2/13/14
Ron Griffin and his best friend Johnny Partridge strained to hear each other over the chatter in the lunchroom at Backwater High School without being overheard by the other seniors.
“So? Did you tell her yet?” asked Johnny.
“I, uh. I’m not sure she likes me,” answered Ron.
“Oh, c’mon! She’s been obvious. Just go up and invite her to a movie.”
“I will.”
“Today’s the best time. Valentine’s Day makes girls think of romance. But hurry; a girl like Jenny won’t stay available long.”
Ron peeled his arms from the sticky tabletop and leaned back. “Yeah, ok. But I have to get a gift first. Now can we talk about something else?”
“Sure. Did you hear back from any colleges yet?”
“Yeah, I’ve been tentatively accepted to State University in Capitol City.”
“Me too,” said Johnny. “Hey, we can room together. You still plan to major in computer programming?”
“Yeah. You?”
“Yep. Maybe we’ll graduate together and even work for the same company.”
“That’d be cool.”
After school and a quick stop at the store, Ron stood on Jenny Colin’s porch. His finger paused over the doorbell while he took several deep breaths. After he pushed the button her brother Richie answered the door. He was just a year younger and went to the same school, but being a junior they didn’t often meet.
“Hey, Richie. Is Jenny here?”
“Nah, man. She has cheerleading practice after school. She won’t be home for another hour. What did you want her for?”
“Nothing. Wait. Could you give her these? And tell her I’ll talk to her at school tomorrow.”
“Ooh, a Valentine’s gift,” teased Richie. “Let’s see. Heart-shaped box of candy? Check. Mushy love card? Check. Oh, but no flowers. So I dunno if if this’ll work.”
“Yeah, uh, thanks. Bye.”
The next morning Jenny stood just inside the main doors of the school scanning the faces of the arriving students. She wanted to catch Ron before class. But it was his friend Johnny whom she saw first. She asked if he had a minute and they moved to the little storage area beside the stairwell.
“Doesn’t he like me?”
“Yes. But he’s shy,” Johnny replied.
“I know, but I expected he’d say something by yesterday. Valentine’s Day is special and he really hurt my feelings by ignoring me the whole day.”
She looked at him with big, sad eyes and a tear ran down her cheek. Johnny reached out and squeezed her upper arm. She looked down and leaned toward him, so he put his arms around her and hugged. After a moment he felt awkward and let go. Then he said, “I’ll ask him why and let you know.”
The first bell rang as Ron entered the front doors. When he reached the stairs he noticed two students clutched in an embrace. Then he recognized them — it was Johnny hugging Jenny. How could they?! Both of them. He didn’t know which one to be mad at most. Before he could react he felt a tug at his sleeve. Looking up he saw nerdy Karla Snipe.
“Tough luck, huh?” said Karla. “Let’s just go. Hey, come by my house after school. I have something to tell you.”
Ron nodded and shuffled up the stairs behind her. He took his usual seat then watched the door. Johnny and Jenny rushed in just as the second bell rang. Jenny gave him a small smile as she passed. He glared at her with as much anger as he could show. Her expression changed to such shock that he had to turn his head so she wouldn’t see his satisfied smile.
Several times she tried to get his attention but he’d pretend to look at his book. His throat tightened and made a terrible taste. When the bell rang again he was first out the door. He was almost to the next class when Johnny caught up to him.
“Hey. What’s going on?”
“Leave me alone,” Ron snarled.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“I hate you!” Ron rushed into the classroom and slammed into his seat. Johnny and Jenny avoided him the rest of the day.
After school he remembered to go to Karla’s house. He thought she would tell him more about his former friends’ betrayal, but she didn’t. Instead she had a surprising and most enjoyable method of comforting his hurt feelings. Wow!
Once he felt better, they talked a bit. But it didn’t take long to recognize they had little in common. Karla tried for a while to learn the things Ron was interested in, but he didn’t help her. Instead he started dropping hints she should look for someone else.
A couple of weeks later Karla cornered Ron and said they needed to have a serious talk. Despite his reluctance, she pressed him until he agreed to meet her after school.
