Fan Fiction ❯ Of Earth and Fire ❯ Roger. March 22, 1971 ( Chapter 2 )

ROGER. November 5, 1971.

 

Is this your house, Addy? Well, it's dark! I can't see it, give me a break! I'm just kidding.

 

Well, I had a good time. You too? I'm glad. We'll have to go out again sometime. So I'll see you at school? Bye.

 

I'm breaking my parents' hearts the longer I'm not home tonight, the more that I spend time with her. My rebelliousness is killing them…but I quit caring as soon as she got into the car with me. This evening flew by so fast; I can't believe it's over and I have to wait until Monday to see her again. That seems so far away. Now she's gone and what do I do? What will pass the time until I see her again? Can I bear it until then?

 

I start the car and head up the street away toward the prison that is my parent's home. I think of the way she smiled at me as she turned to go inside and nearly swerve of the road. Focus on the road, I tell myself. You can make it until you get home.

 

Adamina Rae Walker.

 

I flip on the radio and sing aloud, rolling a window down. Her name is within the lines of every song.

 

It won't be long now until I'm home. I know Mom and Dad will badger me to death about the date; I can't avoid their questions. Where did you go? What was her name? Did she have blonde hair? You know your mother hates blonde hair. Is her family respectable? Does she have two parents? How many siblings? Is she Mormon? What did she dress like? Do you really like this girl?

 

“You're a junior in High School, you shouldn't be datin' anyway,” my mom says.

 

“Leave the boy alone, Janis,” my father retorts with a sigh, “it's healthy for him to date.”

 

“Not any of the girls from this sloppy old town. Roger, grow up first go out a make something of yourself, then worry about girls. You know we've wanted you to marry the Raleigh's daughter ever since you were born. She's awfully nice, sweetheart. Her family is well-off and you two fit perfectly for each other.

 

That's fine, Mom. I'm going to bed.

 

“You just remember that not everyone gets things set up for them like that!” she calls as I drag my feet down the hall. “Ungrateful child,” she mumbles to my father. She doesn't want me to hear, but I can anyway. “One day when all his friends are broken from divorces to their high school sweethearts and he's married to that Raleigh girl and they're happy…”

 

“Janis, you're rambling again.”

 

“He just don't appreciate any…”

 

And I shut my bedroom door. I glance at my New York City Calendar. Less than 18 months until I move out. I cannot wait.

 

New York City.

 

I close my eyes and sigh, dreaming of life in a big city; dreaming of any life outside of the measly old town of Wimberley, Texas. I have lived 17 years in one house, one town. I have had the same friends since Kindergarten, that is, except for Sammy McFarland whose dad got a job in Illinois two years back. They moved and I have never seen him since.

 

I lay down in my bed, not even bothering to change out of my jeans and polo shirt, and pull the covers over me. I envision the streets of New York as I drift off to sleep when suddenly Addy's face pops into my mind again.

 

It's just a girl! Just a high school girl that I won't ever see again after we graduate. Everyone knows these relationships don't last. Even I know that. We'll leave for college and that will be that. But why is it that I want so badly to see you again. I hate Mondays, but I cannot wait until this next one.

 

I finally begin to doze off again and a final thought crosses my mind: I know I won't have her forever, but I, for the first time in my life, think that maybe…I want to.