All Good Things

This was inspired by Brian's story "Remnants".  Check out WayStationOne for your inspiration.

They gathered in the dining room, the funeral had been over for many weeks.  Jesse sat cradling her infant in her arms while everyone chatted to get caught up on news.  Jesse shared the story of Michael's birth, leaving the graveyard and how quickly Michael made his way into the world.

There was an aura of sadness at the table; it was obvious that Jesse's mom was missing and they were still working accepting the new dynamic.  Jesse's dad looked sad and proud at the same time, if that was possible.  He had lost his wife and soul mate but gained a grandson at the same time.  He too was struggling with the new way of things.

Michael finished his bottle and was sleeping.  The group decided to start in the sewing room upstairs.  Jesse's dad was going to stay downstairs and watch Michael sleep.  He said he wanted everything cleaned out as quickly as possible.  The memories just hurt too much.

They found so many things that showed Kathy's love of her husband and family.  There were measurements of the kids as they grew and notes about projects she wanted to tackle for them family.  Hidden away was a pattern that Jesse had said she wanted as her wedding dress.  Jesse was flabergasted to know how much her mother wanted to give her the dream dress, even though she was too sick to make it.

In the cubby hole was an entire box of baby clothes and a blanket that Michael still uses today.  Some were handmade clothes, some were obviously store bought.  Some had labels of who made them and those were packed away as heirlooms.  The dismantled sewing room looked forlorn and lonely when they were done. The table her grandfather had built was empty for the first time in Jesse's memory.  It hurt Jesse's heart to see it that way.  She knew how much peace and pride this room had given her mother.

They moved into the bedroom.  Judy suggested that Jesse look over her mom's jewlery box.  There were many treasures in there, not monetarily valuable, but valuable to Jesse and her family.  In there was jewlery from Jesse's mom's mother and father, a bite disc from Jesse's grandmother, a ring suitable for a child and many other things that Jesse had never seen.  Also in the box were the dog tags for Jesse's father when he was in the Navy.  They were lovingly encased in plastic to protect them.  Jesse's father may not have wanted a reminder of his time spent in the service, but Jesse's mom obviously wanted those memories.  It was after all, the beginning of their love story.

Also hidden away in a dresser drawer was a family history.  There were pictures and letters from relatives Jesse had only heard about briefly.  And a detailed account of how the family came to America.  What a treasure!

Its amazing that such a hard and trying day could bring such good things and wonderful memories.

The Caretakers Cottage - Theme Thursday



Everytime I drive past this cottage, I wonder what its history is, wishing it could talk to me



It was a cottage that had seen better days. The roof was patched yet still open to the weather in places. The windows were missing, leaving open, empty eyes offering a view into the cottage. The inside of the cottage was dusty and dirty, bare of any evidence of human existence.

Jesse walked up to the door, which wasn’t latched, and pushed it open. The sun shone in, reflecting off the dust motes in the air. There was a wooden table with two chairs around it. Under the window was a bed, no blankets or a pillow, just the frame with a dirty mattress on top.

Jesse glanced to her left, where the kitchen would have been. There were cabinets, a sink and a big cook-in fireplace. In the box next to the fireplace was wood, stacked and ready to get a fire started. One cabinet door was hanging from its hinges and in the cabinet, Jesse could see a rusted can of something.

Jesse wandered over to the window to see what the view offered. She was looking over a field of headstones in the cemetery. Many of the stones were covered in flowers, some with flags that marked the veterans, lots were so old their names had been rubbed off over the years, and then there were the new ones, the ones that were memorials to the recently deceased.

As Jesse looked past the cemetery, she saw the highway flowing by. That certainly wasn’t there when the caretakers cottage was inhabited, Jesse thought. She could imagine the changes that had happened over the years to the caretakers cottage.

In her mind, Jesse saw the caretaker standing outside his new cottage, admiring the roof and the solid door. The inside of was clean and new, the windows covered with cheerful curtains and flowers in a vase on the table. Another scene she imagined was the caretaker and his wife planting a tree together in front of the cottage. Jesse imagined the caretaker and his wife comforting a devastated husband as he made arrangements for his wife to be interred for eternity.

