THE SUMMER OF '06
        Chapter 1
   JOHN AND VICKY




"Spencer! Come here!" I yelled. I needed him for a message.

"What?" He said, the same way as Kip, as he ran up to me.

"Bring me my chapstick!" I said through the spokes of my bike wheels as I unlocked it from behind the garage. As I fought through all of the mini trikes, wagons, snap guns, and doll stollers, Spencer asked if I was being serious. "No! I'm not! Will you please go tell Mom that I'm going to Vicky's and then to PPGC. And tell her I'll be home around 10," I instructed. The summer air filled my lungs along with the scent of fresh cut grass. With the birds chirping, lawn mowers mowing, and water sprinklers sprinkling, I got on my bike.

Spencer, in his red, Spiderman T-shirt, sprouted his six year old innocence. "But it's only the 1st day of vacation!"

"I want to start work as soon as possible," I rode off as I waved to him. The neighborhood kids were playing at the basketball hoop my dad had put up for my brother and them. Summer was definately back in full swing. I rode down about a block waving at people who were out side, and saying hi to Mr. McConnon and Mr. Janousek, my old teachers from the middle school. They were my old Social Studies teacher and German I teacher. They were on a walk and where fighting about their baseball teams, Mr. McConnon being from Boston, and Mr. Janousek from New York. (You probably know how that goes...)  I let them get on with there walk and started on. I loved looking at all the nice houses and their green lawns.

I turned my attention back to the rode and ghasped! "Ahh!" I cried as I swerved out of the giant U-Haul's way. I stopped to catch my breath. You could tell they were new in the neigborhood. Everybody else knew us kids were always in the street.

Hi, I guess I haven't properly introduced myself yet. My name is MaKaylia, MaKaylia Samsburg. My friends and family call me Mickey, however. I'm about 5'3" and a size 8. I have blond hair in the summer which darkens in the winter. My eyes are green which turn yellowish when I'm upset or angry and I love the color purple! My best friend Vicky Affidavit, says I look like Emma Watson (Hermione, from the Harry Potter series) and that highly annoys me. I have just started working at the Putt-Putt Golf Course (PPGC) in town and am also involved with 4-H showing Dairy Cows. Anyway, back to my story... The Summer of '06.

I rode pas PPGC for now and over to 1st Street. Vicky's house was right behind  OCMS (Oakland-Craig Middle School). When I put my kick stand down in front of Vicky's front porch I heard glass shatter from inside. "FINE!" I heard. "I'll leave you --- ----!"

"Come back when you are sober!" I heard Mr. Affidavit yell. The oak and screen door flew open just missing my nose by centimeters. Mrs. Affidavit came out with a broken liquor bottle in hand. That must of been the glass I had heard.

"MOVE!" She slurred as she pushed passed me. The strong smell of vodka followed her as she hobbled down the sidewalk in her short skirt and skinny high heels, knocking down my bike as she past it.

Vicky's dad came out and spotted me. "Oh, sweet Jesus! Mickey did you hear that?"

I nodded. "Yes, Mrs. Affidavit drinking I see, agian."

Mrs. Affidavit go in her yellow sports car and squealed away. "Is Vicky here?" I asked as I picked up my bike.

"Yeah, Victoria is out in the old tree house. I think she is moving her stuff out there. Maybe you can convince her to move back in." He gave a grave chuckle and motioned for me to pass him. "Mickey," he called me back. "Are you going to PPGC?"

"Mm-hm. But not to play, I start working there in 20 minutes." I said.

"Didn't you work there last year too?" He asked.

"I didn't get paid for that. This year they agreed to pay me," I said. I ran into the house, through the hall, kitchen, and then out of the back door.  I ran to the giant tree and started to climb the boards we had nailed on to the trunk, for a ladder. I was surprised it still held me. I saw the faded 'NO BOYS' sign and the extention cord running up to the top. Out of the window I heard Big and Rich, blaring.

"What's up!" I asked over the music as I popped my head through the hole in the floor. I noticed the pile of blankets in the corner and Vicky was cleaning the mirror with Windex.

"Oh, hey Mickey," she said turning off the radio. "What are you doing here? I thought you had to work?"

"I do, but I was wondering if you wanted to come. I thought you might want a break from here," I said. She didn't seem to be interested and just shrugged it off. So, I pushed a bit. "Come on! You love PPGC! You get 2 snacks and 3 drinks for free if you run the Payhutt." She still didn't look convinced so I 'baited my fishing hook'. "And I just happen to be working on the day of Grant Bell's 'School's Out' party, that just happens to be at PPGC, today," I said looking up at her. I sighed dramatically and said, "Too bad, I'm going to be there all by myself with all of those Junior and Senior guys trying to get them organized all by myself, with no one to talk to but them." I said as I sighed one more time. I had put a little emphasis on Grant's name. I looked at Vicky. I knew my glow in the dark fish bait would work it always did.I was slowly reeling in my line. Or in other words, Vicky was hooked.

