Small Town Drama

One Last Chance to Make it Real

The girls didn’t seem to like her, although the boys sure did. They were just trying to ignore how she made them feel — randy and irrelevant…

I pull up outside Maria’s house and switch off the engine. Jumping out of the car, I simply stand and watch as she ignores my existence — even though I texted an hour ago to say I was on my way over. She’s dancing on the porch for effect to a tune playing on her radio, the skirt of her dress swaying as she moves to the rhythm.

Ah Maria, we’ve got one last chance to make it real…

Maria’s never been what most would call a beauty, but has an undeniable charm. It’s hard to put a finger on it. Her hair is a shade too mousy to be called blonde, and her stature just a touch too slight for her buxom chest. Eyes a fraction too wide, made more noticeable by her small pouting, cupid mouth. But when all these attributes are put together, there stands Maria. So real and vital that I have always found it difficult to look anywhere else when she’s near.

Eight years ago, she moved into our small town, with her parents. My family had lived in Spring Lake for generations. Maria was just fifteen then, the same age as my kid brother Connor — and I was twenty. Working for the local construction firm, at the time, not sure exactly what I wanted to do with my life.

I noticed her from the start, as I would sometimes walk round to the school if I finished work early and take my little bro for a burger. Mum and dad worked long hours.

It was easy to spot Maria as she was usually alone, strolling to the beat of her own drum. When I asked Connor why she hadn’t got any friends, he said the girls didn’t much like her. They thought she was ‘up herself’. I dismissed his idea and put it down to Maria being an incomer and not fitting in with our hometown ways.

I got a chance to find out more when Connor turned sixteen.

His class was quite small, so mum insisted everyone was invited to the celebration. It was June, so the weather was perfect and dad got some of his homies — Jed and Howie who played in a band together at the town tavern — to provide the entertainment. While he organised a cookout.

That night I discovered two things I could not stop thinking about from there on in.

First, Jed taught me to play a few chords on his guitar before the party and said I was a natural. I was pleased as punch. I thought I was too old to learn a new trick, but not so. Later that evening, he told me he’d happily teach me for a few dollars each week. It wasn’t long before I had my own guitar and knocked on his door to take him up on those lessons.

The second thing was a person. Maria, of course. This defied all logic. I knew she was just a kid like my brother, yet when we shared a coke at the birthday party, and we laughed at the same jokes, it seemed like she was one of my kind.

And Connor was right — girls didn’t seem to like her, although the boys sure did. They were just trying to ignore how she made them feel (randy and irrelevant) — but when I danced with her, their eyes never wavered from her moving to the groove.

Though I too, pushed aside my feelings. Told myself she was too young, which she was. So I decided the best thing was to go find myself a full-grown woman.

Bettie-Jean was a year younger than me and a college fresher in NYC. This worked well as she’d only be home part of the time. And she was a looker alright. A bit obvious for my taste, but I enjoyed the buzz of taking her out to the diner and such. Guys would wolf whistle and flag their appreciation. A new social media platform had started — Instagram — for photos and stuff. I have to say I was not too tech-savvy but a few of my bros told me Bettie-Jean had a profile and lots of fans. They showed me a couple of her pictures, and I think they may have seen her naked even before I did!

As I scrolled through her images I briefly wondered if Maria had an account, then remembered there was nothing striking about that chick, until you were actually in her company.

Mom and pop wanted to meet my girl so I took Bettie-Jean home. As soon as she walked in the room dad’s eyes went out on stalks. His gaze was fixed on her cherry-red lips and braless boobs bouncing around.

While mum was chatting to Bettie-Jean, to hide our embarrassment over dad’s behaviour, Connor piped up, “Finally got yourself a live one there Robert. The weird chick at my school will be gutted.”

“What are you talking about, Connor?”

“Maria. If you ask me she’s had the hots for you since my party. One time she asked me where you worked. She never speaks to anybody unless she wants something.”

