Honey Tree Farm

by Brenda Spalding

  The thundering roar of a car engine caused heads to turn. The 1947 Ford coupe convertible screamed through the field beside Malinda's house, spraying grass and dirt on both guests and their cars. The horn blasted, and music blared.

  Brice spun his car in dangerous loops and laughing like a demented fool as the crowd runs for cover.

  "I'm calling the police," the priest said and disappeared into the house.

  Jesse sprinted toward the car intending to stop this madness. Brice saw him coming and aimed the car straight for him. Jim got to Jesse and pulled him out of the way in the nick of time.

  “He would have hit you!” Jim exclaimed. They all watched Brice’s car make another loop then disappear down the road.

  “He’s going to push me too far one day!” Jesse turned and went back to the party.

  Katy met him halfway. “Are you nuts? Did you really think he would stop?” She grabbed Jesse and hugged him tightly; tears running down her cheeks. “Please, don’t you ever do anything like that again. Do you hear me, Jesse Sullivan? Not ever!”

  The police arrived with sirens wailing, but it was too late to catch Brice. They would pick him up later. Everyone knew his car. Sheriff Haywood and his men took statements from the guests.

  “We can get him for disturbing the peace and reckless driving,” Haywood said. “I’ll have a talk with his dad again. Don’t know how much good it will do. He’s been protecting that kid for years, and he has a lot of influence around here. Jesse, he’s got it in for you. Don’t do anything to provoke him, please.”

  “What about attempted murder?” Katy demanded. “He tried to kill Jesse. He was driving straight at him.”

  “I don’t think Brice would go that far. I’ve got to file these reports, but I’ll call in a couple of days to let you know how things stand. Brice will probably get off with a fine and probation. He always does. One day Mr. Bachlund won’t be able to save him.” Sheriff Haywood tipped his hat and walked back to his patrol car. He pulled out and headed for town.

  “He almost ran my Jesse down. There is something seriously wrong with that boy,” Doris said, sniffling.

  The men in the wedding party went around to the guests encouraging everyone to stay and enjoy the food and the music. The band started up again, and people gradually relaxed.

  As nightfall came, the candles were lit, and everyone was mellow. The cake was cut, and Jesse and Katy helped hand it out to the guests.

  Malinda stood on the porch near the band and threw her bridal bouquet over her shoulder to the waiting crowd of women that had collected in the yard. Jesse laughed at Katy’s shocked expression as she looked down at the pretty bouquet in her hands.

  “Looks like you’re next,” Doris said. “You know the old wives’ tale, right? The one who catches the bride's bouquet is the next to go down the aisle.”

  The hour grew late. A few couples were still dancing, but most had devoured the food and drank their fill and little by little they had headed home.

  "Malinda and I plan to take a couple of days at the beach on Anna Maria Island. We'll spend the night at my house. In the morning we'll return and remove all evidence of the celebration.

  "You'll do no such thing. Tom, Jesse and I will take everything up for you."

  George approached and caught the tail end of this conversation. "The family will help, too. There are enough of us, we'll have it removed in no time."

  "Oh, thank you. Thank you all," said Malinda. She turned as Doris took her arm.

  "One other thing," she said. May I make a suggestion? If you and Jim are leaving for a few days, why don't you let Katy stay at our house? She would be safer with us than alone in your house while that car salesman's son is running loose."

  "That is very generous, Doris. I've never had to worry about her safety, but after today, I think you're right."

  "Good. It's settled."

  Some cleared the tables and pitched the garbage in a dry cistern on the back of the property. Everyone pitched in. Katy and Jesse stripped the tablecloths and put them in a pile for wash day. Two of the women removed the decorative lighting from the trees. The men moved the tables back in the house, and those borrowed from neighbors were returned. In no time at all the work was done and everyone said their good-byes and went home. The only stragglers were Jesse and Katy, who it seemed never ran out of energy. They were standing by Malinda's car when she locked the house and moved toward them. "Katy, you're going to stay with the Sullivans while we're away. We'd rather you not be left alone right now." Jim said and helped Malinda into the passenger seat of her car.