"Grant Bell?" Asked Vicky, her cheeks reddening by the mention of her crush's name. She absent-mindedly went to slicking her blond hair strait like she always did when she was excited or nervous.

"Yup." This was awesome. I was going to need a bigger frying pan to cook this fish.

"Oh, I guess I could go," Vicky said as she started down the ladder. She shot her head back up to say, "But only so your not swamped when it comes to getting all those guys their things."

I laughed. "Right!" I left the tree hose and we walked into the house were Mr. Affidavit was cleaning up the glass in the hallway. After Vicky told her dad where she was going, she met me out front with her bike. We got to PPGC in 10 minutes and when we showed up my boss, Dick Babst, and my grandpa's best friend, called to us. He gave Vicky a quick hug and then turned to me, gave me a hug, and then asked, "So, what grade are ya two in now? Your growin' like weeds and look as healthy as carrots."

"Vickey and I will be in the 11th grade next year," I said.Dick put his hand to his ear, "What was that? I'm sorry to say it but I'm afraid that I am gettin' a bit hard on hearin'."

"THE 11TH! We are going to be Juniors!" I said much louder.


"Oh! That's nice." He clapped his hands together once and then said, "Okay, I guess that your all set to go. The fridge is stocked, the ice cream machine ready, candies out, and I already set out the adult clubs, but I didn't put the toddler ones out just yet..."

"DICK!" I said. "I got it! I know what I am doing."

"Oh, okay. Any questions?"

"Yes, actually," I started. "Since I'm in 4-H again,"

"Don't ask me I just pay ya!" Dick interupted. "Go talk to Faye she is the one who does the books and the schedules."

"Okay, where is she?"

"She is out watering her petunias."

I nodded and headed toward the door.

"Oh, wait!" Dick said.

I stopped and looked at him.

"In about a week you'll get a co-worker. His name is John Hanncock and I've hired him to do all the water draines for courses 5, 9, 18, and 24. Plus the leave blowin' for all the rest of them."

"Okay!" I said and I made my way towards  Faye, Dick's wife, on th opposite sides of the fields. "Hi, Faye!" I walked up to her. "I need to talk to you about my schedule. I need Thursday and Wednesday off."

Faye smiled. "Oh Mickey, you know that you oly have to work 2 times a week. 5 just means Dick and I have 3 extra days in the air conditioning. Of course you can. It's for 4-H, right?"

I smiled. Faye always had a way of knowing things. She was my version of Ms. Maudie, in To Kill a Mockingbird. "Yes, I'm doing Dairy again this year. I'll have one cow, a heifer, and a calf. Jojo, her daughter, Emmi Bella Rhiannon,"

"Oh, well that is quite a name for a cow!"

"She was born exactly at midnight on Feb. 2, on a full moon, and her name means 'Gift from the Beautiful Moon'. I have her, and then Jojo's sister Tawny."

"Sister?"

"Jojo's mom is Two-Spot, and Tawny is Two-Spot's calf this year."

"Oh, thats nice. You can have all the time you need as long as you do as well as you did last year."

"Easy, I have a great group this year."
 
"What? Oh, you've joined another 4-H group," Faye asked.

"Hm? Oh no! I meant that I had a good group of cows. We are already low on members. I wouldn't leave them for another group. It's just me and Christi as the Senior Class. Actually Maxx is a Senior too this year, " I said. "In the intermedate class is Brody and Kat, Kelly and Little Kristy are Juniors and Alex is a pee-wee."

"Oh, that is a bit less than last year then."

"Yeah, James, Taylor, AJ and Zech quit. Well, Taylor, AJ and Zech quit, James went back to Indiana to go live with his dad." I said.

"OH, that's too bad! Well, I didn't know. Weren't you and James going on 2 years?"

I bit my lip. "The last 2 months were very long months. I am glad he left cause our relation was only making us grow farther apart. The only thing that had been keeping us together was him asuming that my mood was because of my period when I would blow up and threaten to break up with him. That and Vicky saying, 'Come on Mickey just give him one more week' every other week." I said. "Within those 2 years are may break-ups, seeing breifly other people, and then getting back together. I guess I just didn't want to date him. He was more of a best friend that got jealous when I would talk to other guys."

