Small Town Girl and the Vistor

1

People have always said I dreamt too big. Or it was one in a million of chance. Or that I should have a backup plan for my life. I should not completely discard it but move slightly and go to college and become something different. I almost believed it too...

        But if I have learned anything it's life pulls you in a hundred different directions. You go down paths that make the happiest you'll ever be in your life, and you'll tell stories about the time on that small path. Then you'll hit the downhills of life. Those are scary, it's the moments when your heart stops for a brief second and you just wanna cry. Also, there's the times that you swerve off the path all together and trust me it's not easy to get back on. But somehow you do... You live for the happy paths, pray for the downhills to never happen and rebuild yourself after a swerve.

    But that's not how this story goes...

  It was a warm day in the middle of August in 1982. I was 16, and I had this burning passion for dance. I had started learning dance as a freshman in just everyday class and the occasional free trials or coupon ads in the mail. Nothing like some of the other dancers in my normal Dance class. They were amazing. I guess I was more of a back row dancer. But you what, I didn;t care. As long as I could feel the acceleration and adrenaline rushing through my veins everytime I danced I was fine being in the back, I was fine only being seen by my natural red hair. I just wanted to be seen for even just a second.

  That's what happens when you're from a small town, I suppose. I mean my sister is the girl that stands out in the dances. She's always front and center while I'm smiling and laughing in the back. You see in a small town everyone has their spot. If you're my mom you own the ice cream shop on Red Oak and Pine. My dad is the town fisherman, every summer for as long as I can remember my house has a constant flood of the younger kids wanting to learn the basics. My little sister is the town dance star, who will one day make broadway and become a movie. My baby sister is the town sweetheart. We have the town doctor, the town lawyer, the town drunk, and we even have the town whore. Everyone has a place in a little town and a title. Well all except me I guess. It's always been that way though. I guess I could be the town medium. Decent at a lot of things but not the best at any.

    I never saw myself as being anything less of that either until that summer. He came into town like usal. Who? Billy Corben. He's Doctor Corben's nephew. And a total babe. He has this clean cut dark brown almost black hair that he never has to put gel in. He has the bluest eyes on the planet, at one moment they can go from clam like the ocean water to a scorching freezing blue. He was so tall and I'm already 5' 7" but he's at least 6' 4". He has broad shoulders that tower over anyone shorter than him giving him an intimidating look when he peaks down at you if you're lucky. ANd he comes down every summer to stay at the property right next door.

    "Oh Saddie, are you looking at your boyfriend?" My little sister came barging into my room.

    "Get out you twerp! The next time you come barging into my room I'm going to break both of your goddamn dancer legs. And he's not my boyfriend." I slammed my bedroom door shut. Ugg I collapsed on my bed. My eyelids slightly shut  when t my bedroom door cracked open.

    "Saddie!" My youngest sister came and jumped on my stomach, laughing.

     "Oh lord. Why did you do that?" I laughed sitting up bringing my 6 year old sister along.

    "Can you help me make a dance for the talent show?" She looked at me with her big stupid puppy eye's that she only uses to get what she wants.

"Sure, but why didn't you ask Willow?" You know the town dancer would have been a better choice.

"Because she's a butthead."

"Dixe Tucker, I don't blame you." I laughed giving her a piggyback ride to one of my favorite dancing spots on our property. It's a little bit farther in the woods than my mom would like me to be but that doesn't stop me from coming here everyday.