Catching on

THE HAY RIDE

 

My Mom stomps her foot. Her lips let out a loud, mean yell. 'NO! she bellows. 'You are too young to go on a hay ride. Boys will be there and they might try to do bad things to you. You can't go. You're only thirteen.' I know when she gets red in the face and forbids me to do anything I want, I won't get to do it. This time I don't let up, go over her head and wait for my Poppa to drive into our garage. I'm at the laundry room door until his car makes a sad sound and stops.  He sees me, puts out his arms and tries to lift me off my feet. 'Poppa, stop that. I'm not a baby anymore. Momma explained to me that I am already a woman. 'Please, before you talk to Momma, I want to go on a hay ride and she won't let me. Didi, Marjorie and Phyllis are all going. They already have dates. I don't have one --yet. Can I try, Poppa? It's next Sunday. The truck stops in front of Bridge's store every week-end and this is the last week before school starts. You've seen it when you go for bagels. Please let me go. Can I try to find a date? Mama said 'no, but this is what I really want. Marjorie may have somebody for me.' It's time for me to quit nagging. Pouting works well usually. I pout.

His reply comes quickly.' Sure, Honey, go.'  

 

Supper time is very quiet. My daddy's face is very serious. He finishes his coffee and goes upstairs, closes the door to the bedroom. When Mom and I finish straightening the kitchen, Poppa comes down with a broad smile on his face. He glances at Mama ,turns to me and tells me he has found a date for me and I can go on the hay ride. Mama's face turns fiery red this time. She's fuming . I'm happy inside but don't let it show too much.

 

'Sheila,' he says to me, 'Your date is Harvey, my cousin Bobby's son. You've seen him, tall and he plays football. He'll call you tomorrow.' Dad gets a cigar from his humidor and goes outside to smoke it. As much as I hate the smell, I follow him to the front steps. 'Poppa, I can't go with Harvey, he's my cousin. I'll be laughed at.' 'Honey, he isn't really your cousin. His father married a 2nd cousin of my mother who was a 3rd cousin of Joe, the guy that's in jail. Harvey's far from being your cousin. I already gave him money for the tickets. Go, you'll have a good time.'

 

Harvey comes to get me. My mother, against her better judgement, has packed us a big lunch. The smell of her fried chicken already makes me hungry. She wraps it all in Saran , adds two slices of apple pie, a bag of potato chips, a small jar of gherkins, a handful of paper napkins and puts it all in a  green cloth shopping bag. Every other girl has a wicker picnic basket. Most have satin bows on the handles. I want to crawl in a hole and just die.

 

Overflowing with musty smelling hay, the back entry drops with a loud clang. Our driver, BoBo, puts out a step ladder for the girls. The boys don't need it. They jump, pull themselves up and grab their dates, find a place where they can lean against the high side of the truck. I feel like a shadow, like a worm. Harvey spreads a bath towel out for me so I won't get too messy. When I thank him, he grabs my hand, pulls me towards him, tries to kiss my cheek.  I don't stop him with words or a slap. I simply turn away and hardly say a word to him, or anyone else as my adventure begins.

 

Our destination is the Swinging Bridge in Virginia. It's a long ride. With no roof to our truck, the air gets chilly. Harvey offers me his sweater. A little lie of not needing it keeps him at arms distance. The moon is shining and I show what looks like a man sitting on its edge to whoever isn't messing around. That seems to leave me and Harvey looking at the moon.

 

It seems forever until BoBo pulls over to the edge of the road, gets out and lowers the back exit. He points the way to the Swinging Bridge, announces he'll blow his whistle  in 30 minutes, three times, and we had better all come back to the truck fast. Nobody, I mean nobody, heads for the bridge. Harvey just about ignores me and vice versa, until a tall, fat boy I don't know comes over to me, sits down on the grass and tries to hold my hand. I use that hand to slap him hard on his face. He is warned by Harvey to get the heck away from me. There is a lot of kissing and hugging going on. I am not part of it, nor is Harvey. Margie and Didi are someplace, but not in my sight. We haven't even said hello to each other and we will soon say goodbye.

 

Back in the city, the streets are quiet. As we near Bridges, the boys pull the straw out of their dates hair. The girls have pretty much buttoned their blouses. Harvey helps me down and walks me home. He waves so long, whistles a happy tune and tells me he'll call me in the morning.

 

HE DOES.