This wasn’t one of Darin’s favorite songs but he loved it when she sang or hummed along with a song.
It wasn’t long before Darin stopped his Bel-Air in front of Sheryl’s home.
“I’ll pick you up at eight thirty tonight,” he said. “Okay,” she said then leaned over and planted a kiss on his lips.
Sheryl got out of the car and Darin watched her backside while she ran off to the front door. After she was safely inside, he drove off down the street.
It was suppertime and Henry was home from his shift at the plant. Tonight June made pot roast, mashed potatoes and corn.
Henry had his usual bottle of Black Label beer with his dinner. It was his way to unwind from spending all day making trunks and hoods for the Chevy Bel-Airs.
Henry had served in the Army, as a ground pounder, during WWII in Germany and still sported a crew cut. He had gained weight since the war and now sported a belly with that nine-month pregnant look. On his right forearm he has a heart tattoo with June above it.
He got that after joining the Army to save the world from the Nazis. Having that tattoo
was a reminder of his girlfriend, June, back home. The girl he wanted to married if he survived the war.
It was quiet at the dinner table. June decided to break the ice and get her two guys to talk. “So Darin, are you getting excited about next weekend?”
Darin grabbed his glass of milk and took a drink. “Yeah, I can’t believe it’s finally here,” he said then took a bite of his pot roast. He thought about tonight while he chewed. He started to get a nervous stomach.
“Remember, if you don’t succeed with college, I can always talk with Randall and he can get you a job.
You might have to start at the bottom, maybe janitor work, then you can work your way up to the line one day,” Henry said breaking his silence then he took a drink of his Black Label. “Or if you want, there’s always the Army,” he said then shoved a piece of pot roast in his mouth.
Fucking draft dodgers. He thought while he chewed on his piece of roast. He loathed the cowards running off to Canada to avoid serving their country. After all, his generation served their country and couldn’t understand why so many of Darin’s generation ran.
June didn’t like hearing Henry talk about the Army. She hated those nightly news broadcasts about the number of young kids that were killed over in Vietnam.
“Maybe,” said Darin but he knew that his plans for his future were rock solid and he wouldn’t have to worry about the Army.
June looked at Henry. “You going out tonight?”
No comments:
Post a Comment