Growing Up Neighbors

by Frances Hoelsema

  Despite all the wishing Nicholas had done, this time the wait was much longer. However, Nicholas and his mom handled it the best they could seeing as it was their last stop for the morning. When their number was finally called and the title was changed, they each got into their own car to head home. Ms. Michaels followed behind Nicholas again because she wanted to watch how Nicholas drove.

  As anticipated, the ride home was uneventful. From what Ms. Michaels could tell, Nicholas was driving perfectly. He never went over the speed limit and obeyed all traffic signs. She was really proud of him for doing so well. She remembered feeling a bit scared and nervous when Nicholas first approached her about taking driver’s training because of what she had to go through with Robert. That was just a nightmare she didn't want to potentially live through again.

  But after seeing him drive today she realized it was all for nothing. She was actually glad she pushed herself into letting Nicholas do this.

  Nicholas liked the way that his Chevy Impala drove. He could tell that the previous owner took really good care of it and he vowed that he would too. Excitement boiled up in him again as he got home because he noticed that Alex was home himself doing something in the garage. Nicholas had been waiting all week to tell Alex he got his license and now wanted to show him his car as well.

  Nicholas didn’t turn the car off when he got by the garage because he was hoping his mom would let him go over to Alex’s with it. When she told him it was okay to do so, he made the short drive over.

  Alex heard a car pull up in the driveway so he looked up. He saw a gray-looking vehicle, and was a tad bit curious as to who it was, but quickly figured it out.

  “Whoa, what’s this, man?” Alex asked as he approached Nicholas, sporting a huge smile on his face and ready to give him their made-up handshake.

  “Well, buddy, it’s my car.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yep! I just got my license and my mom got this for me from a friend. Do you like it?”

  “Like it? This is awesome, man! I love it! Can I check it out?”

  “Sure. Hop in.”

  Alex spent some time in the front seat looking over what the car had to offer. He was excited that his best friend could now drive because it meant someone else could drive him around other than his mom or dad.

  “The car is really cool.”

  “Thanks,” said Nicholas. “Tell me again why you didn’t take driver’s training with me?”

  “My mom wouldn’t let me. Plus I don’t think she could afford to get me a car once I passed anyway.”

  “Oh, that’s right. Too bad. You can always ride with me though if you want.”

  “I just might do that seeing as I hate to ride the bus.”

  “Hey, do you want to go for a quick ride now?”

  “Sure! Let me go ask my mom.”

  The two boys headed inside. They found Ms. Harrington, Deborah and Robyn sitting around the kitchen table, the two girls helping their mom finish a scrapbook she was putting together.

  “Hi, Nick,” Deborah said when she noticed him and Alex entering the room.

  “Hey, how are ya?”

  “Good.”

  “That’s good."

  The two of them gave each other a smile, and Nicholas added his special wink. He then quickly added, "Hey, guess what?”

  “What?”

  “I got my license and a car!” Nicholas exclaimed.

  "No way! Congratulations!"

  Robyn and Ms. Harrington echoed Deborah's congratulations.

  “Can I see your car? Is it here?” Deborah wanted to know.

  “Yeah, sure. It’s outside. We can take a look in a minute.”

  Nicholas looked at Alex, which told him to go ahead and ask his mom if they can go for a ride.

  “Mom, can I go for a ride with Nicholas? It’ll be short. I just want to check out how his car drives.”

  “I don’t know, Alex. He doesn’t have any experience under his belt yet, and I don’t think I’m comfortable with that.”

  “Come on, mom. Obviously he drives well enough to pass driver’s training. His mom trusts him too I’m sure or she probably wouldn’t have let him get a car. Can’t I just go for a quick ride down the road?”

  Ms. Harrington deliberated for a few seconds on whether or not to let Alex go. She had mixed emotions about it, ranging from being nervous and scared that the two boys would be alone in a car that one of them was driving to feeling sad because this just reminded her that her little boy was growing up too fast. She didn’t want to admit it to anyone, and she knew it was wrong, but that was one reason why she didn’t let Alex take driver’s training in the first place. Even with the kids' dad giving her grief for it.

  With a sigh, she finally gave him his answer. “Okay. I guess you can go. But just down the road and back. You better be back within five to ten minutes. Remember to buckle up and be careful!”

  “We will," Alex assured her. "Thanks, mom!”

  “Thanks, Ms. Harrington!” Nicholas reverberated.

  The two boys started heading back outside to go for their ride. Wanting to get in on the fun, Deborah decided to go after them and ask Nicholas to see if she could go with them.

  “Can I go too?”

  “Sure. Just ask your mom,” Nicholas stated.

  Alex gave a little scowl and rolled his eyes as she ran back to the kitchen then looked back at Nicholas. “What did you do that for? I thought it would just be the two of us. We don't need her to tag along all the time.”

  “Relax. We’ll have plenty of car rides to ourselves. Plus, your mom may not let her go anyway seeing as she barely let you go with me.”

  The two boys went outside and waited for Deborah to come out. It took a little while, but she finally showed up, a sad look on her face.

  “My mom wouldn’t let me.”

