by Casey Peeler
“Hey, Paige!” I say as I make my way toward the bar where she’s stocking the shelf.
“Hey, girlie! How was school?”
“About the same.”
“Uh-oh. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I was supposed to show Walker around today, but he wasn’t at school. I’m worried about him.”
“Oh, I see. Do you have a way to get in touch with him?” Shaking my head no, she places the beer in her hand on the shelf and then approaches me at the bar. “Shake it off. I’m sure he had his reasons. Try not to get upset about it, but don’t let him do it to you again.” Paige is right. I need to let it go, but I’m sure not going to let him think he can just come and go as he pleases. What’s wrong with me? It’s not like we’re dating or anything. Laughing at myself, I tell Paige bye and then look for Daddy.
Walking toward the back, I see Daddy and Darren deep in conversation, and Daddy doesn’t look happy. I can’t believe they are at it again. It’s just not like them. I try not to worry as I go to the truck and take his guitar inside for him. That’s one item he never leaves at Boondocks. When he finishes his conversation with Darren, I can tell something is on his mind.
“Everything okay?” I ask him.
“Yeah, it’s okay. Sometimes you have to just agree to disagree.”
“True, but are you sure you’re okay? It’s not like the two of you to argue this much,” I ask.
“It will all work out. Don’t worry,” he says. We take the next hour to do a sound check. Paige turns on the open sign in the front window, and within fifteen minutes, there’s a line at the door.
As we take the stage, I scan the crowd for Walker, but disappointment sets in. Has he left town as quickly as he came? After our first set, we take a break, and as I make my way to the bar for water, I notice that something strange is going on. People are approaching Darren more than Paige. Never in all the times I’ve been to Boondocks does he get more tips than she does. Maybe today is just not a day for either one of us. She passes me a bottle of water, and as I open it, I question her.
“What’s up with that?” I ask, motioning to Darren.
“He’s made some new drink. He hasn’t shown me how to make it, so I can’t help him.”
“Oh, okay. I thought there had to be a reason he’s makin’ more money than you.” I laugh.
“I know, right!” she says.
As I return to the stage, I’m caught off guard when I see Walker coming toward me.
Walker
When I see Chauna turn toward the stage, I know I need to move fast. I know I’m about to get a few choice words, but I deserve it. I had no way to get in touch with her, and even if I did, what would have been a good excuse? Sorry, I had to be the lookout on a moonshine run? I don’t think so.
When her eyes land on mine, it’s obvious she’s ready to light into me, but then it’s like her expression softens.
“Hey…” I say as I reach her. She doesn’t reply, but instead gives a brief smile. I start to apologize, but she stops me.
“Walker, I don’t know what happened today, but I do know this. If you ever stand me up like that again, there are no excuses.” I’m stunned. Completely stunned. Who would have thought an innocent face could hide so much spunk? But I have to say that I absolutely love it.
“Point noted, and I can promise, you never have to worry about that again,” I say, showing her my phone. “I’m sorry, Chauna. It was out of my control. Please let me make it up to you,” I say persuasively.
“I’ll have to think about it, okay?”
“Yeah,” I say and hope that I haven’t lost my chance with her.
“I’ll come see you as soon as this next set is done,” she says with a wink and a brief kiss on the cheek. I hope that means she’s already forgiven me.
As Chauna and her dad’s band play the next set, I take a seat on a barstool. Paige stops by and asks what I’d like to drink, and then I turn to watch one of the most amazing singers I’ve ever heard. She looks like a badass star up there. After she finishes the final note and tells the crowd goodnight, she stops by her friend’s table and writes something down. I anxiously wait for her to approach my table because I don’t know what her decision will be.
“Tomorrow, I’ll show you around, and then we’ll go hang out at the lake. Will that work for you?”
“Yeah, that will be fine. I’ll pick you up around ten?”
“Sure,” she says confidently as she places a small piece of paper in my hand. Taking it, I open it up and find her address and phone number. I smile toward her. “Ya know, just in case you feel the need to go MIA again. At least you can let me know,” she says with a wink then takes a seat on the stool beside me. The female bartender brings her a bottle of water, and she takes a few minutes to rest. At eleven o’clock, the younger teens leave, and she opens the next set for her dad’s band. When she’s finished, she hops off the stage and hangs out with her friends while I watch from a distance.
Chapter 11
Chauna
As ten o’clock approaches, I worry Walker will be a no-show again today, but at nine fifty-five, his motorcycle appears in my driveway. Daddy stands and walks to the door as I put my glass in the sink. Great. There is a firm knock on the door, and Daddy pauses before answering it.
“Hi, Mr. Jackson. I’m here to pick up Chauna,” he says while shaking my daddy’s hand.
“That you are. Come on in. She’ll be out in just a minute. Have a seat. So, Walker, tell me a little about yourself and your work.”
“I just moved here with my parents and am an only child. I love to work on trucks and ride my motorcycle.”
“Working while in high school is tough.”
“Yeah, I’m doing what I have to do to get by.”
