Spirited Away

By Roy A Rogers

One of the last of the Greatest Generation, and one of the first of the Baby Boomers, Kathy was born with a curse. A curse that men would kill for and women would die for. It plagued her all her life, until she passed it on to her daughter, who turned it into a blessing and gave it back.

In the midst of beginning adulthood, Kathy finds herself spirited away to face challenges so new and unexpected to her. As a child she had chosen to remain independent, but she soon becomes surrounded by friends whom she knows it would be hard to live without.

She follows her husband Johnny in the world of helicopters, war, parenthood and life, leaving behind her childish dreams, her friends, and her secrets, and gladly replacing them all with the one they call Cinnamon.

This is a story of Love, Despair, Tragedy, and Hope, and the Spirit which keeps hope alive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9780359960651

Book preview

Spirited Away

Spirited Away

Roy A. Rogers

2019

Copyright © 2019 by Roy A. Rogers

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing: 2019

ISBN   978-0-359-96065-1

Stories in this book are based on real events. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons both living and dead is purely coincidental and highly unlikely.

Dedication

To Friends and Memories

Contents

Spirited Away

Copyright © 2019 by Roy A. Rogers

Dedication

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1: Cinnamon

Chapter 2: Kathy

Chapter 3: Cinnamon

Chapter 4: Kathy

Chapter 5: Cinnamon

Chapter 6: Kathy

Chapter 7: Cinnamon

Chapter 8: Kathy

Chapter 9: Cinnamon

Chapter 10: Kathy

Chapter 11: Cinnamon

Chapter 12: Kathy

Chapter 13: Cinnamon

Chapter 14: Kathy

Chapter 15: Cinnamon

Chapter 16: Kathy

Chapter 17: Cinnamon

Chapter 18: Kathy

Chapter 19: Cinnamon

Chapter 20: Kathy

Chapter 21: Cinnamon

Chapter 22: Kathy

Chapter 23: Cinnamon

Chapter 24: Kathy

Chapter 25: Cinnamon

Chapter 26: Kathy

Chapter 27: Cinnamon

Chapter 28: Kathy

Chapter 29: Cinnamon

Chapter 30: Kathy

Chapter 31: Cinnamon

Chapter: 32 Kathy

Chapter 33: Johnny

Chapter 34: Annie

Chapter 35: Kathy

THE BEGINNING

Cinnamon

Deleted Scenes

How Johnny became LJ

Brian’s Ghost Story

THE SPIRIT

Preface

1968 - The country has divided itself into its own battle as the war in Vietnam continues to thrive. As some have said, the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ is turning out to be a runaway freight train speeding toward us.

It is more than the war overseas, there are many sides to be considered in this conflict that has broken people apart. People are passionate for whatever reason, but they are passionate for a cause. It’s their cause and those not in agreement will never stop to see the other side.

However, through the turmoil, and bitterness on both sides, we will endure.

Life goes on

people love

people hate

they fight

they forgive

things change

Things end

Introduction

October 30, 1968

Los Angeles International Airport

Gate 5A

Incoming: Flight 755 - SEA to LAX

On time

Everyone noticed the couple walking through the airport lobby. The woman was the first to catch the casual eye. Radiating from the young woman was a type of strength that comes from the security of the knowledge that she was in complete control of her life.

Heads turned as she walked through the lobby. They saw her long dark hair, made even more unique by a gray, almost white streak down the left side of her head as her hair fell across her shoulder. She wasn’t dressed provocatively, yet she attracted the glances of male and female alike. They saw a painting, a sculpture, a work of art, pleasing to the eye and soul. Men were left with a feeling of contentment from being given a glimpse of this woman, a feeling of happiness, a touch of lust and a bit of covetousness.

Neither did women miss her beauty. They, too, were moved with an emotion upon seeing her; happiness at seeing her look of optimism, pride of seeing their own gender represented so idealistically, and just a touch of jealousy and envy.

Accentuating her beauty was the woman’s companion. Another person, attractive in a different way, but equally affecting the emotions. For, in her arms, the woman held her baby daughter.

The woman’s name was Kathy. Her daughter was five months old with already long reddish-brown hair. Because of the color of her hair, the baby was called Cinnamon,

They were a beautiful couple in many ways, but the glances toward them didn’t last as everyone had their own reason for being there.

So, too, did the beautiful couple.