"Oh, well. That's too bad. Um, hey did Dick tell you that you will be getting a new co-worker next week?" She said as I gladly allowed her to change the subject. I nodded in reply. "I told him you might want some company, but it looks like you don't need it. I see you brought Vick with you. Is she having problems again?" Faye said as she  watched Dick show her were everything was.

"It's her mom. I sware I don't know how she bares it. I would have cracked under all that stress." I looked at her too. Vicky had really big bags under her eyes and she was looking skinnier.

Faye started talking again. "She's a strong girl. I suppose she has grown numb to it. I guess it's because she has lived with it forever. I remember when her dad brought her mom to chruch for the first time. She looked like trouble. But we respected his choice. Mainly because we never imagened it would last this long!"

"Well I am glad in a way that it did. If they wouldn't of I would never of met my best friend. Do you want me to finish this up for you?" I asked about the petunias.

"That's nice of you but anymore water and my petunias will die of too much water instead of not enough!" She straitened out he glasses and we walked to the Payhutt. Then after quick goodbyes they left and Grant Bell's party came.

They came in 3 cars and his mom's van. As Grant and his friends fought for the 2 hot pink balls, Grant's mom paid me.

"BOYS!" I yelled. They all were quiet and had stopped fighting. "I have enough pink balls for all of you!" I pulled out 2 new packages of pink golf balls from behind the counter.

"Yeah" They all said waving thier hands. I handed each guy one.

"Wow!" Said Grant's Mom. "Have you ever thought of being a teacher?" She smiled at me.

"Why?" I asked in amusment because I knew she was a English Teacher at the High School.

Mrs. Bell just looked at me like it was obvious. "You can control them!" She pointed Grant and the guys as they fought over the golf ball washer.

The were all acting very immature. "If I didn't know they were going to be Juniors and Seniors, I would have thought they were just really, really, tall 5 year olds."

Grant's mom just laughed. I smiled, but in my mind I was thinking how stupid this woman really was. "Boys will be boys!" She said. "Grant!"

"Yes, Mother?" Asked Grant as he flipped his perfect light brown hair out of his perfect baby face to reveal his blue eyes.

What kind of kid today call their mom, Mother? I thought.

Mrs. Bell looked lovingly toward her son. "Behave now, be good, and be a gentleman! I will be back in a half hour to pick you all up.''

As Grant put on an honest and loving look and leaned causually on his club  he asked, "Mother, what about drinks and snacks?"

"Oh, well," She turned to us. "Let them buy whatever they want," She said, "I'll pay for it when I pick them up."

Vicky and I nodded and Grant's mom left. Then as soon as he saw his mom's car was out of sight he switched from the mama's boy to the cocky, hot 17 year old. His speech even had a gangster slur that I found to be annoying and fake.

"Hey, sweety," he said trying to get my attention. "I heard James split." He smiled that perfect and intoxicating, dangerous smile.

From the corner of my eye I saw Vicky melt to his smile. It seemed that my bait for bringing Vicky with me was now a 'bait eating the fish', or in other words... a problem.

"James didn't split. He went to go live with his dad in Indiana."

"Your cocky!" He said nodding as I tried to figure what was so cocky about it. "I like that. Course I have 2 types. Cocky and cute, and shy and sexy." He winked at Vicky. "You need an upper classmen to fill the void. Someone older and wiser to take the wheel of you romances."

I turned my back to him and winked at Vicky to tell her that I wasn't serious for the actions I was about to do. I giggled. I turned back to him and put on my flirty face. I was great at it cause I used to use it as a way to flirt with other guys to get James mad.  You know the 'I was just talking' kind of flirt. "You know I think your right. I went to a fortune teller when I was in Omaha and she said an older man was going to sweep me off my feet.

"I'm that man!" Grant said as I noticed he was attempting to look down my shirt.

I giggled again. "You know what?" I said.

"What?" Grant said as he got closer.

I looked over and noticed Grant's best friend Jordan trying to sneak a look too.

"What?" Asked Grant again.

"I think,"

"You think?"

"I think that older man is.."

"Me? Am I right, Babe?" Grant said.

"Silly goose! NO!" I said. Then I turned toward Jordan surprising him. "Of course it's not you Grant! Jordan, I hear you and Cindy broke up. Can I fill in?"

I watched and enjoyed as Grant eyeballed Jordan waiting for his answer.

Jordan's reaction was priceless. "Yeah," Grant glared at him. "I mean, ah, no, no, it's just a rough patch. We'll get through it." He said changing his voice to sound reasuring.

"HA!" I said my experesion changing to show the true annoyance. "Thought so, sorry Grant. Your not my type. I don't date pigs. Now what do you want to eat and drink so you can start your lovely game of Putt-Putt Golf." I said as I folded my arms on the counter and cocked my head to one side.

