Elementary

by Jason Zandri

  “Oh.” He came out of his staring gaze. “I was just looking at Matthew there kicking the ball around. I guess he’s waiting on Tim and your sister or something. You know … there’s an awful lot of dead space over here on this side. When it comes time to install new tanks, I should put a couple of pumps over here too.”

  Another customer came in, and Diane stepped away to collect their money for the fuel, then she walked back over.

  “So,” Mark said, turning slightly to look at her. “Are you sure your mother and sister wouldn’t be more comfortable staying over at the house for a few more weeks while Mrs. Kensington finishes moving out? It has to be cramped in that one-bedroom apartment.”

  Diane shook her head. “It’s tight, but there have been times in our lives when we’ve been worse off. You’ve done way more than anyone else has. We’re not going to impose any further.”

  “It’s not an imposition, and I almost insist.” Mark looked back out at Matthew, and Michael Anderson pulled into the lot on his bicycle.

  “Thank you,” Diane said. “I’ll let my mother know again. I’m sure she’ll decline.”

  “How is your mother? And Melissa?” Mark asked.

  “She’s frightened. She’s been on her own with us before, but she’s become more concerned with things. I also think she’s worried about things with Joe and filing the restraining order, filing the divorce, and so forth. I think she also worries about down the road.”

  “What’s down the road?” Mark asked, walking over to get some coffee.

  “Melissa will eventually leave and she’ll be alone.” Diane sounded resigned, and her shoulders slumped. “Even though I might still be next door or somewhere else in town, she won’t have anyone in her life.”

  “How can she know that?” Mark asked. “Life’s full of so many variables. There’s no way to tell what’s next.”

  “I know,” Diane said softly. “I think she’s just pessimistic given

  recent history.”

  Mark thought for a moment about his life, and times when things had been down. “I can relate to that. At the same time, I can appreciate the ability to bounce back after a setback. The only way an arrow shoots forward is for it first to be drawn back. It’s the only way it launches with great success.”

  ***

  Michael pulled his bike into the parking lot and leaned it up against the fence. Matthew stopped the soccer ball on the return and stepped on it to keep it from rolling away. He glanced down Ward Street and saw no sign of Tim or Melissa. He looked back over to Michael, who waved. Matthew kicked the soccer ball to him.

  “So, Sanford,” Michael said, fielding the ball and returning it. “I’m thinking we never got the chance to try to get off on the right foot. Sorry, man. I’m a little competitive—so my adoptive father says, anyhow.”

  “You’re adopted?” Matthew kicked the ball back. “I didn’t know.”

  “Yeah.” Michael stopped the ball with his foot. “I don’t tell too many people that. They’re older than your Dad, I expect. They’re both older than 50 right now. I guess they wanted kids of their own and tried and it didn’t work out. Anyway … I hoped that the next time I saw you, I would try to mend a fence.”

  “No worries,” Matthew said. “We’re good.”

  “Cool.” Michael passed the ball back. “Maybe we can do another movie or something over the summer.”

  “You and me?” Matthew asked.

  “Sure.” Michael looked over his shoulder. Melissa came down the sidewalk. “Or maybe the group again. Whatever works. I’m open for both.”

  Matthew scooped up the ball and carried it. “Sounds good.”

  “See you around then?” Michael said, pointing over to Melissa.

  “See you around,” he responded, backing away.

  Michael nodded and headed over to get his bike.

  Matthew walked up to Melissa and met her as she finished crossing over to the store property.

  “Was that Michael?” she asked, watching as he pedaled away back up the Ward Street hill.

  “Yeah, he stopped by to chat. So, how are you settling in over at Diane’s?” Matthew asked.

  “Do you know,” she said with a playful glint in her eyes. “You’ve asked me that every day for the past few days. Well, at least on the days you see me.”

  “Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t realize.”

  “It’s cute.” She nudged his shoulder with hers when she came up alongside him. “Is Tim going to meet us here?”

  “He’s supposed to. My father said we’re all having pizza here tonight.” Matthew looked over to the store window and waved to Mark and Diane.

  “Are his parents coming?” Melissa asked. “I think my Mom is coming here after work.”

  “Well, his Dad is here working in the garage and I think his mother is going to come.” Matthew pointed over to two picnic tables alongside the building where the milk crates were stacked. “I think he’d planned to lock up the store at six tonight and we’d all eat out here.”

  Melissa looked over at the empty picnic tables and smiled.

  ***

  The sun had dropped below the treeline in the western sky, and the pizza had almost gone. Mark had gone inside the store to get another bottle of soda, and Diane walked in looking for him.

  “Are you coming back out?” she asked in a playful tone. “Or is it too social for you out there?”

  “I was thinking,” he said with a grin, “while carefully selecting the next carbonated beverage …” he paused for a moment and held the bottle up, and then his tone shifted to a more sentimental one. “I can remember times in my life when things were good financially. It always seemed when money was easy, the simple joys of life, friends, family, love … they were harder to bank on. I either had love in my life or money in my life, but it seemed never both at the same time. One ‘cup’ was always empty. When my son was born

  …” He glanced out of the window. “I never felt so much pride and love, but I was broke and in debt. I remember at the time being worried about that, but the burden seemed lessened by the fact that I felt whole and complete regardless. I had this little boy in my life, and at the time, at least so I thought, the makings of a good life with a woman who loved me too. I was wrong about that part, but I had a family. It made me realize that I’ll always have the capacity to earn more money.”