Chapter 1: Cinnamon

Kathy arrived at the airport early. She knew it would be hard to wander around the lobby for an hour or more until the plane came in, but it would have been harder on her to remain in the motel for that hour. She had been too anxious to sit in the room watching the snowy TV. Even with Cinnamon to play with she couldn’t contain her anxiety. The night before she had to drink three cocktails just to be able to sleep.

Now here she was at the airport and the waiting wasn’t any easier.

She carried Cinnamon with her to the gate where the airplane would be arriving, bypassing the lounges that looked so inviting. Alcohol would be wasted now. She was already high on emotion.

She found two available chairs and sat down beside a young man who was most willing to have her sit next to him, but Kathy had no interest in the young man. She thought about placing Cinnamon in the empty chair next to her but decided not to take the chance of her rolling off. She held Cinnamon in her lap and turned all her attention to the baby.

Passing the time, Kathy began to remember the things which led up to this moment with her and Cinnamon.

It was just one year ago when she said goodbye to four of the best friends she had ever had in her life.

Angela and Jim. Two people she could talk with, laugh with, and be herself without fear of being judged.

Then there was Annie. Kathy had never had and would probably never again have a friend like Annie. They had laughed and cried through so much.

And, of course, Brian. Although she would never see him, he was always with her.

Many people would wait a lifetime to find friends as close as any one of those four. Kathy thought her life may pass before she found just one friend like that again.

These were moments in a past that would never be repeated. It hurt to remember, so Kathy forced herself to stare out the terminal windows, and watch the airplanes take off and land, to take her mind off of what had been. Only one year ago, yet another lifetime ago. It was over and nothing could change that fact.

Kathy knew that if she kept on remembering she would cry. She wanted to save her tears because soon there would be plenty of tears, and they would be welcome…tears of joy.

It was not friends for whom she awaited. They were in the past; she had her future to look forward to. A future that would begin in about half an hour.

She wasn’t at all interested, but to stop her mind from working overtime she turned to the young man next to her, Are you waiting for someone to come in from Seattle?

He was pleased that the woman had spoken to him. He had been sneaking glances at her since she sat down. Now he could openly look at her face. He had watched her approach and, thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. That impression didn’t change when he saw her up close. Perhaps she was a movie star or a model.

He smiled, Yes I am, as a matter of fact. I’m picking up my sister. She is bringing her family to see Disneyland. He paused, giving Kathy the chance to talk about herself. When she didn’t talk immediately, he asked, And you?

Kathy ignored his question. Disneyland, huh? Do you live here?

Yeah, lived around LA for the last seven years.

Then you’re not a native? Oh, I forgot, no one is a native of Los Angeles, she laughed.

No, I used to live in Washington. Are you from here?

She said, I’ve only been here once before, there is so much of everything. How do you learn your way around?

As he talked, he kept trying to look at her hand for a wedding ring. Yes, she did have a baby, but there were a lot of women becoming unwed mothers now days. He couldn’t see her hand but decided that didn’t matter either. This was the age of free love. A wedding band didn’t mean anything, just ask his ex-wife.

He looked up, his mind back on the present as he heard her ask if he had been in the service. God, what sort of question was that?

I’m one of the lucky ones. I have an uncle, my old man’s brother. He pulled some strings with his friends and got me out of the draft. I didn’t even have to serve in the guard.

Kathy didn’t say anything, she continued tending to Cinnamon. Then, without a comment she picked up the baby and walked toward the lady’s room.

She was proud that she hadn’t made a scene, but now wasn’t the time. Perhaps a few months ago… There were too many good men serving in Vietnam, and too many not coming home. There was no way she would sit next to this little turd that was pleased with the fact he hadn’t served.

Kathy waited in the rest room a few minutes. She came out hoping the man would be gone. He wasn’t, but at least he didn’t see her. She carried Cinnamon to another gate and watched the people.

It seemed like forever before she heard the announcement that flight 755 was arriving. She held Cinnamon tight and hurried toward the gate, tears of happiness already forming in her eyes.

People began pouring out of the doorway from the airplane. Men, women, young, old, most of them smiling, but she gave them hardly a glance. Then she saw the one she was waiting for. A soldier, thin, rather short, with short dark hair, and a small scar running down his right cheek. From that moment on, everyone else ceased to exist.

Johnny Livingstone stepped off the airplane. It was hard to believe that only yesterday he had been sweating in the billets in Camranh Bay, South Vietnam, waiting for his flight out of there.

