I wrote his story this way to see if I could produce a tale that didn't have rough language in it. Let me know what you think.
*
He was absolutely elated. He couldn't believe that he had been hired as a junior executive after graduating from the University of Michigan. There was only time for a quick visit home to Kansas and then, off to New York. This was one of those 'plum' jobs that MBAs dream about. The fact that he had graduated number two in his class had a lot to do with his selection to the position.
It was a very long drive from Ann Arbor to Salinas. By the time he got home, he was completely exhausted. His mother greeted him at the door. "It's so good to see you son. You didn't bother to write or call for over two months. We've been worried about you."
"Gee, I'm sorry mom. I've just been so busy trying to get my masters that I really haven't had time to think about much besides study. I'm home for now. I've only got ten days to get to New York, so I can't stay very long."
"New York? Why do you have to go to New York? Surely there must be some jobs here in Kansas."
"I must admit I had some offers from Kansas City, but none of them pay like the New York job."
"Money isn't everything, son. I guess you'll have to find out on your own." She hugged him and kissed him. "Your father will be home soon. I'm sure you'll have a lot to discuss with him."
"I need a shower and some rest, mom. It was a long, hard drive here from Michigan."
"Your room is still waiting for you. We've kept it just like you left it."
He dragged his bags up the steps to the second floor bedroom. The room that had seemed small to him when he left for college now looked enormous after the postage-stamp sized dorm rooms. He quickly undressed and headed for the shower wearing only his boxers. After the shower he flopped down on the bed and immediately fell asleep.
His father woke him for dinner. He stood up and shook his father's hand. "Hi, dad, it's so good to see you again."
"It's good to see you, too, son. I heard you got a job in New York."
"Oh, yeah, and it's a dandy. I'm a new junior executive! It pays twice as much as any other offer I got. Promotion possibilities are endless."
"I'm happy for you son. Please don't scare your mama by not keeping in touch. She's been frantic the last two months worrying about you."
"I promise I'll write and call from New York every chance I get. It won't be like school. I'll have some time off."
"Well, let's go eat. Your mama fried some chicken."
Fried chicken was his favorite meal. He sprinted down the stairs and into the dining room.
"Joe Prince, come here and let me look at you!" squealed the girl in the living room.
It was Cindy Bateman, his old flame. "Hi, Cindy. What are you up to?"
She jumped off the couch, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"Your mama told me you were coming home and she invited me over for dinner. How are you?"
Cindy wasn't the prettiest girl in Kansas, but she was very nice looking and had been Joe's sweetheart in high school. Her family didn't have enough money to send her to college and her grades had never been good enough to get a scholarship. After Joe left, she had waited for him. At 24, she was still a virgin.
Joe looked at her and smiled. "So are all the boys still snuffling up your tracks, or did you manage to land one?"
"Oh, Joe, I never went out with anyone but you." She sighed. "How long can you stay this time?"
"Only a few days. I have to report to my new job in ten days and it is a long way away."
"Come and get it," mama yelled from the dining room.
As Joe passed his mother he whispered, "Very sneaky, ma."
She had a smug smile on her face. She knew where Joe's weaknesses lay.
Cindy sat next to Joe at the dinner table. She had loved Joe with all her heart in high school and she still felt the same. The look in her eyes was a dead giveaway to everyone at the table including Joe.
Joe had some deep feelings about Cindy, but he was sure that having been away so long, they would have diminished. With her sitting next to him and sharing a meal, he wasn't so sure.
"Did you date a lot in school, Joe?" Cindy asked.
"I tried but I just didn't have time for much fun. I was way too busy studying."
"I haven't had any dates since you left," Cindy replied.
Joe recognized the trap, but at this point, he didn't care. "So would you like to go to a movie with me?" he asked.
"Absolutely! When?"
"How about after dinner?"
"Okay, no problem. I can be ready in twenty minutes." Cindy lived just a block away. She excused herself and shot out the door, practically sprinting home.
Joe sat there in a daze. What had just happened? Suddenly he was going on a date with a girl he knew from six years ago. In a way, it made him proud to think that she might really be enamored of him after all this time. He assessed the situation and decided that he really did want to date her. Maybe she would provide a little diversion while he waited for his new position to open.
There was a soft knock on the door. Joe answered it and there stood Cindy looking better than he ever remembered. "Wow!" he remarked.
"Wow!" his dad remarked, standing behind him.
"Cindy, you are just perfect," said his mom.
"Gee, thanks," was her only comment.
Joe said, "Come in and sit down. I'll be ready in five minutes." He raced upstairs and quickly cleaned up, brushed his teeth and combed his hair.
As he came down the stairs, he heard Cindy giggle and whisper something to his mother. Now he was certain that his mother was part of the plot. He just didn't know what the plot was. Ready?" he asked.
"More than ready!" came the response as she got up and headed for the door.
They got into Joe's car and started down the street. "Where do you want to go?" he asked.
"How about the drive-in?" she answered.
"Sounds good. What's playing?" he asked.
"I don't know. It doesn't make any difference."
Joe looked at her quizzically. "You don't care what's showing?"
"Nope."
The sun was setting as they pulled through the entrance to the drive-in. Joe paid the tickets and drove slowly inside, toward the front.
"This is too close. It'll hurt my eyes." Complained Cindy.
"Okay. You pick a spot."
She pointed to the back row, over against the fence. Joe drove to the appointed spot and parked the car. "Here?" he asked.