Parrallel: Joey

  Beth rolls stretches her arms and legs out under the covers. She slowly opens her eyes and rubs her face.

……….

                She walks down the hall into her daughter’s room. The pink walls of her childhood have now become Emma’s. She readjusts the crooked picture frame on the wall and opens the drawers of her old cherry dresser. She pulls out an outfit for the day and packs an extra in the Dora back pack on top of the dresser.  She sits on the edge of her daughter’s day bed. She smiles as Tabby sleeps peacefully, Tabby’s dark brown hair all over the place from tossing all night and her peaceful tanned face barely peeking out from beneath the stray hairs.

                “Come on baby, time to get up for school.” She leans over and kisses her on the cheek.

“Mommie” the little girl grumbling becomes giggles as she is repeatedly kissed.

“Come on baby, you need to get up.”

“Why do you always kiss me?”

“Because that’s how your supposed to wake up a princess.”

“That’s only by true love.”

“My love is true. Come on, up. You need to potty and brush your teeth. I’m going to get dressed then I’ll get you dressed and brush your hair. “

“Okay.” Emma climbed out of bed and sleepily shuffles to the bathroom.  Beth heads back to her room. She finds a red polo and slacks to put on. She brushes her own brown shoulder length hair and tosses the brush back on her dresser.  She heads back down to her daughters room and sees her mom exiting her bedroom.

“Don’t forget to flush.” Emma’s grandmother reminds her.

“Yes, Nana.” The toilets flush echoes. Emma takes off her Dora pajamas and tosses them into the bathroom hamper.

“Morning, mama.”

“Good morning,” Nana responds as she passes Beth on the way to the kitchen.  Emma waits for Nana to pass and follows her mom into her bedroom. She grabs her undershirt off the dresser and pulls it over her head. She grabs the next shirt and pulls it over her head and smiles in the mirror. She pats her stomach and smiles at the Dora and Boots decal. “I like Dora.”

“I know baby. Put your jeans on and get your shoes out.”

“Okay.” She struggles to pull her jeans on and then finally zips them. She opens her closet door to pull out her tennis shoes. She closes the door, grabs her socks off the dresser, and goes to sit on her bed. Beth grabs the rubber bands and hairbrush out of the jar on the dresser sits behind her daughter on the bed. She parts the hair down the middle, slowly undoing some of the tangles. She brushes out the rest of the tangles and works each side into a French braid resulting in tight pigtails.

“All done. Fix your bed and come eat breakfast.” Beth leaves Tabby and heads to the kitchen to start the eggs. “You can still pick Tabby up today, right?”

“Yes, I’ll be there.” Nana replied setting some more bread into the toaster.

“Good, I’ve got student teaching today and I’m pulling a double at the diner tonight.”

“Again?”

“We could use the extra money, I’ll be back during my dinner to tuck her into bed.”

“I wish you wouldn’t work so much.”

“I know, but hopefully I can get hired on with the district next semester. Then I can quit the diner.”

“He needs to be the one to have two or more jobs, not you.”

“Yeah, well he can’t even keep one job. Momma, we’ve been over this. Shhh.”

“Can I have your cinnamon toast today?”

“Of course honey, just pull out the butter.” She finished scrambling the eggs as the toast popped.

“Will you be home tonight mommy?”

“No, baby, not tonight. You and Nana get to hang out. She will give you a bath after dinner. I will be here in time to read to you and tuck you in, okay? And I will pick you up from school tomorrow and we can do what ever you have planned.”

“And Saturday I go to Daddy’s?”

“If he picks her up,” Nana grumbled under her breath. Beth shot her a dirty look.

“Yes, that’s the plan.”

“What about the party?”

“I told your Dad all about Abigail’s. He’ll take you to it, don’t worry. We can even get her a gift tomorrow after school.”

“Okay.”

“Eat your breakfast. You need to get milk today.”

-Phone call from him-

“That’s fine.”

Parrallel: story 5

The smell of rain was imminent and the searing heat just made her wish it arrived faster.

Parrallel :Connor 3

Hey congrats Betty.

Thanks Wilson.

I was wondering how long he was going to take.

Yea its been awhile.

Half the guys are going on leave to propose before the deployment. Bush said.

What deployment?

You know before Afghanistan. Hey Brown. Nice Ring.

Thanks, he said as he walked up. He handed Betty a beer and put his arm around her. The guys walked back to the bonfire.

Good guys.

Yea, they’re cool. Whats wrong.

She nodded down the beach and they started walking.

Another deployment?

Oh, yea. He sighed. I was going to tell you.

When?

Later in the week. I just wanted to have fun not let you worry. WE’ve survived them. 

I know, but…

Betty, it’s okay.

No. I don’t want to lose you. I’m graduating and can finally be with you all the time.