“Look. She’s just a numbskull kid like you. If she has a crush on me that’s cause of my good looks and charm.” I clouted him around the head, and stored away the nugget of information about Maria.

I walked over to Bettie-Jean and put an arm around her shoulders, “So what do y’all think then? Knock out, isn’t she? A college girl too. Beauty and brains.” Trying to convince myself as well as mom.

However, I was about to learn she was anything but a knock-out in the sack. A limp, moist dishcloth would describe her better. Live and learn, I guess.

I put together a band with a few of the guys. We styled ourselves as The Jump Starters — and Bettie-Jean was still on my arm when we played our first gig downtown. Blues, with our own twist of rock thrown in for good measure.

I knew Connor would come, but was not expecting him to walk in with Maria during the second number — me on vocals — nor for my heart to race when I caught her eye, mind swirling with questions. Were they an item? He hadn’t said.

It was a while since I’d seen her. She was seventeen and looked great in her quirky way: retro jeans and a crop top. Filled out just a bit. Her ass had some meat on it. Yep, Maria was all grown up!

The gig went better than I could have hoped. I felt proud. Connor came over to chat, and I pulled him aside.

“What you doing with… that kid Maria?” I quizzed.

“Oh big bro, you are losing your sight. She don’t look like no kid to me.” He glanced over to where she was waiting in line for the toilets and looked her up and down before continuing. “OK. OK. She heard you were playing and asked me to bring her. Nothing to it. We’re just hangin’ out. Think she’s waiting for you, Rob. You know — to take her big V.” He laughed.

At that moment, Bettie Jean came over and smothered me with kisses. “I feel so cool stepping out with the lead singer of an up-and-coming band.”

She linked my arm and I knew I’d have to dump her. Instead, I gave her a ten-spot and sent her to the bar with Connor. I’d just noticed Maria go outside for a smoke and followed.

Maria glanced up, surprise in her eyes, and took a long draw on her cigarette.

“Hey Rob. That was a wild gig.” She stated a little coyly.

“Why thank you missy.” I smiled. “Not seen you for a good few months. Lookin’ good, Maria. Growing up fast.” I was holding a beer and knocked it back feeling like I was the kid and she the adult.

“Still five years younger than you though. How old does a girl need to be for that age gap not to matter?” She queried.

The beer had gone straight to my head and before I realised what I was doing I bent down and kissed her. Firm and real. My tongue piercing her rosy lips apart and chasing hers around.

Pulling back I said,

“Perhaps in another couple of years, when you know the ropes… pretty Maria.”

I stroked her face just as Connor appeared with Bettie-Jean.

“Now, don’t tell me bro. You’re wiping a tear from my date’s cheek cos your band were so lame she couldn’t stop crying.”

We all laughed and the scene was defused.

Later, as I was packing away my guitar Maria came over to say goodbye. Instead, she prophesised,

“Don’t leave it too long. My gut is telling me evil may get there before you do, and I’d hate for us not to play out our destiny.”

With that, she was gone. Didn’t even wait for my brother to walk her home. And left me wondering what the hell she was on about. But as time moved forward I learned she had a sixth sense and I should have heeded her warning. Not one to rush anything, I thought Maria would simply ripen with age, no hurry. So I didn’t jump on that wagon before her graduation the following year.

I may not have pursued Maria, but I did move on from Bettie-Jean. She made it easy for me. Got herself an out-of-state internship. I told her she’d best think of her future career, so after a few hugs and — you sure you don’t mind Robbie? — she took the job. I was free again. But rather than grab another chick, I put my heart and soul into the band, still working construction but also now picking up extra cash from our regular gigs.

Time was moving on and Connor’s graduation was on the horizon.

“Ask a girl you actually like to the prom, Con.” I told him. “Not one you lust after. That never works. There is no romantic fuck down by the river. Even if you hear about it in songs.” I was thinking back to my own prom night, when I took the curviest, most popular girl that my status would allow. And was bored silly listening to her droning on all night about clothes and makeup.

