Wednesday, January 21, 2004
MY DAD (PART THREE)
Dad was getting to the place where movies and cars weren’t the only things on his mind. He found that the farm-work, the passion for fast transportation and even movies lacked something. He kept thinking about the girl at the Racket Store. He could see she was different from most women he’d observed. She didn’t paint herself all up and she glowed from within; a different kind of woman than the farm girls he knew. She was delicate and shy, someone to be protected. He dreamed of having her company, just to be around where she was. He planned going back for candy next Saturday night…..maybe before the show.
He couldn’t know that she was just as taken with him. His tan from working in the fields was apparent and complimented his gray eyes and blonde hair. He looked strong and honest and she liked his almost bashful demeanor. He certainly was different from the boys she went to school with that were either brash and full of themselves or bullies. She hadn’t seen anyone to arouse her imagination like this farmer who came in after the movie on Saturday night. She hoped he would return again this coming Saturday.
The week passed with each of them day-dreaming about the other and finally the big night arrived. It had a little more drama than either of them figured on. Dad got into town after all the chores. He took extra time to be as presentable as possible. All the way into town his heart was racing at the very thought of her. He drove up Main Street and spotted Jack, a good friend of his. Jack was waving to him to pull in to the curb where he was standing so dad made the necessary loop and came back to see what he wanted.
Jack hurried up to the window and excitedly said he had a date with Mary Stricklett, a real “looker”. The problem being that she wouldn’t go unless he had a date for her sister Dorothy. He wanted dad to make the foursome but dad immediately declined. It wasn’t til Jack said…….“they both work at the Racket Store and will be off in a couple of hours,“ when dad’s interest peaked and asked, “which one works at the candy counter.?” Jack said “that one is Dorothy”……..dad couldn’t believe his ears. “ Are you sure she would want to go with me?……does she know who I am?……..how do you know she’ll go? “ Jack promised to go back to the store to tell Mary it was all set up and make sure Dorothy would in fact go along.
Dad was having a hard time keeping himself from driving back to the farm. He couldn’t believe this pretty girl would actually consent going with him. If she did, he wouldn’t know how to act, what to say………he could think of all kinds of reasons she’d turn him down. He was suffering serious doubts when Jack came back with the news that Dorothy would go since her sister was going also. He was thrilled and scared at the same time. He and Jack waited until time for the girls to get off work and then went back to the Racket Store.
The girls came out together and the guys jumped from the car to open the door for them. Mary sat in the back seat with Jack and Dorothy sat up front with dad. They just got settled good when Dorothy realized she didn’t have her pay-check in her hand. The owner of the store paid the girls when they left and she had it when she got in the car. That immediately sent chills up dad’s back. He’s thinking, “Oh no…she’s going to think I took it or lost it or something“…….he was having real withdrawals as she searched on the floor of the car. They all four got out and began looking inside and out…..finally dad found the check under the car where it fell when Dorothy got in. He retrieved the check and handed it to her and her relief and smile warmed dad all over. As dad would tell the story it was at that moment he knew he wanted to be with her the rest of his life. He would look at Mom with merriment in his eyes and say,”…….she looked so little and helpless I just knew she needed me to take care of her….I was a goner’ from then on.” And he was. They were inseparable from that day on………….but that will all have to wait until tomorrow.
Until then,
Essentially Esther
He couldn’t know that she was just as taken with him. His tan from working in the fields was apparent and complimented his gray eyes and blonde hair. He looked strong and honest and she liked his almost bashful demeanor. He certainly was different from the boys she went to school with that were either brash and full of themselves or bullies. She hadn’t seen anyone to arouse her imagination like this farmer who came in after the movie on Saturday night. She hoped he would return again this coming Saturday.
The week passed with each of them day-dreaming about the other and finally the big night arrived. It had a little more drama than either of them figured on. Dad got into town after all the chores. He took extra time to be as presentable as possible. All the way into town his heart was racing at the very thought of her. He drove up Main Street and spotted Jack, a good friend of his. Jack was waving to him to pull in to the curb where he was standing so dad made the necessary loop and came back to see what he wanted.
Jack hurried up to the window and excitedly said he had a date with Mary Stricklett, a real “looker”. The problem being that she wouldn’t go unless he had a date for her sister Dorothy. He wanted dad to make the foursome but dad immediately declined. It wasn’t til Jack said…….“they both work at the Racket Store and will be off in a couple of hours,“ when dad’s interest peaked and asked, “which one works at the candy counter.?” Jack said “that one is Dorothy”……..dad couldn’t believe his ears. “ Are you sure she would want to go with me?……does she know who I am?……..how do you know she’ll go? “ Jack promised to go back to the store to tell Mary it was all set up and make sure Dorothy would in fact go along.
Dad was having a hard time keeping himself from driving back to the farm. He couldn’t believe this pretty girl would actually consent going with him. If she did, he wouldn’t know how to act, what to say………he could think of all kinds of reasons she’d turn him down. He was suffering serious doubts when Jack came back with the news that Dorothy would go since her sister was going also. He was thrilled and scared at the same time. He and Jack waited until time for the girls to get off work and then went back to the Racket Store.
The girls came out together and the guys jumped from the car to open the door for them. Mary sat in the back seat with Jack and Dorothy sat up front with dad. They just got settled good when Dorothy realized she didn’t have her pay-check in her hand. The owner of the store paid the girls when they left and she had it when she got in the car. That immediately sent chills up dad’s back. He’s thinking, “Oh no…she’s going to think I took it or lost it or something“…….he was having real withdrawals as she searched on the floor of the car. They all four got out and began looking inside and out…..finally dad found the check under the car where it fell when Dorothy got in. He retrieved the check and handed it to her and her relief and smile warmed dad all over. As dad would tell the story it was at that moment he knew he wanted to be with her the rest of his life. He would look at Mom with merriment in his eyes and say,”…….she looked so little and helpless I just knew she needed me to take care of her….I was a goner’ from then on.” And he was. They were inseparable from that day on………….but that will all have to wait until tomorrow.
Until then,
Essentially Esther