Even gone, I’m always with you.

Parrallel: Connor

Bonfire in Texas with Sorority

We parked on the edge of the sand, his truck was as close as we could get it to the jeep next to us.

The waves are awesome this morning.

I can’t believe that you actually like to surf. You hate going to the beaches in Texas.

I don’t know, surfing is just fun. I really never saw a point of laying out on the beach in the sun. It just seems pointless. I jumped out of the truck barefoot and looked out at the waves again. I headed to the back of the truck and Connor handed me my board. “Thank you again!. I can’t believe you bought me a board.

I figured we could come out every morning. It’s cheaper to buy than keep renting.

Yea, but you only have two days off.

Ha. I actually convinced my CO to let me do this as PT this week. So I’ll bring you out every morning. Then I’ll take you back to the hotel. You can go back to sleep while I got to work. Ready?

Lets go. I smiled as we ran for the waves.

We swam in and my feet could touch the sand, I stood up and walked my board in. I was exhausted from the surfing but still somehow had energy. It just seemed to wake you up.

Come on, Connor motioned towards the pier. I followed him under and staked my board in the sand. I pulled out a towel from out of my bag and spread it out. I laid out to rest from the surfing while he sorted through his bag. He tossed his blanket down next to me and stood up straight looking out to the ocean. I watched as he walked forward.

Hey check it out, he turned back to me and smiled. A dolphin’s near the end of the pier.

I leaned on my elbows to look but didn’t see anything. Where?

There he pointed and walked over to help me up. Come here. He pulled me up by the hands and stood behind me. We walked forward, but I still didn’t see it. I don’t see anything except fishing lines. Why would a dolphin come in so close?

I guess I was wrong.

I turned back to lay back down and he was on bended knee. Oh my god. I gasped as I realized what he was doing. We have been together for so long and we knew we would spend the rest of our lives together so I had never been in a rush or nagged him for an engagement. But here he was staring up at me. He popped open the box.

Betty, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?

Oh, my god. He held up the ring higher. He pulled me by the hand closer to him and I let him slip it on my finger. I looked at the ring on my finger and fell into his arms and kissed him. We ended up on the sand kissing. He rolled me over on my back and pulled up for air.

I love you so much Betty.

I love you too. I gasped and pulled him back in for more kisses. He let out  a hearty laugh and sat up. He pulled me up once he was standing. Lets get some lunch.

I brought some. I dusted the sand off my backside and went to my bag. I sat down on my town and pulled out the sandwiches and grapes. I handed him one and unwrapped mine. I watched him as he bit into his sandwich. There was no dolphin, was there?

He laughed again. No, but I needed you to get up. I laughed with him and leaned over to kiss him again.

Parrallel: Connor: 1

Alyzabeth woke up to her phone vibrating beneath her pillow. She pulled it out and hit her alarm and groaned. It was going to be a very long day. She stretched out and sat up in bed. She looked at the time on the clock. 6 am. Ugh, she thought too early. She tapped the photo frame with his naval picture sitting on the night stand and smiled. At least there was a reason to this insanity. She would finally get to see him again.

                She pushed down the covers and threw her feet over the side of her small twin bed.  Careful not to wake her mother she quietly pulled her suitcase from beneath her bed. She opened the lid and walked to her closet. Finally finding some outfits worth wearing that would keep her warm, she pulled them off the hangers and started folding them into the suitcase. She walked over to her cherry wood dresser and opened the bottom drawer. Lizzie dug through until she found enough undergarments for the week long trip. She threw them into the suitcase and shut the lid. She zipped it and stood it up straight. She looked around her small room to remember what she was forgetting. After grabbing a scrunchie off her bed post she pulled her black curly hair into a pony tail and made her way to the bathroom.

                Even at a different time this morning, her routine was the same as every morning. She used the toilet and brushed her teeth. She washed her face and headed outside to start the coffee pot.  Within a few minutes the coffee was done brewing. She poured out the coffee into her red mug and sat down on the porch swing carefully sipping the steaming coffee. Although spring was underway, the morning was still crisp outside.  She curled her legs up under her on the porch swing with her huge coffee cup cradled in both hands. She looked up to the sky watching as the pinks slowly turned to blue. She inhaled deeply and breathed out.

The door opened and her mom stood there. She cocked her head at her daughter  and stepped out. “What are you doing?”

“Drinking coffee.” She took a sip before looking up at her mother.

“Outside?”

“You don’t like the smell of brewing coffee. So I’m just following the rules,” taking another sip.

“Why are you up so early?”

“Carrie is picking me up. I have a few things to do at school before my flight. “

“Lizzie”

“Mom, don’t start.”

“But honey?”

