the king and the pauper

Resentment Setting In

Yesterday was pretty intense. It is pretty devastating that Mrs.Presley doesn't appear to like me very much. I think if I do as I promised and do not let Elvis drive me home every night then I might just gain her approval. I have always been liked by my elders so not being liked by Mrs. Presley stings a bit.

I was already at work and it is a fairly quiet day so far which I think I need as I am exhausted. Things at home are getting tenser. Daddy hasn't been doing any of his rehabilitation on his back and he is just getting lazy. Mamma says that he spends all day in his chair just barking his requests at her and she is losing patience. I came home last night to raise voices and I found mamma shouting at daddy about him needing to help her. I gently reminded mama that maybe he is doing very little because he is in pain. Mama told me that he wouldn't be in as much pain if he would follow the doctor's orders. Daddy said he won't do the doctor's exercises because they're pointless and won't help he won't even try.

I tried to converse with daddy and tell him that I'm so fatigued from doing all these extra hours at work but he told me it was to be expected and that hard work builds character. I felt like telling him that if this was true that lately, he has had no character but I bit my tongue then I felt bad for having such unkind thoughts towards daddy. This new version of him is someone I don't know. Daddy had always been a hard worker at the farm. At first, when daddy was off work because of his back I was a bit glad that after all these years he was finally able to have a rest. It's been a few months now since he's been off work and he has gotten used to doing nothing and acting like a king. His acting that way would be fine if we had the money to live off but we're poor.

Even with me working all the hours that the good lord gives me we are barely making it by. My wages go towards our rent and whatever mother makes goes toward food. I just worry about what will occur if I get sick and can't go to work. What ensues if I miss paying rent? We could never catch up. I think that it isn't fair that I have these anxieties at 17.

Most people my age are excited about their futures and what careers there going to have. Some are excited to meet their future husbands and create new family units. I am 17 and have never had a boyfriend and never experienced going on dates or the thrill of a first kiss. I am so Inexperienced that when Elvis held my hand I thought I was going to pass out.

Thinking about Elvis sends a thrill threw my body. I know that we're just friends and I have a massive infatuation with him but I'm just blessed to be able to call him my friend. I often look at Elvis and think about how blessed he is to be in the situation he is in. He has experienced poverty but he is now out of it and is enjoying his life. I'm so envious of him. I would love to just buy something and not have to fret about it. I am also so happy and proud of him. I remember the shy boy from Humes high who was bullied fiercely about how he dressed and how long his hair was. The other guys didn't like him because he dared to be different and the guys wanted to beat him into looking as dull as they did. He didn't seem to have much luck with the girls back then either. They thought he was bizarre and looked like a delinquent but once they heard him sing the tide turned and Elvis with that guitar became tantalizing.

Elvis was and still is shy which is part of his charisma. His manners are just the icing on a very beautiful cake.

I have daydreamed my whole work day and evening away and it's now time to close the cafe. It's been super quiet today and I know the boss will worry about this as the profits today are nowhere near what they normally are. I close up and I shiver as the night air hits my cheeks bringing a hint of red to them.

I miss seeing Elvis waiting in his pink Cadillac for me. His face would break into that beautiful smile when he saw me approaching him. I start to walk the long journey home at a quick pace refusing to slow down. Every sound of someone laughing or honking their horns made me jump outta my skin. I kept my head down and focused on the sound of my footsteps.