The caretaker and his wife worked together to maintain the graveyard, trimming the grass around the headstones, removing old flowers, and fixing any headstones over the years. On All Hallows Eve, the caretaker would chase the mischievous neighborhood kids out before they could cause trouble.

Eventually, it was time for the caretaker’s wife to be interred in the cemetery. He was the devastated husband who needed comforting. He would start each day wishing her a good morning, as her grave was close to the cottage where they’d shared many happy years.

It was harder for the caretaker to take care of the cemetery and his cottage. It wasn’t long before he joined his beloved wife in the cemetery. They were able to keep an eye on their cottage together.

There was no new caretaker for the cottage, the care of the cemetery was contracted out to a lawn company. The cottage was left empty, just a memory of times past.

Jesse took one final glance around and headed out of the cottage.  She closed the door and viewed the outside once more.  There had to be so many memories in the walls of the caretakers cottage, memories that couldn't be shared anymore.

The Funeral - A Short Story

Jesse walked up the steps to the funeral home with her husband Kyle, brother, and father. They were there to view her mother laid out in the casket. Jesse was also three days from her due date of giving birth to her first child.

In addition, over the past couple of days, she has felt some cramping and contractions. However, she didn’t say anything to her father. He had enough to deal with on this day.

After the family approved the arrangements, the doors were opened for family and friends to pay their respects. Jesse wandered around, greeting old friends and being hugged to death by family. Of course, everyone wanted to feel her pregnant belly.

Wherever Jesse went, the funeral directors wife was not far behind. Jesse was amused by this. She figured that they might view giving birth in a place of death would not be very lucky for either party.

For most of the evening, Kyle had parked himself in a chair and didn’t seem very concerned about his wife. At one point, Jesse turned around and almost stepped on Kyle, he’d snuck up behind her. Jesse moved away from him to greet other friends and Kyle followed. She couldn’t figure out why all the sudden he was her shadow.

When Jesse looked around, she saw her brother talking with Jon. Jesse froze. Her heart quickened and she was very nervous. Jon made sure to stay away from Jesse but his eyes didn’t leave her while he was talking to her brother.

Jesse didn’t see anyone there with Jon. He came alone. Jesse knew he’d gotten married and had a little boy. She also knew things weren’t good between he and his wife. But with Kyle hovering around her, there was no way Jesse would be able to get a private word in with Jon.

Just knowing he cared enough about her mother to stop by made Jesse happy.

The Wedding - A Short Story

The many months of preparations were about to pay off. All the phone calls and meetings with the planners, photographers, and florists were coming together to make a beautiful wedding for Jesse and Kyle.

Jesse was standing in her dining room watching her mother pin a corsage on her fathers’ lapel. The photographer snapped the picture for posterity and the wedding album. Her mother beamed at her father, the love shining on their faces. Exactly what Jesse was hoping for in her marriage today. Once all the pictures were taken, Cassie helped Jesse in the van that would take them to the church.

At the church, with Cassie’s help again, Jesse exited the van and stood on the sidewalk, shaking out her dress. Cassie draped the train over Jesse’s arm and handed her the flowers to carry.

Jesse took a minute to look around the neighborhood. She was standing outside the small church where she was baptized. On the other side of the street stood the house where Jon had grown up and his parents still lived. Jesse stared at the house, almost wishing that Jon was there, watching her, waiting to see her and hoping he would come and proclaim his love for her.

The house looked empty. Jesse took a deep breath and went up the steps to the church. She walked toward her future, her lifetime of happiness.  But at the same time walking away from a past love, one that might have been the greatest love of her life.

Once inside and on Uncle Don’s arm walking down the aisle, Jesse forgot about Jon. She walked with her head up and smiling toward Kyle, her soon to be husband.

It was a lovely uninterrupted ceremony, meant to join two people together for life.

Memory

I recently lost two lovely people in my life; my Aunt Do and Uncle Don. I don’t know why we called her Aunt Do, her name was Gloria. I think one of my cousins couldn’t say her name and that’s where the nickname Do-Do came from.

