Our Last Day of School
.
I can't believe it. This is my last day of school
, I thought, not sure how I felt now that the long awaited day was here.
Stepping out into the beautiful sunny afternoon, heading toward the group of waiting yellow school buses I breathed a sigh of relief. I was glad school was finished.
Throughout High School like a ship at sea, I had plotted my course, studying hard. However, the Scholarship that many felt I had rightfully won had somehow ended up going to one of the wealthier senior girls. Wealth does have its privilege. In the end I decided, I really didn't care.
After I spent my last summer with the two people, I loved most in this world; I would be heading to California in the fall to accept an entry-level position with a major railroad in San Francisco.
Standing in line to board my bus, I felt my breath catch in my throat, as I caught a last sight of the one person I had secretly had a crush on since we had started the first grade of school together so many years ago. We were both nineteen now.
I experienced that old familiar ache a last time as I looked at her - trying to burn her image into my memory. My daydreams had always been hopeless right from the start.
Blythe even in the first grade was a beautiful little girl, who always knew she was special. As we grew older, she developed into a beautiful young woman with a sweet innocent demeanor, a sunny disposition combined with her basic gentle ways that never changed. Now at nineteen she was stunning.
I thought as I looked at her,
I'll be crazy about her forever
.
I continued to watch as Blythe picked up her friends in her new turquoise blue and white convertible. The new car was a graduation gift from her father, a wealthy influential farmer who owned several farms and delighted in catering to his only daughters every wish.
Taking a last look, I boarded the School bus and sit lost in my own thoughts. A half hour later I passed my parent's home, as I had every year since I was twelve years old without getting off.
Riding the school bus a few more miles down the highway, I got off at the gravel road that led up to my Grandparent's farm.
The Summer Begins
"Josh, I hope you know how much your Granddad and I appreciate your helping us out with the farm one more year."
"I know, Grandma - Hey...Should I go help Granddad - I saw him on the old John Deere working over in the east 40 acres."
"No, Josh, take it easy."
"Oh...I almost forgot to tell you the news. The old Williams place has a new owner."
"Do you know who bought it, Grandma?"
"I heard Garney Covington bought the place. Someone said the Covingtons are planning to move into it."
"I wonder why he wanted it. He already owns several farms already."
"Someone told me they have a daughter. I think her name is Blythe. She's supposed to be going away to college this fall."
"Yes," I said, "I know her. She was in my class. She's really a very nice person. She graduated this year also."
The season begins
The next morning, while Grandma was cooking breakfast, I was out in the barnyard putting gas in the old John Deere tractor. After a quick breakfast, I was on my way to the field. The day after day routine of farm work had begun.
The days flew by. Late spring turned into early summer. I felt a certain melancholy knowing this would be my last year with my Grandparents. At the end of the summer, they would be moving to town, retiring to a nice little townhouse.
However, for now, I was enjoying the hard work, and long hours. I loved driving the old tractor. The days sped by. The crops were planted, and the corn was almost six inches high.
Blythe appears
Climbing down from the tractor to adjust one of the shovels, I heard a sexy female voice from behind me.
"Hello Josh," she said. My heart skipped a beat. I recognized that voice.
"Hi, Blythe," I said, completely stunned to see her standing in the little grove of trees that separated my Grandparent's place from her father's.
"I was just out for a walk... I
thought
it was you driving your Grandfather's tractor."
"How is your summer going," I asked - my heart racing madly.
"Great! I'm staying home this summer to be with my parents. I leave for college in September."
"Gee...Blythe, I'm sorry we don't have more time to talk. I'm barely keeping up as it is."
"I know, I shouldn't have bothered you."
"No, please" I protested. "It's so great seeing you."
"Hey," she suggested, "I see you have an extra seat mounted next to you. How 'bout if I ride around for awhile and keep you company. We could talk...and catch up."
"Hey...Yeah," I said quickly. "I'd really like that." I replied, stunned at her offer.
Our Golden Summer begins
Don't ask me how it happened; but from that day on throughout that summer, Blythe became my warm sweet reality.
After riding around with me on the tractor for a couple of hours, I think we were both surprised how much we had enjoyed each other's company.
A couple of hours later, I stopped the tractor and let her off. I watched her walking lightly across the field. I had just experienced my idea of heaven!
My heart skipped a beat when I saw Blythe come walking across the field toward me the next morning. She was beautiful - in a lovely flowery skirt and white blouse a sloppy old white hat, probably her father's, completed her attire.
Talk about happy and excited... I could barely breathe.
"Want to ride around with me for a while," I asked,
"I thought you'd never ask," she teased, with that lilting little laugh of hers.
"Oh, Joshie," she said, calling by me by the pet nickname she had teasingly given me.
"What does your Grandfather use that old barn at the edge of the this field for?"
"He stores grain - also we have a lot of hay stored in the hayloft."
Smiling mischievously she teased, "Have you ever taken a roll in the hay," she giggled.
Seeing my surprised look she laughed, "Earth to Josh," she said, "Hello - we're both adults now. We can do grownup talk," she teased, enjoying my surprise and embarrassment.
Summer Conversations with Blythe
My lifetime dream had become my sweet reality. The golden summer days slipped by languidly... Each day I had this delightful visitor sit next to me as we talked and laughed.
One day...concerned that she might be wasting her summer hanging with me, I said,
"Blythe...you know - if you ever get tired of riding around with me-...,"
"Gee! Joshie thanks a lot. Are you getting tired of me already? She laughed.
"Heck, no," I said, "I wish we could go on like this forever."
Becoming serious for a moment, Blythe said with a trace of sadness in her voice, "Me too, Josh - I almost wish I wasn't going to college and you weren't moving to San Francisco this fall."
I knew she could sense the sadness I was feeling. I had learned early on - I could never hide anything from her earnest gaze.
So...the summer days floated gently by - our newfound affections for each other deepened.