Growing up in the Deep South in 1963 was tumultuous. Three young girls embark on an adventure that will take them from Birmingham to Memphis. They begin to figure life out and they get through it, becoming adults along the way.

dreams

Some Assembly Required ... the beginningBy dale bridges

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2012 Dale Bridges
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4772-7261-9

Chapter One

The main doors and windows of the bank lobby faced west. This allowed Brenda to tell the time of day without making an obvious turn to glance at the clock mounted over the row of cashiers behind her. When the inching shadow of the top of the window reached the top edge of her desk blotter, just to the right of the "Barnes and Dalton Hardware Desk Calendar"; Brenda Johnson calculated the hour to be twelve thirty in the afternoon. When the shadow crept into a perfect diagonal across the desk top, reaching the opposite corners at precisely the same moment; the time of day would be exactly two o'clock. On this summer day, she would be leaving her job early. There was a dream to be caught.

Brenda had managed to obtain a part day schedule. Her suitcase was packed and firmly nestled in the trunk of her newest treasure. The brightest red, the shiniest red, the purest candy-apple red Chevrolet Impala that General Motors made was waiting for her in the bank parking lot. The convertible top was a bonus.

Brenda opened the bottom drawer of her file cabinet for another peek at the latest edition of "Modern Screen". Just gazing at the cover picture gave her a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach. Brenda never saw Tammy, her co-worker, peering over her shoulder.

Tammy's eyes were half-closed as she thought 'Oh Elvis. Oh, hold me. Kiss me. Treat me nice. Oh Elvis.'

When Brenda realized that the other girl was standing behind her, she instantly flushed. Surely, this intruder had read her thoughts; 'Elvis, Elvis. Oh, Elvis. Oh, hold me. Kiss me, Elvis. Oh, treat me nice.'

"A friend of mine saw him once. He's got the most beautiful eyes in the world. Do you think ya'll run into the pride of Memphis while you're there over the weekend?"

This question caused Brenda to giggle, becoming more excited and fluttery just thinking of it actually happening. A dream had been spun from fantasy, and then woven into the realm of possibility.

Brenda calculated the illumination of the pencil cup to be her cue for departure. Any moment the gold lettering of 1st Jefferson Savings & Loan would sparkle and shimmer, signaling her freedom. One Mississippi, and two Mississippi and three Mississippi and GO.

The warm breeze lifted the edge of the white kitchen curtains causing the white fluffy balls that had been stitched along the hem to wiggle and bounce.

A pretty girl in her seventeenth year sat at the table in front of the window. She was carefully applying white chalky liquid polish to a pair of canvas tennis shoes. The small square applicator pad was messy to handle so she worked very slowly. As she finished her job, she scratched her narrow upturned nose with a long manicured fingernail. She was an exquisite example of femininity. The small, delicate bones of her face were punctuated by large, dark green eyes with inner corners that turned up. She was also taller than average and very slender. She was a real head-turner. Her name was Marilee Ann Albright and she was a day-dreamer. She remained at the white Formica topped table even though her chore was finished. She didn't move a muscle. She was very deep in thought. Was it mentioned that Marilee Ann was a day-dreamer? 'Wishing your days away'; that's what her mother always complained. Marilee puffed a shudder of resolve, walked to the sink and began to wash the dried white polish from the backs of her fingers. The white phone on the wall rang. Marilee picked up the receiver. As she expected, it was her friend from college, Brenda.

"Hey. I'm leaving right now. I hope you're all ready. I need to change clothes at your house, if that's O.K."

"O.K. Sure, change here", agreed Marilee. "What're you wearing?"

Brenda described the shorts, blouse and sandals that would be her traveling outfit.

"Uh, huh. Uh, huh. That sounds really cute. I'm ready. Well, I'll be ready when you get here."

"I'm so excited. I just know this will be a trip that we will remember for all of our lives. Don't you think?"

"I guess it will. You want me to call Clara now or wait till just before we leave here?"

"Better wait. I'll see ya in a bit. Bye."

"All right. Bye, now." Marilee hung up the phone in the kitchen and dashed into her bedroom. Quickly she pulled off her grey slacks and shirt, redressing in shorts and a cotton shirt. As she hurried down the short, narrow hall to the bathroom; Mrs. Albright approached her with a small, wrapped package.

"Just a little something for Marion. A hostess gift. You give it when you get ready to leave."

"Yes, Mother."

"I thought you were going to wear your nice slacks."

"They're too hot, Mother. Besides, Brenda's wearing shorts."

"Well, I don't know ..."

"These'll be more comfortable to ride in. The grey slacks might get messed up", rationalized Marilee.

"... they're mighty short." Mrs. Albright clearly did not approve of this change.

"Can I borrow your make-up bag? This stuff won't fit in my tiny, little thing."

"Do you think you're going to need all of that guck?"

"I don't know, Mother. I should have it, just in case."

"You look nice. Just fine without it."

"Oh, Mother." Marilee was slightly exasperated.

"Well, I guess."

When she had finished assembling her baggage for the trip, Marilee counted her money again. She had saved seventy-eight dollars. She wished she had a hundred, but she didn't dare mention that to her mother. Mrs. Olive Albright was not at all convinced this venture was a good idea. Twice already, she had hinted that she would be glad to go along as a chaperone. Seventy-eight dollars would have to be enough. Marilee latched her suitcase and moved it to the living room. Taking a seat on a long oak bench, she opened her little note pad to double check the address and phone number of the Peabody Hotel, Rachel's room number, then cousin Marion's address and phone number. They were all there, ready when she needed them. She was very organized. Why were her hands trembling? She had prepared herself. Why was her stomach fluttering? She hadn't forgotten anything. Oh! ... her little sewing kit. She might need that. As she stood up to get it, Brenda pulled her car into the Albright driveway, honking the horn to signal her arrival.

"Marilee Ann, I think that might be your friend Brenda, now."

The announcement was unnecessary. It was almost time to go. She was sure that her dream was waiting out there, but Marilee was concerned that someone else would find it, pick it up, and then keep it for their own. It had happened to her before. Many times.

"Clara? Clara, leave them chores. Your girlfriends just called to say they're on the way", hollered Mrs. Jourdan as she stood on the back porch. She never dreamed that her daughter had any desire to go on a weekend adventure to a big-time city like Memphis, Tennessee. In spite of parental apprehensions, it was decided that exposure to the urbane would be good for a farm girl.

Clara came running from the back garden holding something in the pouch she had made out of her kitchen apron. As she stomped into the big country kitchen to deposit tomatoes on the worn kitchen table; she fussed, "My hair ain't dry yet. I need a scarf to cover these dang curlers."

"There's that real pretty net bonnet your sister got. She don't use it much. I'm sure she'd not be minding."

"Thanks, Ma."

"Now here's a paper your Pa made of some of his kin that he...