  "You want me to go with them right now?"

  "Yes, we'll be leaving early in the morning, and we will pick you up when we get back," he said.

  The kids almost burst with excitement. Katy quickly kissed Malinda and ran around to give Jim a peck on the cheek.

  "You two, drive carefully, have a good time, and I'll see you when you get back," she said, trying not to show how thrilled she was.

  "I'll race you to the truck," Jesse said and took off running.

  "Good-bye, I love you." She turned and ran after Jesse.

  "Do you think she'll miss us?"

  "Not a bit." They both chuckled. He turned the key in the ignition, pulled out of the drive and headed home.

  Chapter 19

  “You know I still have flowers from that bridal bouquet,” Mrs. Sullivan said. She put aside the knitting, rose from her chair and stretched. “I loved them so much that I couldn't bear to throw them away. I pressed them in the old family bible along with a couple from my own bouquet.” She went into the hall and quickly returned with the heavy bible. She sat it on the counter and slowly opened it. It was bulging from all the things stored inside.

  There were a couple of dried yellow flowers with a faded lavender ribbon. Under it was a card about half the size of the book's pages.

  "Is that the invitation Malinda made?"

  "Oh yes, I've always cherished it."

  “See?” she said, looking down at the dried buds. “I kept them all these years.” Katy sighed, and for a minute she was far away in another place and time. Maggie reasoned she remembered a world long ago.

  As she turned the pages, a photograph fell out. It was a picture of a young man and a pretty girl with blond hair.

  "Is this a picture of you?" Maggie asked.

  "Yes. Jesse and I were dressed for the prom. His father took it with a new camera that his father had purchased the year before. I think it was called a Land Camera. Maybe it was just supposed to take pictures of the landscape."

  "Actually, I think someone named 'Land' invented it," Maggie said. "It must have been one of the early Polaroid models. Do you still have it? It would be worth a lot on today's market."

  The old woman laughed. We have a lot of old things, but I don't imagine they have much value.

  "Antiques are in high demand today. That's why shops like those in Arcadia are so popular."

  Katy just chuckled. "Jesse's father took a picture of us just before we left to go to the dance."

  “Is that where those flowers are from?” Josh asked, picking up a cluster of flattened roses.

  Mrs. Sullivan let him hold it for a moment and then reached for it. She looked at it longingly for several minutes and then held it to her heart.

  “I don't believe I ever had anything as beautiful as that corsage.”

  “It must have been from Jesse,” Josh added, his voice soft.

  “Yes, I got it that night."

  "And you kept it all this time," he said.

  "In the picture, the boy... Jesse is wearing a flower. Did you give it to him?" Maggie asked.

  "No, I think Doris bought them both. He was wearing him when I arrived. Dad and Malinda drove me to their house. They said it was because they wanted to see Jesse too. Actually, Dad probably wanted to tell him when to have my home and such." She laughed. "My dad was like that."

  "I see they took several pictures. Who is this?" Jo
sh asked laying down a picture of three people.

  "That one is Jesse with Ted and Doris." Katy tapped the faces in the picture with a gnarled finger that shook a little.

  "Then this must be..." Maggie didn't finish the sentence as she laid another picture on top of it.

  "Yes. That is me with Dad and Malinda." She picked it up for a closer look, and a smile crept onto her lips. Then she laid it on the pile. "Ted had the camera loaded with a whole roll of film, and I thought at the time that he must want to use every bit of it." She chuckled and added. "He was very proud. His boy was grown up and taking a girl to prom."

  The next picture was of her alone. Josh noticed that she was standing at the stairway by the phone. The pictures on the wall going up the stairs looked very much the same as they do now.

  "How pretty you were!" Maggie added.

  "That's the dress Malinda, and I found. We went shopping for the weekend after her wedding. We went to the same store on Manatee Avenue, and Mrs. Waverly helped us find it."

  "Were you nervous that there might be another incident like the one with Brice the time before?" Maggie asked.

  "It did cross my mind," then she added with a grin, "But I had Malinda with me. She had grown up with boys, and she knew how to handle them."

