Hi, this is Kevin again. Hope u all enjoyed my 2 stories which I posted before.
Everyone has that "one song" that always brings them back to their youth. Even though I am only 33, the song called "The Summer Of 69" has always held memories for me due to the factor that this story takes place on a summer.
And it was the most romantic and memorable summer of my life.
Johnson was a friend of mine. He was born and raised in kerala, in the traditional keralite family lifestyle. His father was the classic military man who got stationed in Assam.
I met johnson when I was 14 years old and we have been inseparable ever since. We were close friends and did everything together. His family was my family and vice versa.
So it was hard when johnson told me the week before our college graduation that he was going to go in the military like his Father and he and his mother would be stationed at his Father's base in Assam. I felt like I was losing my best friend, and my family, and it was not the easiest thing to swallow.
johnson and I shared a mutual "going away party" (however, I wasn't leaving for college for another two months). And we both said our mutual emotional goodbyes. We really didn't say much that day, just let the day past, realizing what the next few days would bring.
The day of johnsons's departure to boot camp came and went, and life continued circling around the sun. The summer was slow and unnerving, living in a small place you have very little to entertain yourself with, and when your best friend ups and leaves, it's even more difficult to do the things you like.
I dated girls on and off that summer, yet found more pleasure in just working for a computer firm as trainee h/w support to learn more abt computers and keeping busy.
That's when things got really strange.
An year had past since johnson and his Family had departed, and I was at work place sitting and just twiddling my thumbs doing nothing. As usual, a noon time call came to the counter and it was my job to go to customer place to check the problem as none of the h/w engineers were free.
So with great "excitement" (note the sarcasm), I got in my scooter and drove off to this nameless street with a bag of tools.
I pulled up to the apartment complex, walked up the stairs and went to the assigned room number. As I knocked on the door and waited for the recipient to answer the door I just stood there doing nothing, glancing briefly at the name plate mentioned the name "nancy" on the door.
I kinda just chuckled and didn't think much of it. Suddenly someone opened the door and my mouth hit the floor.
As the door swung open I couldn't believe who was standing across from me, nancy, johnson's mother.
"kevin?!?" she exclaimed in excitement!
"Mrs. nancy! Oh my God!" I exclaimed in response!
We both laughed and embraced as though we hadn't seen each other in two lifetimes. We chuckled and did the classic hug where your upper body sways side to side in excitement and unison.
"Come in! Come in!" she said excitedly
I could only smile and walk in. "Is johnson with you? If that son of a gun didn't call me and tell me..."
She cut me off with only a slight smile "No, johnson's still in assam, with his Father. Living the military life and doing things that he was bred to do!"
I nodded politely and said "good good" and tried to continue the conversation with the best of my abilities. "Where's Mr.andrew? He still in Assam as well?"
"Yes she replied," as her smile dwindled and we both walked to the couch in the nearby living room. She continued: "Mr. Andrew and I are going through a trial separation right now, things weren't just working out..."
"Oh no," I responded concerned, these people were just close to me, it wasn't something I was expecting to happen, they always seem so happy.
"I am so sorry!" I kinda mumbled, not knowing really what to say.
"It's okay," she said taking a seat next to me on the sofa. "it was bound to happen, johnson were born from the same mold, it just didn't work me not being the classic Military Wife."
I nodded, it was awkward to hear this news, being the same age as her son I didn't know really how to respond, it was something I felt you just sat there and went "uh-huh, uh-huh" aimlessly to please the other party without putting your foot in your mouth.
"So how have you been?" she asked excitedly. "I bet you're very excited about ur first job?"
I nodded politely and told her about the job and my family. The talking went on for a while, it was the type of chat that you just have to be polite.
Our conversations continued on the same path for about an hour or two when my phone rang. It was my boss and he needed me to come back. It was back to business as usual.
She patted my hand and told me she understood, she walked me to the door and we embraced one last time.
