Chapter three of book called Pot Liquor

Chapter 3

First Day of School

    I opened my eyes to the smell of bacon cooking in the kitchen.  I hooked my fingers behind my head and lay thinking about last night.  It didn’t take long for a picture of big red dancing with her skirt hiked up revealing the most beautiful legs I had ever seen.  Then the picture of Red diving through the open window made me laugh so hard I almost peed on myself.  A quick run to the bathroom took care of the problem.

“Are you ready for breakfast? Mom called.”

  “Just a minute Mom I’ll be right there.”

“Don’t forget this is the first day of school son.”

Wow! That’s right I thought, man I can’t miss today.”

    I came sliding into the kitchen in my socks,  pants pulled half way up pushing my chair out with my butt while I finished pulling my pants up.

    I sat down, surveyed the table, noticed nothing was on my plate, and looked up at Mom.  Mom had a spatula in one hand, and the other hand over her mouth trying not to laugh.  It didn’t work if the counter had not been behind her she would have hit the floor laughing.  Pointing to my head she managed to between constant laughing, squeal” comb your hair, it’s sticking straight up.  You look like an old rooster setting there.”  She half turned and continued to laugh as she slapped her hand on the counter.

    Looking kind of sheepish and red faced I wandered back into the bathroom.  Good Lord I thought my hair did look like a big old rooster comb.  I managed with some resistance to get my hair plastered down, if only temporary.  Walking back to the kitchen and sitting down, Mom grinning served up my bacon and eggs.

    I didn’t get much conversation at breakfast from Mom.  She kept her back to me while she washed dishes, although I did notice her shoulders shaking from time to time.

“Thanks Mom I have to run.” 

  “Be careful son” I heard as the door slammed behind me.

    I pushed my bike out to the street, threw one leg over and took off.  As soon as I turned onto Fall Street I met with Moe and Plug.  “Plug was telling me about last night” Moe said “sounds like you-all had quite a blast.”  “Actually the bootleggers had the blast” I snickered.

    We started down the snooze block, and turning right on Hart Avenue headed towards Hillcrest.  As soon as we arrived at Hillcrest, Plug hollered race, and took off with Moe right behind him.  I took off behind them peddling with everything I had in me, and of course my chain came off.

      I passed Moe and Plug as they were braking for the turn.  I who had no brakes since my chain came off, I went by a wide eyed look of sheer terror on my face, and a whimpering pleading voice that said somebody please help me.  Not being able to make the turn I hit the extremely high curb in front of Miss Hedrick  house.  Not the same Miss Hedrick that lives behind me this was her sister Emma.

      I was propelled over the handlebars, of course they snagged my shorts as I passed by, managing to neatly peel them off of me.  A full summersault with a half twist landed me flat on my back, and I was able to slide naked with nothing but a smile to the feet of miss Hedrick  who was busy watering her petunias.  She promptly stopped what she was doing and gave me a thorough watering.  The cold water hastened my little goose bumpy retreat, though in pain I moved rather quickly back to my shorts still hanging on my handle bars.  Grabbing them I was surprised to notice I had not messed in them.

    However I did notice half of the school kids on the way to school had seen everything.  It was like a time warp, they all appeared to be posing for a still picture.  All movement ceased and they just stood there frozen in shock, as I limped off pushing my bike.

    Of course due to modern technology word had got to the school before me.  Arriving at the school there was a great crowd of kids cheering as soon as they saw me.  Lord will it never end I thought.

    Actually it wasn’t so bad they considered me a hero just for showing up.  Maynard who lived just down the alley from me from me fixed my bike for me.  Now Maynard was one you don't mess with I've seen him fight and he is a bad dude.

    “Thanks Maynard” I said”.

    Suddenly a vision of loveliness passed by,

    “Who was that Moe?”  I said. 

    “You should know, Rebecca hall” Moe said.  Rebecca was gorgeous, Black eyes that flashed at you beautiful wavy hair that hung to her waist, and an air that disarmed you instantly

    “You and Plug tried to blow her Daddies place up last night.”