  The other two chuckled.

  "It was pretty, but I struggled all evening. The full skirt and high heels made it awkward because I wasn't used to either.

  "Here is one of Jesse alone. How cute he was." Maggie laid the picture on the pile, but Katy picked it up.

  "Yes. He was attractive." She laid it down, her hand shaking, but held onto it a moment longer, as if unwilling to fully let go. “He was so handsome in his rented tux. I remember Ted clapped him on the shoulder and slipped him a dollar bill, 'just in case you want to stop for ice cream.'

  "What color was the dress?" Maggie asked.

  "It was a midnight blue taffeta with a portrait collar that framed my face. Malinda had loaned me her pearl necklace and earrings. A trip to the beauty parlor was a treat. They piled my long hair up with cascading curls all around."

  "It was gorgeous," Josh added.

  "Jesse went to the refrigerator and came back with the pink rose corsage. 'This is for you,' he said."

  Mrs. Sullivan took a deep breath and sat up in her chair. “Oh my, I haven’t fed the dogs yet,” she said, looking around, “or have I?”

  Maggie piped up, “I believe you already did, Mrs. Sullivan.”

  “I’m getting forgetful these days. My Travis worries about me. Isn't he a good looking young man? He looks just like his grandpa. You know, when I first met Jesse, I thought he was just about the neatest thing going. He was handsome, well built, and he went to a regular school. Don’t get me wrong. I loved being home-schooled. My dad and I traveled around a lot after my mom died. He had to take the bees all over the county and home-schooling worked better for us. When Travis finishes high school, he’s going to go to college and learn the bee business. Jesse is so proud of him.”

  Maggie and Josh looked at each other. The Travis they met was mid-thirties at least. Maybe she was getting forgetful.

  “Mrs. Sullivan, what happened at the prom?” asked Maggie.

  "That was a night I will never forget. It was a wonderful night and a horrible one. It still plays over and over again in the middle of the night.”

  Chapter 20

  "Jesse drove Malinda’s red Oldsmobile. “We get to ride in style,” Jesse said, while Katy was still adjusting her skirts. “We are meeting Cora, Hank and Janice there. All the guys will be jealous because I’ve have the prettiest girl with me.”

  “I feel like Cinderella going to the ball,” Katy said, smiling.

  “You look like Cinderella, and I am happy to be your prince.”

  “You are my prince, Jesse Sullivan,” Katy scooted a little closer and took his hand.

  They drove to the school and parked outside the gymnasium. The building was lit up and decorated all the way to the door.

  Jesse looked at Katy, “You ready?”

  "I'm a little nervous."

  He reached over, took her hand and kissed it. “Come on, I want to show you off.”

  At the door Jesse handed his tickets to Miss O’Brian, one of the teachers.

  “Hello, Jesse, who do you have with you tonight?” she asked.

  “Miss O’Brian, this is my girlfriend, Katy Hailey.”

  “Hello, Katy. Welcome. I hope you enjoy yourself.”

  “Thank you, Miss O’Brian." Her voice cracked. She felt dry and cleared her throat. "It's nice to be here.”

  Walking along, Katy asked. “You introduced me as your girlfriend. Am I?”

  “Of course you’re my girlfriend, Katy,” Jesse said, and taking her hand, raised it to his lips and kissed it.

  “I’m glad,” Katy gave Jesse a quick kiss on the cheek. He smiled and kissed her back.

  The room was awash with crape paper, flowers and candles. Off to one side was a fancy arched bridge with columns at each end holding huge white globe lights. A couple stood on the bridge as a photographer took their picture. On another side was a colorful gondolier with a flat glass top that bore all kinds of food and bowls of punch. Several walls had big arches with life size statues painted in them. Big round tables with long white tablecloths topped with clusters of flowers and candles peppered the room. At the back was a stage filled with cardboard Cypress trees and a painted scene of the Italian countryside. Overhead were the words 'Venice, Italy'. Also on the stage a band of four musicians were playing. They were dressed in the black pants, horizontal black and white striped shirts, flat straw hats and a red sashes like gondoliers. Two ornate chairs and a lectern were set off to the side.