“I see. I know you just moved here, but school’s almost out. How important is your education?”
“Extremely. I was top of my class at my previous high school. That’s one item that’s not negotiable at my house.”
“That’s good to know. Where do you live?”
“Near the old mill, past Ivan’s.” What is up with Daddy? First Darren and now Walker? I’m sure he is just trying to intimidate Walker a little, so I hurry in there to rescue him.
“Daddy, you’re not giving him a hard time, are ya?” I tease with my hand on my hip.
“Of course not. Just wanted to know a little bit more about the boy you’ll be with all afternoon. That’s all,” he says as he gives Walker a stern look.
“Right,” I say with a laugh. “Walker, I just need to grab my bag for the lake, and we’ll be ready to go.”
Daddy is caught off guard. “Lake? What’s going on there today?” he asks.
“Just the end-of-the-year bash. That’s all. I’m going to show Walker around Barber, and then we are going there.”
“Just be careful. Walker, you take care of her and have her home by eleven.”
“Yes, sir,” Walker says as we walk to the door. As I grab my truck keys, he shakes his head no. I pick them up anyway, and we make our way to the front yard.
“I’ll drive,” he says.
“Silly boy, are you expecting me to give you directions, too?” I question.
“Nah, I just figured we could walk once we get in town. It’s not like it’s a big city.”
“Good point, but what am I going to do with this bag?”
“It’s a backpack, right?” I nod. “You could just wear it,” he says, stating the obvious.
“Hmmm… good point!” I say as I slide my arms through it, and then toss my right leg over the bike behind Walker. He smiles as he passes me a helmet. I slide it on and fasten the strap. He does the same, and then he glances over his shoulder.
“You ready?” he asks.
“I guess.”
“Where to first?”
“Just head to Boondocks, and we’ll walk from there,” I say.
“Okay, but one thing before we go. You need to wrap your arms around me and h
old on tight.” I know he means nothing by it, but the thought of my arms around his body is anything but innocent. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I prepare for my first motorcycle ride. Walker
When Chauna places her arms around my waist, I quit breathing for a moment. I knew she had an effect on me, but this is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. Being on my bike has always been the best feeling in the world, but having Chauna’s arms around me while I ride makes me feel like I’m in heaven. I want to shield her from the bad stuff in my life and only show her the person I want to be.
As I drive to town, I glance over my shoulder and see her beaming with happiness. For the first time in my life, someone is smiling and happy because of me. I can only hope that smile continues the more she’s around me, but I’m not sure it will last. If she ever finds out about my family, that smile may be gone for good and I’ll lose her.
Approaching the stoplight, I turn to ask if she’s okay. She smiles and answers yes as the light changes. I pull into Boondocks, kill the engine, and we both remove our helmets. I pause, letting her get off the bike first, and as I watch her, I know that there’s something special about her, and I want to hold a piece of her heart even if it’s only for a moment.
Chapter 12
Chauna
Standing outside Boondocks, I think there is no better place to start this tour than here, my second home, and my favorite place to be.
“So I figured the best place to start was here,” I say as I point over my shoulder.
“Well, it is where I first saw you, so I think so, too. What can you tell me about the place?” he asks.
“Boondocks has been around as long as I can remember, and Daddy’s been playing there for years. Darren bought it from Mr. Wellington two years ago, and since Daddy was there so often, Darren asked him to be his partner. The two of them have revived this place, and now everyone in town knows it’s the place to be.”
“Darren seems pretty cool. In fact, he’s the first person that talked to me in Boondocks, well, besides Krista.”
“Yeah, it’s a friendly place. I can’t wait to start working there.”
Walker pauses and looks at me, confused. “You mean, that’s where you want to work until you have a career or when you come home from college?”
“Neither. I’ve loved this place since I was a kid, and one day, I want to be the one running it.”
“Wow. Most people can’t wait to get away from their hometown or escape from their parents. I know I can’t.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, trying to get more information to figure this guy out.
“My parents and I are very different. They’ve always been okay with just getting by. I want to make something of myself. I want to go to college, and I want to make a living to support my family.”
“Gotcha. Don’t think for a minute I won’t provide for my family, but for me, I eat, sleep, and breathe Boondocks. It just makes sense.”
Knowing that Darren is there, I knock on the back door so I can give Walker a real tour. “Hey, Chauna,” he says and then looks at Walker. “Walker. Didn’t expect to see you here with Chauna. How are ya?” he questions with an odd look on his face.
“I’m good. Chauna is just giving me the unofficial Barber city tour,” Walker says as Darren nods and steps back for us to enter.
“Nice. Have fun with that,” he says, and we make our way toward the kitchen. I briefly wonder what that look was for, but it was probably the shock of seeing me with someone other than Logan. I show Walker around Boondocks, tell him about the pictures on the wall, what famous people have stopped by, and then we tell Darren thanks before leaving.
The rest of the tour isn’t very interesting. We walk up and down Main Street, and I explain who owns which store, where to go and not to go, and then we get to Sammy’s Drive-In. My mouth begins to water, and I know that an order of chili cheese fries is calling my name.
