by Alan Ross
****
Bill, Mike and Don were at the mall, doing some Christmas shopping but mostly making fun of people. Don was great at imitating the way people walk and he had Mike and Bill about to piss their pants they were laughing so hard. They talked to some girls that were hanging out at the food court and Don actually got a phone number.
“Wow, I didn’t even see that girl’s white cane until we left the table.”
“I wondered how you got her number, figures that she’d have to be blind.”
“Fuck you assholes, Lisa has perfect vision. That’s why she didn’t look at you two and I got the digits.” Don was still a big lerp but he was growing into his size a bit this year. He still looked like the same old “Big Bird” to everyone at Westfield but would probably be alright when he went to college.
“Are you going to buy anything today or what Jack? We’ve been doing laps around this place for hours now.”
“I can’t figure out what the hell to get Dana. I want to get her some diamond earrings but they’re too fucking expensive and I can’t figure out how to snatch them without getting busted.”
“My Dad got my Mom a nice ring from the Pawn shop, why don’t we try over there?”
“That’s a great idea Don! Now all I need is something to trade. Bill wandered around the parking lot of the mall, on the lookout for security guards. On the third car he found what he was looking for. There was an unlocked Volvo with a Blaupunkt stereo system. In the blink of an eye he had the deck out of the car and tucked under his coat. “Let’s go to the Pawn shop.”
The Pawn shop near the mall didn’t have any jewelry so they went to downtown Jamestown. The shop was caged and the owner was a bit hesitant to buzz three guys in at a time. Bill told Mike and Don to wait in the car and got into the shop. “I need something to give my girl for Christmas. What will you trade me for my car stereo?”
“That’s pretty desperate kid. You’re better off not buying her anything and hanging on to your system. You’ll find out that women aren’t worth the effort.”
“C’mon, I want to get her some nice earrings. Trade me a pair of diamond earrings for this baby. The Pawn dealer looked at the radio and said “nice, where’d you steal it from?”
“I’m no thief, I bought that deck last summer with money I made working at the Welch’s plant.”
The dealer looked at him again but Bill had his poker face on. “ok, here’s what I’ve got. I could probably trade you for some quarter carats, you want gold or silver?”
“Gold all the way.” Bill sifted through the earrings and found a pair that really sparkled. “I like this pair, are we cool?”
“Yeah, we’re cool. Just remember there’s no refund on those so when your girl dumps you just let her keep them.”
“Merry Christmas to you too.” Bill headed out to the car and flashed open the box for Mike and Don.
“Holy shit! Are those real?” asked Don.
“Yeah, hope she likes them though, she can’t bring them in and trade for something else.”
“Of course she’ll like them—I can’t believe you got those for free. You’ll definitely get laid now Jack. She will unlock that pussy for you when she sees these babies.” Bill hadn’t told his friends about Dana and him having sex because it was none of their business. They were full of their “blue ball” comments and how Bill might want to use a crowbar to get her legs open. He just told them all to fuck off.
“She keeps telling me she’s saving it for her wedding night. I guess we’ll see in a few years.” Bill laughed.
“Are you visiting Case during break Jack? I’d like to visit with you if I can even though I haven’t been accepted yet.”
“I’m sure you’ll get accepted, just a matter of time. It would be great if you came along with me, I’m sure we can find some fun things to do in Cleveland. Dana will be skiing in Colorado and I don’t really feel like hanging out with her family for a long weekend. It will be a bit weird visiting the campus during winter break, they just have a few folks around who either don’t go home or are there to conduct the tours.”
There was a huge blizzard Christmas Eve and Westfield was still buried under almost three feet of snow on Christmas Day. The snow left as quickly as it had come and the trees were shimmering from the ice that had formed before the temperature fell. Jack sat in the living room, wondering if the roads would ever clear. The phone had been ringing off the hook all day, relatives sending Christmas wishes and others sending regrets, there was too much snow to travel over for dinner. Susie was cooking a huge turkey dinner and it was just going to be the four of them to eat it.
Dave was sitting in front of the fireplace, reading a book, and Ellie was up in her room listening to music on the boombox she got for Christmas. Bill wondered what Dana was doing and hoped that he wouldn’t have to walk over to her house later. He hadn’t seen a snow plow all day and didn’t feel like getting his car stuck in a ditch somewhere.
“Choice time Billy. Peel potatoes or shovel the walk and driveway.”