      Catching my breath as I realized the full implications of what he was telling me.

    “You mean Fuzz is her Daddy?”

    “I didn’t see her there.”

    “No- they don’t live there.”

  “They live over on Hillcrest right beside Miss Hedrick.” 

  “I’m surprised you didn’t see her when you slid across the yard she was standing not ten feet from you.”

    Moe was laughing and slapping his leg at the same time, while I looked for something to hang myself with.  While I was at my lowest this pretty little hand ever so gently slipped a note in mine.  Her eyes met mine, and two dark pools of pure excitement drew me in.  If this was puppy love I hope I never grow up.  Moe and Maynard looked at me in astonishment my mouth was moving but nothing came out.  My voice ever so slowly returned, but it was in slow motion and with a really deep tone.  That did it for Moe he was on the ground and holding his sides.  As I stood there and stammered, she leaned over next to me and placed her lips ever so lightly against my ear, and whispered “comb your hair it’s sticking straight up.”  Jesus I hope this is just a dream and I wake up soon I thought.

    I parked my bike in the bike rack and walked slowly into school.  I entered the bathroom with Moe and Plug right behind me.  Wetting a paper towel I tried to clean myself up as best I could.

  “What did you think of the new girl Eddie? Plug said.”

  “She has to be the prettiest girl in the whole school, Plug.”

    I made another attempt at plastering my hair down, hearing the bell we went running to the classroom. upon opening the door I saw twenty nine faces grinning at me.  Fourteen of them were boys who had their hair molded straight up like a roosters comb.  I glanced over at the teacher, she was avoiding my stare however she did have a big grin on her face. 

    Things settled down as soon as class started, she introduced the new girl first thing.  Rebecca stood up looking like every boy’s dream, and told who she was and where she lived.  I could swear she was talking straight to me.

    Plug leaned over and said.

    “I thought she passed you a note Eddie?” Moe whispered.

      “Yeah I’ve not had a chance to read it yet” Moe.

      I felt around in my pocket and retrieved the note.  When I opened it she had drawn two eyes one open and one half closed. 

    “What in the world?”  I said.

Plug leaned over took one look and said

” Eddie you idiot she is winking at you.”

    Looking up I noticed that half the class had heard Plug’s little outburst.  Rebecca turned around ever so slowly and put a real wink on me, dumbfounded I stared at an open book on my desk.  Finally I was able to look up, my eyes focused in on Rebecca Lord she was beautiful.

    After a couple of hours of class, things settled down to normal.  I was beginning to enjoy school again.  It was nice seeing my friends from last year the girls especially some of them had really started to fill out, or maybe I was just seeing them differently.  I thought about how to approach Rebecca I knew I wanted to get to know her better.

    It seemed like forever, but the lunch bell finally rang.  Grabbing my lunch out of my book bag I headed for the lunch room.  I wanted to be sure and get there on the chance I might get to set with Rebecca.  Rebecca had saved a place for me.  Sliding in next to her I felt I was the envy of every boy here.  I unwrapped a sandwich somewhat abused from the bike ride.

    I was listening to Rebecca as I ate when she slipped a hand under the table and squeezed my leg.  I may not have messed my pants before, but I was sure I did this time.  When I realized I hadn’t, I slipped my hand under the table and held hers.  We didn’t talk much, but she would keep squeezing my hand, and little thrills would start in the pit of my stomach and travel like lightning through my body.

    All too soon the bell rang and we were headed back to the classroom.  This time everyone knew we were an item.  It seemed like the afternoon would drag on forever, but it finally came to an end.    Looking back over the day it wasn’t great, but it ended great.  Walking Rebecca home when we arrived at her house she put her arms around me and gave me my first kiss.  I continued walking up Hillcrest it was too steep to ride.  What am I going to tell Mom when she asks how was your first day of school son?