You never know how things will turn out in life...sometimes things surprise you.
The Man I Married
We were sitting on my front porch that hot summer in 1944 just looking at the peeling paint that we helped pick off from the floor of the porch. You sat between Peggy and I, which was your favorite spot then in those years. I knew you liked me but your eyes always wondered over to her with those sparkling blue eyes and curly red hair. At that age I sort of liked my blonde hair because it was the same sandy color of hair that you had. It had never bothered any of us that you and Peggy were from rich families and that I was from a very poor one. We were the best of friends for years until that day on my front porch when you kissed Peggy. You never saw it coming, neither did I. When you were done kissing Peggy and staring up at the sky with a smile on your face I lost my temper and socked you in the mouth!
"Auuuuuuuhh", you cried out while a thin line of blood oozed down the left side of your chin. Then you looked at me like some hurt little puppy and whimpered, "Why did you do that Annie?"
I gave you a look that could have melted a candle to the ground! I got up, looked you straight in the eyes and said, "John, I hate you! Go home." I ran to my room, sped past my mother who was asking where was I going in such a rush. Silence was present for some time then a soft whimper was heard. Mother finally came in to ask what was wrong.
"I hate him Mother! I just hate him! How could he have kissed her when we were going steady? "
"Now Annie, you may say that John and you were going steady since you were 16 years old and now that you are 18 things are starting to look a bit different. I reminded you that because of his up bringing and the money his family has that John sees life through colored glasses. He isn’t like us Annie. We are low middle class people that barely make ends met. We have never owned a house, let alone lived with nice amenities."
"I know Mom, but I thought things would be different. He was always there for me. We talked about getting married and the future together. "
"Oh Annie, I am so sorry things didn’t work out!" Annie's Mother lowered her head saddly while putting her arm around Annie's shoulders to hug her close. She remembered all too much how it was to be involved with someone in a different level of social status. Annie's father came from a well off family so many years ago. Oh they married, but he died when Annie was three years old. There was a train accident inwhich everyone felt Annie's dad's brother pushed him in front of the train. The families have never spoken since.
Crocodile tears rolled down Annie’s cheek while she stared out the window, wondering how life would be without John. She knew that he would be going to college in a few weeks and might even find someone he would love more than her, but not now! Not with Peggy.
The next few weeks went by quickly for both Annie and John. They did not see one another after that disappointing afternoon. Peggy on the other hand was a constant companion. If fact the two of them were going to the same college. Annie could not afford to go to college so her only alternative was to find a job.
Six Years Later
Annie typed the letter quicker than any one in the office. She had been working for a law firm for the past five years and was doing very well for herself. Living at home with Mom was alright, but by the time Annie was 21 she wanted to spread her wings and be on her own. Having saved the bulk of her income she would be able to rent an apartment soon. Unlike her mother she did have a checking and savings account. The savings account had collected a nice interest and her money grew over the past four years. Annie did spend some money to invest in a used car. Actually the car came with the house she was now renting. When she went to see the small five roomed house there in the paved driveway was a fairly new car, only 20,000 miles on the odometer. The couple showing the house were old but they stated that their mother, who had been 98 years old, passed on and left everything to them. They were not in need of anything and if she wanted Annie could purchase the car. As a matter of fact, they made her an offer to sell her the house if she liked it. Annie did sign the contract for the purchase of that little house one year after.
Working for this legal office was quite interesting, meeting all sorts of people yet no one that intrigued her. Often Annie would think of John throughout the years. There were no letters from him, nor did she ever write to him. What would she say? She never heard from Peggy either. It was strange that her family suddenly moved away the first year after Peggy and John had been in college. No one ever knew why. Why would anyone as poor as she was be informed of anything having to do with the people on the other side? Thoughts of her old buddies slipped away like dust in the wind.
At her desk Annie typed out the legal documents, checking and rechecking to make sure everything was in correct order. She knew that there was going to be a new lawyer joining the firm, a junior partner…what ever that was! As for when he would be starting she had no idea.
Wrapped in deep thought typing away, she was suddenly interrupted by a deep unknown voice.
"Miss, could you please have these typed up for me as soon as possible?"
Without even looking up she pointed to a small stack of papers. "Just put them on top of the pile and I will get to them shortly."
"Hopefully they will be done soon because I will need them for a client in one hour."
"Oh for heaven’s sake!" Annie barked out. She then looked up to confront her opponent. "And as I said, I will get it done any minute! That is if you would kindly let me finish my work at hand."
"No problem Miss. Ah, what is your name? Mine is John."
"Mine is just Annie." She put out her hand to greet him.
They shook hands but neither one of them recognized the other. John’s hair was a medium brown and he had grown to six feet tall with a full grown beard of dark brown curls. He had grown four inches since Annie had last seen him. He stood lean now with broad shoulders, and his voice had deepened. Annie had slimmed out and had acquired curves that John had never even known Annie to have.
Forty Years Later
Yes, so that’s how we met again. We took a liken to each other right off. It took a few days for the both of us to realize who we both were. Boy did we have a laugh! We found out Peggy had died during that first year at college from some virus, so they say. Our marriage took place with in the first year of re-meeting and we’ve been together since. During all theses years we had four sons and at last a little blood brown eyed little girl that we named Emma, after his mother. We've been graced with elevan grandchildren so far and with two more on the way. Lately we just talk about the past...John still talks about his bloody mouth I gave him!
Sometimes a smack in the mouth does wonders. I meant to thank you for your nice comment on my poem/article. As nurse's we know the standards that we must abide by.
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