“I’ll take the driveway Mom, work up more of an appetite for dinner since we’ve got enough food to feed a small army.” Bill got his snow stuff on and headed out to the garage. He worked up a good sweat and was about halfway done when the snow plow headed down the street. That plow was a sight for sore eyes. He recognized the driver as “Big Joe”, one of the football coaches. As Joe swung around to come back down the street, Bill pegged his truck with a couple of snowballs. Joe slammed on the brakes and jumped out of the truck, at least as fast as a six foot ten four hundred pound man can.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Joe was really mad, but he got a lot more pissed when the next snowball hit him square in the chest. “You better start running you little shit!”
“I’m surprised you’re not playing Santa somewhere coach.” Bill was doubled over laughing.
“I’ve got your Santa right here Jack” Joe said as he lifted Bill and pitched him into a snow drift. They were both laughing now.
“Want to stay for dinner coach?”
“Wish I could Jack, need to finish digging the town out, been going for about six hours already. I need to get back to it, tell your folks Merry Christmas.”
“Same to you coach.” Bill finished shoveling and headed inside.
“What was all that about?”
“Coach Joe came by in his plow and I pelted it with snowballs. He threw me in a drift to pay me back.”
“Go get some dry clothes on, it’s almost time to eat. Bring your sister down when you come back.”
Bill changed and got Ellie and the family had a very quiet dinner. This was the quietest holiday any of them could remember and it was a bit sad for Susie, she felt like the ghost of Christmas future had paid them a visit. After they all ate way too much and cleared the table Bill grabbed Dana’s presents and took off. The Weiss’ were in a similar situation and were still eating. “Merry Christmas everyone.”
“Merry Christmas. Grab a plate Bill.”
“No thank you, we just finished eating—I don’t want to see turkey again until next Thanksgiving.” Bill sat down at the table next to Dana. They made small talk about the weather and presents, the Weiss’ hoped the weather stayed clear so they wouldn’t miss their flight in the morning.
“I’m supposed to drive down to CWRU for a visit, not sure if that’s going to be possible or not. My mom wants me to stay home so I might end up here for the weekend.”
“I watched the weather today and they said things were going to warm up a bit over the next couple of days, shouldn’t be any problem with the drive to Cleveland. Make sure you stop and have pizza in Little Italy, Mama Santo’s has the best pizza outside of New York. You should also check out Shaker Square and Coventry but stay out of downtown, especially at night.”
“Thanks Dr. Weiss, Mike and I were wondering how we’d spend our free time. We’re going to be staying in a dorm.”
“Which one? I lived on the nor
th side of campus with the other Reservies.”
“I think it’s Glaser but I’m not sure.”
“That’s south side, you’ll have fun with the elephant stairs, especially if they’re icy.”
“Present time.” Dana pulled Bill by the hand to the living room and handed him a big box.”
Bill shook the box and thought for a second. “Bet it’s a pony.” He opened it and it was a sweater. “Odd looking pony.”
“Do you like it?”
“Yeah, it’s great.” Bill said as he pulled it over his head. “What do you think?”
“Perfect, brings out the blue in your eyes. Open this one next.”
“Your turn first” Bill handed her a box.
Dana’s eyes got really wide when she opened the box. “A Forenza sweater? Bill, this is way too much! I love it!” she hugged and kissed him. They exchanged other gifts and then headed back to the library, which had become their hideaway when they were together. Dana’s parents gave them a lot of privacy, which was great for Bill and Dana. They were sitting together making out when Bill said, “Oh yeah, there is one more little thing I picked up.” He handed Dana the box and she was grinning back. When she saw the box she got a bit nervous, thinking that Bill might have bought her a ring. She was relieved and surprised when she saw the earrings.
“They’re beautiful, what bank did you rob to get these?”
“My piggy bank.”
“I can’t take these Bill, this is too much.”
“You don’t like them?”
“I love them, and I love you.” They spent the rest of that night just sitting together, needing few words.
Bill and Mike had a great time in Cleveland and Bill actually fell in love with Case Western Reserve. They had a blast in Little Italy and on Coventry, which is the area where all of the artists, poets and other “out-there” types hang out. Bill had made up his mind to attend Case and so had Mike, now all they had to do was survive the rest of their senior year.
Spring fever was tearing up the senior class at Westfield. The weather was nice and the last thing on anyone’s mind was learning. Bill and Mike ditched school one day and headed up to Niagara Falls. “What’s bugging you these days? Don’t know what color dress to get for prom?”
“Ha ha Mike. Dana’s parents have really been leaning on her to see other people, they don’t think it’s a good idea for us to be exclusive. Now that we’re both heading to the same school they’re afraid she’ll give up the chance to date around. She told me last night that she’s going on a date with some college kid, a son of another doctor over at the hospital.”
“So go find Mayville Amy to get back at her.”
“That’s the problem, I don’t want anything to do with other girls.”
