she could only imagine his pain.
"Honey you don't have to be here," Tiffany said softly. "My brothers and I can take care of the packing."
Danny had been staring inside the blackness of the barn. Danny could see his grandfather shoveling hay around. He was not even breaking a sweat as he shoveled quickly.
"Chores have to be done boy," his grandfather said as Danny watched, sitting on a pail. "They may not be something you want to do but they still have to be done, no getting around it. The quicker you get it done, the quicker you can do something else. Don't fight what you have to do boy, just get it done."
Danny smiled. Even from beyond the grave his grandfather was giving him life lessons.
"No, I'll come in," Danny said turning to his wife. "I have a job to do and I'm going to do it."
Tiffany leaned over and kissed Danny. Sweet, passionate, silently telling Danny that she will be by his side, always.
"I love you," Danny said, kissing Tiffany this time. "I love you with all my heart."
"You better," Tiffany smiled, "you married me. That means you're stuck with me for life."
"Don't remind me," Danny responded, rolling his eyes.
It has been an ongoing joke that began on their wedding day. The judge pronounced them man and wife. They kissed and Danny said he loved Tiffany. "You better," the judge said laughing, "You're married now. That means you're stuck together for life." The judge's wife rolled her eyes and responded, "Don't remind me."
Danny and Tiffany laughed and always used it as their own private joke.
Danny took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He had not been back to the house since the morning his grandfather died. The church was having a wake, serving food and allowing the congregation to share their memories of Henry but Danny did not want to go. Danny could not stand any more people telling him how sorry they were for his loss.
Danny opened his door and got out of the car. Tiffany got out and waited for Danny to come around to her side. They walked hand in hand down the driveway to the front porch. As they walked up the stairs Danny remembered the first time they had done this.
The chain squeaked as the wind rocked the swinging porch bench. Danny looked over and saw his grandparents sitting in the swing, sipping on fresh homemade lemonade.
"Grandma, grandpa, I got great news," Danny said excitingly as he rushed up the stairs. Tiffany felt her arm was about to be ripped out of its socket. She was excited and nervous at the same time.
"Danny where have you been all day," his grandmother scolded, "You missed your appointment with that college recruiter."
"I know grandma," Danny answered, still trying to catch his breath, "I'm sorry."
"Sorry don't cut it boy," Danny's grandfather said angrily. "You said you were gonna be here and you wasn't. There's no excuse."
"I'll make it up to you both but I have something important to tell you."
"Who is this young lady," his grandmother asked, barely noticing Tiffany.
"Grandma, grandpa, I want you to meet my wife Tiffany."
"Your wife," they whispered in unison. His grandparents had a shocked look on their faces. They were studying their grandson's face for any sign that this was a joke. This was no joke.
His grandmother broke the ice by standing up and walking toward Tiffany, spreading her arms wide. "Welcome to the family," she said hugging Tiffany.
Danny let out a breath he had been holding and smiled. Danny's biggest fear was his grandparent's reaction. Danny looked over at his grandfather who was getting up out of the swing.
"I hope you know what you're doing," is all he said to his grandson. "Tiffany, come on inside and see your new home. Dinner is in one hour."
* * * *
"Honey, the keys," Tiffany asked.
Danny was back in the present as the image of his grandparents walking into the house with Tiffany faded into nothing.
"I'm sorry," Danny whispered.
Danny reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the keys to the house.
"Are you okay," Tiffany asked, worried about her husband.
"Yea. I'm just remembering the first time you and I walked up these steps together."
"You mean running don't you," Tiffany asked playfully.
"Oh yea," Danny answered smiling. "How's your arm by the way?"
"After ten years, I guess its fine now."
Tiffany squeezed Danny's hand. Tiffany knew Danny had been having flashbacks since his grandmother died. It was understandable. Danny had been around his grandmother everyday of his life until he left for college.
Tiffany knew there was nothing she could say or do to take away her husband's pain. The only thing she could do was to be patient and let Danny know she was there for support.
Danny opened the door. Tiffany stepped past him and walked over to the light switch. Danny stood inside the doorway.
"You can do this," Danny told himself.
There was a trace of his grandfather's cologne lingering in the air. Danny could see his grandfather sitting in his lounge chair reading a book. His grandmother sat across the room stitching a pattern on a pillow in her rocking chair.
Danny would be sitting on the floor doing his homework. The television set would be sitting in front of Danny but never turned on. It was more of a decoration than anything else.
Danny's grandfather believed that television would rot the brain. News was received from the newspaper. Entertainment came from the radio. Well, records mostly. The living room was actually the learning room.