“You’re what?! But how?” Ron was shocked.
“Don’t be silly. You know how it happens.”
“But it was only once. Are you sure it’s even …”
“It’s what? Are you trying to say …”
“No! No, I was going to say are you sure it’s definite. I mean, you’re not just late or something?”
“I’m sure. I did one of those tests.”
“What do we do now?”
“It seems there’s only one thing we can do.”
“But I’m leaving for college in a few months.”
“Are you one of those playboys who gets a girl pregnant then dumps her?!”
“No. I.”
“Do you often take advantage of innocent girls, then throw them out once you get them in trouble?”
“No! I don’t …”
“What would everyone think of you if they heard.”
“That’s not what I said. I’ll do the right thing by you. It’s just so sudden, I need time to think.”
“Well we can’t wait too long. I’ll start to show soon.”
Ron was desperate. He needed a friend, but he and Johnny hadn’t spoken since the argument. Could he forgive him? He had to! This problem was too big to handle alone. Ron started towards Johnny’s house. As he turned onto his friend’s street he saw him standing in his driveway. Johnny saw him too and walked over. Johnny then spoke first.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what …”
“No, I’m sorry,” Ron interrupted. “I’ve been a jerk.”
“Forget it. That’s what friends do. But what was bothering you?”
Ron debated internally, then said, “Forget it. That’s what friends do.”
“You wanna come in?” Johnny asked.
“Sure. But, um, don’t you have to be with your girlfriend?”
“Who?”
“Never mind.” Ron knew at last he had been mistaken. Now to get advice about his big problem.
During the subsequent months Ron’s life changed drastically. He got married. Then, with his parents aid, he set up house with Karla in a small apartment. His friend Johnny went off to State University; as did Jenny. He helped Karla deliver the baby. And he managed to get a job at an auto body shop.
He considered himself lucky to have been hired with no experience, even though the shop owner was a friend of his father. Ron then began learning the lessons of life as each new challenge appeared. Thus it was that five years passed.
= = = = =
One January evening Ron was sitting in his kitchen going through the bills when he found an invitation. John Partridge and Jennifer Colin are to be wed February 14 at 2:00 pm. The enclosed hand-written note signed by them both begged him to come. He didn’t know which of them he wanted to see most.
“Why would you even want to go?” Karla asked after he told her.
“He’s my best friend from high school,” answered Ron.
“But he’s successful now, and you’re –”
“I’m what? I’m not?”
“You’re still in the same job you started five years ago.”
“It’s honest work. And it’s been good enough to support the three of us.”
“Well he has a high-paying job with a good company. And now with a degree he’ll do even better.”
“I could’ve done that too if I hadn’t gotten married.”
“Oh, blaming me and Colette? So we’re why you’re a failure? Wait till I tell her what Daddy thinks.”
“I only meant that if I’d gone to college like I planned, I’d be where he is now.”
“Jenny was smart to ditch you for Johnny. I could’ve had him, you know. If I hadn’t picked you.”
The day before the wedding, Ron and his little family traveled to Capitol City and found an inexpensive hotel. He carried their bags into the damp-smelling room then laid on the lumpy bed to relax a few minutes.
“Is this all you could afford?” Karla sneered. “The place is a dump! And the neighborhood is terrible. I bet it’s not safe to go out after dark.”
“We’ll be fine,” he said. “It’s only for two nights. We go to the wedding tomorrow and the next morning we go home. You’ll hardly even be here.”
The wedding ceremony was beautiful. Gowns, flowers, music — every arrangement was first rate. From where he stood as best man Ron could see darkness crossing Karla’s face as she compared this wedding to their own courthouse marriage. He winced when he saw her pinch Colette for fidgeting.
Afterwards at the reception Ron went to speak to the bride. “Congratulations, Jenny.”
“Thanks.” She pushed down her billowy white gown and leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek.
She smelled heavenly; just like he remembered her. He sighed, “Johnny sure is a lucky man.”
“Thank you, Ron.”
“Um, I, I’ve always regretted that I wasn’t brave enough back in high school to tell you how I felt.”