Grant looked humiliated. "20 Mt. Dew's," he said.

I took the new 24 pack out of the fridge and took 4 out and gave him the rest. "Thank you and have a great game!" I said.

He took his pop and the rest of them followed. When I turned to Vicky she was as red as a fire truck.

I took out 2 Diet Cokes from the fridge. I tossed one to Vicky. She caught it in a daze. "Thanks," She said. She was gazing at Grant. "I tell ya, Mick, Me and Grant are meant for each other! Did you see him wink at me!"

"Yeah! While he was trying to pick up me! He is so big headed! He is a Senior, and besides he already thinks he is going to be prom king!"

"Shut-up! He's not big-headed! He's pure and kind! And he has an amazing smile," She watched him bend over to get his ball out of the hole. "And a nice butt!" She turned and giggled as he turned toward us.

I just rolled my eyes. STUPID! I thought. I heard a car pull up inbetween the 5 cars that were already parked.  A boy about 17 or 18 years old got out of the 68' white mustang. He was tall, dark and way handsome. I quickly looked him over. He had black worn Chuck's on and a lose fit pair of Wrangler Jeans.  He was wearing a Saints hat and a Louisiana State Fair t-shirt. Both the shirt and the hat was a dingy white. He was muscular and Strongly built. I felt butterflies his me. My heart was in my throat, but then suddenly went back down when Grant yelled, "Sup Man!"

The boy nodded back in reply.

Great. He was one of Grant's cocky pals. I put on a happy-happy joy-joy face and said, "Grant' s mom already paid. You can just grab a club and get started."

He smiled a cute 1/2 smile. "Sorry, I don' t know anyone here. I'm actually here to see Dick Babst. Or Faye. I'm John Hanncock. I was going to  ask him if I could start early." His voice was deep and full.

I felt my mouth drop open. Vicky came beside my and smiled a smile that only a best friend would understand it's meaning. I quickly gathered my cool. I had to admit, he was really handsome. You know, not hot, not cute, but maturely handsome. My Aunt Sherry's words floated through my brian, "Don't date co-workers. It just ends up ending." With that in mind I said, "Um, he's not here but I can call him."

John just shook his head and said, "Nah, I'll just go over to his house. Do you have an address?"

"Sure!" I grabbed a pen and paper.

Vicky left my side and looked in the fridge. "Actually you can go with him. We need to get Mt. Dew. There is no more in the supply closet." She snapped the door shut.

"Oh! That's good you can introduce me!" John looked cooler and more relaxed and smoother then Grant would ever be able to pull off.

I put down the pen and paper. "Okay, Vicky are you okay with that?" I looked at her and my eyes begged her to say no.

"Peachy!" She said pushing me out of the Payhutt. John smiled again and walked smoothly to his car. It was white. It needed work but it was nice. John got into the driver's seat and I went around to the other side. I got in and when I started to sit down I heard John yell, "NO!" But it was too late. I felt warm, gooey things squishing relentlessly underneath me. "Ooo." John said laughing. "Sorry, I forgot those were there."

I got up and out of the car to find a small order of Cheesy Fries from Kirby's stuck to my butt like glue. "Eww!" I pulled it off and it plopped to the ground. 2 Fries stayed attatched. "Do you have a napkin or something?"

"No." He started digging into a bag in the back seat. "But I have these," he set a pair of blue silky basket ball shorts in my hands. "They're clean I swear!"

I took them. "Be right back," And I walked back to the Payhutt.

"Back so soon?" Asked Vicky in hysterics. "Nice ass, Mick."

"Language Vicky!" I said.

"Sorry," Vicky said. As I closed the counter up to change, I heard someone from Grant's party go "Aww! Come on Sweetie, we won't stare! For Long!"

"Ha ha, Derks." I said. I changed into John's shorts. They fell strait off my body. "Ahh!" I pulled them back on and held them on. I needed a rubberband.

Vicky was holding up my jeans and she looked at the butt. "Mmm, I love Kirby's Cheesy Fries!"

"Gross!" I snatched them back and folded them, and put them in a bag and sat them underneath the counter. I heard John's horn honk. "Why can't you go?" I whined to Vicky.

"Because your the one who will be working with him. And I can tell you like him." She said pushing me out of the door agian.

"I BARELY KNOW HIM!" I moaned and walked to the car. When I got back into the car there was jazz music playing. Actually it had a poppish/jazz twist. The person singing  had a really nice voice but I didn't recognize it.

"You look good in baggy shorts." John said with a smirk. He then started the engine and we pulled out of the parking line, running over the cheesy fries.