Danny learned to dance from his grandmother. Learned life lessons from his grandfather. Learned Rock N' Roll from Elvis. Learned to love from Frank Sinatra.
"Simplicity is the best way to live a happy life," Danny's grandfather use to tell him.
He was right too. Danny found by letting things get complicated, life became hard. Keeping things simple allowed for a smooth flowing time.
Danny's daily routine had been simple, breakfast, chores, school, come home for more chores, dinner, study time, and lastly bed.
As Danny reached teenage years he was allowed some free time as long as he got his chores and studies done. Since there was a lot of work to do on the farm, Danny's free time was minimal.
The kids at school would tease Danny because he never got to go to the drive-in. The only time Danny ever saw kids outside of school was at the high school football games. Everything stopped during football.
During home games everyone in town was at the game. Away games were an excuse to have big parties and listen to the games on the radio. It was at one of these parties were Danny had met Tiffany.
It was two days after Danny's fifteenth birthday that he attended his very first football party. Tiffany was a cheerleader, wearing her uniform. Danny wanted to talk to Tiffany but she would never give him the time of day at school.
"Hey freak," a voice shouted from somewhere in front of Danny. "What are you looking at?"
The voice belonged to Chad Brandon, the school bully. Danny ignored him; his attention was focused on Tiffany.
"I said what are you looking at? Freak!"
Everyone's conversation stopped, hearing the disgust in Chad's voice. Chad had focused his rage on someone which translated into a fight. Danny had always been fortunate enough to avoid Chad in school so far, but tonight his luck ran out.
Chad stepped in front of Danny, blocking his view of Tiffany.
"Oh, hey Chad," Danny said in a playful mocking voice, looking up at Chad.
"You don't belong here freak," Chad replied, jamming his index finger in Danny's chest.
Danny looked deep into Chad's eyes and thought to himself, asshole. Danny decided he was not going to get drawn into a fight so he attempted to walk around Chad.
"Where do you think you're going," Chad said blocking Danny, shoving him back, trying to get Danny to fight him.
Danny tried two more times to walk around Chad and failed. Everyone was watching, laughing and pointing at Danny. Danny decided to leave the party. He walked across the street to get his bike. The laughter was still echoing in his ears.
Danny got onto his bike then heard it. Tiffany was yelling for Chad to leave her alone. Chad was trying to hug Tiffany and grab her ass. Tiffany slapped Chad. The sound of the slap was like thunder.
Danny picked up a rock and threw it with careful aim. The rock hit Chad behind his right ear, knocking him to the ground. A sharp pain rang out in Chad's head. He stood up and looked around, trying to find his attacker.
"Hey asshole," Danny shouted as he was making his way to Chad, "pick on someone your own size."
The crowd parted like the Red Sea as Danny walked forward, closing up behind him, cutting off any chance of escape.
"Leave her alone," Danny shouted, ready to fight.
"You're dead runt!"
Danny kept coming as Chad rushed him. At the last second Danny sidestepped, causing Chad to fall face first into the ground. Chad jumped up quickly, ready to swing. Danny was prepared to swing back. After three misses Danny swung his fist with all his might, breaking Chad's nose.
Chad fell to the ground, hitting it hard. The fight was over.
Danny started walking away, back to his bike. No one had said a word. Everyone was still in shock over what had just happened.
"Hey wait!"
Danny picked up his bicycle and got on.
"Wait please!"
Danny wanted to ride off but whoever was calling him was now standing right next to him.
"I wanted to thank you for saving me."
Danny turned to see Tiffany was the one standing next to him. She was actually talking to him. Nervous, Danny fumbled, lost balance, and fell off his bike, his bike falling on top of him.
"Oh my God," Tiffany quickly covered her mouth, not meaning to laugh, "are you okay?"
"Yea, I'm fine," Danny answered, laughing at himself and turning red from embarrassment.
Tiffany squatted down and stuck out her hand.
"Hi, I'm Tiffany."
"Hi," Danny paused smiling. "I'm Danny."
* * * *
"Danny, are you coming in or are you the new door," Tiffany asked playfully.
Danny realized that he was still standing in the doorway. Danny stepped inside, letting the screen door slam behind him as it closed. Tiffany was turning on the lights throughout the first floor. Danny met Tiffany at the stairs and hugged her.
"Just hold me," Danny whispered.
Tiffany hugged Danny tight, wrapping her arms around the small of his back. For the first time she began to cry. Tiffany had tried so hard to be strong for Danny. This was more Danny's pain rather than her own, but she loved his grandparents too.
