Struggles of a Country boy

by Herb Blanchard

  "We were. The guy will give you odds for another 50¢ and pay you off in cash instead of prizes."

  "Good thing. I wouldn't want to win any of that junk."

  "Take this handle, Brad. I won a buck on it just before I quit to go home to supper."

  After several tries, Brad began to get the feel for the game but still hadn’t won any races. Always missing by a short horse length each time.

  “Maybe I won’t make a buck or two here.” He spoke to no one in particular before turning towards the person who had just step up beside him.

  "Have you made enough money to take me on some of the rides, Brad?"

  "Hi, Annie. No, actually I think I'm getting ripped off."

  "In that case let's go get an ice cream cone. My treat."

  "I'll settle for a cup of coffee. It's cold out here tonight.

  "Where did you come from, Annie? I heard you were with Janice, so I figured you would be in Elmdale or Nashua by now."

  "How much did you lose, Brad?" Annie ignored his question and comment.

  "A buck and a half. Plus the 25¢ a game for five games."

  "That's $2.75, Brad. I believe you're right, you got took."

  "I guess I'm a slow learner. I didn't realize what the guy who was running the booth, was doing until just before you came."

  "What was he doing, Brad?"

  "Didn't you see him fixing the horses to win or lose when you were playing, Annie?"

  "No. But I won five dollars from him after school. You know, I was losing at first, then it seemed like my horse got faster than all the rest. That's when I started to win"

  "Did the guy keep going into the tent behind the track."

  "Yes, he did, several times while we were playing.

  What was he doing, Brad?"

  "I think he can adjust each horse. If one started winning, and he didn't want it to win, he could slow the horse down by making it go a shorter distance each time it moved. If he wanted a horse like yours to win, he would make it go further each time the ball went in the square."

  "That jerk! Not only that, but he made a pass at me and he's old enough to be my father."

  Brad felt her small cold hand tighten on his as she talked and they meandered across the parking lot. It was then he realized she was holding his right hand and both of their hands were in his jacket pocket. It had seemed they had picked up an old habit left over from previous encounters.

  "I thought you liked older guys.?"

  Brad felt her hand and the rest of her petite body go rigid at his words. He waited for her to pull her hand free when the expression on her face changed from one of friendly contentment to confusion and Brad thought he detected some anger. When she spoke he knew his interpretation of her body language was correct.

  "Who said that about me? Either Bob or Joey, or both, I'll bet. It probably was. If not directly, then they surely started it." She added in an angry outburst.

  "Why would they start a story like that? They aren't my favorite people either, but I heard it all over from several different kids around school."

  Her straw colored curls bounced against her head when she whipped her head around to look Brad in the eye, but she still didn't pull her hand free. To the contrary, she held his hand tighter than ever.

  "Four summers ago we were swimming in the river and they wanted to make it with me but I wouldn't let them. They got mad and started to make up stories about me.

  "You probably never heard about it, Brad, because you never hung around Wilmet until this year, but everyone else in our class did.

  "How about Warren? You dated him last year, in our junior year, and he's what, four years older than we are?"

  "That was only because you made me mad."

  "I made you mad?"

  "Yes. You wouldn't take me out. Besides, I only went out with him four times."

  "How come you didn't go out with him more? He always had plenty of money and a car.

  "He wanted something I couldn't give him."

  When Brad looked her way, Annie avoided his eyes, but they kept holding hands and walking along the carnival midway in a companionable silence.

  Brad finally broke the silence and spoke with an unusual softness in his voice that made Annie turn to him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you mad or upset you.

  "I'm not mad. Thanks, Brad." She spoke so quietly that Brad had to lean towards her to catch all she was saying.

  "For what?"

  "For caring whether I was upset or mad or both I guess."

  "Let's go get on the swings, Annie. Then we can get that coffee.”

  "Wow, I'm dizzy." Brad leaned on Annie's shoulder as he playfully staggered down the midway.