There are so many memories of growing up around them, surrounded by their love.

**************

Jesse’s earliest memory of Aunt Do and Uncle Don was spending time at their house visiting. Jesse would play in the closet in Walt’s room. It was a big closet, with stickers all over the door. Jesse and her cousins would pretend many different things, it was a spaceship, it was a time machine; whatever their imagination could conjure. They always had the greatest adventures at Aunt Do and Uncle Dons’.

**************

Jesse clamored over the tailgate into the back of the station wagon with her two cousins and brother. She watched as her aunts and mother all piled into the seats of the car. This was their monthly shopping trip and lunch out. Jesse loved this trip. They would stop at the butchers’ shop, where all the kids would get a hunk of cheese. Then it would be onto the grocery store with the sawdust on the floor. Jesse would drag her feet through it, annoying her mother. After the grocery store, they would stop at Pizza Hut for lunch. Jesse loved being able to eat her own whole pizza.

The ride home would be more cramped with groceries and meats for all four aunts and Jesse’s mom. But the cousins would all swish together and yell when the load would shift around the turns. Aunt Do would stop and drop everyone off, the kids helping carry in the bags at each stop.

***********

After greeting Aunt Do upstairs, she ran to the basement door and down the steps. In the basement there was a finished off area with a pool and ping pong table where the kids liked to play. In the back of the basement was Uncle Don’s work area. He was a hunter and fisherman in his spare time. Hanging in the area were hundreds of muskrats turned inside out and their skins stretched out for drying. It was gross. Uncle Don was working on skinning his latest catch and there was blood and guts everywhere.

Jesse ran in gave Uncle Don a quick kiss and ran away before he could tease her with the innards.

***********

Jesse pulled into the driveway of Aunt Do and Uncle Don’s house. Uncle Don was in the garden. Jesse wandered over to say hello before going into the house to visit with Aunt Do. Of course, Uncle Don had to show off his fabulous garden. He loved being out there with his plants, making them grow and flourish. After a big hug and kiss hello, the tour started. Jesse checked out all the plants, big and little. She would have helped to pull weeds but there were none. That’s how meticulous Uncle Don was about his garden.

************

Jesse woke up to the smell of pumpkin pie and went into the kitchen to investigate. Her mom had been up for hours, baking pies and was starting on the breads. In a few hours, the family would pack up and drive over the creek to Aunt Do and Uncle Don’s house for Thanksgiving Dinner. Aunt Do and Uncle Don’s kids would be there, along with their families. Aunt Auds and her boys would be there, it would be one crowded place to be. However, it was tradition and it was the only place Jesse wanted to be for Thanksgiving.

When Jesse got there, Uncle Don was in the kitchen carving the turkey; Aunt Do was working on the mashed potatoes. There were big hugs and kisses all around. Jesse headed into the living room where the table was setup with all the leaves and room for 16 people. But there was still a kids table in the dining room.

What a feast was on the table! Every kind of holiday food you’d imagine was there. Then there were the pies in the dining room. On the TV was football, a thanksgiving tradition. It was a great day with all the family together and happy.

***********

Jesse and Uncle Don were sitting next to each other while the family sang happy birthday to them. When the song was over, they hurried to see who could blow out the most candles, which of course ended up with the two laughing at each other. Jesse always teased Uncle Don about being born on her birthday. This went on for many shared birthdays.

************

Jesse ran to the door. It was Christmas morning, they’d already opened all their presents from Santa, and now it was time for breakfast with Aunt Do and Uncle Don. Jesse’s mom made cinnamon rolls, there were cookies, and it was the one time of year that the coffee percolator was used. Jesse loved the smell of coffee brewing; it was a sign of Christmas.

Breakfast was served, the adults sat around munching on Christmas cookies while the kids played with their new toys.

************

In times of tragedy, Aunt Do and Uncle Don were there for Jesse’s family and the same when there was tragedy in Aunt Do and Uncle Don’s life. When their daughter was killed, Jesse’s father went to the hospital to identify her. When Jesse’s mom had a car accident, Aunt Do was at the house to help. When Jesse’s mom was dying, Aunt Do was there to help care for her.

