Johnny Settles Down

So, Is This Out Of Your System

    Christmas Eve was warm, cloudy and gray.   It seemed more like Palm Sunday at church and it was nice to be back at church.   One of the ladies, who was hip on social culture, said, "I know who your man is.   Do you think you could get him to church?"   She shook her head.   Johnny wasn't religious, but he was spiritual.  The ladies, who were all in their seventies were happy for her.   Her parents were not.   They were seething.   This brought shame to the family.    Johnny was better to her than ANY of her lovers.    He was nicer to her except for her core best friends.   He was just as nice to her.  He was a good lover.   

    Church was nice and we ate at a greasy spoon.   "Chinese buffet tomorrow," her mom said.   "Noon.   Not twelve thirty."   The whole family wasn't there.  It was her mom and dad and it was raining.   It was a hopeless day at the truck stop.  The bleak stares on the waitresses, as they took orders.  The truck stop always looked like the last place on earth, with real leather purses in cases.   

     "So how was California?"   Her mother asked.

"It was nice, thank you."

"So, this Johnny, was this like a prize you won?"

"No.  My friends wrote a letter, his agent's wife, called my friends and I got to meet him after thanksgiving.    Then I went to see him in California.   We text daily."

"Well, you have to date someone here.   I hope this will get out of your system soon.   So, is this out of your system?"

"We're dating,"  She said.  Her parents did NOT want this.   It brought attention to their family.   What if she did it?

"Are you sure?"  Her dad asked.  He didn't care or know what to do.  Of the three she was psycho, the one who "needed a little help".

"You haven't done it, have you?"  Her mom asked.

"I am sure, and we did it."  

"No.   Well at least you can't get pregnant."

"Yeah."

    She wanted to get pregnant, but her cousin of the south, had not arrived.   She wished she would have met Johnny sooner.     She was sure those babies would be beautiful, but she finally had a kind man to love and adore her.  

     She drove home and a flashback came back.   She was out with her family eating and her husband was done with work.   It was in the mid 2002s.   2006 to be exact.  It was a rainy, snowy day and he was done with out, but she was out with her parents and he had to walk home from work and he called her a "stupid, fucking cunt".   That was her married life.   There was a stoplight on State and Hollybrant, and she texted, "I love you, Johnny."

    England was nice that Christmas Eve.   Johnny had just gotten home from Stephen and Gina's and he was going to see his kids the next day.   His phone vibrated.   He looked and it said, "I love you, Johnny."   He smiled, blinked away a few tears and smiled.   "I love you, Karen.  Next Christmas, you will be at my side."   She smiled.  The light turned and she knew that this wasn't just "a thing".  

    She drove to the the trailer park for Christmas Eve.   She wanted to see her best friend.   She wanted to give her her presents.   It was a yearly thing they did.  They exchanged gifts and ate Christmas cookies.   Johnny helped her pick out pretty jewelry boxes he had shipped back that day.   They were wrapped and gorgeous.   Her friends made her happy.   When she got there, they must have noticed her mood.  

    "Why are you frowning?"

"My parents know."

"Oh, that sucks!   Girl, you are going to marry him."

"He said he can't wait to come in January.   I hope the weather behaves."

    He went to Gina's, and they exchanged gifts, but she was more interested in the week before.   He slept all day from being tired.   Sixty was not like twenty.

    "So, how was your week?"

"Gina, I love her."

"Really?"

"I know I vowed never to propose to anyone, but I want to."

"I think you are older and wiser."

"I don't know."  He smiled.  "Will you come with me to pick out a ring?  I am going to do it.   I am going to do it on Valentine's Day."

"Johnny, it's so great to see you happy."

    Both had great times with their friends.   Karen had a bit too many cookies, but she would cut back the next day.   She drove home in the air that felt more like November than December.   She thought the election just ended.   She drove home as the sun was kissing the horizon.  It was a beautiful, beautiful moment.