Page 68 of Cocky Origins: May and Jerald Cocker

“Did you see how he looked at her? Like a wolf to a lone sheep in the shadows!”

She takes a deep breath, but her frown won’t budge. “Yes, but you must understand it’s nearly a year since they’ve seen each other.”

“Since he’s seen a female at all!”

“Fred!”

“I’m not wrong!”

“I didn’t say you were wrong, I just wish you’d realize that his parents took May all the way to Virginia to be there when he docked. They would not do that for someone who Jerald was not serious about. They are respectable people. The most respectable we know!”

His nostrils might fly away. “We’re not going to church tomorrow.”

I gasp!

Mother waves me to be quiet. “We go to church every week.”

“Not this week, Dot!”

“Every week, to show our devotion to God, whether or not you are losing your mind.”

He glares at her. “We need to let some time pass before he sets foot near my daughter! That boy needs to cool off!”

With love she says, “You are being ridiculous.”

“You don’t understand men like I do!”

“Fred, listen to me!” She slides her fingers down his arms and takes hold of his hands to stop them from swinging. “Jerald is from a good family. They have become friends of ours. We even had them over for several of our barbecues. If we don’t show our faces at church tomorrow, of all days, what will they think?”

“I don’t care what they think! I care about May! And her future!”

“Do you think I don’t care about that?”

“Not in the way that I do!”

Mother sighs, aware he is speaking about my reputation were I to become in the family way before marriage.

While they argue, I walk upstairs, and they do not notice I’ve gone.

Washing my face, brushing my teeth, and rolling pin curls so that when I wake up they look nice for him, happen with a dreamy smile on my face.

I hum my way over to the dresser I’ve had since I was little, change into my nightgown, and slip under the covers for the best dreams of my life, so far.

39

JERALD

Can’t sleep.

It’s like I drank twenty cups of joe, but I haven’t had one since morning.

Wouldn’t matter if I had.

We drank coffee all day.

You hit your bunk you’re out.

Here I am, tossing.

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