Page 38 of Cocky Origins: May and Jerald Cocker

“Looking forward to it?”

“I can honestly say I am.”

He slides his hands in his pockets, a small smile appearing.

I decide to take my shot. “Sir, I don’t suppose you’d let me take May for a picnic after church tomorrow, would you? If it’s too much to ask, I understand and beg your pardon."

May stands on her tippy toes behind her father as he thinks it over. She grabs onto Mrs. Kearns arm, tugging it, but no help is given. If it were up to her, May would stay home until Tuesday on an exhale.

But Mr. Kearns has a better opinion of me than his wife has. “That sounds harmless enough. Will we be seeing you at church, Jerald?”

“Oh, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that, sir.”

“Until the morning then.” He shuts the door, and the porch light goes dark.

Putting on my hat I give it a tap and stroll away.

If I were the skipping sort, this here would be the time.

20

JERALD

“What’s this about you going to Mass?” Ma walks down the stairs in her Sunday best, a smart hat tilted just so, the short lace veil perfectly balanced. “It’s my week. We’re going to my church.”

“Since Pops needs to stay home and rest, I thought I would represent him at his church.”

She pauses at the bottom of the stairs. “You look so handsome in your suit, Jerald. I hate to think of going without you to show off to my friends!”

“Not sure if that’s a reason good enough for me to stand by.”

“How about your Mother wants you there?” She smacks me with her short gloves, before putting them on. “Your father might have to stay home, and I wish that weren’t the case, but why must I suffer with you leaving tomorrow.”

We were teasing up until now, but her voice has shifted and I can’t joke around her sincerity. “Well Mother I…”

Hank descends the stairs with a quick gait. “Why don’t you just tell her!”

Her head nearly spins off as she looks between us. “Tell me what?”

“He’s set on going because May is going to be there.”

I growl, “Hank!”

Ma stares at me. “Well I never! All this fuss seemingly about your Father and it’s about a girl. Whom you claim not to have a care for.”

“Now that’s hardly accurate.”

“Did you or did you not deny fancying a girl named May just two nights previous?”

Pops calls from the sofa, raising his voice to reach over the long distance. “Why did I marry a lawyer?”

She laughs and walks over to see him better, heels tip-tapping on the tile. “Raymond, I’m glad you see talent when it sleeps right next to you. I should’ve been a lawyer, believe you me!”

“You know I don’t like lawyers.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be resting?” She lifts her eyebrows, and hurries back to Hank and I. “All of a sudden I feel like going to Mass.”

Hank swats my arm as he passes me for his hat. “You’re gonna miss me.”

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