My Best Friend

The Hewitts

Mindy's feet started to get sore as Thomas led her down a grassy plain. They walked down the dirt road from the school. His house was miles away from town.

"Thomas", Mindy moaned. "Is it much farther?"

Thomas nodded. He took her hand as they started walking through the tall grass. He was excited to bring her home for the first time. He knew Mama was going to love her. Luda Mae never had any daughters. Thomas smiled as his imagination began racing. He and Mindy were best friends. They were going to grow up together. If they were still friends by the time they were out of school, he was going to marry her. That way, he and Mindy will always be happy and Luda Maw would have a daughter. Everyone could get what they want that way.

"Thomas?"

Mindy stopped as they came to a wooded area full of trees. It looked dark in there. She wasn't afraid of the dark, but she was scared of wild animals.

"Do we have to go in there?" she asked.

Thomas nodded. His fingers intertwined with Mindy's as they began walking through the trees. Mindy wrapped her arms around his for protection.

"There aren't any coyotes or anything here, is there?" she asked.

He shook his head. The only time he saw coyotes were out in the open by the road. They continued walking until the trees began to thin out. They could see the sunlight again. Thomas pointed to the house ahead of them. Mindy gasped. It looked just like it did in the drawing.

"Thomas, your house is pretty!" she said.

Thomas pulled her along as they got closer to the house. They could see Luda Mae hanging freshly cleaned sheets on the clothesline out by the back.

"Tommy?" she called out. "Is that you, boy?"

Thomas ran ahead and hugged her. Mindy stood behind him waiting to be introduced. Thomas pointed at her and wrapped his arms around himself and hugged himself.

"Are you my boy's little friend?" Luda Mae asked.

"Yes, ma'am", Mindy answered. "My name's Mindy."

"Mindy... such a nice girl."

"Thank you, Mrs. Hewitt. You're nice too. So is Thomas."

"Now, now", she said. "You're a friend of the family now. You can call him Tommy if you want."

Thomas began blushing. Mindy smiled.

"Aww, you're blushing, Tommy!"

He smiled. He liked the way she called him Tommy. The door slammed open as a man carrying a beer bottle came walking outside.

"Who's the girl, Mama?" he asked Luda Mae.

"Manners, Charlie", she said. "This is Mindy. She's Tommy's friend."

"This purty little thing?"

He looked at Mindy. She stood next to Thomas feeling a bit scared of Charlie. Thomas held her hand making Charlie smirk.

"Looks like we got us a little couple here", he said. "Looks like Tommy's got a girlfriend."

Thomas glared as he blushed furiously.

"A girlfriend?" Luda Mae gasped. "But he's so young!"

"Not too young it seems."

Mindy stood there awkwardly. Her Thomas' girlfriend? She blushed at the thought. They were barely getting to know each other. A tow truck drove up the driveway and parked near the house. An older man around the same age as Luda Mae stepped out of the truck and walked over to them.

"Monty, this is Tommy's friend, Mindy", Luda Mae said.

"Nice to meet you", Mindy nervously said.

"Same to you, missy", Uncle Monty said.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Luda Mae asked.

"I'd love to", Mindy answered.

Thomas took her hand and led her inside.