Page 45 of Cocky Origins: May and Jerald Cocker

She screams, “Jerald, help!”

I cup my hands to shout, “Take your foot off the gas! Keep the wheel straight!” I sprint after her, and the vehicle slows enough for me to grab on, climb over the back, slipping and sliding as Ihop into the passenger seat, leaning to take the wheel. “Atta girl!”

With moredirection, together we manage to stop the car.

Laughing the whole time, May and I jump out, run around, nearly bang into each other, and hop back into our rightful seats.

As I steer toward the center of the road, May asks, “Will you teach me how to drive someday?”

“Think I just did!”

“For real, sometime?”

I look over and hold her gaze. “That’s a promise.”

“Haven’t seen a thunderstorm like this in a while!”

“Guess we got lucky!”

Arriving back in town I glance to her, “I couldn’t hear you back there, when I was pushing us out of the mud. What were you saying right before we got free?”

“I was praying.”

“That hat sure does look better on you than it does on me.”

She lays her hand on the top, pressing it so it covers her eyes, leaving only that smile.

At her house I shut off the motor. “Guess I should’ve put the top up. What is your dad going to think?”

She shrugs like a champ. “Can’t be surprised I’m soaked, what with my going steady with a Navy man. Water comes with the territory!”

I get serious. “Are we going steady, May?”

“Well aren’t we?” She gives me a wink, and starts to open her door.

It’s me who winks.

She sure picked that up fast,I think to myself, approving wholeheartedly.

“Oh no you don’t!” I hop out, and see Mr. Kearns waiting for us again, sheets of rain between us. Tipping my dripping head with respect, I stroll around to her door.

Like the sun is shining we stroll up the path together. No hurry at all.

Her Father breaks out in a smile that shows he and I are going to get along just fine.

Her Mother appears. “May Eloise! You get in here before you catch your death!”

“Yes, Mother.” May turns to me. “I had a lovely time.” She walks inside and Fred Kearns shuts the door, his smile intact.

At home, my folks are waiting, too, on account of the storm forcing everyone inside with little to do but wonder about my love life.

Pops is so appalled at the state of his prized possession that he walks outside in the rain. “Why didn’t you put up the top? Have you lost your mind?”

I jump out and grin. “I think I have lost it! But do me a favor anddon’t tell me where it is.”

Hank runs out in socked feet. “There aren’t enough towels to soak this up!”

The Lincoln is drenched, and it’s still raining, so Hank and I manage to get the top up while Pops waits, soaked to the bone, with his fists on his hips.

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