Walker
“You hungry?” she asks.
“I’m a growin’ boy. I can always eat. Is this a good place?” I say, pointing toward the old-timey drive-in.
“You have no idea!” she squeals. “Come on.”
Walking toward the order window, I take in my surroundings. This place looks like it goes back in time, but yet, you can tell that it’s been kept in tip-top condition. It is noon, and I’m amazed that there aren’t too many cars in the lot.
“So, if the food’s good, where are all the customers?” I ask.
“This place isn’t busy right now, but come Saturday night, it’s crazy. During the summer, we hang out here during the day when we aren’t hanging out at the lake, but when the sun goes down and the old fogies go to bed, this place is crazy.”
“Crazy, huh?” I half-laugh.
“Yeah, you just wait,” she says as the window slides open, and she orders for both of us. As she reaches for her wallet, I know I can’t let her pay for her own food. Quickly, I pull my wallet from my back pocket and pay for our meal.
“You know you didn’t have to do that,” she says sweetly.
“Now what kinda guy would I be if I let the girl showing me around pay for her own food?”
She smiles. “A smart one.” Did she really just say that?
“Maybe, but I know Southern girls like to be treated with respect, and this is my way of doing that.”
As the window slides back open, our food is pushed to the ledge. I take our drinks, and Chauna grabs our fries. She wasn’t kidding when she said that we both could eat off one plate. I’ve never seen so many fries in my life. Once we have stuffed ourselves, we clean up and make our way to the opposite side of the street. Walking across the road that leads toward the old mill, I wonder what she thinks of me and where I live.
Chauna
As I lead him to the park, we cross over Barber Mill Road, which leads to Walker’s house. I want to question why they moved here and chose that house, but I’m smart enough to know it has to do with Ivan since he owns the run-down houses.
“You know, I wonder every day what this town would be like if that mill was still up and running.”
“Really?” he questions.
“Yeah. This town was so alive, or at least that’s how I remember it when I was younger. It’s just sad to watch a perfectly good building go to waste, but worse than that, are all the abandoned houses. Now they’re either used for practice by the fire department or Ivan rents out the ones that can still be lived in.” As soon as those last words leave my lips, I regret it. I don’t mean to reflect that toward him because he can’t control where he lives.
He doesn’t say a word, but instead, places his hands inside his pockets as we walk down the sidewalk. We walk in an uncomfortable silence until we get to the park. When we get there, I see a few kids playing and their moms watching from a bench close by. Suddenly, my heart starts to hurt. I miss my mom. I know we can’t control when we leave this world, but I wish she didn’t have to leave it so soon.
“You okay?” Walker asks, breaking the silence.
“Yeah,” I say, trying not to cry.
“Wanna go swing?” he asks, and for some reason that’s exactly what I want to do.
Chapter 13
Walker
When we got to the park, the look on Chauna’s face made me want to erase all her bad memories, but I can’t do that until I get to know her better. She seems so innocent one minute then confident and spunky the next. I know I’m only seeing what she wants me to see, and I hope I get the chance to see everything that makes her so special. When I ask her if she wants to swing, her face lights up, and I see her spunkiness again.
“Heck yeah, I wanna swing,” she says as she takes off toward the swing set. I pick up my pace to catch up with her and soon realize that this jacket is going to have to go. Taking it off, I lay it on the ground next to the swing.
“Push me,” she demands, and I do just that. I push Chauna Jackson on a swing in Barber Park, and it’s like a slice of heaven.
Afte
r a few minutes of us acting like children, she asks if I want a turn. I don’t, but I play along because I want to keep that smile on her face.
“Only if you push me.” I wink.
“You got it,” she says as she begins to get up. I try to inform her that I’m capable of this on my own, but she refuses. She comes up behind me, places her hands on the chains, pulls back as far as she can, and lets go. I have to give her props because she did a pretty good job. As I swing back toward her, she gives me a shove at the bottom of the swing. I have to say that being on a swing in a park is something I rarely remember as a child, but this moment I’ll remember forever.
After a few minutes, I tell Chauna to swing beside me. We swing high into the sky and make a game out of seeing who can swing the highest. She easily beats me because the thought of going over the swing freaks me out. Just when I think she’s had her fill, she jumps from like twenty feet in the air. Are you kidding me? She laughs as she springs back to life and looks at me like it’s my turn. Ain’t no way. I shake my head. As she begins to make chicken sounds, my ego is now at risk of being hurt. Here goes nothing. I jump, but not from up high. It’s about six feet from the ground, and I land. Hard. I don’t think I’m going to be able to move tomorrow.
“Nice landing there,” she says with a smile.
“It was as graceful as a prince. Don’t you think?” I say. Her face goes white as a ghost, and that’s when I realize I’ve said something wrong.
“Are you okay?” I question.
“I’m fine. It’s nothing,” she says. “Come on. We’ve got more to see before we hit the lake.” Just like that, she’s locked whatever it is away. I hope I can find the key to unlock what she’s hiding.