  Diane said nothing at first and remained quiet, but then stepped closer. “You and Matthew are still a family,” she said softly.

  He set the bottle of soda down on the shelf. “I know.”

  “Do you still feel that way?” Diane asked. “That you have only one of the two cups full?”

  “I’ve come to realize that only one of them really matters,” Mark murmured.

  “And?” Diane whispered, stepping closer still.

  He pulled her into his arms. “My cup runneth over.”

  ***

  The next chapter in their lives continues in

  As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence

  As Life Goes: The End of the

  Innocence

  by Jason Zandri

  “You have to let things happen and be there for the ones you care about.

  When they slip, you try to catch them to break their fall. You can’t always be there for everyone; when you’re not and if they should fall, you help them back up.” – Matthew Sanford.

  “Now and for the rest of my life, I want to spend the time trying to make you as happy as you’ve made me.”

  “There’s no way to know all things with absolute certainty. If you want to love that much, if you want the chance to be Matthew’s entire world, and have him be yours, you’re going to have to risk everything.” – Diane Wakeford.

  The one constant in the universe is change.

  Matthew, Tim, Melissa, Liz and the gang come to the end of their youth as they turn eighteen and prepare to leave high school.

  Old friends and new come together as their lives shift from the
moment they are in to the future that is coming at them.

  One love is discovered and then lost. Another is never fully revealed. Others are put forward to stand against the tests of life, time, and circumstance.

  At a time of letting go, they do their best to hang on, realizing that yesterday is gone and what they have to look forward to is everything that tomorrow offers.

  As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017TBSD42/

  (BOOK TWO of the As Life Goes series)

  Published with the authorization of Jason Zandri, Connecticut 06492, United States of America

  Copyright ©2015 by Jason Zandri

  All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher.

  The example companies, organizations, products, domain names, e-mail addresses, logos, people, places, and events depicted herein are fictitious. No association with any real company, organization, product, domain name, e-mail address, logo, person, place, or event is intended or should be inferred.

  In the place where a real company, organization, product, domain name, e-mail address, logo, person, place, or event is intended, the ownership and copyrights of those aforementioned subjects remain with those owners.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Matthew Sanford pulled his red Chevrolet conversion van along the curb in front of the three-family house where Melissa lived with her mother. He looked at the time on the dash; it read 6:15 a.m. Just as he glanced back over at her sister’s apartment next door, Diane Wakeford stepped out.

  Matthew got out of the van and walked around behind it.

  “Good morning,” Diane said while she pulled the door closed and locked the deadbolt. “Are you taking Melissa and the gang to the beach again?”

  “Hi, Di. Yes, we decided to go since none of us had to work today.”

  Matthew dragged his fingers through his slightly long brown hair. “Well, Tim had to work, but then he got someone to cover for him.”

  “I hope Missy is chipping in for gas.” Diane stepped out to the sidewalk.

  “Having a car is expensive with the service, fuel, and insurance. She works too; she can pitch in.”

  Matthew looked at Diane’s features and the outline of her face. Every time he did, he could see Melissa, and he always graced the feeling with a warm smile. This conversation proved no different. “She offers. Almost every time. I always tell her no. I get a few bucks from the guys. I just feel better about it like that.”

  Diane smiled. “You know,” she said, turning a little to keep the sun out of her eyes. “You’ve turned into quite an impressive young man in so many different ways, but most of all how you treat people.” Diane’s tone turned somewhat somber for a moment. “Don’t ever let the travails of life take any of that wind out of your sails.”

  Matthew just looked at her for a moment. He wasn’t sure how to take the comment. “Is everything okay, Diane?”

  “Oh sorry,” she said recovering her normal, happy tone, “I didn’t mean to be a wet blanket on your beach day. Just some things on my mind. So whom are you picking up today?”

  Matthew didn’t dismiss Diane’s demeanor, but he let it go for the time being. “After I get your sister here, I’m going to swing around to get Tim and his girlfriend, Patti. Then I’ll go get Mike and Lesley.” He dragged his foot a bit on the sidewalk. “I think Missy said Alecia and Carrie wanted to go, so I’ll get them too. It’s why I start so early. By the time we fetch everyone and get out of town, it’s after eight.”

  “And you go all the way to Misquamicut?” Diane asked.

  “Yep,” Matthew said. “It’s a nicer beach. It’s a fun ride in the van. We

  listen to the music, and then we spend the day there.”

  “Are you still stopping on the way home in Old Saybrook for pizza?”

  Diane took a small step backward and glanced down at her watch.

  “It’s the ritual,” Matthew said with a grin. “I figure we have a couple more weeks or so of opportunity then it’s back to Sheehan for senior year.

  We might not get the chance next summer, depending on who’s going where and doing what for college, work, and other things.”