***********

Jesse was 7 months pregnant, her mother was on hospice, and it was hard for Jesse to deal with. After one particularly trying visit with her mother, Jesse couldn’t face going home. Instead she drove down the road to Aunt Do’s house. Once inside, Aunt Do wrapped her arms around Jesse and let her cry it all out. No judgment, just love.

***********

Jakes ran into the house ahead of his mom, Jesse. He ran and climbed onto Uncle Don’s lap for hugs and kisses. Jakes called him Uncle Goofy. They hugged and kissed, tickled and giggled. Then it was Jesse’s time for hugs and kisses from Uncle Don. Then Uncle Don took Jakes on a tour of the garden, another generation sharing in the love of gardening. Jesse would stop over on most Saturday mornings after Jakes was born.

So many memories, so much love shared. We’ve said good bye to two wonderful people, who loved each other and their families. They are back together in heaven, Aunt Do being a nurturing caregiver, Uncle Don being a little silly and teasing. I’ll miss them both.

 
 
I wrote this from a prompt at Theme Thursday.

Happy 4th!

Here's to hoping everyone has a wonderful and SAFE holida weekend as wel celebrate the birth of our wonderful country.

Because I am lazy busy with holiday preparations, I'm re-posting a story about the unsafe use of fireworks.  Enjoy!

It was a perfect day for a party! The weather was great, the pool was clear and warm, the beer was on ice. It was going to be a great party. Jess and her new boyfriend, Kyle were planning to celebrate the 4th of July on July 5th with a bunch of their friends. Jess still lived at home but her parents were out of town. This added to the perfection of the day.

Jess and Kyle worked together to get the food going, people started arriving and the music was turned up loud. In the pool were chicken fights, splash fights and diving competitions. Kyle, who could not swim even got in the water for a bit.

Darkness started to fall and there was less swimming. Kyle's friends, Tristan, Mike and Bobby pulled out fireworks. Jess didn't want them to shoot them off, afraid that they would get in trouble. Kyle told her not to worry about it, they knew what they were doing. So Jess, went back to trying to enjoy the party.

Tristan shot one off that didn't go UP in the air like it was supposed to, instead it veered off over the neighbors fence and to the ground. It didn't explode like the firework was supposed to. Tristan and the others didn't think anything about it at the time.

A while later, they still had some fire crackers and noise makers when next door, flames suddenly shot up the side of the garage. The neighbor that lived there ran out of his house and screamed to call the fire department. Jess ran inside for the phone. While on the phone she stood watching the flames rise along the side of the building. She also knew she and everyone at the party were going to be in trouble.

The guys who were shooting the fireworks hid their supply and tried to pretend it didn't come from their yard. They did their best to cover up the smell of gun powder and tried to pick up the scraps of exploded ordiance.

Then the fire trucks came. There were 3 departments who responded to the scene. Of course, they would respond because the garage that was on fire was part of a junkyard and who knew what chemicals and other automotive byproducts were there to catch fire. It could blow at anytime!

Fortunately, the fire was quickly contained to a diesel fuel pump and the corner of the garage. No major damage and no explosions other than from the fireworks. And from the police officer who came to the party.

He walked up the driveway with an unexploded firework in his hand and demanded to see Jess's father. "I know Jim wouldn't allow this kind of thing to happen so you get him here, NOW."

Jess's father was a former police officer for the township and still kept in contact with the current police officers. Except this one didn't like her father. Jess went into the house to call her parents home from Virginia Beach, she even picked up the phone to dial. Then changed her mind. We are all adults, most over 21. Why can't we handle this with US and not involve my parents?

Jess went out to the Officer and respectfully made her case. "Officer, can you please just handle it without my parents. They are over 5 hours away so if you want to wait for them to get here, that fine. But we are all over the age of 18 and prepared to be adults about this."

While the officer wasn't happy about it, he also didn't want to wait around for 5 hours for her parents to get there. He proceeded to take everyone's information from their drivers licenses as well as what they knew about the fire. Most didn't know anything about it other than seeing flames and then watching the fire departments work. That was their story and they were sticking to it! The officer completed everything he needed to and the party broke up. Jess and Kyle cleaned up, then Jess took Kyle home.

