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Hi, my name is ORii
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 | Reminisce |
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 5 with 1 vote(s)
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| Created: 2009-07-18 01:10:49 |
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Bored Out Of My Brain Cells, Round the Third
Something about character 2 makes character 6 reminisce.
Something about (Percy) makes (Brett) reminisce.
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The dry dust scattered in the restless wind as it drifted across the desert, erasing the tire prints left behind by the truck that trundled across the empty prairie. The occupants of the vehicle rode in a humid silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Seventeen-year-old Brett handled the wheel, his bright silver-blue eyes scanning the horizon as if searching for a concrete thought. Behind him in the cramped backseat sat Meagan and Percy, and to his right in the front seat was his younger brother, Michael. Meagan was slumped on her pillow against the window, asleep. Michael and Percy were lost in their private daydreams and secret discomforts. Everyone was covered in sweat.
Brett wished desperately that the air conditioning in his old truck would work. He had fixed it successfully once, a year ago, but two months ago it had quit on him, again. He noticed that the desert feels so empty of life; it is a stifling wasteland. He could almost picture the scorpions scurrying across the sand in a frantic search for a shady rock to nest under. Brett was glad they would reach an oasis in twenty miles, where they would rest for the night.
They had decided to take this road trip together only because it would be ridiculous to travel separately, especially with current high fuel prices. They would have taken Percy’s mom’s minivan, but a last-minute minor injury of Percy’s younger brother, Roger, had forced her mother to bail out in order to take him to the emergency room. So there they were, braving the great expanse of the New Mexico desert together in Brett’s ratty old pickup.
They had avoided Arizona by taking a trip through Nevada, Utah, and the corner of Colorado. It was a farther stretch of miles, but a less desolate one. Brett was relieved they had made that choice. Tomorrow they would reach their destination: Texas, where they all happened to be headed. They would all stay with Brett’s and Michael’s aunt and uncle for two days before Percy and Meagan would take a greyhound farther southwest to where Percy’s grandmother lives. Meagan had offered to accompany her because she didn’t want Percy to make the trip alone. Percy’s grandmother was dying, and Meagan hadn’t the heart to let her brave it by herself.
The upcoming mile sign now indicated it was only thirteen miles to their respite for the night. With a sigh Brett rolled his shoulders in an effort to relax. It’s so hard to breathe out there in the desert.
At six miles out, Brett asked Percy to wake Meagan and was surprised at the raspy tone of his own voice. He could taste New Mexico sand in the back of his throat. He was so, so thirsty.
Finally, at six thirty they rolled into a small town with three water pumps main-lined to the town’s three biggest wells. It was still dusty, but at least they could find a place to eat and an air-conditioned room for the night. They ate greasy burgers and soggy fries for dinner at the town’s only grill then turned in for the night at the motel in the center of town. It was a decent sort of place, especially in such an obscure location; it was comfortable enough, and at least it was clean.
While Meagan and Percy checked in at the motel office, Brett grabbed three of the bags from the trunk and ordered Michael to grab the last. They hauled the bags up a flight of stairs to their second floor room. There were two queen-sized beds and a tub-and-shower combo, which they played rock-paper-scissors for to see what order they would go in. It was better than squabbling about it.
Michael won first turn and while he rushed to use the shower Brett cranked up the old air conditioner and threw open a window for the time being before he collapsed on the bed, relieved to be doing anything but driving.
“I don’t suppose they have an ice machine,” Meagan murmured, peering past the window curtains in search for a view of one.
Brett grunted as he sat up. “They have one. It’s at the bottom of the stairs, at the other end of the building.” He’d wondered why they hadn’t put it next to the office.
“Oh, good,” Meagan sighed in relief. She turned and grabbed the plastic-lined bucket before rushing out the door. “I’ll see if they have cold soda, too,” she called behind her as she shut the door.
Percy sat slumped on the end of the other bed, staring at the wall with a frown.
“Percy?” Brett ventured. “You doing okay?”
Percy blinked hard and looked at him with an expression that said, ‘I’m freaking tired.’
“I’m freaking tired,” she said, and Brett laughed.
“You can shower next,” he offered, even though he’d won second turn.
“But you have to drive,” she frowned. “I’ll wait. Besides, you don’t take that long of showers, do you?”
Her question reminded Brett that Mike was still enjoying the luxury of cold water, while they sat in the stuffy room. He stood up to shut the window, turn up the air, and bang on the bathroom door to tell Michael to ‘hurry up and be done with it, we’re all waiting, too’. The water turned off abruptly and moments later Meagan let herself back in, bearing ice and cold sodas. The three teenagers pounced on them like starving wolves on ravaged meat and sank into various seats around the room with contented sighs.
