California Dreaming: Summer of '58

Ch 1 Red, White, and Boys

"ISN'T HE A DREAM BOAT? He's even more handsome than Paul Anka!" Exclaimed seventeen year old Mary Henseler. Her mouth parted ever so slightly as said "dream boat, Ronald Miller walked across the lawn. It was the Fourth of July, and the town of Greenwich was having their annual Independence Day celebration in Henseler Park. Mary's father, the mayor, had bought the land and developed it into what he called- Western California's Finest Small Town Park.

Georgia Walters couldn't agree more with Mary. She gazed giddily in Ronald's direction. She had to fight the urge to keep the huge smile on her face a small and less obvious one. The guy had only been here for a week, and he was all the she could think about. Keep it together Gia, you can't give yourself away now. Too many ears around. She cleared her throat and smoothed out her wavy brown hair.

Georgia loved summertime. The world seemed so much brighter and full of life during the warmer months. Henseler Park had never looked better, the lush lawns, sparkling lake, warm sun, and bright blue sky really added to the festive atmosphere. The Greenwich Band played patriotic tones such as Yankee Doodle and America the Beautiful. She turned attention back to her friends, Mary and sisters, Anastasia and Julia Coluci. The four of them sat at a picnic table under a large oak tree. A warm breeze slightly fluttered their dresses. They all chatted excitedly about Ronald, who stood about 15 yards in front of them.

Jimmy Arnold, a fellow classmate to Mary, Martha, and Georgia was the only person who knew anything about Ronald. Jimmy had told the girls earlier that week Ronald's, age, name, and why he was here. Jimmy's older brother Sam was attending Santa Clara University and studying engineering. There he met Ronald and the two became fast friends. They became so close that Sam had convinced his friend to spend the Summer with him, Georgia was grateful for that.

The girls watched with heart eyes as Ronald went to shake Fr. Newton's hand, their parish priest. Ronald laughed at something the priest had said, his fingers combing through his wavy blonde hair. Georgia was sure she'd never seen anything more attractive.

"I bet his hair is softer than a baby's bottom." Fifteen year old Julia mumbled softly. She rested her head on her hand, a dreamy look on her face.

"Ugh! Don't ever say that again Julia! That's- that's like an insult!" cried Anastasia. She shook her head vigorously, clearly not impressed with her sister's poor analogy.
"Say something like, softer than Grandmother's silks." She suggested, that sounded like at better than "baby's bottom".
Julia seemed to pay no need to her sister. Mary let out a laugh and sipped her lemonade.

"So who's taking to him first?" Asked Julia. The girls let out small chuckles as they looked back and forth between each other as if to say, yeah right? A bunch of high school girls totally had a chance with a 20 year old college man.

Georgia would consider herself a sensible girl, as she had gone through school without being boy crazy. She had crushes here and there, but they never lasted. She told herself in her freshman year that there would be no worrying of boys until she had graduated. Ronald over here was making her rethink her decision about that.

"We can't just walk up to him! He'll probably just brush us off. I'd rather die than to live with that embarrassment." Mary said while making a dramatic fainting gesture, the others laughing at her silly antics.

"But he seems kind, I haven't seen him ignore anyone the day." Georgia offered. Mary shot her look, her brows arched upward in an almost teasing expression.

"Gia are you-"

Julia lifted her head up, her eyes still on Ronald. "It'd be kind of weird if I went first, I'm the youngest. Then again, if there's anyone I'd want for him to ignore, it'd be Priscilla-"

"Julia watch your mouth." Anastasia chided her. Julia only rolled her eyes before smoothing out her red dress.

"Oh come now girls!" Georgia started, all eyes were on her now.
"We're in high school for lands sake! We know he's 20, we know he's in college, and we know that he could get any girl wants before we're old enough. I'm surprised Evangeline de Mont..." she stopped suddenly, realizing what she was saying. Her friend's faces fell and Mary twitched slightly at the sound of Evangeline's name.

Evangeline de Mont, tall, skinny, blonde, and well, beautiful. She sported colorful silk scarves and Audrey Hepburn style sun glasses. She wasn't just breaking men's hearts, she also broke girls'. She did this by simply stealing the attention of almost every male in town. How was a girl to ever get a guy when Evangeline de Mont was around?

As if on cue, Miss de Mont herself entered the scene. She practically glided over to Ronald, flashing him that million dollar smile every girl could only dream of having. She stretched out her thin white hand, which he shook most graciously.

Georgia could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She clenched her fist and squared her shoulders. Wait a minute, since when did I become all angry? He isn't even mine.

Anastasia shook her sadly and threw her hands up in the air, Italian style. She looked at the others with a joking expression.
"She's beauty, she's grace, she's"

"not keeping me in my place." Georgia spoke with determination. She stood up abruptly and her eyes went big. Did I just say that out loud?

The others giggled at her and her cheek flushed beat red. She smoothed out her blue dress and stood up straight.

"Ah I see Mr. Miller has our Gia, totally whipped!" Mary exclaimed playfully. The Coluci sisters oohed and ahhed, Julia started to make kissing noises.

"So what if I am?" Georgia put her hands out, as if to say yep, that's me, totally whipped.

"I'm going to talk to him."

Julia and Mary clapped and cheered in a low tone and Anastasia chuckled as she walked towards Ronald Miller.