“Well, I did ask Maria. Mainly for her sake — y’know. She’d already turned down most of the class zeroes, and I wanted her to have the option. She’s not my cup of tea, but she’s pretty darn clever. To let me down easy, she thanked me before saying no.”

“Who you taking then?”

“Isla. She’s funny and quite good-looking too.”

Mum went all goofy while taking photos of Connor and his date before the prom, whining on about wishing she had a daughter.

Isla was as pretty as a picture, for sure. Did Connor proud.

That night, we were rehearsing our latest set in Jed’s garage — he rented it to us — when my cellphone rang. We were just finishing up so I ignored it the first time, but when it persisted I checked the caller. Seeing it was Connor I rang straight back…

“Rob. You gotta get over here quick. They’ll have her. She’s alone as usual — you know. Come now. I can’t stop them.”

I didn’t really understand what he meant, but the urgency in his voice told me the only question I needed to ask was…

“Where are you bro? I’ll be there.”

He was two blocks up from the diner — about a block from Maria’s place. It was then I realized who — “she’s alone,” was.

Mikey, our drummer, queried, “Dude — you OK? Look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Without saying a word, I grabbed his arm and we both scooted off in my old Chevy. It was a strange drive, my heart was thumping while thunder bellowed out from the hot still air, holding the sky captive with the promise of lightning and rain.

Connor waved me down. I braked hard and was already on the move as he shouted, “follow me”…

The scene was absurdly quiet.

Three guys were holding Maria down on the grassy bank — one up top and two at her shins. Another knelt between her legs, his bare ass a beacon with the full moon shining on his skin, jeans around his knees as he shafted her, moving forward and back.

He was the first one I grabbed — by his shirt collar. Held him up while I drew my elbow back and slammed my fist — with all my body weight behind it — into the side of his head. Hit him twice, then he fell to the ground. Nearly kicked him in the nuts, but needed to floor his buddy before the assholes ran off.

Mikey had one kid on the ground already and looked as if he wasn’t going to let up, until Connor shouted.

“Leave it Mikey! You’ll kill him.”

I was about done with these dickheads and told them to fuck off out of it.

“Mikey, see that Connor goes straight home. I don’t want him roped into this shit. I’ll stay and make sure Maria is ok.”

Ok? What was I thinking? She had just been stripped and forcibly taken by a small herd of idiots and was sitting still with her arms wrapped round her knees, naked.

I took off my T-shirt and gave it to her. She slipped it over her head while I sat right down, mimicking her position, our shoulders touching. Her mouth was a little blood stained and there was dirt on her face, but no tear stains.

“You want me to call the sheriff, Maria?”

She silently shook her head… I replied with a quizzical look.

“You got here a bit late. A virgin yesterday and now a bed post with three notches.” Her voice shook very slightly. “At first I shouted and shouted but no one heard, and then one of them smacked me in the mouth.”

Tears welled in my eyes. Noticing, she moved slightly and folded herself into my embrace while the rains finally fell, but they could never wash away the shame of what had gone on. I felt responsible. She had warned me. I should have made her mine, then this would never have happened.

We sat silently getting soaked — two drowned rats. Maria picked up her rose corsage and slowly began to pick off the petals one by one and threw them into the air.

After a bit, the rain stopped. We couldn’t sit there forever — time to take her home. She stood up, my T-shirt oversized, and swamping her small frame.

Her prom gown was laying in tatters on the grass. Looking at it, I shivered, even though the air was still warm. Maria didn’t seem to want to take it. As a final thought, I grabbed the dress just in case it would be needed for evidence.

Looking at me, she murmured, “it’s ruined. Dirty… Like me.”

When we arrived at her house, I didn’t go in. Maria ran through the front door into her mother’s arms, then finally… finally, she sobbed.

