Cathy and Mike

He sat in his car, now parked over by the gas station, jawin’ with Pete, watching the clock tick off its eternal minutes. Pete was a guy on his last legs, but he didn’t know it, or just didn’t care. Pete was just an old guy, talking about the war. He was the sort who would never retire, but probably die on his feet, running his business, such as it was. He was another nameless denizen of the desert. There were so many like him out here.

Mike was glad the night had cooled off a bit, weary of the oppressive day’s heat. When Cathy came out, it was plain she wanted to take a ride. She had a buttoned up blue sweater over her dress, and her purse in her hand. Without a word, Mike opened the door for her and off they went.

"Anywhere you want to go in particular?" Mike put in a CD for them to listen to. His car naturally went North on the strange old road.

"What are those?" Cathy asked, pointing to his little case of CDs.

"Just stuff I collected since the Spring. I just got to buying these a few months ago."

Cathy took one in her hand and looked it over. "They are beautiful! Its like a rainbow inside them or something."

Mike turned up the radio. It was playing the Beatles, "Long and Winding Road."

"Do you like the Beatles?"

"I never heard them before. Are they new?"

Mike laughed at her joke. Everyone knew the Beatles. She just got silent at his laugh, and didn’t say anymore.

Mike broke the silence as he drove. "We been going on this road a bit, but it looks like it might end soon. I better turn around."

Cathy put her hand on his arm. "This far North, the road ends up ahead. You can just stop there for a while, if you want."

Mike didn’t say anything, but he pulled a bit off the road, cut the motor and the lights, but letting the music softly play. He rolled the window down, because he was suddenly hot, and his mouth was dry. The Beatles crooned their "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."

Cathy sat there silently for a while, waiting for Mike to come closer. When he didn’t, she moved next to him. Suddenly they were kissing. This was the first time for them both, and somehow they knew it too, but neither of them said anything about it. They both had the same idea about this moment, and this time in their young lives, and they both knew where it would lead, but it was what they both wanted.

Pure hearts are just that way. Nothing need to be said between them. Being pure and innocent, love just makes its home there.

Light was growing a pale blue across the Eastern sky. Mike roused himself. His arm was asleep, holding Cathy close to him. She stirred, yawned and stretched, smiling up at Mike.

"Do you believe in love at first sight?" Mike asked her shyly.

Cathy smiled. "I sure do now!" She leaned up to him and kissed him again. "But I got to get home and change. I got to open the café this morning."

Mike started the car and set off back down the road, holding her close to him. Cathy’s place was an old trailer out behind the gas station. There was another older trailer next to it. Mike figured that was where Pete stayed.

"Cathy, I want you to come meet my mom. Can you come home with me today?"