Rebels Never Smile

Elvis

Elvis : Sun Records

June and I were together for many months now. It was curious, the way she changed my heart. The way she changed me. I was nicer and kinder to people. And I felt better about myself. I didn't care - not like I even did- about what people thought about me and my family. I didn't care about the fact that we were poor. And that's also something that worried me. June could have so much more but I gave in to my selfish needs to be with her.

It was a hot, sticky, Saturday night at my house. June and Mama were setting the table while Daddy smoked a cigar and I was playing with my guitar, singing softly to myself. As soon as the ladies set the tables, we began to pray. Then we passed the food around and June said " So Mama, Elvis is gonna go to sun records tomorrow to sing a few songs for me." I nearly choked on my food when Mama cheered " Well now! Is that so? Ain't you glad Vern?" She looked at Daddy and he began chuckling. He wasn't a man of many words. June began to explain when I tried to find her toe to step on. " Ow!" Somebody yelled. It wasn't June. It was Daddy. He looked at me in surprise. " Son did you do that?" I cleared my throat. " Uh, no, that was- I don't know." I looked at June as she smiled evilly at me with a twinkle in her big brown eyes.

The next day, June came in to my bedroom to wake me up. I pretended to sleep and as she was about to punch my arm I reached out and pulled her into my bed causing her to scream in excitement. I trapped her under me and pretended to sleep. She grunted and attempted to push me off her. " Elvis, get your ass off me NOW!" I snored into her ear causing her to giggle. " Disgusting jerk." She mumbled. " Alright then." She murmured. She stopped squirming letting me relax when she tickled my belly. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's being tickled at my belly. I roared in laughter as I tried to get her arms. She scooted over and sat on my waist as she continued to tickle me. I tried to get up but I grabbed her arms and brought her face down and kissed her. Then her arms grew weak. Eventually, she wrapped her arms around my head and I sat up.

" What the hell is going-" Daddy stopped his sentence. He took in the scene of June sitting on my lap with her hair messy while I was still in my drawers. We both looked at him in surprise and June, red as a tomato tried to get off but I held her still. " Daddy would you please close the door?" I asked. Daddy also red in the face was about to close it when Mama's voice rang out, getting closer. " What's going on Vern?" She spoke as she opened the door to see us. She also got red in the face but kept her composure. " June? When did you get here?" June, extremely uncomfortable said " Not to long ago, I didn't knock because I didn't want you guys to wake up." " You kids be careful, I don't want ya'll havin' too much fun." I groaned. " Mama, would you please close the door?" Her and Daddy smiled at each other before silently closing the door. June scooted into the corner of my bed and it was silent for a minute before she giggled and then broke out in hysterics. I watched her laugh and couldn't help but laugh myself. I scooted over to her and scooped her into my arms and laughed with her in my chest.

We walked down the street, one arm with a guitar and the other over her shoulder. While she had an arm locked around my waist. I wasn't nervous, but I was at the same time. When we got there, a small, round woman with a quiet voice welcomed us. " Great to meet you Elvis and June, now, what would you like me to do for you today?" She said, smiling up at us. I clenched my jaw and didn't say anything. June, noticing my hesitation rolled her eyes and smiled at the woman. " Elvis would like to record some songs." The woman smiled bigger. " Well alright then!" She clapped her hands together. " That would be $2.00 then kids." I then dug into my pocket and scooped out all the dimes, pennies, quarters and just about anything me and June scavenged around the house for. I dropped every single cent into the lady's open hands. She didn't check it instead she pointed to the room behind us. " That's where you'll be singing. And that guy there is-" " Sam Phillips." I broke her sentence when She pointed to the man in the next room. She smiled and nodded.

June got to stay with me in the room, meanwhile, the woman and Sam were in the control room together. June picked the song for me and I sang. Nobody was impressed, except June, who blushed furiously as the lyrics I sang reflected how I felt about her. She was after all, My Happiness. Later, Sam Phillips just came out to give the record to the little lady. Sam was a busy man and only had time to shake my hand. After she labeled our record, June asked " Ma'am what is your name?" The lady reached over the small table in that small confined room and said " Marion. Marion Kiesker."