Her dad stepped out on the porch with me. What do you say to a father whose daughter has been gang-raped? There wasn’t anything that came to mind, so I told him she would need to see the doc, but she hadn’t wanted to involve the police. I floated the idea that perhaps he could change her mind…

“… the bastards should be put away for what they have done to your daughter.” With that, I was gone.

Of course, Maria didn’t want to go through all the agonizing details with the local cops. She texted me saying it would feel like it was happening over again. So no one was punished. Nothing at all changed, even though everyone knew what had happened — typical small-town bullshit.

By some miracle, she wasn’t pregnant. Not that I would have known, as she retreated into her home and for about a year nobody saw her. She simply became a hermit.

She did text me, though. At first in the middle of the night. Telling me those losers were driving past her house after dark, screaming out her name. I thought they were probably attempting to intimidate her. Making sure she kept her silent stance. Just to be on the safe side, I laid into a couple of them when I caught them out alone once or twice. Made me feel better if nothing else. Then later in the year they left for college. Yet Maria would still text, obviously haunted, saying their shouts were keeping her awake.

My heart and head hurt. Would she ever return to being that weird and wonderful chick I used to know?

Maria finally came out of hiding when she had just turned twenty, and rather than go to college, stayed with her parents and took a part-time job at the hardware store.

Sometimes I’d watch her through the glass, her long, wavy light brown hair tied back from her face, eyes sharp, slight frown on her high forehead. Then, when she finished, I’d drive her home. Music up high. No need for small talk.

I think I was too scared to ask her on an actual date. My god, surely she was done with guys?

A year passed in this fashion till the company I worked for pulled an out-of-state contract and I volunteered to go as part of the team. The money was better, and I thought perhaps a break-away would help me sort out what to do with my life next.

I was gone ten months. I checked in on Maria now-and-then and she would always just send back some kind of silly emoji. Nothing readable. I did a lot of thinking and knew it was time for us to have a serious talk.

We met at the diner. I was sat in a booth waiting and spied her walking over the road. She looked so slight and lonely. I immediately longed for the chance to hold her. On equal terms. Expel the past with a promise of our future. But when she sat down opposite, I got a little tongue-tied.

Maria looked at me expectantly. I’d made it clear when I’d asked her to meet that I wanted us to talk. Somehow, those words were not spoken. Instead, I brought her a milkshake and told her a few funny things that happened while I was away.

It was good to see her smile, though.

When I dropped her home, she leaned forward and lightly kissed me. Only the second time our lips had ever met. Yet it was clear the depth of feeling between us was deep, dark, and filled with desire.

Pulling away, she quietly said,

“You’ve always been the one for me. Let’s not leave it too long.”

Damn, I thought — that was supposed to be my line…

I didn’t leave it too long. I was full of ideas and secured a couple of weeks worth of gigs in Detroit at a small club. Came with a room above as lodgings. With Maria by my side, I knew I could make something of it.

I packed the car and texted her,

This town’s full of losers. Come away with me? We’ve one last chance to make it real. 2gether we can pull out 4 the win. I’ll be waiting outside yours at 7.

I watch her dancing on the porch to a tune playing on her radio. Then, scan the decking — hoping — and start to laugh when I spy her suitcase. Without saying a word, I walk over to the house, pick up the bag and take it to the car, throwing it on the back seat beside my guitar.

I jump in the front and start the engine. As I’d hoped, the passenger door opens and she plonks her self down next to me and states,

“So the answer’s twenty-three then.”

“What are you talking about?” I put one hand behind her head and pull it towards me, our faces are nearly touching when she replies,

“Twenty-three… Old enough to know the ropes and for our five-year age gap not to matter… I made it. Although I got tied up along the way.” She tries to smile, but now my lips have met hers.

At long last… a chance to cut those ties to the past, and make her mine.

The plot was inspired by a mid 70s song written by a small town boy who hit the big time…. and by some Solomon Sinn Seer tales —

More fiction from Paul Mansfield