NOW WILL YA LEAVE ME ALONE? part 11

NOW WILL YA LEAVE ME ALONE? Part eleven

Max

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Holding Tommy’s wrist in one hand and her new stuffed animal in the other, with her defiant chin in the air, walked proudly, pulling Tommy toward her house, with Max following close behind.

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Weeks passed and the friendship between Tommy and Mary Ellen grew and yet, Tommy often thought, If there was ever a mismatched pair, it’s me and her! Yet, their differences never seemed to bother Mary Ellen.

“Mel, look at this,” he said in a subdued tone of voice as he pulled a folded card from his pants pocket. “This is the picture I told ya about. I never showed this ta nobody. See the house wit the snow around it? Pretty, huh? Kinda reminds me o’ yer house. ‘Cept this one’s got snow. All it needs is a dog in the yard.”

His voice brimmed with enthusiasm. “I’m gonna get a house like that someday.” He said it, hoping for the best but believing the worst.

“Tommy, it really is beautiful. So peaceful. It’s easy to see why you like it so much, but to have a house like that, you have to make lots of money. To get lots of money, you have to have a good job. What do you want to do when you get older?” she asked curiously.

A dark cloud seemed to cover Tommy’s eyes. He lowered his head, leaned against the tree, shoved his hands in his jacket pockets, and quietly said, “Dunno. Never thought about it.” All at once, he became distant.

“Well. You always like taking care of Max. I bet you’d be good at taking care of other animals, too. Why don’t you go back to school and study to become a veterinarian? You should think about it.”

She tried to sound enthusiastic, yet Mary Ellen, nervously anticipated that speaking to Tommy about his education might put him in a bad mood. It was her mother’s suggestion and Mary Ellen decided she’d at least try. She recalled the conversation she had with her mother after Tommy’s visit. “You know, Mary Ellen, your friend is quite a nice young man. It was so thoughtful to come her ethe way he did.” Mrs. Morgan sounded impressed. “It’s such a shame that he has no proper schooling. It’s true, especially these days, that you can’t get anywhere without a good education. It means so much.”

“Mom, what a trade school?” Mary Ellen asked.

“A trade school? Why, honey, who do you know who’s in a trade school?

“Mom, that’s where Tommy’s going next year after he finishes in PS84. He said he’ll go to Marshall Tech, a trade school so he can get a union card when he’s sixteen and go to work.”

“Oh. Oh, dear. Well, a trade school is where one learns a skill like carpentry, electricity, plumbing, - well all kinds of things that are needed besides doctors, lawyers, nurses, or other business professionals, which require college degrees and depending on the desired goal, extended educations. Is Tommy set on going to Marshall?” she wondered.

“Yes, Mom, you met him. He doesn’t have much of an education now.” Pausing briefly to form her words correctly, Mrs. Morgan finally added, “you should try talking to him about it. See if you can convince him to look into a proper school Trade schools are fine for those who really enjoy working with their hands. But for many, they’re just dead ends. And Tommy doesn’t strike me as a “dead end” kind of person. I’m sure he’ll listen to you and if there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”

As soon as she met him, her mom liked Tommy. Within minutes, she saw his gentleness and goodness. Recalling the first day she met him, she knew it was an experience she’d never forget.

“Uh. Uh,” was all Tommy said nervously when she opened the door. He neither knew what to say, nor how to say it.

“Can I help you?” Mary Ellen’s mother said softly. She couldn’t help but notice how fidgety and she this handsome young stranger appeared.

Tommy looked at the beautiful women who stood in front of him and was immediately captivated by her eyes. They were the image of Mary Ellen’s.

“Sorry for starin’, Mrs. Uh. Oh. Uh. I’m sorry.” Tomy being at a lost for words, realized his face turned a bright red. He didn’t know Mary Ellen’s last name.

By the look of him, Mrs. Morgan suspected she knew the identity of her visitor, yet the reason for his call eluded her.

“I’m Mrs. Morgan. Can I ask your name?” Her voice was soft and clear and gentle, like her daughter’s, and made Tommy feel somewhat more at ease.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Morgan,” Tommy said a bit more confidently. “I’m Tommy O’Connor. Mary Ellen’s friend.”

“Oh, yes, Tommy. Mary Ellen has told me so much about you,” Mrs. Morgan said as she smiled and offered her hand in a friendly manner. “You just missed her. She’s gone to school.” She looked down the street to see if Mary Ellen was still in sight.

Shaking her hand, Tommy stated a bit sheepishly, “I know. I watched her leave. I didn’t come here to see Mary Ellen.”

Mrs. Morgan looked puzzled. “Oh? Well then, I guess this has something to do with her, so why don’t you come inside, and we can sit and talk. How about some hot cocoa?”

Suddenly, feeling very comfortable with Mrs. Morgan, he explained what he wanted and told her why he almost ran when she answered the door. “I never thought o’ askin’ Mel her last name. I didn’t know what ta say.”

Thinking of that first meeting made her realize that only someone near her daughter’s age who experienced the loss of a love done knew ho to help lift Mary Ellen’s spirits. She’d always seemed so sad since Kat died and now, there’s a new light in her eyes. After all, she thought, a mom is just a mom, but a friend is a companion.

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Thank you for reading Now Will Ya Leave Me Alone? I’m working on another segment. Please stay tuned to see what else might happen to Tommy and Mary Ellen.