  "I was doing fine on that swing until we started twirling each other in opposite directions. If I don't toss my cookies I'll be lucky!"

  "Oh, come on you sissy. Take me on the merry-go-round." She laughed at him quietly.

  "Woman. Don't you ever get tired of these rides?"

  Annie grabbed Brad's hand back and half dragged him across the end of the parking lot to where the carousel music was blaring above the roar of the carnival's diesel generators.

  "No, but I am getting cold."

  "Want to go sit in the car then? " Brad asked her. "It has a good heater."

  "I thought that you'd never ask. Come on."

  "It'll be a bit of a walk. I had to park about four blocks away."

  "That's OK. I don't mind."

  They walked hand in hand in a comfortable silence. Every time they passed under a street light, one or the other would turn and catch the other looking at them. They would giggle together self consciously.

  Brad unlocked the passenger's door and stepped back to open it. Annie stepped in front of him and simultaneously their self restraint melted. She turned into him just as he put his hands on her waist and stepped a bit closer to her. He felt her arms on his neck and under his hands he felt the tight muscles of her lower back and hips.

  "You feel a lot warmer than I do." Annie looked up into Brad's eyes and her soft red lips opened slightly as her eye lids slid down and dark lashes shaded what little of her intense blue eyes remained.

  Her mouth tasted moist and hot to him and he could smell her feminine scents. A little rouge, face powder and a subtle fragrance like spices that he couldn't tell where it was coming from, but he knew it was part of her.

  She's a lot smaller than I thought she was. I guess maybe I've grown some this year.

  Her breasts feel good against me, and she tastes so good.

  "The door handle is in the middle of my back."

  She spoke so softly in his ear, that it took Brad a second to realize what she had said.

  "Kiss me once more and then let's get in the car."

  Brad felt his heart start to beat faster again. It was already on overtime, but her gentle voice in his ear and the realization she wanted him to hold her and kiss her, even with the door handle in the middle of her back, excited him more.

  "I think someone is watching us from across the street."

  "It doesn't matter. I don't care if everybody knows I kissed you.

  "Do you care if someone sees us, Brad?"

  "No. Hell, no. I'd do it anywhere and in front of anyone."

  She laughed softly with him.

  "Start the car and let's get warmed up. I'm still cold even after you kissed me."

  The Pontiac's heater was pouring out heat and its big straight 8 was ticking just above an idle while Brad guided it down the main drag of Wilmet with his left hand on the steering wheel and his right arm around Annie's shoulders. Their bodies were touching from their shoulders down to their hips and knees. Annie's small left hand rested on Brad's right leg just above his knee making a warm spot through his fog dampened blue jeans.

  She feels good sitting against me. I think she really likes me, too. I wonder if she'll go out with me again?

  "Shall
I drive to Elmdale and we can get something to eat?"

  "I'm not hungry, but if you are I'll go with you or if you'd like we can just go for a ride. I don't want to go home yet, Brad.

  "You know, it's going to be really strange. In another two months we'll be out of school and every one will be going in different directions. There won't be many of our class still here next fall." Annie was thinking out loud.

  "It will change as soon as we graduate. I've put in for a job on the Canadian border for the summer." Brad added his thoughts to hers.

  "You're going to UNH aren't you, Brad?"

  "I got my acceptance letter last week. But I'm not sure I'll have enough money."

  "Did you get the scholarship you put in for?"

  "I haven't heard yet, I don't think they tell us if we've got it or not until about June."

  "What time is it, Brad?"

  "I don't know. Probably about eleven-thirty or so. The dash clock is right some of the time, and that's what it says."

  "It's so peaceful here. How did you ever find this place?"

  They were in the middle of the Pontiac's wide front seat. They had slid just far enough over so Brad could get out from under the steering wheel and had stayed there. Annie had her feet up on the passenger's side of the seat leaning back on Brad who had turned sideways and had both of his arms around her upper body.