“No. I’ve followed all your rules. All of your wants. I got a bachelors degree, a masters, and in a few weeks I’ll graduate with a law degree. I’ll pass my bar because you wanted me to be a lawyer. You wanted me to stay in town so I’ve attended St. Mary’s for the last eight years.  I’ve kept all my curfews. I joined a sorority. I’ve done everything you have asked. I’m going to go see him.”  Lizzie took another sip of coffee and turned her body to her mother.

“You’re still after him.”

“I dated others like you asked me too.  I love him. I didn’t leave like he asked. You can’t keep this up.” She finished off her coffee and sat the mug on her lap.

“No, you can’t.”

“We love each other.”

“Really?”

“ What? Now your going to try and convince me that I don’t know what love is?” She put her legs on the ground, then stood up.

“Lizzie, you are not being fair.” Her mother pointed at her.

“No. Mom. You’re not.”

Her mother stood looming over her in the doorway, hands across her chest. Her hazel eyes searching her daughters.  She dropped her hands to her side. “Lizzie, just stop.”

“No, I wont. I love him and I miss him. Everyday. I don’t want to fight with you anymore. So if anyone is stopping, it’s going to be you. Enough is enough. You need to get over your issues with this relationship. It’s not your choice and you don’t have a say in it anymore.” She walked around her mother, and into the house. She washed her red mug in the sink and slipped it on to the drain board to dry. She headed to the small bathroom closing the door behind her. She looked into the white mirrored cabinet and saw tears start to fill her eyes. She undressed throwing her clothes into the hamper. She moved the rubber ducky shower curtain out of the way and leaned over turning on the water. She stepped into the shower letting it heat up enough to steam the bathroom and let the tears fall.

She pulled the scrunchie out of her hair and slid it on to her wrist. After soaping and washing everything, she turned off the water. Lizze took a deep breath, slid the curtain open, and grabbed the towel off the back of the toilet. She dried her body then stepped out of the shower wrapping the towel around her body.  Lizzie brushed her hair out, using the scrunchie on her wrist, combed her hair into a ponytail.

There was a soft knock at the door. She pulled it open and looked at her mom. “You wont be back before I get off school?”

“No, my flight is at 1:15.”

“Be careful. Text when you’re taking off and when you arrive.”

“Of course”

“I love you.” Her mother pulled her into a hug, kissed her cheek, and left. Lizzie dropped the towel in the hamper. In her room she pulled a light sundress with white daisies and pulled on her white wedges. Her phone buzzed and she picked it up off the pillow.

“Hey girlie, are you ready?”

“Yes ma’am. Just gotta grab my purse.”

“Okay, I’m outside.”

“Be out in a minute.” She stuffed her white cardigan into her purse, slung it and her back pack on her shoulder, pulled the handle on her suitcase and walked out to the pink prius that was waiting outside in her drive.

She heard the trunk click, so she opened it and tossed in her suitcase. She walked back around and opened the car door. She flopped her bags off her shoulder on the car floor and slid into the seat.

“Hello Alyzabeth.”

She smiled at her sorority sister. “Hello Casey.” She leaned over the middle console and hugged her.

“Bad morning?”

“Wouldn’t expect a good one.” She looked at her friend and smirked as Casey pulled on to the street. She was an exotic beauty. Her dark olive skin with ice blue eyes and long straight brown hair.

“She loves you.”

“I know,” she said placing her hands in her lap. She stared out in the window. Her neighborhood passing by. The highway and the familiar neighborhood surrounding her college passing in the window. They pulled into the back entrance and Casey stopped by the curb.

“Just block it out for now and get some studying done.”

“Okay”

“I’ll be back at 1130.”

“Thank you” She grabbed her purse and backpack off the floor of the car. She throwed them over her shoulder.

“Anytime Big” Lizzie closed the car door after the words and headed onto campus. When she reached the door of the Law library and stopped.  She felt the vibration in her purse. She searched for her blackberry and found it at the bottom of her purse.

“Hello?” She answered quickly so she wouldn’t miss the phone call.

“Hay sweetie.”

“Hi, sweetie.” She looked at her watch. “ Why are you calling?”

“I just got ouuta a meeting. I had some free time to talk. How are ya?”

“I’m good. I just got to the library."

" Are ya going to study?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, well I just wanted to call and say I mess you.”

“I miss you too.”

“I will see ya tonight?”

“Yes”

“Alright, I’ll be at the airport at 6.”

“Okay”

 *                                *                             *

She went and sat at the benches  outside. She knew she was too anxious to see him to get any studying done. She should have just stayed home then neither would have had to get up early. She grabbed her bags and headed to java café.

She stood in line behind some juniors.