The airplane took them from Vietnam to Seattle where he transferred to this flight to Los Angeles. Now here he was back in the world where everything seemed clean and everyone spoke English and smiled a lot. It amazed him that in less than a day one could switch to a completely different lifestyle just by changing location.

The flight from Vietnam to Seattle had been one big party. He had lived with most of the men on that plane for a year. They had all come to Vietnam together and were all leaving together. That is, the ones that remained were leaving together. The trip had been full of excitement and anticipation. Most talked about how they were going to spend the next week with their wives, or girlfriends. Of course, some still rehashed their glory days in Vietnam, telling war stories that may or may not have really happened to them or may or may not have even happened to anyone, for that matter.

Johnny knew they would have to get that out of their system soon, because no one at home would want to hear those bloody stories. Johnny had determined early on that no one would be hearing any stories from him. He had another reason other than offending some tender ears in the States, to not tell his war stories.

Johnny had been eager for action from the time he joined the Army. He was young and Gung Ho and impatient for it to begin. Johnny had gone to Vietnam ready to win the war single handedly.

He soon found out that being there was nothing like he had expected. It wasn’t like the John Wayne movies. In fact, Johnny had found nothing glamorous about it at all. Very soon he found himself anxious for his year to be up so he could go back home. Then, strangely, as the time grew near and he became one of the short timers, he found himself reluctant to return to his home and family. He wasn’t sure they would accept what happened to him the year he was away. He wasn’t pleased, himself, with what he had been through the past year, how could he expect others to understand?

That was when he decided he wouldn’t talk about it to anyone. Not even his wife.

He had changed in that year. He knew he was not the same man he had been when he left.

When they landed in Seattle Johnny had to say goodbye to his buddies. One or two of them would be in Ft. Rucker along with Johnny. That would be his last assignment before his military obligation ended. He didn’t know if he would ever see his close friends again. In a way that could be good, too. His closest friends knew what he had been through in Vietnam, although no one talked about it. He wouldn’t need that reminder later on.

He didn’t know anyone on the flight from Seattle to LA. The rest had gone their own ways once they reached Seattle. He did miss his buddies, but this gave him time to go inside himself and prepare for his reunion.

He was still in his uniform, of course. The man sitting across the aisle asked, Just back from Vietnam?

Yep.

I’m in the Air Force. I was over there six months ago, the man said. He looked at Johnny’s uniform and saw his wings. So, you’re a pilot? What did you fly?

Helicopters, C model gunships.

You guys had it rough. I was on quite a few rescue missions pulling some of you guys out. Quite a few didn’t make it.

Yeah.

Where were you stationed?

Pleiku, Johnny answered.

Central Highlands. Central Badlands, we called it. We saw a lot of action in an area around Dak To. Did you guys ever get up there?

Most of the time. Johnny replied, because some response was required.

There was a mountain up there, Jackson’s Mountain it was called. They took the name from some chopper pilot that was shot down. That was quite a battle, I hear.

Johnny closed his eyes, I knew Jackson. He was in our unit. It happened early in my tour.

Is that a fact? What really happened on that mountain? We heard stories, but you know how those things get exaggerated.

Johnny sighed; it was starting already. I had really rather not talk about that. I just spent a year over there and now I’m home. Nothing personal, I’m not trying to be rude.

No offense taken. I know a lot of good men who had a hard time there.

Johnny rang for the stewardess and ordered a drink. He reached for his wallet. He opened it to realize he had no money. All he had were MPC, the military money they used in Vietnam. It was no good here.

The Airman quickly handed the stewardess some bills and told Johnny. Let the Air Force buy you a drink.

Well, thank you.

We were all together over there. Consider this a loan. When you get the chance, you can buy some Air Force flyboy a drink.

I’ll remember that.

True to his word the man didn’t ask him any more questions about Vietnam, nor did he talk about his own experiences. He did ask Johnny about his family and Johnny was glad to talk about them.

Now here he was, leaving the plane and walking into the terminal in LAX. She was the first person he saw. There was no mistaking who she was. Waiting for him was his dream come true, the most beautiful woman in the room.

All he could say was, Kathy, before they embraced and kissed. He had just come from Vietnam where he had seen and heard the most gruesome stories without a second thought or barely any emotion at all, but now, as he kissed his wife, he found his face covered with tears. His own tears.

