Del: Greg wasn’t just into something good, he was into something fantastic. The three of us hung out every day. She must have read us The Little Prince a dozen times. I started dreaming in French, I mean en Francais. That set the theme of the summer. Greg and I were les petits princes. And Cassandra became our rose.
Who could blame Greg for falling in love? Unfortunately, who could blame me, either?
One day at the beach Cassandra finished up her twelfth reading, and I reached over and grabbed the beater guitar that Greg always brought with him, and said “I’ve written a song …”
That became our summer catch phrase. As in:
Del: What’s the first thing you’re going to do when we become rich and famous?
Greg: One never knows. How are you going to handle all those girls throwing themselves at you?
Del: One never knows. How are you going to handle all those girls throwing themselves at you?
Greg: I will remain true to Cassandra.
Cassandra: One never knows!
Gloria … is there mor-i-a?
Del:
Writing that Little Prince song, One Never Knows, I see know was a thinly-veiled attempt to worm my way into Cassandra’s Heart, but Greg came back THE VERY NEXT DAY with his own Little Prince song called Six Separate Planets about the asteroids that the Little Prince visits on his way to earth. Drat! Foiled again!
But then, in the spirit of One Never Knows, something very unexpected happened to me. Let me take a step back to explain.
My Mom, Trudy, was 17 when she had me. My dad was 18, but he wasn’t around long. I know his name, and I’ve seen a few pictures, but he’s never been part of my life. It’s always been me and Trudy.
It’s always been up to her to support us and that, I know, has been a grind. Her biggest break was getting a job as an administrative assistant (secretary) at a private girls school that had free tuition benefit for kids of employees. That school had a reciprocal agreement with Obediah Brown, which is how I happened to be there.
It’s was a long slog for Trudy, but with me graduating, the end was in sight, so I can’t blame her for wanting to bust loose and making up for some of the fun she missed over the last 18 years. Shit, she’s only 35, and she’s been chained to me for more than half that. I love her. She loves me. But she needs … she deserves, a new life.
Back in those days in Providence anyway Wednesday nights were Ladies Nights, meaning no cover charge and half-priced drinks. Mom and her best friend, Gloria, always took full advantage. What happened next, however, was totally unexpected.
Hey you out in Silverback land. Today’s post includes two pieces that frame the entire work. We’re most interested in your reactions. Give us an opinion … Yay, Nay, or Hey.
Glory be!