"Don't mind some music do you?" He turned the volume up. I noticed his stereo was the only new thing in the car. The volume was up loud. He was yelling when he asked, "So, will the stain come out?"

"Yeah, my mom knows how to get out anything." I said looking at my hand. It was a good thing those jeans were my oldest pair. "I'm Mickey by the way."

"Yeah, I heard one of those guys yell it. Your boyfriend I'm guessing? They all seemed to like you."

"Turn right here onto Elm Street," I said. "Not even 10 minutes before you got there I turned down Grant. He's the 'Master of the Jocks'. They are all self-centered, cocky, and''

"Arrogent?" John said. "I noticed. For a small town you sure do have alot of senior guys. My old town was the exact opposite."

"Actually, there are only 97 in that class. That's guys and girls. Most of them only dream of being Grant's friend. Most of those guy are friend of his from when he was living in Blair."

"Mm. Right or left. I'd keep going but I would run into that house." We were at a T-Intersection.

I kind of chuckled at that and told him to go left. I started to actually listen to the music. The voice souned like a mixture of John Mayer and Josh Groban. The key change was amazing. I'd never heard one like that go so smoothly. "Nice key change!" I said out loud.

"Thanks." John said. "It took me awhile to get it right."

"You wrote this?"

"And performed it. Right, Left or straight?"

"Straight." I listened carefully to the words. It sounded like it was a love/break up song. It was about feeling betrayed and distraught.

"It's really good," I said looking at him. "But it seems sad. You don't mind if I roll down my window do you?"

"No," he said.

As I watched Oakland, Nebraska, which by waving to an occasional person, wiz by I asked, "Is it about some one?"

"It's about my ex. She, err, wasn't who I thought she was."

"Oh, my ex was sorta like that too."

"She broke up with me, and then 4 months later, I found out she was 8 months pregant. She had been cheating on me, big time." He said that and then our eyes met. His were full of saddness. "You 2 have the same eyes," he said about mine.

That shocked me. "Um, turn here. Then it is the red house. Can't miss it." I didn't look at John in the eye after that. I looked out my window to see the 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Wonka, and the 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Seckel on Mrs. Wonka's front porch. It was weird how teachers were always together.

John pulled into Dick and Faye's driveway. We got out and I went to the door knocked and poked my head in. "Hello?" I called. Dick poked his his head from down stairs.

"You here already?"

"We ran out of Mt.Dew and I brought someone who needs to talk to you." I opened the door wider to reveal John.

"Oh, Hi!"

"Hi, sir. I'm John Hanncock. I was wondering if I could start early." Asked John.

"Don't ask me son, I jsut pay ya," Dick said. "Faye is the one who does the schedules. She is upstairs in the kitchen. Go on ahead boy."

After John left I asked, "You gave John the job before meething him?"

"I talked to him on the phone. Seemed like a gentleman." He walked down stairs. "And your dad said he was a bright boy. Now about the Mt. Dew, you'll have to run to Jack and Jill's Grocery."

"Wait, Dick, my dad knows him?"

"Yup. He's the one who asked for the job."

"But how does my dad know him?" I followed him.

"Dunno. Let me see here," He started rummaging through the closet underneath the stairs. "Yup, I was right. I only got Sprite here." He handed me 25$. "Buy as much as you can. I'll be there early tomorrow to restock every thing else. The Bell party keeping the cash register going, huh?"

"Oh yeah I'm glad I decided to bring Vicky with me." I went to put the 25$ in my pocket to find I was wearing John's shorts. I rolled it up and put it behind my ear instead.

We started walking up stairs. The wonderful smell of home baked cookies waffed through the air. "Mm!" Dick said, "Let's go get a cookie while there hot." He sniffed and inhaled deeply. I walked into the kitchen to see Faye putting cookies off a cookie sheet and onto a pretty flowered plate.

"Really!" Faye said. "Well if you interested in farm work you should talk to Mickey! She show's Dairy Cattle for 4-H! I believe their club is looking for members." She spotted me. "Isn't that right, Sweetie? Didn't you say earlier you needed members?"

"Oh, yeah. Cows." I said. God, I hoped he wouldn't want to join. That would just be to much for my eyes to handle.

"Cool, back in Cali, I mean Louisiana, I worked on my Uncles Dairy Farm. I loved it!" He said.

"Oh, well I'm sure this farm is a lot smaller then that one." I said.

"I don't care! I just want to get back to doing that kind of stuff again. Can I get an enrollment for or something?"

"Have you ever shown Dairy Cattle in a Show?" I asked.

"No, but I'm sure it isn't too much different."

I was stuck. I couldn't just not let him in. Cheryl, my 4-H leader, would have killed me! I just smilled and said, "Well I have one at home. I can bring to work with me tomorrow. That is if you start tomorrow."