The next morning started with a visit to the police station. Jess ratted out Mike and Bobby, which resulted in charges for them. Jess also talked with the owner of the junkyard and offered to make restitution for the damages.

Of course, Jess had to tell her parents what happened when they came home. Jess cleaned the house and the pool area, there was no evidence of a party from the weekend. When Jess told her parents, she made sure that her fahter was on the other side of the table from her and that she had a quick exit out the door. Turns out that exit was not necessary, he father laughed when she told the story. Her father had been a borderline juvenile deliquent in his youth so he was a little bit proud that his daughter was like him. Jess stood there with her chin on the floor in shock while he laughed.

Jess and the others made good on their promise of restitution, Mike paid his fines and the incident was put behind them. Until Tristan dug up pictures all these years later!

Some of the names have been changed to protect the not so innocents!

Imaginings

This is a continuation of a story I wrote here.

Jesse was cleaning out her closet and at the back; she found an old notebook from high school. Wow, she thought, I can’t believe I still have this. It’s been about 20 years since high school.

She flipped it open to see what was in it and found where she’d been practicing her name as if she was married to Jon, her old boyfriend. Jesse’s mind drifted back to one day in Algebra class.

Mr. and Mrs. Jon Malone

Mrs. Jon Malone

Mrs. Jesse Trioli-Malone

Mrs. Jesse Malone

While doodling in her notebook, Jesse was imagining what it would be like to be married to Jon. They were so in love. Every high school girl with a steady boyfriend had pages in their notebooks like the one Jesse was doodling.

Jesse missed him when they weren’t together. She wished every day could be like this past Saturday.

They had gone over Brittany’s house to hang out with friends for the afternoon. Jesse and Jon curled up together on one couch, Brittany and Matt on the other, with their other friends hanging around as well. They just hung out together, listening to music and being silly. There was, of course, plenty of making-out, also.

Eventually, Brittany’s parents had come home and Jon had to go to work. He dropped Jesse off at home and they took a very long time saying good-bye. Jesse knew that Jon would call her when he finished work that night and they’d spend hours chatting about everything and anything.

Jesse closed the notebook and dug back into the closet. But she was still thinking about Jon and their times together. Jesse was amazed at how much she had dreamed about being with Jon for the rest of their lives; how sure she'd been that it would happen.

She had dreamed they would go to college together and spend all their time together on campus. When college was over, they’d move to the city, get a place together and live happily ever after. They'd come back for visits to their families, spending the holidays with them and go back to their place in the city where they were happiest. Life would be perfect.

But that was not to be. Jesse broke up with Jon in his senior year. It was devastating to both of them. So why did it happen? Because Jesse was immature and was being wooed by another guy. The new guy convinced her that Jon was wrong for her, that he was a better person and could have more to offer. And she fell for him, hard. She was infatuated with him and all that he was.

Jon graduated from high school and went to college. Jesse was a senior and thought she was in love with her new guy, Kyle. That relationship was not smooth sailing. There was fighting from the beginning. And manipulation, and lies on his part. Yet, he still managed to convince Jesse that she would never do any better than him.

Jesse stayed locally for college so she could be with Kyle. They eventually married and after many unhappy years, divorced.

Jesse, while battered and bruised mentally, was glad to be moving on and was looking forward to enjoying her life, free of the misery of Kyle. She actually was packing up the house where they'd tried to make a happy home and was moving into an apartment where she knew she would heal.

A few years pass, with Jesse getting her life on track but not finding that someone special with whom to spend her life. That's when she ran into Jon at a local restaurant. He saw her enter but she didn't see him. When Jon finished his meal, he came over to say hello. Jesse's heart beat picked up and her stomach felt like it had butterflies inside. The hug they shared was like home; Jesse felt like she fit in his arms.

They chatted for a few minutes then Jon had to leave. Jesse suggested they get together while he was in town. No definite plans, but when Jesse checked Facebook that night, there was a message from Jon asking for her phone number and suggesting a couple of days to get together. Of course, Jesse responded.

