Cathy and Mike

"Mom? Didn’t you hear what I said? I met a girl, and I love her. She loves me. I got to go back and get her and bring her here. I want you to meet her. We got room here, and she can stay with me. I know you will love her, mom!"

The woman bowed her head with a sigh, bending down so her head lay across her knees, her arms clutching them. Mike had never seen her do this, and he was concerned.

"Mom! You want me to call the doctor? You ain’t well!"

"No Mike. I’ll be fine. Just stay her with me for a while, please." She raised up, reached out to hold his arm as he knelt beside her.

"Sure, mom. I will. Are you upset about me finding a girl? I never thought such a thing would bother you."

"No. no. That doesn’t bother me, son. I am very happy for you. You go and bring her here. I want to meet her. I am sorry, it is just how you drove up and that car you got, it just kind of shocked me, that’s all."

"Well, why?" Mike was perplexed.

"Oh, it’s a long story son. I will tell you about it someday. Don’t pay no attention to it."

"It’s a good old car mom. Its like new. I even got a CD player in there, so I can listen to all my CDs."

The woman said nothing, but simply stared out the window at the vehicle.

"When are you going back there, Mike?"

"I want to go now, mom. I wish I had a ring for her."

"We can get you one at the jewelers. You both can pick it out together."

"That’s swell, mom. I gave her your locket. It was all I had to give. I love her mom! I am gonna change, and then I will go get her. Can you loan me some gas money?"

"There’s some in my purse. Take what you need."

Mike went to his room to change and take a shower. The woman stood at the window and looked out at the car for the whole time. When Mike came out, he got some cash from her purse and hugged her goodbye like he always did.

"Mike? You are coming back, aren’t you? You are going to bring that girl home to me today, right?" The woman clutched at him again, holding his arms.

Mike looked surprised, gently slipping from her grip on him. "Sure mom. I said I would, and I will. Why do you ask?"

"No reason. Its all right. You go now and do it. I will wait here for you, son. You go bring her here and I will meet her."

Mike flipped his keys in the air, catching them, grinning like he always did, as he ran out the door.

The woman sat down in her chair after Mike drove off. After a while, she reached down into her bag beside her chair and pulled out an old photo album.

Mike went back up the highway, looking for the turn off. He must have missed it, because he was almost back to the 395. He turned around and drove back again, looking for the new road. Soon he was seeing the turn off for Trona. Frustration! After doing this for a few times, he stopped and got out of his car, pacing back and forth along the road.

"It has to be here. This is where I remember it being. How could I miss it?" Mike groused to himself, aloud, banging his fist on the hood of his car. He got back in and drove slowly along the highway, almost off the pavement, looking for anything that would help him find his way back to Cathy.