Philip Dampier's Blog

Episode 6: Chuck Exits-Madeline Enters

Chuck staggered back a couple of feet, his hand on his right ear. It was showing red through his fingers. I knew he was embarrassed, and in pain, but I was too upset that Sally was upset to care much about Chuck. Finally on my feet and free of the booth, I moved closer to him.

“Chuck,” I lowered my voice, “do the smart thing and leave before you get even more embarrassed by this lady. As to me and Sally, she, and not you, will decide if I see her again. And, another thing. Don’t ever threaten me again.” I kept my eyes boring into his.

His eyes fixed on my face and anger flashed through them. I knew he was trying to decide if he wanted more action or if he wanted to wait for a better opportunity. I was an unknown quantity but Sally wasn’t. He turned the evil eye toward her: “You’ll be sorry for this, young lady, you’re my girl and that is the end of it. No southern hick cotton farmer is taking you away from me.”

Sally, thankfully did not respond to his condescension. Chuck turned on his heels and headed for the door. The two of us just stood there. I heard the flat head fire up and the sound of peeled rubber immediately followed. That told me a lot about Chuck’s makeup.

Noise gradually returned inside the drive-in and Sally finally sat down, or more precisely, slumped into her seat. I sat down as well and looked at her. Her head was down as if she was checking her shoes.

“Sally, are you alright? Do you need to go home? I can go get my car and take you home.”

“I’ve never hit anyone before,” she said, looking up at me with wet eyes.

“I think he might have earned it.”

“Jack, I’m so sorry. We were having a good time and he’s ruined it. I hate him now more than ever.”

I reached across the table and touched her arm. Something like an electric shock shot up to my shoulder. It spread around my body when she put her right hand on top of mine. We looked into each other’s eyes. I felt happily lost. Like I had fallen into a pit and could only see up into those dark, liquid eyes. I struggled for something to say.

“Maybe it’s not ruined. Let’s forget what happened and enjoy one of these famous cheeseburgers you told me about,” I finally managed.

She squeezed my hand, but didn’t let go. “Yes, let’s eat and then we can get your car and you can take me home.”

A waitress came over and stood next to the booth. Obviously she knew Sally because she not only called her by name but she asked her a personal question.

“Hello Sally, who’s your new friend?”

Sally blushed, just a little, but nodded to me and spoke clearly. “This is Jack Reynolds. He’s new to Boise and I’m just showing him around.”

“Oh, I see. Well, can I have a turn when you’re done showing? I have a few things I’d like to show him myself.”

Sally turned her eyes to me. I tried to read what was there but couldn’t quite make it out.

“This is Madeline, Jack. Stay away from her. She’s another hangover headache. Mad, bring us two cheeseburgers all the way, fries and two cherry-cokes.”

Madeline winked at me and spun away towards the kitchen. I looked at Sally. I couldn’t help it but a grin busted across my face. She dropped my hand and whispered, “What’s so funny, Jack?” There was no humor in her face which caused me to enlarge the grin.

“What is it?” she demanded.

“You’re fighting boys one minute and girls the next. I’m getting scared.”

She looked at me for a long minute and then her face relaxed. My grin was too contagious. She grinned back. “I’m a bad one alright… Jack, I want to explain about Chuck. His last name is Blight, by the way.”

“No need to explain.”

“Maybe not, but I want to explain. He was a real hot athlete in high school and I was a cheerleader. We dated for over a year, but during that time he grew more and more possessive and aggressive. If I even spoke to another boy he would fly into a rage, threaten whoever and verbally abuse me. No other boy would even think about asking me out, even after I broke up with him. No male from Boise High will talk to me privately, even now. You are the first male I have spent any time with in over a year.”

“I’m glad you took a chance on me. Your Chuck doesn’t scare me, and he better not bother you on account of me.”

“That’s just it, Jack. I don’t want you mixed up in something because of me. He’s strong and he can be mean, dirty mean. I know, I’ve seen it.”

“Then you’ve lived in his shadow long enough. Carrying bundles of shingles up ladders didn’t make me into a ninety-nine-pound weakling either. I’ve probably been in a lot more fights with the roofing crew I ran with than he’s even thought about. Let’s forget him for the rest of the day. I’d rather talk about you.”

We were silent for a while, satisfied to hold hands across the table and look into each other’s eyes. Could this be real, I asked myself. I watched her relax, her features soften and she leaned towards me just a bit.

“Jack,” she began, and then stopped. Her voice was hesitant, almost as if she wasn’t sure she should speak at all.

“Yes? What is it, Sally?”

“I’ve never met anyone like you before. I mean no one has made me…” Her eyes closed and she bit her lip. Before she could continue or I could speak, Madeline showed up with our cheeseburgers and fries. She looked at our hands, linked in the middle of the table and broke into a smile.

“Say Jack, you’re pretty fast, aren’t you? Has she told you about Chuck? When he’s had his say about you and her, remember where you met me. I think you’re my kind of man. And by the way, I just love your drawl, it’s so…amusing. I want to hear you talk some more. Where are you from?”

Sally looked up at her, minus the smile I had seen earlier. “Thank you, Madeline. If we need anything else I’ll wave at you. Oh, wait. Where are our drinks?”

“Oh, we were out of cherry syrup at the counter and I’m waiting on them to get another bottle. It’ll just be a minute. I’ll be back.”

Madeline left, but she was the one wearing the smile.