“Ron.” She paused. “You knew I liked you. If only you had let me know, things might have been different.”
“Well, there was that box of chocolates. But I guess it wasn’t enough.”
“What chocolates?”
“I left a box for you with your brother. Didn’t he give them to you?”
“No. I never got anything from you. But that’s all past now. It’s been good to see you again, though.”
“Yeah, you too. Congratulations again.”
Ron was distressed. That day back then had changed everything. Ron spotted Jenny’s brother Richie laughing with the horde of guests gorging at the buffet table and went over.
“Richie, do you have a minute?”
“Sure, bro,” Richie answered and stepped aside. “What’s up?”
“Do you remember back in high school that time I brought a box of chocolates to your house? It was Valentine’s Day and I asked you to give it to Jenny?”
“Umm, yeah. I kinda remember. What about it?”
“Didn’t you give it to her? I talked with her just now and she said she never got it.”
“Oh, that’s right. I didn’t. I almost forgot. You see, we decided to play a trick on you. Funny, huh?”
“No. It wasn’t funny. That ‘trick’ really hurt us both. We stopped liking each other after that. You ruined everything. Why’d you do it?”
“Sorry. I didn’t know how it’d turn out. Besides, it was Karla’s idea. She said …”
“Karla?! My Karla?”
“Yeah. Didn’t you know? She was my girlfriend until she dumped me for you. Oh, wow, man. I guess she never told you.”
“No. She didn’t.”
“Well she was at my place that day. You came by just after we finished doing, uh, giving our gifts to each other. After you left she thought up this joke. So we opened the box and ate the chocolates ourselves. I think Karla kept the card or did something with it.”
“You two were, were, involved?!”
“Oh god, yes! We were bonking every day. I thought that’s why you stole her, to get some too.”
Ron was stunned. “No. I didn’t know you two were together.”
“When I heard she was knocked up, I got scared. I thought at first it was mine, you know. But since you married her I figured it must be yours. Then I got scared again once she named it after me.”
“Wha-, um; what name?” Ron’s voice cracked.
Richie grinned, “Colin, Colette; Colin, Colette. You know, the female version.”
Ron’s mind was racing. Things he thought he understood were breaking apart and snapping into a new picture. He stood up unsteadily. “I have to go.”
Ron rushed away. He had to get out of here. He told his hosts he wasn’t feeling well, then pulled Karla and Colette out the door and drove back to the hotel. He stayed silent the whole way despite her questions. He wasn’t ready for a confrontation. Once in the room the closeness made him even more tense and he blurted he was going for a walk.
Ron kicked at the empty bottles as he paced the parking lot. How should he do this? Ask her pointed questions, or just say directly that Richie told him everything? Argh! He didn’t know. Suddenly a strong feeling of foreboding overwhelmed him and he shuddered. He looked around through the deepening twilight and thought, Karla was right, this isn’t a good neighborhood.
Although still unsure what to do, he headed back to his room. He saw another couple arguing outside the door just next to his so he stopped. Should he continue forward or turn around and come back later? As he hesitated he gathered that the husband was accusing the wife of infidelity. It occurred to him this same scene would soon play out in his own relationship. Just then the husband looked over and saw Ron.
“Are you the one?!” he yelled at Ron. Then turning to his wife, “Is this the guy?”
She shook her head ‘no’, but the man’s oily face only grew redder.
“You two thought you’d be safe at a cheap hotel. But I caught you. Well here’s a surprise for you!”
The man reached behind his back and pulled out a pistol. Ron raised his hands in front of himself as if to say stop. He heard a loud bang and his vision jumbled.
Ron was stunned and couldn’t focus right away. He pulled his thoughts together and realized he was laying on the ground. He heard screaming and looked toward it. A woman he didn’t know stared at him in disbelief, while a man he didn’t know turned and ran away. Another scream made him look toward a door that had just opened. It was Karla. She looked at him in horror and screamed again. He tried to stretch his hand toward her but it wouldn’t move.
A curious thought crossed his mind. He wanted to understand it, but it was growing hard to concentrate. I ended here because of a box of chocolates.
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