The Life And Times Of Rachel Grape

Gavin Colliver

     Westin got up at seven.   They were going to the range by nine.  Jimmy Colliver was a former sheriff and had access to a really cool gun range. He lived out in the country. Had dad had seventy seven acres, a woods, and he was a regular country man who looked like Clint Eastwood. Gavin looked like a young Johnny Depp. His mom Ava fixed me some coffee and we talked about school. Gavin asked about his girlfriend and he said, "The new one? I will have to learn to love her. Mama got what mama wanted, me to date of her friend's kids and I can't stand her." Gavin smiled and said, "I am enjoying the single life." Gavin was cute. Gavin's parents found love in their thirties, and they did not care if Gavin dated or not. Ava felt sad for Westin,   She told her husband many times, "I wish we could adopt him and he have a normal life.  That is all he wants."  Ava was not a Wendy fan. 

Jimmy walked in. He looked rugged from the fields. They were harvesting corn this week, but he was going to take some time out to take the boys to the range. Back in the suburbs, Rebekah was calling all her upended about her "future husband". "I see us going to Pathways Church. I see the wedding. I am so thankful to Wendy to introducing us." She even called Wendy and thanked her. "Not a problem. My son deserves a good, Christian woman." She even told the girls, "I told him I would suck his penis. You know, no sex before marriage. Right?" They all laughed with glee. As they were laughing, Rachel just woke up. She felt a bit dizzy so she sat for a minute. She was pregnant with a guys's baby, she was poor, and life was against her and her family.

Gavin and Westin got in the truck. Ava watched them drive off. "That is the saddest I have ever seen Gavin," she thought to herself and she prepared a pot roast for dinner. Jimmy followed the truck and they shot until noon. Westin got some good shooting in. "You sure you don't want to be a police officer?" Jimmy quipped, "your targets are nearly perfect." He wanted to say, "Yeah, I was imagining Rebekah's face and my mom's face on them." He did. Her mom's pale skin, off tone red hair and thar fake smile made him shoot better and Rebekah with her blonde hair, pearl necklace and tilted head made hem shoot better. He didn't want to take her to the movies. He wished he were in Endora putting things in the shelves with Rachel.

Rachel was doing just that. She felt pretty good that day. She didn't even cry that day. It was a crisp, cool morning, but it would be blazing by afternoon.  You could smell the Iowa winter in the breeze.  Rachel thought to herself.  This was going to be her life and that was okay.  There was a supper at the church and Elise and Gilbert were going.  Bonnie had a date.  Bonnie was a runner up at the homecoming game, so she was living life.  Things did not affect Bonnie.  Alyssa said she would go as well.   It would be a family thing.  It was nice having their girl home.  They were grateful for that.

    Over lunch, the guys talked about things.   It was so nice to be with normal people.   When Westin left, Ava said,"That is one of the saddest boys I know."  He drove home, took a nap. And then got ready for his dare with Rebekah.   "I am so pleased you dumped that skank," Wendy said.  "You need a Godly girl."  Well, what Rachel was doing was more Godly than what Rebekah and Westin were going to do.  

    "How is Westin?"  Ava asked.
"Not good."
"What do you mean?"
"His parents forced him to break up with Rachel.  Well, his mom did."
"His dad shake get divorced.  He isn't a priest."
"I know, but he was so angry today and the way he shot was scarily accurate."
"Maybe you should tell your dad."
"Maybe."

   It news put in the back burner.

     The basement of the church was full of people.  It was the usual.  Ham green beans, and cake that was prepared by the old ladies do the church.  Elise was one of them.   After dinner they talked to the pastor.  He prayed with them.   He blessed the baby and Rachel, which put her mom at ease.   Rachel was a good girl.   Across the city, they went to dinner at Applebee's, there was a wait and Rebekah was sort of bitchy.  "I hate waiting.  I am hungry," she whined.   "I can't wait to go back to school and say I have a boyfriend!"  He looked at her.  "Are you going to say you have a girlfriend?"  He looked at her with hateful eyes and said, "Of course."  "Now, Westin.  I don't have sex but you can kiss me on my pee pee."  He almost threw up.  "I will kiss your penis tonight."  He almost spit his courtesy drink od Pepsi on the floor.  "Let's take things slow."  She said, "All the better."  

    She did let him touch her boobs.  She was going back to school in the morning.  He drove back home.  His mom was asleep.  He went to his room, got in bed and cried into his pillow.   Why did his mom hate Rachel so?  Rachel was crying as well, as the church knew she was pregnant and she got word after word of how she was loved and they were praying for her.  

    Would they ever see each other again?