They held each other for long moments and Johnny gradually became aware of the bundle in Kathy’s arms. He pulled away from her for a better view.

Kathy had sent pictures, lots of pictures, of Cinnamon, but it did not compare to seeing her in the flesh for the first time.

He stared at the baby and gently touched her cheek. So, this is what all the fuss was about.

Kathy handed her over to him, Cinnamon, meet your daddy.

Cinnamon was awake by then and looked around. Unaccustomed to the new smell and the strange arms holding her, she began to whimper. Unable to recognize who was holding her, the whimper became a cry. Johnny didn’t hand her back to Kathy. He wasn’t hurt or embarrassed by Cinnamon’s crying. Instead, he slowly rocked the five-month-old baby in his arms and talked to her until the crying stopped. As he looked at her, he was sure he saw the little lips turn into a smile. In that brief instant during their first meeting, he was madly in love.

They waited for his baggage, eliciting stares from a few long-haired young people. Johnny ignored them, but he was aware that he was probably not very popular at this moment, standing there in his uniform. He would take it off the first chance he got and not put it back on until he had to report for duty in three weeks.

He saw his two large duffel bags and reluctantly handed Cinnamon to Kathy while he picked them up. The rest of his things, shipped over as holding bags, would be waiting for him in Ft. Rucker.

Johnny kept his eyes on Kathy. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was to have her as his wife. He had almost lost her before he went to Vietnam. He didn’t want to remember that. It had been his fault. He almost lost Kathy, almost let her slip away, yet she was still here, but there had been another loss. Like Kathy earlier, he immediately forced that memory out of his mind. It was over a year ago. Like Kathy, he also thought of that year as another lifetime. He had changed. That part of his life was over. He had Kathy now, and he was determined he would do his best to keep her.

Then Johnny shifted his attention back to the little one in her arms. Was it really possible that he had been responsible for helping create that life? That beautiful baby girl, and she was part of him? For a moment Johnny was almost overwhelmed with the idea of the miracle of birth. True, he had Kathy now, but he also had Cinnamon and he knew nothing short of Cinnamon herself could ever take her away from him.

Kathy had rented a car when she got to LA the night before. She initially thought about driving their car all the way to California. She would have enjoyed the long drive back to Alabama with Johnny, but their Mustang was getting old and she didn’t want to risk breaking down on some lonely stretch of road, especially having Cinnamon with her. She knew she could have gotten by on her own, but Cinnamon was precious cargo. Kathy would take no chances with her.

Kathy had a cousin in LA. They planned to visit him before they left, but the first few days would be just the three of them.

Both of Johnny’s parents had died in an airplane crash three years earlier. Like Kathy, Johnny was an only child so there were no close relatives that either felt should share his homecoming for the first couple of days. They wanted to spend the time together seeing the sights, or more accurately looking at each other, before they had to share each other with someone else. Kathy’s parents were anxious to see him, but they were willing to wait at their home until Kathy and Johnny came to visit with them a few days before they went back to the Army.

Johnny held Cinnamon in the car while Kathy drove. Watching her drive, as impossible as it might seem, Johnny thought Kathy must be even prettier than he remembered. In fact, everything was better than he remembered. Being away did that to a person. It was even more so when you weren’t sure you would see these things again.

Kathy drove the rental car to the motel. Johnny didn’t even ask to drive as he had not been behind the wheel of an automobile in over a year.

Before leaving they planned to visit Kathy’s cousin. He would take them to Disneyland, and Knott’s Berry Farm and the rest of the tourist places and show them the best beaches and restaurants. That would come, but the rest of the day was theirs alone. Kathy pulled into the parking lot of a large Hilton.

Nothing but the best for Johnny.

Johnny carried Cinnamon up to their room. He had to constantly keep reminding himself that he actually was a father.

Cinnamon was asleep in his arms, when Kathy opened the door to their room. That was perfect, too, because as soon as Kathy closed the door, she began removing her clothes. Johnny placed the sleeping Cinnamon on a little mattress on the floor close to the bed.

No matter what was about to happen, either would hear the slightest request from Cinnamon.

Johnny watched Kathy undress wondering how he deserved to be so lucky. She had spent a lot of time in the sun. Her body was tanned all over and showed no tan lines. Had she done it for him? Probably. She was so very beautiful, and she loved him. How lucky could he be?