  The cold front and all of its moisture had passed by leaving it colder than it had been for several days. The half moon showed silvery on the wet brush at the top of Crotched Mountain where Brad had parked in a grassy clearing. Behind them, a few remaining fruit trees and a rotten wooden watering trough told the story of another displaced New England farm family. Below them to the south, at the foot of the mountain, the moonbeams were twinkling across the smooth surface of Sunset Lake.

  Brad drew her closer to him and brushed his lips across the top of her head.

  Her hair smells like Prell. Clean. She feels so good in my arms. I'll bet she'll get mad if I try to feel her boobs.

  "Are you warm enough.?"

  "Yes, thanks. But I guess we'd better go home. I told my mom I'd be home early and I think early was an hour or so ago.

  Brad?"

  "Yeah?"

  She twisted around in his arms and looked him in the eyes.

  "Will you call me, and take me out again? You didn't two years ago when you said you would."

  "I know. I'm sorry, but I didn't take anyone out."

  "That really doesn't help, Brad. I wanted to do things with you. But I guess you didn't want to do things with me. You just wanted to hunt and fish.

  "So. Are you going to call me?"

  "I will, Annie. I promise."

  "If you don't, you'll have to find dates for the Senior Prom and our Commencement dance. But if you do call, you have all the dates you need."

  "It sounds like it's all decided."

  I want her back in my arms. I don't dare take her back, she'll probably get mad at me. Here goes nothing.

  Brad applied a gentle pressure to her upper arms and expected to meet resistance and was prepared to release her immediately, but instead she came into his arms and raised her face to his. Her lips parted in the sexy way she had of holding them and looked into his eyes.

  "Annie? Thanks. I do like you a lot."

  "If we're going to make out some more before you take me home, we had better do it. It's getting late.

  "Brad." Annie's voice was low and hoarse. "I want to do it with you. But not now. Later when I’m sure you’ll stay with me. So please don't ask or try to make me."

  “You know that I wouldn’t do that, Annie.”

  “I know, I just wanted you to know that we will do it someday.”

  The next time she spoke was so soft Brad never heard them. Later in the wee hours of morning, as he lay in bed trying to ignore his mother's snoring so he could fall to sleep, the words kept wishfully racing through his mind.

  "I love you, Brad. With all my heart I do."

  He was sure that is what she had said in those moments of tender feelings.

  TWENTY THREE

  "Who are you going to take to the Commencement Dance, Brad?" His friend, Andy, broke into Brad's thoughts as if he had been reading his mind.

  "Annie Phillips. I hope." Brad added hesitantly.

  "I'm not sure she'll go out with me though, I haven't taken her out since the Senior Prom."

  "There's a story going around that her ex, Jackie Powers, has sworn to beat up anyone who even tries to take her out, and if she wants to go anywhere she can go with him or not go at all.

  I don't think it would be a good idea to take her, Brad. That Powers' crowd are mean kids and they've supposedly beaten up two or three guys in Elmdale for messing around with their girl friends."

  "I've heard the same stories Andy, but I don't care about Powers or his crowd. Anyways, Annie hasn't gone with him since before Christmas vacation.

  It doesn't matter anyway. I'm pretty sure she won't go with me."

  "What are you talking about? I think you're wrong, besides you haven't even asked her so how do you know she won't go?

  I've been your best friend since before the seventh grade Brad, and in all that time have I ever mislead you? I know of what I speak. I think she dumped Powers so she could go to the Commencement Dance with you."

  "Andy, you're absolutely crazy. I believe you, but what makes you such an expert on Annie all of a sudden? Why should she do that? She only went to the Senior Prom with me because she already said she would way back in April.

  Besides you just told me I shouldn't take her out because her ex will beat me up. Make up your mind and answer my question."

  "How many other times did you take her out? None. Zero. You never took her to a show or even to a ball game.

  "Ask yourself. Is she worth getting in a fight over? and if you think she is ask her out. I know she'll go out with you because she told my girl so, if you would ask her."