Danny's grandparents had treated Tiffany like their own daughter. They welcomed her with open arms. Everyone thought Danny and Tiffany were too young when they got married but that did not matter to them because they were in love.
When Danny went away to college Tiffany had to stay behind. His grandparents let her live with them. They took care of her. She was their family.
"I'm sorry for ignoring you during all this," Danny said between sobs. "I didn't think about you being in pain too."
Tiffany's tears flowed more freely. Danny hugged her tighter and she hugged him tighter. They were going to squeeze the pain away.
"You ready to go upstairs," Tiffany whispered.
Danny glanced up the staircase. "Not really but the sooner we start the sooner we finish."
Tiffany chuckled. She knew Danny was quoting his grandfather.
* * * *
Danny had only been in his grandparent's room three times in his life. Each time was after a death, his mother's, his grandmother's, and finding his grandfather dead after a night's rest.
Danny took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He knew the room was empty yet he was nervous. Slowly, twisting the doorknob, Danny entered the room.
One of his grandfather's final wishes was for the church to have all the furniture in the house. Father Daniels had all the furniture removed the day before. Danny was expecting an empty room. To his surprise a footlocker was sitting where the bed once was.
Tiffany turned the lights on. There was no mistaking it, it was an old Army footlocker. There was a letter lying on the lid. Danny picked up the letter and read it aloud.
"This was your grandfather's footlocker. He wanted you to have it. It's filled with his memories. Remember, those we love live on in our hearts forever. Signed, Father Daniels."
Danny knew of his grandfather's footlocker. He kept "special memories" in it. Danny had wanted to look inside but his grandfather always kept it locked.
Tiffany had seen the footlocker a few times before and wanted to look inside of it herself. Tiffany looked over at Danny and knew the same look had to be on her face as well. They both looked like a kid about to open the first present of Christmas.
Danny slowly ran his fingers along the edge. Chills ran down his spine, as if something was transferring from the footlocker to him. Danny could almost feel his grandfather standing next to him.
"Staff Sergeant Henry Lomus," Tiffany read. "101st Airborne Division, E Company."
Tiffany's voice broke Danny's concentration.
"You ready to open my grandfather's memories," Danny said, squeezing Tiffany's hand.
* * * *
Danny remembered that every day he and his grandfather would walk out into the fields. Sometimes they would talk and sometimes it would be pure silence. Henry always waited until Danny would ask a question.
Danny was a very curious boy too? It never took long before the first question was asked. No subject was off limits. Henry felt if Danny was going to be a smart man then he needed answers.
One day in the second grade at school Danny got into a fight. The fight was over name calling and Danny had started it. Henry, after tearing Danny's butt up, decided to teach Danny how to fight properly and why.
"There was once a great war that involved the entire world. Many people died because some men wanted to be bullies. Bullies are mean people. They start fights for no reason."
"Bullies can only be ignored for so long. There comes a time in life where you will be called to fight. That time should only be to defend those who can not defend themselves. Bullies must be stopped."
"Grandpa was I bully," Danny asked, tears in his eyes. "Someone called me a bully at school."
"Yes Danny, you were a bully. But you can fix it by saying you're sorry. Promise that you won't fight unless you have too."
"I'm sorry grandpa," Danny said crying, "I promise to never be a bully again."
The message Henry was trying to get across hit Danny hard. The lesson had indeed been learned. Henry knew that now he could teach his grandson how to fight properly.
During the fighting lessons Danny would ask about the "Great War" his grandfather had mentioned. Henry told Danny about WWII, the fighting, the killing, the nightmares.
Danny knew his grandfather had walked through the Gates of Hell and returned. Many good men had not.
"They died to stop bullies in the world. We have the right to do whatever we want because of them. The way we say thank you is by living our life to help others."
* * * *
The words "Never Forget" echoed in Danny's mind as Tiffany unlocked the latch. Danny lifted it slowly, carefully laying the lid back.
On the very top was a picture that looked ragged. It had folds and creases in it. It was burnt around part of the edge and a light brown stain was on the back.
"Who is that," Tiffany asked picking up the picture. "She is beautiful."
"It's my grandmother," Danny answered proudly. "It was taken the day my grandfather left for basic training. When he was sent to England with the 101st he took the picture with him."
"He told me that he looked at that picture every day. It was a reminder of what he had waiting for him back home. He kept the picture in his left breast pocket, close to his heart."
"Wow, this picture survived the war," Tiffany stated.