  The popping sound of the neighboring door pulled Matthew’s attention, and he turned to see Melissa coming out in her yellow two-piece, covered only by a flimsy pullover. She waved to the two of them and came down the stairs. “I was waiting for you to come inside and get me,” she said, smiling.

  The early morning summer breeze blew her long black hair behind her. “But I see I’m no competition for the engaging conversation of the illustrious Miss Wakeford.” Melissa bounded over to Matthew’s side and pulled her fingers through her hair.

  “Well, good morning, Miss Bancroft,” Diane said with a grin. “I see you’re wearing the minimum amount of bathing suit as required by law.”

  “Oh geez,” Melissa said and tugged on her pullover while adjusting her top. “You sound like Mom now.”

  “The only reason you get away with that outfit with Mom is because she knows you’re going with Tim and Matthew,” Diane said. “Otherwise, she’d never let you out of the back yard with it on.”

  “Really?” Melissa said, and her voice moved away from its original playful tone. She looked herself over. “Matthew,” she said. “Is this suit ‘too much’?”

  “I think it’s fine.” He looked her up and down once. “You could almost pass for a girl.” At speed, he backed up.

  “You jerk,” she said, taking a playful swing at him. “Paul likes it.”

  “Ah, the new guy,” Matthew said. “What happened with Chris?”

  “Well ...” Melissa switched her beach bag between her hands and stepped towards the van. “Come to find out we wanted different things.” She peeked into the side-view mirror where her brown eyes stared back at her.

  Matthew moved over to open the passenger slider for her to get into the van. “Such as?”

  “I wanted him to be … I don’t know, decent, I guess,” she said, climbing into the van.

  Matthew closed the door part of the way. “And what did he want?”

  “Dumb whore, Jenny.”

  Matthew whistled and closed the door. “Guess I won’t ask what that’s all about.” He looked at Diane.

  “Good idea,” Diane said. Matthew came around to the back of the van to cross over to the driver’s side. “Matthew?” Diane said before he stepped all the way around.

  He turned back and looked at her. Diane hesitated for a moment with her mouth open. “Have fun today,” she said, still hesitant.

  Matthew stared for a moment. “Okay,” he said with a small grin. “Was there something else?” He took a small step toward her.

  Again, Diane hesitated. “No,” she said in a hushed voice. “Just have fun.

  And be careful.”

  “Yes, Mom,” Matthew said.

  Diane curled her hand into a fist, shook it, and puckered her face tight.

  Matthew laughed aloud. “Did you want a ride to the store?” he said, wiping his eyes, which teared up from laughing.

  “No, thank you,” she said. “I like the short walk, and it’s nice out.”

  Matthew waved and turned to get into the van.

  ***

  Diane stood at the main counter at Colony Convenience. Elizabeth Wellsworth walked through the door. “Fifteen on pump four, please,” she said, handing a twenty to Diane.

  Diane turned the pump on and made the change for her. “You’re Elizabeth, right?”

  “Yes,” Liz said. “You’re Missy’s sister, right? Diane?”

  “I am,” Diane said with a glance out the window and over to her car. She noticed the girls in the car and all the beach attire. “I guess everyone’s going to the beach today except me.”

  “Really?” Liz looked around the store. “Is Matthew going?”

  “Oh,” Diane said. �
�I assumed you were tagging along with them. Once in a while there’s a second car full when his van is loaded.”

  “He’s going to be at Rocky Neck today?” Liz asked.

  Diane paused for a moment. She realized that Liz wasn’t going with them, and then remembered that Liz and Melissa didn’t get along that well with one another. “Um … I’m not sure where they’re going.”

  Liz looked out the window of the store just as Matthew’s van pulled into the lot. “I guess I can ask him now,” she said and turned to walk out of the

  store. On the way, she shook out her long red hair.

  ***

  Mark exited the back room and looked out the window to see his son’s van come to park in the open space. “I see everyone is going to the beach except us,” he said to Diane.

  She laughed. “I just said that to Elizabeth.”

  Mark scratched an itch on the side of his head. Diane looked at his graying hair, and then reached up and touched her shoulder length black hair while she stared at him.

  “Do I have something in my hair?” Mark asked, playing with it some more.

  “Oh, no,” Diane said, and then realized she was staring at him. “Sorry.”

  Mark walked around the counter to see his reflection in the small two-way mirror on the wall. He sighed. “Just like my Dad.” He sounded somewhat resigned.

  “How so?” Diane asked.

  “Well …” Mark turned around to look at her. “My Dad started getting gray hair in his forties as well. I’ll be forty-three soon; I’d hoped it would take a little longer.”

  Diane turned an eyebrow up and grinned. “I think it makes you look even sexier than you already are.”

  Mark smiled. “Easy for you to say; your hair is jet black as the day I met you.”

  “And if it wasn’t?” she asked.

  “It wouldn’t matter.” Mark turned toward the larger area of the store. “I’d still want you more than I did yesterday, but less than I will tomorrow.”

  A warm feeling rushed over her while she watched him move away.

  ***

  At the side of the van, Tim pulled the slider open to grab the cooler, and Matthew hopped out of the driver’s door. Michael Anderson popped his head out of the back seat area. “You guys need any help?”