Page 97 of Cocky Origins: May and Jerald Cocker

Sable leans in to whisper, “I still can’t believe you eloped!”

“Shhh,” I remind her. “Not everyone here knows that!”

Peter grins, “That’s right. Her father’s factory buddies think this whole thing was planned!’

“And we’re keeping it that way,” Jerald warns him.

“I’m not giving it away!”

“Maybe pipe down?”

“Alright, alright!” Peter throws his hands up, a charming smile dazzling Lily who’s hanging on his every word.

Darren asks, “You tell ‘em?”

“Not yet,” Peter says, turning to the circle.

Gertie’s eyebrows fly up with interest, hands clasped behind her dress so she won’t bite them.

Sable pushes her glasses higher.

Marvin watches her do it.

Jerald’s resting one hand on my back, the other sliding into his pants pocket.

And I’m tilting my head, waiting for the news, feeling like it’s all coming to an end. Or a beginning. I guess those travel in pairs.

We’ve all graduated and it’s time to start our lives.

Sable starts at Vassar during second semester. She postponed a bit with the war ending, and her desire to make sure Lily had a home.

Marvin is hoping to follow but she insists that’s not her plan. I think that’s his only aspiration.

Darren’s taking over his father’s car dealership in about ten years. Until then, he’ll work and learn the business, and meet as many lady customers as he can manage.

Gertie, too, is leaving to become a teacher, as she got accepted into a small university in Ohio where she grew up. I know she hopes Hank will return soon, and when he does, she’ll show him what winter is really like. I told her I’m not sure he’ll think that’s a good thing, and she said he’d expressed interest. The debate was over, that was plain.

Keeping my volume just for our circle of friends I interrupt, “Everybody, since it’s my birthday, I’d like to announce our news, first.”

They look at me, and Peter says, “Sure May, you go on ahead.”

I look at Jerald, “Do you want to tell it?”

He kisses me, and turns to tell them, “We’re moving.”

“Where to?”

“Atlanta.”

Everyone reacts in their own ways, and Gertie smiles, “Atlanta, really? The big city! I’ll come visit you and we can go shopping!”

Peter laughs, “Okay, okay, but we’ve got you beat! We’re moving to New York!”

Nobody expected that!

Especially Sable. “You are? Why didn’t you tell me? What part? I’m Upstate!”

“We’ll be in Manhattan. I’ve been offered a job!”

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