August, 2004.
So I go back to a pew, a preacher and a choir. Singin" about God, brimstone and fire. And the smell of Sunday chicken after church. And I go back to the loss of a real good friend, and sixteen summers I spent with him, now "Only The Good Die Young" stops me in my tracks. Every time I hear that song, I go back" Lucy rolled over, not opening her eyes and reaching for her alarm. The Motorola Razor was missed, again. She pried open her eyes and found it to flip open and press the end button. She spent her entire paycheck just to have the phone. In case of emergencies, she had told herself. But, she found it disappointing that it never rang unless it was her father calling.
She rolled out of her bed and made her way to the bathroom to shower and get ready for school. The irony of waking to that song in particular on her sixteenth birthday was not lost on her. She knew most girls would want to wake to a song by Avril, or Kelly, something fun and light. But, Lucy was not most girls, all she wanted was for the day to pass quickly and as quietly as possible. She'd overheard her parents fight as she went to bed. Her mother's praying hadn't brought in her father's paycheck from the bar"again.
She showered and made a mental note to remind someone that they were almost out of shampoo. She dried her long, wavy blonde hair and dressed in jeans and a Foo Fighter's shirt that her cousin had sent her for Christmas.
She made her way as quietly as possible past her parent's door on the way to the kitchen. An Eggo Waffle would have to due, as she saw the clock, and knew she was running late. Last night's dinner was still on the table. The fight must have escaladed after she put on her headphones to drown out the shouting. The form of her father on the couch confirmed her suspicion. With a shake of head, she walked out the back door and pulled it closed behind her.
The bus was crowded as usual. She opened her backpack to get some last minute studying done before Mrs. Moore's class. Lucy knew that as soon as the bell rang, the tests would hit the desks and they'd have thirty minutes to finish. There was no make up, and no excuses in Biology.
There on top of her books was a small, faded and off-white jewelry box. She glanced to the girl beside her, who appeared to be sleeping, then slowly reached and picked up the box. She knew what it was before opening it. She'd loved it since she was a little girl. With shaking hands she opened the lid and a small folded note fell from inside. The note got her attention, and she peered from it to the gold locket her grandmother wore up until the day she'd passed. Lucy closed the box and opened the note.
"Your grandma would have wanted you to have this. Happy Birthday, Baby. "Dad."
Lucy tried to swallow the lump that formed in her throat. It grew larger by the second and made it impossible to breathe. Her thoughts were coming at a fast pace. She wiped in anger at the tears that rolled from her eyes. She hated her dad for giving her the locket, even though now it had become her most treasured possession. It made her mad when her dad had his good moments, because it reminded her that he was capable of being a good man and decent father. It was easier when she just saw him as a drunk. Another swipe at her eyes and she managed to swallow hard enough to breathe again. All the emotions swirled within her, and she had to get it under control as the bus was making it's slowing stop in front of the school, and high school was no place for emotion.
So I go back to a pew, a preacher and a choir. Singin" about God, brimstone and fire. And the smell of Sunday chicken after church. And I go back to the loss of a real good friend, and sixteen summers I spent with him, now "Only The Good Die Young" stops me in my tracks. Every time I hear that song, I go back" Lucy rolled over, not opening her eyes and reaching for her alarm. The Motorola Razor was missed, again. She pried open her eyes and found it to flip open and press the end button. She spent her entire paycheck just to have the phone. In case of emergencies, she had told herself. But, she found it disappointing that it never rang unless it was her father calling.
She rolled out of her bed and made her way to the bathroom to shower and get ready for school. The irony of waking to that song in particular on her sixteenth birthday was not lost on her. She knew most girls would want to wake to a song by Avril, or Kelly, something fun and light. But, Lucy was not most girls, all she wanted was for the day to pass quickly and as quietly as possible. She'd overheard her parents fight as she went to bed. Her mother's praying hadn't brought in her father's paycheck from the bar"again.
She showered and made a mental note to remind someone that they were almost out of shampoo. She dried her long, wavy blonde hair and dressed in jeans and a Foo Fighter's shirt that her cousin had sent her for Christmas.
She made her way as quietly as possible past her parent's door on the way to the kitchen. An Eggo Waffle would have to due, as she saw the clock, and knew she was running late. Last night's dinner was still on the table. The fight must have escaladed after she put on her headphones to drown out the shouting. The form of her father on the couch confirmed her suspicion. With a shake of head, she walked out the back door and pulled it closed behind her.
The bus was crowded as usual. She opened her backpack to get some last minute studying done before Mrs. Moore's class. Lucy knew that as soon as the bell rang, the tests would hit the desks and they'd have thirty minutes to finish. There was no make up, and no excuses in Biology.
There on top of her books was a small, faded and off-white jewelry box. She glanced to the girl beside her, who appeared to be sleeping, then slowly reached and picked up the box. She knew what it was before opening it. She'd loved it since she was a little girl. With shaking hands she opened the lid and a small folded note fell from inside. The note got her attention, and she peered from it to the gold locket her grandmother wore up until the day she'd passed. Lucy closed the box and opened the note.
"Your grandma would have wanted you to have this. Happy Birthday, Baby. "Dad."
Lucy tried to swallow the lump that formed in her throat. It grew larger by the second and made it impossible to breathe. Her thoughts were coming at a fast pace. She wiped in anger at the tears that rolled from her eyes. She hated her dad for giving her the locket, even though now it had become her most treasured possession. It made her mad when her dad had his good moments, because it reminded her that he was capable of being a good man and decent father. It was easier when she just saw him as a drunk. Another swipe at her eyes and she managed to swallow hard enough to breathe again. All the emotions swirled within her, and she had to get it under control as the bus was making it's slowing stop in front of the school, and high school was no place for emotion.