Danny laid the picture back down. The top tray had minor things in it. Henry's old dog tags, a silver hip flask with the Airborne Eagle on the front, and a map of Europe from WWII. The map showed a Swastika wherever it was heavily populated with German soldiers.
Lifting the tray out revealed an old Army uniform. The chest showed all the medals and awards Henry had received during the war. Gently, as if lifting something fragile, Danny held up his grandfather's Army coat.
Danny slipped it on and straightened out the creases. Tiffany looked at Danny and giggled.
"What?"
"It's very big on you," Tiffany snickered. "Like a kid wearing his daddy's coat."
"It's an all weather field coat," Danny corrected. "It's suppose to be big. You wear it over your field clothes."
"You gonna take it off," Tiffany asked, continuing to laugh.
"No," Danny answered, sitting on the floor besides the footlocker. "I like the way it feels."
Tiffany sat down next to Danny and kissed his check.
"Okay soldier boy," she whispered mockingly.
Danny smiled. He felt closer to his grandfather somehow by wearing his old coat. Danny could feel emotions that his grandfather felt during the war.
Inside the footlocker laid two more boxes. The coat had been covering them. One was marked "BW" and the other was "COLOR." Danny picked them both up and handed one to Tiffany.
They began looking through the boxes. Both were filled with pictures. The black and white photos, faded to a golden brown with age, revealed his grandparents when they were young, young and in love.
One of the reasons Danny was sure his grandparents would except Tiffany was because they themselves were married young. His grandfather was seventeen and his grandmother was sixteen.
Getting married that young was not uncommon back then. It was a different lifestyle in the late thirties. His grandparents were in love. Henry lived on the farm alone. His parents had died in a car accident, leaving Henry to work the farm alone.
Gina, Danny's grandmother, started coming around the farm everyday to help Henry with the housework. It was not long before Henry asked Gina to marry him. Gina's father was against the idea, saying Henry was a nobody who would not amount to much.
It was Gina's idea to elope. Henry was excited with the idea and agreed. A year and a half later Pearl Harbor was attacked. Henry did not hesitate to enlist in the Army. Gina bought a camera and snapped a bunch of pictures before Henry left.
Danny had heard that story numerous times but had seen very few pictures until now. Danny was holding a picture of his grandparents standing in front of their house holding a baby. The baby's eyes were closed shut and one hand was over its eyes. The sun was bright and the baby was trying to block the sun out. The baby was Danny's mother.
"Look at this one," Tiffany said flashing a picture toward Danny, "I'm guessing this is you."
Danny looked to see a picture of a baby boy in an old style metal washtub. His mother was running the sponge down his back, causing him to laugh.
"Leave it to grandma to capture me in all my nakedness."
"I like it," Tiffany teased. "I think I'm gonna keep this one."
Danny rolled his eyes and looked back to the picture in his hand of his mother. The picture was in excellent shape.
"This is defiantly a keeper too," Danny whispered as he opened his jacket and placed the picture inside his pocket.
Father Daniels was right. Danny's grandparents will live forever inside his heart. Danny would never forget these precious memories.
Life is full of memories. Getting married, having kids, their first steps, but none are stronger than the ones you experienced during school. Your first crush, your first crush on a teacher, your first kiss, your graduation, the friends you made in school.
The most memorable memories come from high school. The TRUE transition from adolescence to adulthood. There are clicks everywhere. The jock types that beat up the nerds. The cheerleader types that worship the jock types. The preppies. The poor kids. The punkers. The rockers. The stoners. The Goths. The pretty ones. The ugly ones. The smart kids. The dumb kids. The over achievers. The under achievers. The outgoing kids. The shy kids. The happy kids. The depressed kids that did not belong in the world. The religious kids.
Then there was Dean. The kid that did not belong to any clicks but was accepted by all. Dean was different than all the other kids. Dean looked, acted, and dressed different. Dean even talked different. All the other kids thought it was funny but cool at the same time.
Dean loved the 50's, 1957 to be exact. It was the year his grandfather married his grandmother. Growing up Dean listened to stories of his grandfather's youth. It was a safer, kinder, and simpler time. Dean loved the stories.
As Dean grew into a teenager he was shown pictures of his grandfather, Daniel, when he was Dean's age. The two looked like they could have been twins. Dean, idolizing Daniel, began to dress like Daniel. Not the old man clothes Daniel wore today but the simple fresh look of the 1950's.
Finding clothes was not a problem for Dean. Dean would stop at costume stores and tell the clerks that he was in the drama club and they were performing the play Grease. Danny Zuko was Dean's favorite because Danny's character is like James Dean, a rebel without a cause. Cool and tough. That's what Dean wanted to be, cool and tough.