The next week finds Jon at Jesse's house with a glass of wine watching the sunset with Jesse. They spent the evening catching up on everything they had missed during their years apart. They compared divorce stories, kids, jobs, and future plans. Jon was living in another state with his girlfriend; he was in town for a couple more weeks to finalize his move.

They remembered the good and bad times of high school. Jon told Jesse how badly she broke his heart by breaking up with him. Jesse said she was really sorry. They moved on to being friends. While Jon was still in town, they would text and flirt. They even got together a couple more times for old times sake.

Jesse, even knowing that Jon had a girlfriend and was leaving, couldn't help but imagine how life could be if he were to stay with her. She imagined the two of them living happily together in her apartment, raising their kids together, and growing old together. She never let Jon know that she thought more of him than a friend. He was in love with his girlfriend and was moving across country to be with her. Jesse would not be responsible for breaking up a relationship due to her imagination.

Their time together ended, Jon moved away but they still kept in touch occasionally through text messaging and emails. One day, Jon called Jesse. Jesse was a little concerned when she saw who was on the caller ID but happy that he was calling. Jon was very upset because his girlfriend was critically ill and not expected to live. Jesse listened and tried to calm and comfort him. By the time they were done talking, Jon seemed calmer and a little more focused.

Every day after that, Jesse would either call or text Jon to see how he was doing. If too many days went by without hearing from him, she'd get worried. Time went by, Jon started living life again as best he could. Jesse and Jon were talking every day for hours, chatting about life, sharing memories of the past and flirting a little bit. All this time, Jesse was feeling the return of the feelings from high school. She tried to ignore them but at the same time, she couldn't help but imagine, again, how life could be with him. How happy they could be and that it was finally the time for them to be together as a couple. Part of her knew this was not to be, there were too many complications to overcome. The distance, Jesse's family and her ex, Jon's commitment to his girlfriend and so much more.

Jesse decided that she would just have to find a way to put her feelings aside, stop imagining a future that possibly was not to be, and start thinking of Jon as just a friend. She would have to stop the flirting and just be there for him as his friend. As hard as this was going to be, she would rather have him in her life as a friend than not at all.  Only time would tell if Jesse could do it.

The Lawyer

**** There’s a bit of nudity in this story! Cover your eyes!****

Cassie lived right on the river. Most days, Jesse would ride her bike over and the two girls would swim and float the day away. One day while they were playing, one of the neighbors came out with his windsurfer.

I should tell you that Cassie and Jesse knew the neighbors mostly by titles, not they actual names. The Lawyer lived three houses down and was HOT! The People From Pennsylvania lived on the other side of The Lawyer. You get the picture.

It was The Lawyer who came out with his windsurfer and speedo bathing suit. Cassie waved hi to him and he called the girls over.

“Would you like to learn how to windsurf?” he asked. “I’d be happy to teach you both.”

Both girls were excited and of course wanted to learn. Hanging out with the cute lawyer would be so much more fun!

They moved to waist deep water and The Lawyer gave them instructions on getting on the board and pulling up the sail. It wasn’t as easy as he made it look. Once the sail was in the water, it filled with water and was crazy heavy. You have to pull the sail up out of the water while maintaining your balance on the board. Not an easy thing to do.

Finally, The Lawyer got on the board with Cassie and helped her pull the sail up. They sailed a bit, then Cassie lost her balance and into the water they both went. Then it was Jesse’s turn. She and The Lawyer were able to get the sail up but Jesse lost her balance right away and splashed into the water.

This was when The Lawyer suggested that maybe the girls had had enough for today and he sailed off on his own. The girls swam back to shore and giggled over their wonderful afternoon.

Several days later, Cassie was walking down the bulkhead to Debbie’s house. When she passed The Lawyers house, he was standing in his living room buck naked! And all the windows were open! Cassie did a double take, not believing that he would be standing there NAKED for all to see! Then she hurried on to Debbie’s house where both girls giggled over it and called Jesse.

