Hometown Monday
Sheila first meets Donnie and Christopher
[Sheila drove a convertible like this up from Mississippi]
This is the second of an expected irregular series of posts of excerpts from the novels, novellas, and short stories of "The Homeplace Series" Family Saga story-telling, to provide an insight into the story lines that may not be clear from other promotional pieces about "The Homeplace Series." These will also be coordinated with the content of the
developmental Wiki, "Beyond the Books" - to expand the information available there, as well.
The following excerpt from "Back to the Homeplace" is from Tuesday, February 17, 1987:
"I
was really surprised when someone said there is a McDonald's in Oak Springs. I
thought this would really be the “sticks”… with a McDonalds here, I may
survive!"
"The
town has changed a lot recently. I hear Daddy talk about the industrial park
and the college. New people are showing up all the time now."
Sheila
waited for the car coming out of the drive to clear then turned into the
McDonalds's parking lot. "Here we are."
"We're
right on time," Melanie checked her wristwatch as they got out of the car,
"Donnie should be here any minute. His last class at O.C.C. gets out at
four. It's about a twenty minute drive."
"What's
O.C.C. stand for?"
"Ozark
Community College. It's out west of town. The campus is built on a farm that was
donated several years ago. Daddy was involved with it somehow. A lot of people
wondered if it would work having a college out in the middle of the
country."
Sheila
walked up to the counter, and to the clerk said, "One large diet coke and
a regular fry. What about you, Melanie?" She glanced at the taller,
honey-blond haired girl standing next to her.
"Just
a small coke, I'll pay for it." Melanie was digging in her purse.
"I've
got it this time, Melanie. I still owe you one for steering me to Carla's
Beauty Salon. It felt almost like
home in there."
"That's
probably because Carla came up here from Mississippi about three years
ago." They took their food to
a booth facing the street. "Mom wasn't too happy when I started going
there, but it has worked out just fine. My mother still thinks old Eva Hobson
out on the east edge of town is the only person who can do hair right. Her
place looks like an antique store to me. I'll take the modern look at
Carla's."
"Is
that Donnie in the black pickup? Someone is with him." Sheila had shifted
her attention out the window. She watched two young men get out of the truck
and stride toward the door. Maybe this visit will be more worthwhile than I
thought, Sheila mused. Donnie is a hunk and this blond friend of his may be
even more delicious.
"That
is just my brother, Christopher. He and Donnie seem like two peas in a pod,
sometimes. They hunt together, they play sports together; they even watch
sports together. Since Donnie has been at O.C.C. it has gotten even harder for
me to find time with him." Melanie waved to let the guys know where they were
sitting. Donnie waved back and proceeded to the counter.
As
they stood at the counter with their backs to the girls, Sheila noticed how
similar the two young men were built. They could easily pass for brothers. Donnie had darker brown hair and appeared
to be a little older. Their broad shoulders and slim hips brought to mind a
pair of halfbacks lined up ready to take a football hand-off from the
quarterback. I look forward to experiencing some of their moves, Sheila
pondered.
*****
For 'the rest of the story' read the book:
"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."
Bill ;-)
[Image credit: http://www.hemmings.com]