"I sure do!" He said smiling. 

"Awesome!" I said. "Can't wait!" Remember what Aunt Sherry told you! I kept that going through my head.

Faye clapped her hands. "I'll see you tomorrow John, you too Mickey." She gave me a hug and the plate of cookies. "Those are for your family. But, that's only if you and Vicky don't polish them off first." She whispered the last part. She laughed and after John grabbed 2 more cookies and thanked Faye for them we left. In the car I asked if  John  if he could take me by Jack and Jill's. His CD was still playing. "Do you put out any of your music?" I asked him when he switched CDs.

"Ah, all my songs are on my computer. All those songs you just heard aren't finished. I am criticing them now. Jack and Jill's, is that grocery store we went passed earlier, right?"

"Mm-hm."

John looked at me. "You like music?"

"It's more important to me than air!"

"Yeah, me too."

"I love music, along with Drama, English, Foreign Languages."

"Neat."

"You know my dad know a guy in Chicago that can get a producer to listen to you if you have a demo."

"Nah, I just write and sing as a hobby. I love being with Animals. I was to run a farm for my career."

I glanced at him. Weird. I thought. Just like me. I went into a daze looking at the clouds. I loved clouds and looking for shapes in them.  I always seemed to see elephant's first, then other animals inside of them. But before l knew it we were pulling into Jack and Jills's. John followed me into the store. 

I made my way to the pop and found that it was on sale. Buy one get one for 4$. I relized I could get 5.  I could only carry 2. I went to go get a cart. When I turned with it I saw John talking to Cindy, the cashier. She seemed to be flirting with John. John put up his hand and said something I couldn't hear, with that Cindy just stopped smiling and pointed to a small rack of CDs. He went over to it and started going through it. 

I went back and was putting 2, 24 packs in the cart when John came over to me. "Need help?" He asked putting 2 in the cart. 

"Thanks." I said putting in the last one. 

"No prob, I'll be in the car." He said swinging the small bag with his CD around. 

Cindy checked out the pop. She was blond and stupid. "Who was that?" She asked as I paid.

"My new," 

"Boyfriend?" Cindy said cutting me off. "What happened to James. Did you guys split agian? Don't worry you 2 will work things out. Me and Jordan are having problems." She said rather quickly.

I rolled my eyes. "Cindy he is not my boyfriend. James moved to Indiana. We are never getting back together. John is just my new co-worker."

"Oh, well what's all the MD for?"

"PPGC. We ran out because of your boyfriend and his friends. " I left right after. Knowing Cindy she would have dug untill she found something do spread about me. As I walked to the car, John got out and opened the trunk. He helped me put them in the trunk and we were back on our way to PPGC. He drove with his knees so he could unwrap his CD and pop it in. He threw it in the back seat. I noticed how many there really were back there then. I'd say there was about 200 CDs back there.

"Wow!" I said, "Enough music?"

"No," he simply said.

I sat back in my seat. "So how do you know my dad?" I asked.

"Um, I haven't known him for that long really. He knew my mom. Or something like that."

"Oh," I said. That hadn't helped me much. "Hey, I'll bring that form tomorrow. If you still want it. We meet on Weds. and Thurs. and Sat. The time varies and it is at Cheryl's farm." I thought about how to get him to the farm. I didn't know the exact street or nothing, but I knew where it was. "I'll give you the directions to get there tomorrow too."

"Cool." We pulled into the PPGC parking lot. John helped me carry the Mt. Dew in, getting it all there in one trip. "See you tomorrow, Mickey," John said as he left with a smile and a wave. He then squealed away in his Mustang.

Vicky was talking to Grant. I started to read the book I had stashed there last week as I eaves dropped there conversation.

"So, your free Saturday?" Grant asked.

"Like totally!" Vicky said flustered.

"Great, seeing that your not actually a Junior yet you'll need some one to get you in, but hey that's what I'm for. It's and all nighter so bring your coffee beans." He winked at Vicky and the spotted my discusted face. "Don't worry, Mick, I  won't forget about you my cute cocky one."

"Eww! Vicky you should get rid of this hat. You don't know how may heads it's been on. You know it might have lice."  I said. I knew it wasn't a very good come back but it would have to do for now. 

Then just as he was about to say something back to defend himself about how many girlfriends he had, his mom pulled up. 

"Better go put your Mama's Boy act. Look like Mommy's coming to pay for the 152$ you and your buddies consumed." 

"Your just jealous cause you know you want me!" Grant said.

"Yeah, as much as I want to kiss a dead bird! Actually I would rather date a dead bird then you!" 

