A River Flows Through Us

Strangers in a Strange Place...

I guess if we are going to tell this story right, then let's start at the beginning. My name is Grace Marie Evans. I'm 25, and this is my story...

     I was born in the small town of Riverside City. Just south enough to be country, but not enough to be crazy. Riverside the kinda place you either knew everyone, or no one. You either had two jobs, or two houses. It was a simple place, but it was home.

     I guess if we are specking facts, then technically I only have two older brothers. Steven Evans who everyone calls Steve, or in my case Stevie. He's 29, married, with a 4 year old son named Wyatt. Steve owns a wood working company, that helps to build things around town. His wife Kailey Thompson, was Steve's high school sweetheart. Steve was the strong one in the family, just like our dad. The kind of big brother that would do anything to keep you safe, even if you didn't like it. But needless to say, he is a good brother, and friend. The kind of person you could tell anything too.

     Then there's Kayden Evans, 27 and who's about as straight as a circle. He's been with his boyfriend Malcolm for 3 years now. Kayden was the kind one in the family. Something he got from our mother. He was the kinda of brother who wouldn't take a piece of candy if he couldn't take some for everyone else. It's surprised me when he showed up with the crazy, dramatic, loud, guy like Malcolm Miller, but it works and they are happy.

     Of course there's my mom and dad, Sarah and Robert Evans.

     My dad was the back bone of the family. The hard working, Mr. JumpRightInAndFixIt, no problem to big, Robert Evans. He was a mechanic at the only shop in town. My mom used to say "he spent so long fixing cars that he started to believe he could fix anything." But he had a way of making you feel safe around him.

     Then there's my mom, Sarah Evans. Out of everyone, she was the heart of the family. She was a die hard hippie, but cared for deeply about people. She was the kinda women who believed that being kind was more important than knowledge. The dancing in the kitchen while cooking dinner kinda woman. Who believed music would save the soul, and that only love would truly save the world. My mom gave the best hugs out of anyone in town.

     Then there's my best friend Lizzy. Elizabeth Jean Hall, 25 with a 7 year old. I know 17 is really young to have a kid, but Lizzy pulled it off with style. It was all she could do when the baby daddy split before Isabella was born. Sure enough baby Bella walked her mom across the stage at our high school graduation, and then again when we graduated from college. To tell you the truth I think that not having the baby daddy around was the best thing for both Lizzy and Bella.

     Lizzy has two older brothers just like me. Jaxson, who we all call Jax. He's 28, also married with a son, little Henry is only 3. Then there's William who we all call Willie. He's a total player. He's 27, and never had much drive for school, or anything for that matter other than sports. Willie lettered in four sports. I mean who letters in archery? It's that really a thing? Willie never kept a girlfriend longer than three weeks. Once I asked him about it, he told me "Women are pretty to look at, but no one wants a dumbass." I guess he's just waiting for the right one.

     Jax, Steve, and Willie, have been close since they were kids. I guess that happens when you have families as closes as ours.

    You see my mom Sarah and Lizzy's mom MJ, short for Michelle Jean, lived next door to each other when they were kids. They went from playing in the yard together,  to going to the same college and being roommates. After college they both met the loves of their lives. My dad, and Lizzy's dad, Andrew. My mom and Lizzy's mom would kick there husbands out of the house just to have a movie marathon. They laugh so hard they would cry, and some times they would just cry, but it worked. The kind of friendships you would only get once a life time.