  “That’s too bad. Maybe next time?” Nicholas tried to offer some hope, but it didn’t really work.

  “I don’t know. My mom acted like I’d never get to ride with you.”

  Alex gave her a cynical smile and said, “Oh, well, see you later.”

  Nicholas gave Alex a tiny nudge and told him to cut it out.

  “I’m sure you can take a ride sometime with me. Don’t worry.”

  “Okay. Well, nice car anyway. I like the color,” Deborah said miserably.

  “Thanks. I’ll see you later, okay?”

  “Okay,” Deborah replied and then slowly headed back inside to finish scrapbooking.

  The boys had obeyed Ms. Harrington and were back within the ten minutes that she allowed. They went into the kitchen to let her know that they were back.

  “How was the ride?” Ms. Harrington asked as she was picking up the mess that was made on the kitchen table from all the cutting and designing of the scrapbook.

  “It was awesome! Nicholas is so lucky.”

  “You’ll get your turn someday too, Alex,” she reminded him.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

  “Ms. Harrington, did Debbie go upstairs?” Nicholas questioned when he didn't see her around.

  “I think so. Why?”

  “Oh, I just wanted to ask her something a minute.”

  “Okay. Yeah, I think that’s where she and Robyn went.”

  “Okay. Thanks. I’ll be back down in a minute, Alex, okay?”

  Alex nodded and went over to the refrigerator to get something to drink.

  Nicholas quickly ran up the stairs to Deborah’s room and knocked on the door. Once given the okay to come in, he opened the door and quickly spotted her.

  “Hey, quick question."

  "Sure. What is it?"

  "I was wondering if you’d like to program your own radio station on one of my car’s preset buttons?”

  Deborah thought that was a little odd to ask, but also thought it was kind of cool.

  “Um, really? But why? I can’t even ride with you.”

  “I know. I just feel bad about that and figured this migh
t cheer you up. Plus this way when you do get to ride in my car someday, you’ll have a station we can listen to.”

  “Okay. Sure, I guess.”

  She went downstairs with Nicholas to program a radio station quick a minute. After finding out what he already had on his presets, she thought of a newer station that she had been listening to lately that she knew Nicholas would really like. The two of them got the station set and headed back inside.

  “Thanks, Nick,” Deborah said, feeling a bit special.

  Just then Alex walked by and Nicholas informed the both of them that he better get going.

  “Okay. Well, thanks for the ride, man,” Alex mentioned.

  Nicholas kept the radio station to what Deborah had it on. Even though it was a quick ride home, that one or two minutes in the car proved that radio station was going to be a new favorite of his.

  I knew I could count on Debbie to come up with a great station, he thought.

  ---------------

  A couple of months later, just two weeks before school would start, the Harrington kids came home from spending time with their dad. Alex and Deborah found out that they had gotten their class schedules in the mail over the weekend and quickly opened them up to see what they had. Deborah was especially excited seeing as this was going to be her first year in high school.

  The two kids compared their schedules to find that they had study hall together, the same lunch time and it looked like on most days they’d be at least starting or ending the day together in the same building.

  Harperville High School was comprised of a few buildings that the students had to travel among depending on which class they had. One building was used for music and art-related classes, one for sports and one for academics. The academics building was also the main one that held the cafeteria, administrative offices and the library. Each building was well within walking distance and enough time was allotted between classes so that students could easily get to where they needed to go.

  “Boy, you’re going to have to show me where everything is,” Deborah admitted as she peered at the map of the school.

  “It’s really easy once you figure it all out,” Alex insisted and then added, “Plus that map makes everything look huge and it really isn’t.”

  “If you say so. Hey, have you had any of these teachers?” Deborah listed her teachers off one by one and awaited each answer from Alex. Apparently there were a few that he had, but if not, he at least knew who they were.

  “We’re going to be able to go and check everything out, right?” Deborah asked.

  “Yeah, I think mom planned on going next week sometime,” Alex assured her.

  “Cool.” Deborah then took her class list and map upstairs to her room so that she could study it a little bit longer. She imagined what it would be like to have to switch rooms and teachers for each class. Just the thought excited her because it made her feel all grown up. This was where she’d attend her first school dance, maybe get her first boyfriend and even learn to drive in a couple of years.

  It wasn’t long before Deborah was shaken out from her thoughts when she overheard Alex talking with a friend downstairs.

  Must be Nick! she thought. Ooh, I wonder what his class schedule is like.

  Without much hesitation, she went downstairs with her class list. Her suspicions were proved right on who the visitor was when she found both Alex and Nicholas talking and laughing at the kitchen table.

  “Hey, Nick,” she greeted.

  “Hey, Debbie. So did you get your class schedule?”

  “Yeah, I have it right here. Did you get yours?”

  “Sure did. What you got?” Nicholas asked.

  Deborah went through her class list with Nicholas having something to say about each one. He either commented on the class itself, whether it was boring or not, or he commented about the teacher, whether Deborah would like him or her and if they were an easy or hard teacher. When she finished, Deborah was left with the impression that it wasn’t going to be a bad first year.

  “Okay. I told you my schedule, now tell me yours,” she demanded.

