the Presleys

chapter 9 - 1950

CECE MARTIN

"I've also finally learned how to play the guitar, because my daddy let me take some classes. He first wanted me on the piano, since it's apparently more 'ladylike' than the guitar. Anyways. You know the song I told you about? That's all right? I was thinking the song could be guitar only? It's not completely ready yet, because I was thinking you could add your personal touch to it. I can't wait to show it to you. My step siblings, my stepmother, my daddy and I are gonna visit you in Tupelo! Isn't it exciting? Like I said in the other letter, I'm not planning on leaving you again. We can finish the song together and we can finally be a duo! We have to think of a name—"

"Cecilia, please tell you ain't writing to that boy again?", I dropped my pen at my daddy's voice. I looked over my left shoulder and found him looking at me from the door, nothing but a disappointing look on his face. I gulped and made up a lie.

"I-I was writing to my mama—"

"You're stuttering, Cecilia.", he stated the obvious. "That means you're lying. Quit behaving like a child, when you obviously ain't one no more.", I hated the way he said those words. Lecturing me for something so innocent, for doing something that brought me peace and comfort.

Writing to Elvis has been like writing into a journal. An activity that relieved me from the stress that's brought into my day to day life. The stress is very subjective. What's stressful to me is definitely not stressful to my daddy. I know that as a twelve year old there is no way that my life has reached a stressful point yet, but I feel like the pressure and expectations that people have of me, are what cause that heavy feeling at the end of a day.

That feeling of being too much and being not enough at the same time.

However, knowing that I'll be seeing Elvis, his family and my mama in less than 24 hours gives me comfort. I've packed extra heavy, because I won't be leaving Tupelo again. I was planning on staying with my family.

_____________

"Ladies and gentlemen, your destination is only ten minutes away. Please remain seated, until—"

I silently squealed in my seat at the announcement. That was it. I was going to be finally home. I would be reunited with my mama and Elvis and I are going to be spending some quality time together. Again. Though the thought of being apart for so long made me slightly angry; but the excitement was unmatched.

"You excited to see your mama, Cece?", Matilda asked me. I remembered the way she used to talk to me and seeing that we're now civil to one another, I'm glad for how far we've come. I understand that me joining the family all of a sudden must have not been easy on them either. Though there is someone who still hasn't accepted it fully.

"She's excited to see that boy from her letters, Tilly. Her mama is the last person she wanna see now.", Clara leaned against Matilda to look at me. I rolled my eyes at her words and looked out of the window.

"It's none of our business.", she said. "I'm actually quite happy we're somewhere else for a change. The California heat was killing me."

Clara raised an eyebrow. "I'd say it's the perfect weather. We've got the beach—", the two of them kept bickering about Mississippi and California as I gently closed my eyes at the feeling of the warm sun on my skin.

I thought of our small house and my first encounter with the Presleys, smiling a little at the memory. My thoughts moved on to Elvis, the Little Prince and his treehouse. I wondered if it was still intact or if he even used it anymore, since Elvis was no little boy now. I quickly thought of his age and felt my cheeks warm up at the realization that he was now 15 years old.