During the summer of Dean's sixteenth birthday he received the best gift of all, Daniel's original 1957 Chevy. Baby teal blue paint with white trim. Fish tail rear lights, complete with cones on the lights. All white leather interior, with a mother of pearl large round steering wheel. Large white wall tires.
This was Daniel's first car and he took very special care of it. Now it belonged to Dean. Dean was at a loss for words. It was now his baby and nothing was too good for her.
On the first day of school Dean was the topic of the day. Dean drove to school and parked in front by the teachers. Dean was so proud he walked around as if he owned the place. "Cool car," and "nice wheels," was shouted everywhere he walked. There was no one else like him in school. Dean was an original, a one of a kind.
At the end of the day Dean was on cloud nine. As he walked out to his car Dean saw a group of cheerleaders giggling. They pointed and laughed. "You're not the only freak around here from the fifties anymore Dean."
When Dean reached the car he dropped his books. Someone was sitting on the hood of his car waiting. That someone was a girl dressed like Dean, and she was beautiful.
Her hair was in a pony tail that rested on her shoulders gently. It was tied up by a scarf, not a clip or scrunchy, knotted into a bow on top. Tied around her neck was another scarf, see through and baby blue. She was wearing a blue sweater to match with the initial M on the front.
Her dress was long and very puffy, defiantly a 50's dress. She wore flat white shoes with a baby blue trim to match. She was chewing gum, looking out into empty space, and blowing bubbles.
"You're sitting on my car," Dean said as cool as possible, hoping he sounded like James Dean.
"Sorry but I was waiting for you," she responded as she slid off the hood. "I'm new here. You're Dean right?"
"Yes I am. I love your outfit."
"Thank you. My name is Megan. Them cheerleaders tell me I should meet you," Megan said as she rocked back and forth on her heels, hands behind her back. "I can see they were right."
"Is this a joke," Dean asked. "Someone put you up to this to tease me?"
"Good heavens, no. I always dress like this. I love these clothes. I feel like I was born in the wrong decade."
"I know what you mean," Dean answered smiling.
"Well, when I seen your car I asked around and they told me you were just like me," Megan said with a smile, trying to look sweat and innocent.
"I bet they used the word freak."
"Yea, but I don't like that word. It's so square of them."
"Well Megan," Dean said, smiling larger than before, "would you like a ride home?"
"Yes 'um. I love your car."
"Thank you," Dean said, opening the door for Megan. "It belonged to my grandfather. He gave it to me this summer for my sixteenth birthday."
"Very hip grandpappy," Megan said, "I'd love to meet him sometime."
Dean smiled as he closed the door. This was too good to be true. As he walked around the back of the car Dean seen Megan reach over and unlocked his door. This girl had manners. Dean had struck gold.
"So where are you from," Dean asked as he started up the car.
"Lubbock, Texas, home of Buddy Holly. I just love his music," Megan said as she smacked her gum. "Ya'll got a good oldies station up here?"
"Sure do," Dean answered with a huge grin on his face, "the best."
Dean turned on the radio and the words, "This magic moment," flowed out of the speakers and into Dean's heart. The perfect song to describe how he felt.
"So different and so new. Was unlike any other, until I met you."
This was defiantly a sign for Dean.
Dean pulled out and drove Megan home. On the way they sang along to every song that came on the radio. During the commercials it was silent. They were both shy and nervous.
Dean pulled into the driveway. "Well here you are?"
"Thank ya," Megan responded, looking down at her feet, not wanting to get out. "Do you have to go so soon?"
"No, of course not," Dean answered.
"Good, cause I wanna show you somethin'. Does the top go down," Megan asked hopefully.
"Yup," Dean said proudly.
"Well put the top down," Megan said as she rolled down the window. "I'm going to open the garage. When I do pull in slowly up the middle."
Megan opened her door and stepped out. Megan was so excited that she skipped up the walkway to the front door. Wondering what was going on, Dean started the car to let the top down. The air was cool and felt good. The radio began to play, At The Hop.
As the garage door began to rise Dean knew the song was another sign. Inside the garage the walls were painted to look like a car hop style drive in. Dean pulled into the center of the two car garage, where the yellow lines were marked.
As Dean turned off the engine Megan came over, jumping back into the car. On Dean's left was a young Elvis Presley sitting in a pink Cadillac convertible. To his right were James Dean and Marilyn Monroe in a cherry red Chevy convertible.