  Nicholas gave a small chuckle. He found it kind of cute when she tried telling him what to do.

  “Well, let’s see. I’ve got band with…” Nicholas began.

  “Wait, you take band?” Deborah interrupted.

  “Yeah, I play the trumpet. I’ve been playing since like the sixth grade.”

  “I can’t believe I never knew that!”

  “Well, now you do,” Nicholas smiled and gave a wink.

  “So that means we have a class together. I’m so glad I’ll know someone,” Deborah said cheerfully.

  “Yep. What do you play again?”

  “The flute,” she answered.

  “That’s what I thought. Well, we won’t be sitting next to each other obviously."

  "Yeah, but at least we’ll be in the same classroom at the same time.”

  Deborah is so funny sometimes, Nicholas thought.

  “Mm-hmm. Can I finish my schedule now?” Nicholas asked, a little tease in his tone.

  “Oh, yeah, go ahead. Sorry.”

  “It’s okay.”

  Nicholas gave her another smile and wink. He then went on to list the rest of his classes, getting more and more excited from finding out that him and Alex had a couple of classes together.

  “Man, this year is going to be awesome!” Alex exclaimed.

  “Yep,” Nicholas agreed and then added, “Hey, when are you guys going to check out your classes?”

  “I don’t know,” Deborah said.

  “I think next week,” Alex replied.

  “Is it okay if I go with you? Or, if it’s okay with your mom, maybe we can go the three of us in my car?” Nicholas wondered.

  Deborah was beginning to feel a bit left out because she was almost a hundred percent sure that her mom would not let her go and then she’d be left to check out her classes all by herself.

  “Yeah, we’ll have to go ask my mom,” Alex told Nicholas.

  As if her name beckoned her, Ms. Harrington walked right into the room.

  “Oh, hey, mom, I was just about to go and find you. We have a question,” Alex said.

  “What is it?”

  “I was wondering if Debbie and I could ride with Nick to the school to check out our classes next week some time?”

  “Um, I don’t know.”

  Deborah felt honored that Alex was at least willing to include her for a change.

  “Please, mom,” Deborah begged.

  Ms. Harrington sighed. “Oh, all right. I guess. But just to the school and back.”

  Deborah couldn't believe her ears.

  Did mom just say I could ride with the boys?

  “Thanks, mom!” Alex and Deborah said in unison.

  Deborah went to give her mom the hug that she felt was warranted. She was so excited that her mom was going to let her ride with Nicholas for once. Now she’d finally be able to listen to that radio station with Nicholas that she programmed a couple of months ago.

  “So what do your schedules all look like?” Ms. Harrington wanted to know.

  The three of them went over their schedules, comparing where everyone would be starting and ending their day. They all noticed that on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings they’d be starting off at the music and arts building and ending in the main academics building. Tuesday and Thursday they didn’t have anything in common. Well, not Deborah anyway since her schedule was more different than the boys’ on account she was a couple years behind them.

  “Hey, I just thought of something,” Nicholas piped up.

  “What?” Alex asked.

  “Since we’re all at the same place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, why don’t I drive us those days? Do you think that would be okay, Ms. Harrington?”

  “Well…” Ms. Harrington paused for a moment as she looked at her children’s faces that were pleading for her to say yes. “I guess,” she finally gave in begrudging
ly.

  “Wow! Thanks so much, mom!” Deborah said.

  She went to give her mom a second hug, this time Alex joining in.

  “You’re welcome.” Deep down she was hoping she wouldn’t regret this decision.

  After the three kids had made plans for the next week as to when they’d go check out their classes at school, Nicholas went home.

  Deborah just stayed around the kitchen table a while longer, enjoying her life. She was about to enter high school, which she had looked forward to for years, she had classes with her brother and one of her closest friends, and her mom was now allowing her to even ride in the car with both of the boys.

  Alex and Nick were right. This is going to be an awesome year! she thought.

  ---------------

  One Wednesday afternoon, a few weeks into school, Nicholas was giving Deborah a ride home. Alex would have been with them if he hadn’t gone home sick earlier that day. It made Deborah feel good that Nicholas was still willing to take her home even though Alex wasn’t there. However, Nicholas noticed that she wasn’t quite acting like herself.

  “Are you okay? You seem kind of quiet today,” he pointed out.

  “I’m fine. Just have some things on my mind.”

  Deborah didn’t even turn to face Nicholas when she answered. Instead, she kept staring out her passenger side window at the corn fields.

  “Okay. Well, spill what’s on your mind then.”

  Deborah hesitated. She didn’t really feel like talking about the two things she was thinking about. However, at the same time, if there was anyone she could talk to, it was Nicholas. She knew she could talk with him about anything and everything. He’s always proven himself to be honest; not judgmental. Plus he offered great advice.

  “Well,” she began, “Someone sort of asked me out today.”

  “What? Are you serious?” Nicholas shockingly laughed.

  Deep down though he didn’t know what to think about that. It’s not like he wanted to go out with her himself. She was like a sister to him after all. But the thought of her going out with someone else made him feel awkward. And at her age, it almost made him feel like he needed to protect her.