One warm afternoon I was walking home from school when a car began driving slowly along next to me. The driver rolled his window down and I smiled as I recognized my neighbor. "Would you like a ride home?" he asked.
"Oh, hi Mr. Davis. Sure, I'd love a ride."
He stopped his car so I could climb in. Mr. Davis waited patiently until I had my backpack settled down by my feet and I had buckled myself in before he started again.
"Thanks for the ride Mr. Davis."
"No problem, Lydia. So how is school going? It's your senior year, right?" Mr. Davis smiled kindly. He was in his early 30s with chin length black hair. He seemed to always be wearing slacks with square buckled belts and pressed collared shirts.
I nodded and smiled at him as I adjusted my short plaid skirt. It kept riding up my thighs. "One more semester to go and then time for college."
"College, huh? That must make you seventeen or eighteen?"
"I'm eighteen. My birthday was two months ago."
"Eighteen, well that makes you an adult now."
"Yeah I guess so."
"You get to have fun doing adult things." His voice had dropped and he slid his hand onto the seat close to my bare thigh.
I shrugged my shoulders and shifted in my seat uncomfortably.
"Isn't that right Lydia."
"I guess so Mr. Davis."
"You know I've seen the boys sneaking out of your window at night."
I grew really still in my seat. I was suddenly afraid to move my head and turn and look at him. "I don't know what you're talking about," I said softly.
"Are you sure? If you think I'm mistaken, maybe I should explain it to your father, maybe he'll know what i'm talking about."
I turned towards him and grabbed his hand. "No! No, wait. Yes, there have been boys. Please don't tell my father. Please."
He pulled into the driveway of his house and turned off the engine. "I think we should talk about his Lydia. Why don't you come inside?"
I gathered my things and followed him into his house.