The wall in front of the car had a waitress on roller skates waving at Dean and Megan. Sitting at tables in the dining area were Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Humphrey Bogart, Rita Hayworth, Bobby Darin. Katherine Hepburn was feeding fries to Howard Hughes. Sammy Davis Jr. was laughing at Jerry Lewis.
"Wow," Dean said, looking around, "this is awesome."
"You like it," Megan asked, starring at Dean. Megan was mesmerized by Dean. "It took me all summer to do. I was depressed when daddy moved us here. This was my escape room.
"Well I love it!" Dean said, still stunned by the painting. "You're very good. I feel like I'm at an actual car hop."
"I'm glad," Megan sighed. "You know, I thought I was the only person in the world who loved the 50's like I do."
"Are you kidding me," Dean blurted out. "I wish I could live back there. It's the best decade of the century."
"Well I want to go back to 1957," Megan said as she slid closer to Dean. "That's my favorite."
"Mine too!" Dean looked over at Megan. He had not been paying close attention to Megan, who was now in arms reach of him. Dean smiled, stretching out his arm, and pulled Megan to him. Megan cuddled in nicely. "I wish we could go back there together."
"Yea, me too." Megan sighed again. "I think we're soul mate, you and I."
Dean hugged Megan tighter as he planted his lips on hers. Megan's lips tasted like strawberries, no doubt from the flavor gum she was chewing. Megan felt soft in Dean's arms. As they broke from the kiss Dean felt like he was floating.
"Welcome to 1957, my love," Megan whispered.
Dean looked around, seeing that he was no longer in Megan's garage. The painting had come to life. A waitress rolled up to Dean's window, asking, "What's your flavor?"
"Two burgers, large onion rings, and a large chocolate shake with two straws," Megan ordered. Dean looked at her with disbelief. "What," Megan said, answering Dean's unasked question. "I'm hungry."
"What about you hon," the waitress asked Dean before blowing a large bubble with her gum.
"Uh," Dean answered, still unsure of what was going on. "I'll have a cheeseburger, I guess."
The waitress wrote down their orders then skated away. Dean watched her skate away in amazement. He had no explanation for what was going on. Dean was going to ask how but this was possible but he did not want to ruin the moment. Deep down he knew this is where he belonged.
Dean and Megan sat together listening to the music coming from the loud speakers. Fifteen minutes had past, but it felt like seconds. Dean leaned in to kiss Megan again and a horn blared behind them.
Instantly Dean was back in Megan's garage, the painting no longer real. Megan turned around and waved to the car behind them. "Hi daddy," Megan sang out.
"Hi pumpkin," Megan's father answered, slamming his car door. "Who's your friend?"
"This is Dean. He's a cool cat. Very hip," Megan answered smiling, "How was work today?"
"Good," he said, not taking his eyes off of Dean. "Young man, were you tryin' to kiss my daughter?"
"DADDY!" Megan protested, turning red from embarrassment. "Please don't start."
"Okay," he said, still staring at Dean. "Why don't you two come inside? That's enough time traveling for today." Dean's face turned from horror to confusion again. "Don't look so surprised Dean. My daughter is very special and she likes to travel back to the 50's."
"You seem like a good kid," he continued. "I hope you liked to blast to the past too."
He turned to walk inside, leaving the two teenagers back in 1957.
As Mike drove to pick up Crissy his heart was racing. Many different scenarios were playing out in his head. Crissy might get nervous and back out again. Mike hoped that did not happen.
In his mind Mike could see himself holding Crissy in his arms. Kissing her soft pink lips. Running his hands down her back until he could pull her tightly to him. Crissy's long flowing red hair surrounding her face, making her look even more beautiful.
Mike still could not believe this day had arrived. Mike has been fantasizing about this day since he meet Crissy two years ago.
Crissy's grandmother owned the building Mike worked in and had an office on the top floor. Mike had always been a sucker for long hair. Red hair was his biggest weakness of all. The day Crissy walked into his lunch room Mike was stunned.
Standing at five foot eight inches tall Crissy was breath taking. Her skin was milky white with tiny freckles all over. Soft. Smooth. Her hair, a dark red that went down to just below her smooth firm round ass. Crissy was physically everything Mike wanted and loved in a woman.
"Do you mind if I wait here for my grandma," Crissy asked.
Wow! Even her voice was beautiful and sounded angelic.
"Sure thing sweetheart," Mike answered in his best Humphrey Bogart impression, "not a problem."
"That's great," Crissy laughed, "who else do you do?"
"I can do just about anyone," Mike said blushing, "if I think about it hard enough."