“Then maybe it is too serious between you two, you’re seventeen years old, you should be getting all the pussy you can. There’s plenty of time to settle down later.”
“It just pisses me off Mike. The thought of her kissing another guy makes me nuts, let alone the thought of her fucking someone else.”
“Maybe she’s just doing it to make her parents happy, did you ever think of that? Jesus, we’re supposed to be having fun, why don’t you drop it? Prom is in a couple of weeks and I’m sure you and Dana will have a great time. Don’t ruin it by thinking of all this negative bullshit.”
“You’re right, fuck it.” They had a blast the rest of the day, doing all of the things they used to do as kids—going on the Maid of the Mist, going under the falls, talking about how they’d love to go over the falls in a barrel. By the time they got home all of Bill’s worrying was gone.
Bill and Dana had a great time at their prom and ended up in third place for prom king and queen voting. There was a bit of an awkward silence between them, not because she was dating someone else but because they both could feel this era of their life passing them by. They both felt that a lot of changes were going to happen when they went off to school. On Sunday most of the class headed up to Fantasy Island, an amusement park near Buffalo. The weather was great and they all had a blast.
Graduation came and the parties went. Seemed like Bill partied every night for a few weeks. He was working at the Institution again, and Dana was on a trip to Europe. Things between them had been a bit rocky, as she seemed to be spending more and more time with Rob Carpenter, her other boyfriend. Bill had met him and knew that he could kick Rob’s ass. The problem was that Rob had been a nice guy and gave Bill no reason to hate him. Bill kept to himself while Dana was away and when she got back they had a really hot night together, which made him feel a lot better.
One night Bill was hanging out at Don’s house, drinking some beer and watching movies. On his way home he decided to swing by a few of the private spots on the lake and see what was going on. When he reached Mayville he saw Rob’s car and the windows were all fogged up. Bill was really jealous and the beer didn’t help. He thought about going over there and starting something and then he had an idea. He headed down 394 to Ray Pesarcheck’s house. Ray was an old friend of Dave’s and Bill did odd chores for him once in a while. Ray kept an old “farm truck” on his property and the keys were always on the visor. Bill parked his car at the edge of Ray’s property and snuck down to the barn. He prayed that Ray wasn’t awake as he took the truck out and headed back to Mayville. There was enough moonlight to see so Bill killed the lights on the truck when he got near the lake. He eased the truck right behind Rob’s car until he was touching it. Then he hit the gas hard and pushed Rob’s car right into the lake!
Dana and Rob were holding each other, making out and listening to the radio. Rob had been getting a little too close lately and Dana wasn’t feeling the same about him. She loved Bill and didn’t want to be with anyone else, despite what her parents wanted. Rob was putting his hand up her shirt and she was about to stop him when she felt a bump on the back of the car.
“What the fuck is that?!” Rob screamed. “Oh shit, someone is pushing us into the lake!” The car started easing forward as the truck behind them revved—the headlights from the truck kept them from seeing who it was but Rob was going to teach them a lesson when he found them. First he’d have to figure out how to get his car out of a foot and a half of cold Lake Chautauqua water. Before he knew it, the truck was gone and his car wouldn’t start. “I’ll bet it was Miller, I’m going to fuck him up!”
“Bill wouldn’t do something like this Rob. Probably some kids just out joyriding, looking for some fun.” Dana knew it was Bill but stuck up for him anyway. They were both soaked, standing on 394 trying to flag down a passing car to take them to town. Dana figured she’d have to dump Rob another time, that might push him over the edge right now.
Bill knew that the water was shallow there but the car probably wouldn’t start after being up to the hood in water. He raced back to Ray’s, parked the truck and headed back home. He strolled in the front door and said goodnight to his Dad. His heart was racing and it took forever to get to sleep. He kept expecting the police to show up or Dana to call but nothing happened and he finally fell asleep.
Dana showed up at the Institution the next day. “We’re you trying to tell me something last night Bill? Rob wants to kill you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about D, I was at Don’s house last night. What happened?
“Someone pushed Rob and I into the lake last night. It looked like an old pickup truck but the headlights were bright so it was hard to see.”
“Oh shit, were you hurt?”
“No but Rob was really pissed. You sure you don’t know anything about it?”
“Maybe you should watch who you hang out with, seems like someone might have something against Rob.”
Dana just shook her head. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand guys.” But she understood perfectly.
“We going out tonight? Wanted to head to the movies.”
“Sure, just as long as we don’t park by the lake.”
Dana
lost interest in Rob after that and her and Bill spent a lot of time together the rest of that summer. In late August they headed to school, Mike and Bill in Glaser on the south side of campus and Dana on the north side of campus.