They slept considerably well, especially in the air-treated room beneath clean and cool blankets, after being freshly showered themselves. They were exhausted and eager for sleep, though they dreaded the drive that awaited them the following morning.
The drive the following day was almost as bad as they’d anticipated – almost. They only had to travel for three hours, though, and when they made it to the ranch before midday, their spirits lifted considerably. It was still unbearably hot, regardless of their optimism.
His family was cheerful and welcoming, and in a flurry of hugs, kisses and introductions, they were soon inside the cool house, relaxing on the living room furniture and drinking iced tea.
“Well,” Uncle Trib said, “they’re havin’ a band play at the Big Barn tonight. I was kinda hopin’ you’d all wanna come. It’ll be fun,” he winked at Meagan, who smiled.
Brett glanced at Percy, who was conveniently gazing out the window at the scenery. “What about you, Percy?” he asked. “You think you wanna go?”
She turned reluctantly from the window, but looked instead at Uncle Trib. She smiled politely and said, “I’d love to go.”
Aunt Martha was overjoyed and ushered the girls off to their room to chat about whatever it is women chat about. Michael sat lazily sprawled on the long couch with his eyes half closed, but Uncle Trib sat up in his easy chair with his wise eyes trained on Brett.
“So, son,” he began, smiling, “you seem pretty excited to go dancin’.” When he said ‘dancing’ he wiggled his eyebrows in a knowing expression.
Brett shook his head in mock annoyance and rose from his seat, claiming he wanted to get his things settled in his room. Uncle Trib laughed good-naturedly at his retreat and sat chuckling in his easy chair, his eyes twinkling.
The night was everything Brett had anticipated – the band was loud and enthusiastic, and so were the dancers. Everywhere he looked, people in cowboy hats and leather boots mingled and laughed in the Big Barn. The ‘Big Red Barn’ was appropriately named – the owner had converted the useless old thing into a dance tavern for the whole town to use for events. It was the perfect thing for the classic red barn.
Brett maneuvered his way between the people, saying ‘hello’ and shaking hands with friends and neighbors he hadn’t seen since the last summer he stayed here to work on the ranch. Finally he made it to the group he wanted to see. He sidled up to Percy just as Meagan was swept off onto the dance floor by a tall blonde cowboy.
“Want to dance?” he asked lightly.
Percy turned her head to meet his gaze and he could read her mixed emotions. He touched her elbow.
“Percy,” he murmured, “it’s just dancing. C’mon, it’ll be fun,” he smiled as charmingly as he could.
She stared at the dancers as if considering, and finally nodded her head ‘yes’, albeit a bit haltingly. Brett didn’t care; he’d gotten her to dance. Now all he had to do was get her to laugh.
They danced for four songs, spinning and twirling and laughing like school children. It was exhilarating to be surrounded by so many happy, dancing people. When the fourth song began its grand ending, they slowed on the dance floor, breathless and grinning.
As their eyes met and their gaze held, Brett remembered the first time he’d kissed Percy. She had been fourteen and he sixteen. They had danced much like this, but they had been alone in the Shelbey’s old barn, spinning to the tinny tunes from a battered portable radio, laughing all the while. That was the night Percy walked out on Kaitlinn’s birthday party because she was fed up with being mocked for her name. Brett had been concerned and had followed her home.
He’d found her hiding in the barn, curled up in the empty stall where Joy used to live - Percy’s first horse and first love. He’d tried to console her, but she was stubborn. He caught sight of the old radio and quickly tuned it to his favorite country music station and had promptly pulled her to her feet, despite her objections.
They had danced, and he had gotten her to smile first and finally to laugh uncontrollably and unreservedly. She had looked so exceptionally beautiful, dancing with the moonlight in her hair and laughing with her head thrown back. So he had kissed her – softly, gently, tenderly... And she hadn’t pulled away; at least, not at first. She had been embarrassed, though, and they hadn’t danced anymore after that.
Until tonight, that is. She looked the same way she had that night, and he couldn’t forget what it had felt like to hold her in his arms and to kiss her softly on the lips. They stood still on the dance floor as the song ended, hands still linked, their gaze still intent. It felt as though there was no one else in the room.
Percy was the first to look away and to join the room in their clapping. Brett quickly shook himself from his stupor and clapped along with them. But in the back of his mind, he was still wishing he could dance with her one last time – alone. At least he’d have something to daydream about on the long drive home. |
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