"Well, I can only do an English accent," Crissy answered back, "would you like some tea and biscuits?"
Now it was Mike's turn to laugh.
"That's good. But its British not English."
"Whatever," Crissy answered with a smile, holding in a laugh.
Crissy sat down at a table and placed her hand on her chin as she looked around. Mike brought over a glass filled with Coke and placed it in front of her.
"I don't have any money," Crissy said startled, looking up at Mike.
"On the house. You looked thirsty."
"Thank you."
Mike went back to the cash register and picked up his book. Mike began to steal glances at Crissy whenever he could between paragraphs. Crissy was doing the same thing, staring at Mike and looking away when she felt Mike looking at her.
"What cha reading," Crissy finally asked.
Mike looked up from his book and looked over at Crissy.
"Well," Crissy inquired playfully.
"I'm studying for school," Mike answered. "It's a book on music theory."
"Pretty boring huh," Crissy asked with a playful disgusted look on her face.
"Interesting, not boring," Mike corrected. "It's full of theories from famous musicians about the meaning of music. I have one of my own that I'm writing a paper on."
"Cool. What is it?"
Mike was about to explain his theory when Mrs. Globe walked in. Mrs. Globe owned four large buildings downtown and the building they were in, in the suburbs. Mike was fortunate enough that Mrs. Globe allowed him to operate the lunch room while he still went to school.
"There you are," Mrs. Globe said. "Ready to go to lunch?"
"Sure thing grandma." Crissy stood up and swung her purse over her shoulder. "Maybe you can tell me your theory some other time. Thanks again for the Coke."
"You're welcome," Mike answered. "Enjoy lunch."
That was their first encounter and Mike would never forget it. As Crissy walked out the door Mike continued the conversation in his mind. Mike could not stop thinking about Crissy.
During that summer Crissy was coming in almost every day just to hang out with Mike. Mike loved it. To Mike it was like they were on a date as they talked and laughed for hours.
Mike wanted to ask Crissy out on a real date but he was in school every night. For the time being Mike was happy just to see Crissy five days a week.
At the end of summer came the shocking news. Crissy came to tell Mike she would not see him as often because school was starting again. Mike nearly fell to the floor when he asked Crissy where she attended school. Crissy was still in high school.
Crissy was only sixteen!
Mike, being twenty-five, saw his dream of dating Crissy vanish into nothing. But no matter how hard he tried though, Mike could not stop thinking of Crissy.
Over the next two years Crissy would come to see Mike when she was out of school. Crissy talked to Mike about all her problems. Mike became a good friend.
Whenever Crissy got into any kind of trouble she would call Mike first. Mike let Crissy talk, knowing it was wrong, but he could not help himself. Mike was in love with Crissy.
Mike endured the mental torture of listening about Crissy's boyfriend. Mike wanted to give Crissy bad advice so she would come running back to his arms. But Mike also wanted to see Crissy happy so he told her what to do to fix her problems.
The day of her prom is when Crissy suspected there might be something wrong with Mike.
Mike had graduated with his Bachelor's degree at the end of the Fall Semester. Even though Mike received numerous job offers he continued to work in the lunch room. Mike wanted to be able to see Crissy.
Before heading to the prom Crissy came by the lunch room as Mike was cleaning up. The lunch room was closed but Crissy had a key to get in. Crissy looked beautiful. Mike wanted to take Crissy in his arms and make sweet love to her, to tell her how he truly felt.
"WOW!" Mike stated stunned. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you," Crissy said blushing. "I got great news to tell you. I haven't told anyone yet."
"What is it," Mike asked with laughter in his voice. Mike could see Crissy was ready to pop if she did not say what she came to say soon.
With that Crissy held up her left hand and Mike saw the ring on her wedding finger. Mike was speechless. He could not move.
"He asked me to marry him yesterday and I said yes!"
Yesterday! He asked her yesterday! On her eighteenth birthday! The day Mike wanted to take Crissy to dinner. The day Mike had been waiting patiently for for the past two years.
"Well? Say something," Crissy demanded happily. "I mean can you believe it?"
The glass Mike had been holding fell to the floor, shattering into a million pieces. The loud crash snapped Mike out of his trance.
"No. I can't," Mike said as he walked past Crissy and out the door.
In his mind's eye Mike could see Chance proposing. Crissy saying yes and sealing the deal with sex. Mike knew that tonight Crissy was going to have sex with Chance also, after all, it IS prom.
The next day Mike went into Mrs. Globe's office and quit. As quickly as he had walked into her office, Mike left without saying another word. Despite her repeated attempts Crissy could not get a hold of Mike. It was as if Mike had disappeared.