He looked furious, but he hid it fast as he met his mom and went to his car and left. The total for the bill wasn't 152$ but it was 74. 

"74$ for POP! Are you serious!" She said looking toward the spot Grant had parked. She was really mad. 

"They wiped us out of Mt. Dew and Pepsi, Licorish, and Chocolate Bars and they had a total of 46 ice cream cones.I tried to limit them bt they kept coming!" Vicky said. 

Mrs Bell just sighed sorrowfully. "It's okay. I don't blame you girls. He's already got some other explainig to do so he isn't on my good side right now. " She laid down the check and left.

"I wonder what else he did?" I said as she pulled away. Even though I had burned Grant I still couldn't help being mad at Vicky accepting that date. "Vicky, I can't believe you are going out with him! He is so arrogent, covetous, and just wants to see you unclad!" 

"What the heck does unclad mean?" Vicky asked.

"It means Naked!" I said quietly. 

"What!? Mickey your crazy! He respects me for who I am!" Vicky said.

"HUH? You know what he did to Whitney!"

"That was a rumor! Whitney could have lied!" She said. I had never see her like this. 

"Vicky? Fine, you know what, I don't plan on saying I told you later so I'll say it now. I told you so!" I was worried. Rumor was, that Grant had raped Whitney. She was so ashamed she had moved.

Vicky left angry with me and I calmed my self down. That was the first fight we had in like, 4 years. I Read to keep my mind off it. After that the day went really fast.  I saw my friend Noelle and talked to her for awhile. Her sister had gone to Band Camp and Noelle was feeling lonely. I saw a few other people I knew too. I even got an invitation to go swimming on Sunday with my friend Casey. 

Then around 9:45 pm Dick came back and took over. When I got home Spencer was picking up his baseballs and bats. He and his friends were always playing baseball. "What are you still doing up?" I asked him. He usually was in bed at 9. He smiled and pointed to his eye which I know noticed was black and blue. 

"I got in a fight with that new girl! Mom has been giving Mrs. Hanncock the 'I'm soo sorry' talk."  He looked really proud of himself. "I won TOO!" 

I laughed. "Alright go inside. I'll pick these up for you." He dropped all of them and ran inside.Then as I picked up the 4th bat I relized what Spencer had said. Mom was inside giving Mrs. Hanncock, the 'I am so sorry' talk. Just then I heard, "Hey! Hey! Hey MICKEY!" The voice sounded familar but unknown to me.  I truned to see John sitting down a box on the front step fo the newly bought house across the street. John walked over. "So, your brother is the Spencer that got in a fight with my sister." He walked next to me.

"Um, I guess." I said. "And that is my favorite song. Oh Mickey your so fine! Your so fine you blow my mind! HEY MICKEY!" I sang bouncily. John just smiled that cute 1/2 smile.My stomach dropped as I dropped all the bats then "SHOOT!" I said. 

John bent down to help me. "Getting dark," He said trying to make small talk. He picked up some and helped me take them into the garage.He set his up to and I put my bike away. "Well, see you tomorrow, neighbor." He started walking home. 

"Wait!" I heard myself yelling. He turned and his green eyes seemed unatural. His eyes and his handsome face was sharp in the street and moon light. "Yeah?" He asked. 

I tried to think of something to say. "Uh, do you want me to go get you the enrollment form  for 4-H now?" I finally said. He waited for a second and looked me over and then nodded. I started for the door. He didn't follow. "You can come in if you want, " I added to John. I walked in. "MOM! DAD! I'm home!" My dad walked into the living room. He had his normal newspaper and a orange soda. "Ah, good Mickey your home!" He came over to me and gave me a hug. I took a sip of his soda. "Hey that's mine!" 

"Thanks anyway!" I said.

"Forgot to tell me you were working were you. I got back into town and was planning on meeting you at Sam's Cafe as usual,  but?" 

"OH! Dad! I'm so sorry!" I said. My father and I didn't get to see alot of each other cause of his work. "I forgot!" 

He smiled. "I know, but I'm going to be home more often now so maybe next week?" I nodded. He then spotted John. "Hi, John."

"Hello, sir," John said.

"John I'm at home. As long as I'm not with my partner you can call me Troy."

"Well Hi then, Troy."

"Hello, your mothers are in the kitchen talking." I walked into the kitchen to see my mom talking to a blond lady while putting a band-aid on my 2 year old sister's head.

"Hey, Sweetie," Mom said putting Kara down. She ran out of the room and into the toy room. "Spencer had one so she thinks she needs one too. Mickey this is Marrian Hanncock. I see you already met John."

I waved to John's mom. She waved back. "John wants to join 4-H, Mom. Did you know that?" My mom's face brightened.and she turned to John. 