She stood before him, nude, tan and beautiful. The first and only words spoken for the next half hour was Kathy saying, This may be difficult unless you take off your clothes, too.

Then Johnny became aware that more was expected of him than just looking at her. He grinned and began taking off his uniform.

He took Kathy in his arms. He was home.

Not thinking in vulgar terms but in familiarity, Johnny thought to himself that Kathy fit him like a glove.

Unlike everything else since he returned, which seemed strange and different, making love to Kathy was the same. It was better because of the absence, of course, but his memory of Kathy had not been tainted. He had been overseas and seen different strange cities and people and even grown accustomed to them, but he had not slept with another woman. Some of the other married men strayed a few times while there, but Johnny did not. There were times he was tempted, but he had always resisted. Now, he was proud that he had held firm.

Being back with Kathy was like making love to her for the first time. True, he knew her smell, and knew how her skin felt to the touch, but the excitement was fresh. Although Johnny had never admitted it to his friends, Kathy had been the first woman he had ever slept with, and that was after they married. Now here he was losing his virginity all over again to this new yet familiar woman, and still the only woman he had ever slept with.

The difficult times they had had prior to him leaving for Vietnam were over. It had been a year and they both had changed. Johnny had determined to make the best of it by putting the past in the past and leaving it there.

Lost in the excitement and after only a few minutes, Johnny was through, but they remained embraced and he was soon able to start again. With the sex over, they made love. It lasted until they were both fully satisfied.

It was then that the silence was broken with whispers of never-ending love.

Lying beside him with her head in the crook of his arm she asked, What is it you have, Johnny Livingstone? What is it that makes you so special?

He said, I have you, Kathy L.

Cinnamon stirred, Kathy got up and fed her.

Later, after Johnny fell asleep, Kathy stared at the ceiling. Was this the same man she had dated just five years ago? That little Johnny Livingstone kid?

Oh Johnny, in the beginning who would have known we would be here now? Who would have known five years ago I would bring my daughter to meet you after you had just spent a year in a war? We weren’t even aware there was a war then. Five years may as well be five lifetimes.

She smiled to herself, remembering those days a lifetime ago.

Chapter 2: Kathy

Her name was Kathy Leon Spencer.

She was born in the early 40s. She had never been able to determine if she was one of the last of the Greatest Generation, or one of the first of that famous group that would be called the Baby Boomers.

Her uncle, the brother of her father, had been killed in the war, the Big war, nine months before Kathy was born. Her father had been very close to his brother and when he found out his wife was pregnant, swore that he would keep his brother’s memory alive by naming his first child after him. The fact that his first child might be a female did not enter his mind until months later, and by then he had grown so accustomed to calling the unborn child, Leon, that it seemed a natural name, even for a girl.

Through his insistence the name stayed. He did, however, allow her mother to add the name Kathy.

Kathy was born with a curse. The curse of beauty. No one knew where her looks came from. Her father was a stocky square faced former Marine. Her mother, slightly taller than her father, had never been called pretty. Perhaps, cute, as a child, but not often.

People said that if they were, indeed, Kathy’s real parents, her mother must have been entertaining the milk man while her father was upstairs with the maid.

Unlike most children who have to mature into beauty, Kathy was beautiful from the time she was born. She was never called a cute baby, or a cuddly baby. She was always a beautiful baby.

Through adolescence, Kathy remained beautiful. While the other girls were suffering through chicken pox, buck teeth, the awkward stage of puberty, and pimples, Kathy seemed to breeze through those years with no effort at all. She did not have to do anything special to keep herself, seemingly, physically perfect. She was just somehow special. She knew it and the other children knew it. However, being special was not necessarily all good. It set her apart.

Many of the children Kathy had known since first grade, she considered her friends, but she could never remember being close to any of them. Their opinion seemed to be, ‘anyone as pretty as Kathy, must feel themselves better than the rest. Even if she doesn’t show it, she must be a snob.’ Kathy spent years trying to prove them wrong. Then decided even that was an act, so as she developed, she decided to just be herself as best as she could and let the opinions fall where they may.

During her early teen years, Kathy blossomed from a beautiful child to a beautiful adult, all in one summer. The other girls spent their time at the orthodontist, or worrying about makeup, or getting accustomed to training bras. Kathy did not even have to worry about how she brushed her hair, which always seemed to fall into place, and being long and silky black, was one of her most striking features. Her girlfriends were jealous, as well as envious.