At Crissy's graduation Mike had to talk himself into going. It was something Mike was proud that Crissy accomplished. As everyone walked outside Mike stood dead center of the exit way.
Mike looked like a divider as the graduates walked around him. Crissy had seen Mike and froze. Crissy had not seen Mike since prom night five weeks ago. A smile spread across her face.
When the crowd cleared Crissy could see Mike had flowers in one hand and a present in the other. Mike spread his arms open wide as Crissy ran to fill them. Mike hugged her tight.
"What happened to you," Crissy pleaded. "I was worried about you."
"Crissy I swear sometimes you can be so blind," Mike whispered. "I love you. Always have since we met but I just can't watch the woman I love throw her life away anymore. I'm sorry, I truly am."
Mike kissed Crissy's forehead and walked away with tears in his eyes. Crissy stood there, watching him walk away, holding the flowers and present he left her.
When Crissy opened Mike's present that night, she knew Mike truly loved her. One day Crissy had told Mike about a dream she had. It was her wedding day and what the bride and groom were wearing was the strangest part. Crissy told Mike that she wanted her wedding to be just like her dream. Mike had laughed and called Crissy crazy.
Crissy began to cry as she picked up the teddy bears that were inside the bag. The bears were kissing bears, the kind that had magnets in the lips so they stuck together. The bears were dressed for a wedding.
The groom was wearing a penguin tail tuxedo. It was pinstriped in white and lima bean neon green. He was wearing a top hat to match and carried a green cane of the same color.
The bride was wearing a white dress with the lima bean green in a tie-dye pattern. Her shoes were a sparkling emerald; resembling those Dorothy wore in the Wizard Of Oz.
Now that Crissy saw the outfits in person she laughed to herself, thinking they DID look silly. At the bottom of the bag was a note that read: "I would have gladly worn this if you asked me too."
Crissy remembered that when she told Mike about the colors he had told her that the groom would have to be madly in love with her to be willing to wear those colors.
* * * *
Six months had passed since that day. Mike was teaching music at a middle school for magnet students. Despite a few students who were 'know it alls' and made Mike's class a challenge he loved it.
One day Mike had to merge his basic students with his advance class. The school was having a pep rally for the football team in the afternoon. Mike had been teaching the importance of knowing musical roots.
"To be a great musician you have to be able to appreciate all types of music. Classical, blues, oldies, rock, pop, even foreign music from all around the world. Chinese, Russian, Mexican, Spanish, and Middle Eastern to name a few."
"What about hip hop," a student asked.
"Some hip hop and rap can be classified as music but the rest is just noise. The same is true of Rock. Some is music while some Hard Rock is not."
"How can you say that when rap's selling more than anything else in the world."
"Says whom," Mike responded quickly. "The record companies? If you believe that then I have some ocean front property in Arizona for sale."
"Arizona isn't near the ocean."
"Exactly," Mike answered with a hint of laughter. "Let me ask you this, if every new single that comes out is labeled number one then how can any of them be number one? They can not ALL be number one. BEING number one is a label slapped on to sell more records."
"The best example I can give you doesn't even involve music, but I know most of you will understand. When the first Harry Potter book was released here in America there was a big buzz around it."
"Only a handful of Americans had read the book while in England. Now, how can a book that American's had never read before be labeled number one before it was even released? The publishing company tells us we want it. They tell us to buy it, so we do. That's the thing about most Americans; we do what we're told without thinking."
"Everyone stand up," Mike stated without slowing down his explanation.
Most of the class stood up as he continued to talk.
"We do this because we don't want to be left out. The same is true with you." More students slowly stood up until the entire class was standing up. "This is my point," Mike said spreading his arms to the class. "Okay you can sit back down. Jeremy can you tell me what just happened here?"
"I don't know," Jeremy, the brightest student in class, answered, shrugging his shoulders.
"Anybody? NO. I didn't think so. As I was talking I told you to stand up. I didn't ask, I TOLD. The result, most of you stood. Those that remained sitting got up when they seen everyone else doing it. You did it without thinking while the others didn't want to be left out, so they too stood up."
"Same goes for music. Just because you are told to like it doesn't mean you will. Did you also notice, Chris, that I did not list country music or bluegrass when I gave my list earlier?"
"Yea," Chris said, the student who started this debate.
"Yet all of you know I like both. I also like hip hop from the 80's and early 90's. What you guys call 'OLD SCHOOL.' That's back when it was pure. When it was actually music."
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