"Oh,  are you joining?"

John looked at his mom, "If it is okay?"

John's mom smiled and said, "Oh, yeah! You see Melissa he used to work on his Uncle's farm. It's fine with me Johnny." 

"Cool," I walked over to the dishwasher and started looking through the papers I thought I had put them there earlier. They weren't there. "Mom?" I called turning. "Where's the enrollment forms?"

Mom, who had started talking again looked over. "Um, I put them in the blue folder in your Vanity Drawer. " I nodded and started walking toward the door. "Hey, Honey?" I looked at my mom. "Weren't you wearing jeans this morning?" 

I looked down. Shorts. I then explianed the story. My mom just laughed .

"MOM!" Spencer yelled from inside the toy room. "MOM! Kara stop! MOM Kara broke my lego ship! MAHHHMEEE!" 

"I think it is time for bed," said my mom walking out with John's mom.

"Your mom's nice," John said.

"Your's too," I added. he followed me out of the kitchen . When we past the play room I saw that mom was calming down a hysterical Spencer who was in tears, and Kara gabbing in the middle of a huge lego pile. I walked back through the living room and up the stairs into my room. My room was my place, my heaven, my cut off room. When I opened my room door my light flickered on and the radio turned on. All American Rejects was Movin' Along. My radio was turned on by a magnet in my door. 

"Nice room." John said.

I agreed. "You can sit down." I pointed to my bed. He sat there nodding his head to 867-5309 by Tommy Tutone. I walked to my vanity pulled open the drawer and pulled out my blue 4-H folder. I quickly Pulled out a form.  I grabbed a pen and sat next to John to explain it. After I got done  John started talking. 
  
"Your dad looks like John Travolta, and you mom kind of looks like Kristie Allen. You know, like in that movie, Look Who's Talking. Hm. That's funny. Mine is more like the Pacifier." 

"What?" I asked. The Pacifier was a movie about a family that had Vin Desiel as a body guard. John's face dropped.

"Oh, nevermind." He tried to make his face look more relaxed. "So you have 3 siblings?" He said looking at the family photo above my bed.  It was me in the middle and then single photo's of my family around me. My name was underneath it all. I knew he was just usig this as a way to change the subject but I answered the question anyway. 

"Yeah, There is Spencer, his is 6, then there's Kara, she is 2, and the baby is Addison. He is just 8 months."

"It's just me, my mom, and Ginny. Ginny is 6 too."

I was thinking about asking about asking John about his dad, when my dad came up stairs. I moved farther from John before my dad came in. "Mickey?" He said looking in.

"Yeah?"

"Your mom and John's mother would like to talk to you. Something about helping them move in tomorrow." I looked at John. He just shrugged. We went downstairs and my mom and John's mom were keeping Spencer and a small blond girl apart. I took that the small girl was Ginny.

"Did you get the form?" John's mom asked.

"Yeah, It seems simple enough." John walked over to his mom and picked up Ginny saying, "Come here Pooh!" He tickled hr and she stopped being mean and she started to  giggle. I walked over to my mom and Spencer jumped into my arms. "Ooof!" I said. He seemed aslot geavier than the last time. I had picked him up. "Spencer!"

"Tickle me too!" He whinned. I saw the small contest between him and Ginny. I caught John's eye and he smiled his 1/2 smile.

"I have an idea," John said, "We'll have a tickle contest! 1st to pee their pants or say uncle 1st loses." I nodded and we laid the 2, 6 year olds on the couch. "1, 2, 3, TICKLE!" I said. John and I went to furiously ticlking each child. The room was full of laughter.The 2, 6 year olds, the parents looking at the 6 year olds, and me and John laughign at everybody's reactions. After 2 minutes of histerical laughing and Ginny finally yelled, "UNCLE! UNCLE!" Breathlessly, "Oh, Spencer (gasp) you (gasp) win!"  Spencer was gasping as his gloated.

"Well, now that the tickle fight is over," my mom said, "Tomorrow we will help them unpack the rest of the U-Haul and help them settle. What time do you and John get off tomorrow?"

I tried to remember. "5, Annie and Pastor Will take over then."

"Awesome! Well Melissa, Mickey, and Spencer, nice to have met you finally and that you in advance for yor help tomorrow. Nice to see you again Troy, see you all tomorrow!" She looked at John and Ginny and then they left.

After they left I went back to my room. I looked at the cream colored floor, the light purple walls and my bed with my greatgrandmother's head board ad nice warm quilt. I loved my room. So peaceful. I turned of my light and radio and let the covers soak me up.  I remember falling asleep to Spencer's "But I'm not Sleepy!"

"