“I can’t believe he’s still so hard on you”

“ I know, it seems the tapes are just getting worse.” She knew all to well which professor they were talking about. She had had him for two classes during her undergrad and three classes during her graduate study. He has also become her advisor. During the classes she despised him, but he was the one professor she had searched for graduation day. He was hard because he expected the best from his students. He also had to fight against this technology steered generation to have them understand the techniques and beauty of the written word.

“What can I get you?” She stepped up to the counter and ordered a chocolate chip muffin and a Java Chip. She would be wired by the time she got on the plane, but she didn’t care.

Hey grandbig! I turned behind me to see my sorority sister, Katrina.

Hey Katarina. What are you doing here?

Well, carrie said she would be on campus to pick you up so we decided to meet up with the family for lunch.  Jessica couldn’t do lunch so we opted for breakfast. I was on my way to meet her.

That’s great.

COuldn’t study?

No, I smirked, not really.

Too excited?

Honestly, yeah.

Do you want to join us? WE can hang out and watch everyone after she leaves for class.

Yea, I would love that. I remembered that was how I met Katarina her first week of school. I would sit on the grassy knoll beneath the large oak tree with my books stacked next to me and watch the bustle of the freshman. Katarina had tripped on the uneven patchwork squares that made up the campus quad and dropped her books. She sat on the floor tearing up. I got up from my spot and walked to her to help her. I gathered all of her books up and held out my hand to help her up next. Comeon, you need to chill.”

“What?”

“Come on, “ I pulled her up and led her to the knoll. “When’s your next class?”

“Um, thirty minutes…” she stuttered after checking her watch.

“Where?”

“In the science building.”

Ok, so just sit here. I pointed to the ground next to my books.

Are you a freshman?

I laughed, no.

What are you?

A junior.

Oh. Um. Why are you sitting on the grass?

“It’s relaxing. I can sit here between classes and relax while everyone else is rushing around.

So you just watch.

Yep.

Are you a psychology major?

Nope.

Criminal Justice.

No.

I don’t get it.

What?

If its not part of your major and why are you being so nice.

Isn’t everyone nice to you here?

Well, yeah, I guess.

Relax.

I am

No, youre fresh out of highschool full of mean girls, new to campus trying to get your bearings and worring why an upperclassman is being nice to you. You are not relaxing.

Sorry.

I wont bite. Just breathe. You only have fifteen minutes before class. What’s your name?

Katarina

Nice to meet you.

Ugh classes today suck. Carrie walked up to us and dropped her book bag.

Too much homework?

No,they are just inside. Today is beautiful. I don’t want to be cooped up inside.

I know the feeling.

Oh, Big convince the professors to teach outside today.

Big?

Hi, I’m Carrie.

Katarina, Whats a big?

Oh you know, the most amazing person in the world that love me so much she’ll convince our art teacher to teach outside.

Oh

I’m her big sister in our sorority. No promises, but I’ll try.

Try now please. Hi Professor Cowen.

Hello ladies.

Hi Professor Cowen, Beautiful day out. A great day to see art in its true beauty.

Very suttle Miss Porter.

Yes Sir.

Well you have five minutes to walk me to class and convince me.

Okay. That also gives you five minutes to get to biology.

How did you know? The girls rose and picked up their bags.

I smiled at her, “ Science building for a freshman.”

Oh of course

See ya later She waved to the girl as she strode off with the professor. Well, you said we were going to review architecture today. We have so many examples that we can see on campus.

 

Why is there a table on the knoll?

Well, I ate my lunch out here everyday. I think the grounds keeper felt sorry for me. So he put one high on the hill tthat we still have your spot on the grass to sit.

You came here everyday?

Yea, she did. Now I do.

Hi Jessica, its good to see you again.

You too.

So what else have I missed since getting stuck in the law library?

Well, thanks to you the knoll and its inspiration has been passed through the family.

Yea, Katalina gave me the same speech you did and I honestly don’t think I would be so level headed and close to graduation.

That’s amazing.

Oh my god Jessica, its official! Joyce came running up the knoll.

What

This is officially our spot!

Lizzie this is Joyce. She is the Greek Life intern. She’s my newest grand lil, Joyce this is Lizzie, my great grand big.

It’s so amazing to meet you.

You too.

Okay so this summer they will redo quad and we all put bids in for our spots when they showed us the new outline.  I put our bid in to have our letters in front of the knoll on Fridays.

So first Friday of school next year we will be set up right here.

That’s amazing girls! Katarina said

Oh. So sorry I missed the lil Ceremony.

It’s okay we know your super busy.

And I have your gifts here, Lizzie said digging through her purse. She pulled out two James Avery boxes. One is for you and this one is for your big.

Joyce opened the box and pulled out the material envelope. Inside she shook out the silver Alpha Phi drop into her palm. Thank you  so much!

Thank you for choosing our family.