The Dropout

Wednesday

"Beep beep! Marley, I'm here!" Marley looked out her bedroom window to see Annie pull up in the promised station wagon with her window rolled down, her blonde hair up in a braid. A pair of sunglasses covered her blue eyes and it appeared she had spilled her coffee on her white tank top that morning in her hurry. "Come on, the meter's running!"

"You're in my driveway, ya' nitwit!"

Mrs. Emerson walked out the front door to greet the visitor, a gardening trowel in her hand. "You comin' down, bitch, or what? Oh! Sorry, Mrs. Emerson, I didn't mean to say that."

Laughing to herself, Marley closed her bedroom window and shut the curtain. There was no need to spruce herself up today, so she settled on jeans and a t-shirt. Hair now in place, purse on shoulder and tickets in purse, she left her face bare of any makeup and went downstairs, dragging a small suitcase behind her. 

"She sure is a loud one," Mr. Emerson stated from his place on the sofa. "Don't need to put a bell on her."

"Goodbye, Dad, I'll be home soon." Marley hugged her father, narrowly avoiding his newspaper. 

"Oh take your time, please. It's about time we got you out of this house."

"Very funny." Annie honked on the horn, Mrs. Emerson stepping back and covered her ears. 

"Sorry, Mrs. Emerson. Marley! Come on, we gotta hit the road!"

"Take care of yourself and have fun. But-" he said holding a finger up. "Not too much fun, alright?"

"I won't do anything you wouldn't do," Marley promised. Her mother stood on the driveway closing her askew bathrobe. 

"Be careful on the road, Anabel," Mrs. Emerson said. "The traffic will get pretty bad on the freeways, especially so close to summer vacation. And don't drive at night, make sure you're completely awake...and, oh! No drinking before or while you drive, okay? No marijuana, no drugs, no boys, no hitchhikers, make sure to follow the map carefully--"

"Don't worry so much, Mrs. E.," Annie said pulling her sunglasses down. "I've made the trip several times by myself, and I only crashed once. Just a small fender bender, that's all."

"We won't be drinking, Mom," Marley said. "At least I won't be."

"Spoilsport," Annie mumbled resting her chin on her fist. Marley stuck her tongue out before hugging her mother. 

"Have fun then. You're sure you have everything you need? Money? Food? Emergency phone numbers? Pepper spray?"

"Tickets?" Annie muttered.

"Tickets. Oh! Will you be needing bus tickets for parking?" Mrs. Emerson asked. 

"She means concert tickets," Marley corrected. "I've got everything in here." She held up her purse in one hand and the suitcase in the other. 

"Stick the luggage in the trunk, and let's go!"

"Alright, Annie, alright!" Marley took it upon herself to open the trunk of the car and place her suitcase next to Annie's, who had so obviously thrown hers inside without a second glance. Shutting the trunk shut, she opened the passenger door and got in. 

Along with a bit of chipping paint on the outside, there appeared to be a few tears in the seats on the inside. The glove box had a few papers sticking out of it and a few bags of peanuts littered the floor. Buckling her seat belt, Marley took a look around. "I know, it's a bit of a message in here," Annie said.

"A bit? Annie, Glenn Miller could be hiding in here!" Annie rolled her eyes.

"I've yet to find him, Marley, and I can't do it now because we have a concert to get to!" Marley let out a small cheer as Annie pressed hard on the horn, scaring Mrs. Emerson again. "Sorry!" she shouted to the waving parents. "Alright, Marley, let's start the best birthday ever!"