Every time the rest of that summer, the girls would crane their necks to look into The Lawyers house to see what they could see! And when he would come into the river to give them windsurfing lessons, at least Cassie knew what was hidden in the speedo.

Remembered Love

Jess sat on the beach, baking in the sun. She watched the waves roll into each other and eventually the sandy beach. Wave watching was soothing and it didn’t take long for her mind to empty of daily worries. No worrying today about the kids, the house, money, or her job. She was just relaxing on the beach with the sound of the waves and the occasional seagull. Instead she let her mind wander to her first love, Jon.

They had been in love during high school, dating for about 2 years. Different memories flashed through Jess’s mind. Most brought a smile to her face but there were some that brought a frown.

Jess remembered the day Jon walked her to homeroom (he did that every day but still) and kissed her good bye right in front of the teacher. And what a mean teacher she was! She gave them both detention, not that either of them served the time.

She remembered sitting in science class, paying more attention to watching the back room where Jon might be working on an experiment for another teacher. Jess remembered how her heart would race and her whole body would tingle when she saw him. God, she missed that feeling!

The time they went to the Candy Stripers Ball with her best friend Cassie and her boyfriend. They were all dressed up, with great friends, loud music and the perfect excuse to be in each others arms. Fast or slow songs, it didn’t matter, they were together.

Jess could skip around in her mind to all the different Friday and Saturday nights spent at one house or another. She thought about all the make-out sessions in the hallway with his mom sitting in the driveway waiting for them to get finished saying good bye. Hours later would find them on the phone missing each other. They shared all their thoughts, dreams and hopes for the future until one or both fell asleep.

Then Jon got his license, a car and a job to support the car. This changed things between Jess and Jon. Because of his job, there wasn’t as much time for him to spend with Jess. Jess didn’t mind too much, she just missed him. They did spend as much time as possible with each other in school and out.

They were in Drama Club together and worked backstage to help put on the plays. Jess remembered hiding in the catacombs of the theatre, making out with Jon during practice and the actual plays.

They were young and inexperienced in sex. They were finding their way together. Jess was an innocent but loved Jon and all he did to make her feel wonderful and loved.

Jess remembered the many times on the way home, they would stop for a make out session and more. She remembered the first time he kissed her breasts and her first orgasm from him. The feelings in her body were new and wondrous. She knew Jon loved her and always would.

Jon wasn’t the only one with a job. While Jess was still more than a year from getting her license, she was saving up for her car and all the support it would need. She would baby-sit for her cousins and a friend of the family. Jess would baby-sit until the early morning hours and Jon could stop by on his way home from work to visit with Jess. It was at such a visit that Jon and Jess first made love to each other. They had spent hours talking about it, making sure that each was really ready to be with the other and knowing it would be the ultimate gift for each other. While some things were not as Jess had expected, she loved Jon. She knew that she always would.

One thing Jon still doesn’t know to this day is that Jess’s father rode past the house where they were “babysitting”. Jess was grounded for a week or so because of it. That’s protective parents for you!

A shrill whistle from the life guard shifted Jess' train of thought and she tried to remember what went wrong between her and Jon but couldn’t really come up with the reason they eventually broke up. She couldn’t remember who did the breaking up but thought it might have been her. She remembered seeing Jon around school and being sad and uncomfortable around him when they were backstage or when they were with their group of friends.

Jess remembers that she dated someone else for a while and when that didn’t work out; she tried to make friends with Jon again. She actually wanted to be more than friends with him. She remembered the day they sat in his car outside the school, him telling her that he just wanted to be friends, that he didn’t want to be her “fall back guy” for when things didn’t work out for her with someone else. He felt he was in a good place in his life as he was getting ready to graduate and leave for college. He didn’t want to go through that hurt again.

Jess remembers that day very clearly for some reason. After all these years, it doesn’t matter why. Not when Jon and Jess have both moved on to other relationships, other loves, other lives.  Fate has taken them in their separate directions.   Maybe their paths will cross again or not.  Only time will tell.


This Story is a part of Theme Thursday.  They Post a Theme and you create a post around that theme.  Check out the other creatives over there!