Her father was ever proud of his daughter. When she was fourteen, he entered her in a local beauty contest, without her knowledge. She didn’t want to be in the contest. She thought she should be known for something other than her looks. Her looks were an act of nature. She wanted to be known for something she herself had accomplished. She entered the contest anyway, out of respect for her father.

It was just that, strictly a beauty contest. There were no categories for talent or achievements. Kathy did nothing in particular to prepare for the contest. She was just herself.

She won it easily, although the winning did not leave her with a feeling of accomplishment. It did leave her with a few less friends who had worked for weeks for the right look, the correct pose. They knew she had not cared that much, which added to their jealousy.

After that, Kathy decided to treat her looks as a handicap. She couldn’t stop people from looking at her, but she would do nothing to draw attention to herself, either.

Then came the boys. As Kathy’s body rounded out, the boys her age remained small clumsy children, but they noticed her. So did the older boys.

Kathy wanted friends, but she had no close girlfriends. She had the opinion that other girls assumed no boy would pay attention to them if they were with Kathy. For this reason, Kathy often turned down invitations to parties from her classmates, even though they asked.

At one point she decided she would just make friends with boys.

Boys became a different problem. They didn’t mind being seen with her. In fact, they vied for her attention. They were not, however, looking for friendship. The main thing they were interested in was touching. She did not mind touching. Her family had raised her with plenty of touching, and many hugs and kisses, but the boys were different. They touched her in places her father would never dream of touching, and when they did this, there was nothing loving, or even friendly about their actions.

So, the one girl who had the looks to be the most popular in school, remained alone by choice. She assumed the other girls shunned her, and she shunned the boys.

Upon entering high school, Kathy had made up her mind. She would go it alone. She would do this without being rude or snobbish, her parents had taught her well, but unless someone approached her with an indication of true friendship, she would not go out of her way looking for it. She could get by without it.

As an only child, she knew how to be independent. Love was for average people. Kathy was not average; she would find something else. It was a challenge to be so independent and survive. It was a challenge, and Kathy was beginning to enjoy challenges.

Early in life, Kathy had set another goal for herself. That was to remain a virgin until she married. So far, she had been successful, even after many of her classmates, those with more friends, had given in to the lust and temptation that maturing youth brings. Kathy was determined to meet that challenge and win. She was strong. Even if no one else could see beyond her face and body, she knew she was a real person inside. She was also determined to remain by herself and stay happy.

Then one day in her senior year something began to bug her. Something which she tried to ignore but couldn’t.

It was that skinny little kid, a junior, named Johnny Livingstone.

Kathy opened her locker to swap her last class books for the next. She didn’t notice the three boys watching her, at first, but they noticed her.

One of them, Bobby McNamara, remarked, Now that’s one fine looking lady. What I wouldn’t give to get that in the back seat of my Dodge.

The second boy, Wayne Talbot, said, You would be disappointed. Didn’t you know she was a cold fish?

No, anyone who looks like that has to be hot. A hot mackerel. Bobby insisted, laughing.

Wayne said, Think a minute. Have you ever been out with her? Do you know anyone who has gone out with her?

Well, yeah. Lane took her out once. Said she was great. All over him, you know? Like a snake.

Well, you know Lane, and how he handles the truth. Where do you think the saying, ‘Tell another one, Lane’ comes from? I guarantee you, Lane’s snake never got close to her.

Bobby said, But there have been too many stories about her. Some of them have to be true.

No. That Kathy, there, is an A one snob. I’ll bet she doesn’t even date. Heck, she is probably one of those less beans. Like, you know, she likes girls.

Johnny Livingstone had been watching Kathy, not saying anything, while the others talked. The three of them hung out together most of the time. They were jocks, athletes. Johnny was the smallest of the three; and the smartest. He was also, unquestionably, their leader.

In response to Wayne’s last remark and still looking at Kathy, Johnny said, She is no lesbian.

Johnny was on the track team. He had been responsible for the school’s winning more than one track meet. He had tried out for football. The coach said he could be a good running back, but he would have to put on a few more pounds before he could play on the varsity team. Instead, Johnny concentrated on and excelled at track.

He didn’t have many close friends. The ones he hung out with were the tough boys in school. The ones that didn’t mesh with the rest of the crowd. Some of them would drop out before finishing school. Johnny was the only one of his crowd who consistently passed all his courses. This was usually done with As or Bs. His friends did not seem to mind that one flaw in his character.