  Brad's expression was noncommittal as he looked at his friend, but his mind was busy with his doubts. Well, it's too damn hard to take a girl out. I'm almost always broke and I have to fight for the car whenever I do get a date.

  Brad tried not to think about the one time he had told his mother he wanted to take Annie out on a date. It was shortly after Easter vacation and he had some extra money from working for Charlie Carr.

  "Who is your date with, Brad?"

  "Annie Phillips."

  "Oh. She has no father and her mother works at the lunch counter in Berube's?

  I don't know, Brad. You'd better check with your dad. He might need the car Friday night."

  Later that night he worked up his courage to ask his father for the car. "Dad, either Friday or Saturday night it doesn't matter we can go either night."

  "Brad, are you sure you want to spend the money? You know you don't really have enough money for college yet. Maybe you should think about saving it?"

  "Besides Brad," His mother got back in the act again while Brad was trying to convince his father to let him use the car. "The Senior Prom is in a couple of weeks isn't it? Who are you taking to that? Wouldn't you rather spend your money on the nice girl you're taking to it and to your Commencement dance?"

  There is no way I'm telling them I'm taking Annie to both those dances. Shit! They'll find some reason not to let me use the car for either of those dances if they find out.

  I'll ask Charlie if I can use his car Saturday night to take Annie to the show in Elmdale.

  "That isn't true, Andy. I took her to a movie a couple of Saturdays before our Senior Prom. You remember, we saw you and Margie at the diner in Ponemah."

  "OK, so you took her out on one other date. Anyway, what I'm getting at is if you will ask her to the dance, we can go on a double date. Margie likes Annie and besides it was her idea we double date."

  "I don't know. I'll have to think about it. I'm sure she won'
t go with me.

  " Besides, maybe I don't want to get in a fight over her. And you just told me not to take her out."

  "Jerk! What is there to think about? You've already decided that she's worth getting in a fight over, it's written all over your face, and anyway, Powers isn't going to pick a fight with anyone from Wilmet High when most of the Wilmet school body is together in the same place.

  "You'll never know until you ask her and you won't have any trouble with a ride if we double date.

  "Did you tell your folks you're going to ask Annie to the dance?"

  "Even if I do ask Annie, and she say's she'll go with me I won't tell them. I already told 'em I was going stag."

  Andy pulled his dad's two tone blue '52 Lincoln into the curb in front of Berube's Luncheonette and Newsstand. It was one of the classiest cars in town and the boys had a great time running around in it. They knew the girls loved it too.

  "You have no time left to look for a date. The dance is next Saturday night. This is Friday night. Count them, seven nights.

  "If you really want to talk to Annie, I'll bet she's still working and you can walk her home. Now. And you can ask her to the dance. Tonight."

  "I really don't know if I want to take her."

  "Bullshit. You've wanted to take her out all through high school. You would give anything to make it with her."

  Brad slowly pushed on the chrome door handle. When it released with a snap he was so intent on finding an excuse not to confront Annie, the opening door startled him and he had both feet on the pavement before he could even think of not getting out of the car.

  "I'm going to pick up Margie. We'll swing by Annie's house and see if you want to go somewhere with us in about 45 minutes."

  She won't go. I'll bet she won't even talk to me.

  "You ask her for me, Andy. Better still, get Margie to ask her."

  "I'm leaving. You ask her."

  Brad looked up to the clock tower on the Wilmet City Hall before stepping up onto Berube's front step.

  Almost 8 o'clock. Maybe Norman had let her off early tonight.

  No. I heard her tell someone she had to work every hour she could to make enough money for her new gown.

  "Brad, I thought that was you standing on my step like a waif. Come on in so I can lock the door behind you.

  "Thanks, Norm. Is Annie still working, or has she gone home?"

  "You, my young friend, are in luck, not only is she still here," Norman lowered his voice before going on. "She was just talking about you. She hopes you're going to ask her to your Commencement Dance next Saturday night.