  “Let’s find the others,” Jesse suggested. She was taking in everything as she looked around. Were all schools like this? Even the doors were decorated. Several had black paper silhouettes of gondolas floating on canals of Venice. On the tables were travel brochures with scenes of Venice, Italy.

  “Jesse, this is fabulous!” she gushed.

  Cora and Hank waved from one of the tables to join them.

  "This is Richard, my date," Janice said. Richard goes to Murdock High. They all greeted one another and took a seat.

  “Isn’t this fantastic?” Cora asked, looking around.

  "I could never have imagined anything so beautiful. Who did all this?" Katy was still trying to take it all in.

  "There was a committee of teachers and students who did it," Janice explained. "The whole senior class voted on a theme last September, and the committee has been working on it ever since."

  "Wow, they must have all been studying art." Katy guessed.

  "Well, no. But they did a great job." Janice smiled. "I was on the committee."

  They all complimented her and gradually the conversation settled into small talk.

  "Why don't we get the girls some punch?" Hank asked, and the boys left on the errand.

  “Don’t look now, but Brice is here. He’s got a new girl with him." Cora put her open hand to her temple to either prevent him from seeing her or so she wouldn't have to look at him.

  "Her name is Cassie Moore," Janice's tone turned sarcastic. "He must be getting desperate."

  "None of the cheerleaders will go out with him." Cora said.

  "Cassie is on the debate team and in math club.” Janice just rolled her eyes.

  “She’s not one of the popular girls, Cora explained to Katy. "But she gets along with everyone."

  "I think she’s kind of cute," Katy noted.

  "Even with those big cat’s eye glasses!” Janice added sharply. “Still, we should warn her about him.” Janice started to go, but Cora grabbed her arm.

  “Wait! ...not until she’s alone. We don’t want to ruin the night for everyone with a big fight.”

  Brice was with a group of jocks, raucous and unruly. He noticed the three girls looking his way, and whispered something to his pals. Cassie looked shocked. She glance
d over at Janice, then stormed off and sat alone at a different table. Brice followed her. They argued. Suddenly he grabbed her arm and dragged her back to his table.

  "What's going on?" Jesse asked, as they handed punch to their dates.

  "It's nothing important," Janice said, taking the drink from Richard.

  The music changed to a faster beat, and everyone moved to the dance floor. At first Katy was stiff and self-conscious, but she soon relaxed and enjoyed the comfort of being in Jesse’s arms.

  The evening went quickly as the three couples talked, danced and snacked. The band played almost constantly until the announcement.

  "We have come to that part of the evening in which we will choose this year's Prom King and Queen. Principal Miller, will you come up and do the honors?"

  The whole room clapped as the principal waved to the crowd, climbed the steps and moved to the lectern.

  “This is the good part,” Cora whispered to Katy. “It’s usually the most popular boy and girl in school.”

  "It's a very guarded secret," said Janice. Even those of us on the committee don't know who was chosen."

  “Students, teachers and chaperones, as you know, the entire senior class chooses one girl and one boy in December. Those ballots are put in the safe and not seen again until just before the prom. At that time, we count the ballots. Miss O’Brian, Mr. Jarvis and I did the counting behind closed - and locked! - doors. The winner's names are in these sealed envelopes."

  He held them up - one pink and one blue envelope - for everyone to see. A cacophony of cheers, shouts, foot stomping and whistles rocked the room. Mr. Miller was shouting into the microphone just to be heard.

  "I have the honor of introducing last year's prom king, Clyde Henderson, who will read the names of the winners.” Clyde took the stairs two at a time and swaggered dramatically to the lectern as the cheering continued.

  The drummer gave a big drum roll, hoping to be heard over the din.

  Miss Toliver, the English teacher, held up a cardboard crown, decorated with silver paper, imitation jewels and a feminine cross in the front. Mr. Manuel, the football coach, held up the King's crown. It was decorated like the Queen's crown except with a manlier cross.