Johnny didn’t have any problems finding dates, either. Most of the girls liked his good looks and liked going with a track star. He could go with practically any girl he chose. He usually got what he wanted. Nothing but the best.

He said, Kathy’s problem is she hasn’t yet been asked out by the right man.

Bobby asked, "Are you going to ask her out, Johnny?

Wayne said, She won’t go out with you. She is too stuck up. Besides, she’s a senior, and we are just juniors.

Johnny said, Just stand back and watch the pro at work. There hasn’t been a girl born whose ice I couldn’t break.

Kathy closed her locker. She turned and walked down the hall toward the three boys. She knew by then they had been watching her. She recognized them, at least, she knew their names. She didn’t know them well because she was a senior and they were juniors. That just was not the in thing for girls to do; associate with younger boys. Not that she cared what people thought, she had to remind herself.

These three, she knew, were some of the bums, as she thought of them. The group that did not try to be sociable with the popular kids, or actually any of the kids that weren’t bums with them. They were also the ones from whom she could expect the knowing looks, the crude remarks, and occasionally a wandering hand trying to touch her, cop a feel. She knew what to expect. It had happened often enough, and it would happen again.

Kathy continued to walk toward them, meeting them eye to eye. Not out of defiance, but out of self-possession. Not showing fear, but confidence. Flashing a look that said, Give it your best boys, you can’t intimidate me. I can meet you face to face, word for word, and I will win.

Two of the boys, Wayne and Bobby, were grinning at her. She knew them, what they were like. All talk. She could stop them cold, if she wished. One flash from her dark eyes would crack their leers, even cause them to look away. She had used her stare before. She could, but she wouldn’t, not this time. Let them have their fun. They were harmless. She may even give them a show, stick out her chest a little more, use a bit more swing in her walk. Maybe even give them a pat on the butt on her way by. They wouldn’t know what hit them.

She didn’t do any of that, because just before reaching them she saw that one kid, Johnny, looking at her differently than the others. He wasn’t ogling or sneering. He was looking. At her.

She continued to walk toward them, and she gave them a friendly ‘hello’ smile as she passed. Then, as she went on by, they were forgotten. They were not a challenge…

Kathy.

She looked around. It was Johnny that had called. He was following her without his two friends, although they still watched. She stopped, waiting to hear what he had to say, knowing it would be a waste of her time.

He spoke, You know, Kathy. My friends and I were just talking about you.

‘I’ll bet,’ she thought, but said nothing.

We have noticed how you don’t have too many dates. I know it must be tough, being shy and all, but I think I can help you. You need a date with a real man to help you out of your shell.

The nerve of that little punk! Who does he think he is? Kathy tentatively began her ‘You are going to die.’ stare. He did not blink. She stood straighter, actually looking down on him. He looked back. He wasn’t smiling at what he had just said. He looked like he meant it, and he matched her stare without blinking.

She should walk away, ignore this brash little guy, her stare wasn’t working anyway, and she didn’t understand that.

But Kathy didn’t like to take the easy way out. Instead she said, And where could I find one of these real men?

You’re looking at him.

She should have laughed in his face. No one should be that pretentious. He was probably used to getting anything he wanted. Now he wanted her. What he needed was to be put down. He needed to be shown who was in the driver’s seat. The best way she could think of to do that would be to take him on, one on one.

She said, The only way to be a real man is to face up to a real woman. Do you think you are ready for that?

Now, I guess I have to find me a real woman to know that.

Kathy didn’t answer. She just looked at him with her now failing kill stare, until he finally gave in and said, Just name the place and time.

Without hesitation she said, Pick me up at seven Saturday. We can go roller skating.

Immediately, she thought, ‘Craps, why did you say that, Kathy? I should have told him to P off and sent him on his way. Now I have to see him again.’ She shook her head in disbelief thinking she had made a stupid mistake then turned away.

Johnny walked back to his friends. He gave them the ok sign with his thumb and forefinger. I told you guys I could do it. We are going skating Saturday.

He thought a second. Did he really get a date with her? Or did she arrange the date? Who was going to be in charge here?

Maybe not skating. I think we will go to the drive-in. Will I have some stories for you on Monday. You two are about to get a lesson on how to melt an iceberg.

Kathy