play with the other girls as if I am Barbie living in Malibu when I have done such a terrible thing.”
Pete reached for Joan and she pulled him close to her. “I understand.”
Betty shook her head violently. “You can’t understand.”
“I do. Maybe my circumstances are somewhat different than yours, but I know the self-doubt you have about giving your baby away.”
“How?”
“My baby’s father died in Vietnam. We never had the chance to get married after I found out there was a baby on the way. Everyone thought I should give the baby away. I just couldn’t do it.”
“Oh.”
“No, don’t say that! I couldn’t because I loved Pete’s dad. From what I understand, you weren’t in love with that rapist.”
“That’s true.”
“A lot of good people adopt little babies.”
Betty sobbed, “ I didn’t have any place to go.”
“So, you are starting over.”
“Trying.”
“Don’t feel guilty about adopting out your baby. You did the best you knew how to do at the time.”
“Thanks for that.”
“Are you gonna try to see him?”
Betty gulped and shook her head, “No. It wouldn’t be fair.”
“We have been through a lot for girls our age.” She observed Betty and held back sympathetic tears.” I have no wish to meet anyone new. I just want to take care of my boy.”
“I just want to feel normal again. I want to fit somewhere,” Betty confessed.
“I guess I’m elected, then. We fit together.”
Chapter 15
She looked down at the sparkle the tiny ring emitted. Johnny had given it to her that day and she pledged herself to him. She couldn’t walk out on him, or should she?
Did something happen to Johnny after he left Mama and Daddy’s house? What if he is hurt or something? He might not have gotten my letter at all!
She pulled out a sheet of notebook paper and wrote another letter. This was one Miss Sweetie’s eyes wouldn’t examine. No one would know she sent it.
Dear Johnny,
Are things alright with you? It has been months since I wrote to you and I haven’t heard a word. I am thinking that you might be hurt or something. Could it be that you are mad at me? I haven’t forgotten you. The ring is still on my finger. Do you want me to take it off?
I am very lonely here. The cafe is doing a lot of business so that keeps me really busy. I am also writing songs with my boss. Some of them are doing well for the Country artist that has taken them to record. Still
She paused and went to the sink to get a dri nk. It was difficult to lay her heart wide open like that. She sat down and continued.
Still, I miss you and your face. You were so much fun to be with. I could be myself and you seemed to like me. I am not used to being forward like this, but I have to know if you still care.
I can send your ring back to you if you don’t want me anymore. Please let me know by Christmas. You can write a letter or call me. You don’t have to break up with me face to face. I just need to k now if you are still interested. I do have some things to tell you.
My heart is on tiptoes, waiting to hear what you have to say.
With love,
Betty
She addressed the envelope and ran to the mailbox on the corner and put it down the chute before she had time to rethink what she wrote.
When she returned to her room, she felt sick to her stomach. I wish I hadn’t done that.
She sat with paper and pen and wrote:
My heart is on tiptoes
waiting to hear
Do you care for me
or is it what I fear?
The love we once shared
seems so far away.
I need to hear back
before Christmas day.
She got into her bed and sobbed until sleep overtook her tired body. She dreamed of the farm boy and the working man. They were alike and so different. Her heart belonged to Johnny and she sent it in a letter. Would he crush it?
The dream went from a mailbox to a trash can with many disconnected phrases sung by Sonny. First her heart was in the letter, then it was on a platter. What would
Pete reached for Joan and she pulled him close to her. “I understand.”
Betty shook her head violently. “You can’t understand.”
“I do. Maybe my circumstances are somewhat different than yours, but I know the self-doubt you have about giving your baby away.”
“How?”
“My baby’s father died in Vietnam. We never had the chance to get married after I found out there was a baby on the way. Everyone thought I should give the baby away. I just couldn’t do it.”
“Oh.”
“No, don’t say that! I couldn’t because I loved Pete’s dad. From what I understand, you weren’t in love with that rapist.”
“That’s true.”
“A lot of good people adopt little babies.”
Betty sobbed, “ I didn’t have any place to go.”
“So, you are starting over.”
“Trying.”
“Don’t feel guilty about adopting out your baby. You did the best you knew how to do at the time.”
“Thanks for that.”
“Are you gonna try to see him?”
Betty gulped and shook her head, “No. It wouldn’t be fair.”
“We have been through a lot for girls our age.” She observed Betty and held back sympathetic tears.” I have no wish to meet anyone new. I just want to take care of my boy.”
“I just want to feel normal again. I want to fit somewhere,” Betty confessed.
“I guess I’m elected, then. We fit together.”
Chapter 15
She looked down at the sparkle the tiny ring emitted. Johnny had given it to her that day and she pledged herself to him. She couldn’t walk out on him, or should she?
Did something happen to Johnny after he left Mama and Daddy’s house? What if he is hurt or something? He might not have gotten my letter at all!
She pulled out a sheet of notebook paper and wrote another letter. This was one Miss Sweetie’s eyes wouldn’t examine. No one would know she sent it.
Dear Johnny,
Are things alright with you? It has been months since I wrote to you and I haven’t heard a word. I am thinking that you might be hurt or something. Could it be that you are mad at me? I haven’t forgotten you. The ring is still on my finger. Do you want me to take it off?
I am very lonely here. The cafe is doing a lot of business so that keeps me really busy. I am also writing songs with my boss. Some of them are doing well for the Country artist that has taken them to record. Still
She paused and went to the sink to get a dri nk. It was difficult to lay her heart wide open like that. She sat down and continued.
Still, I miss you and your face. You were so much fun to be with. I could be myself and you seemed to like me. I am not used to being forward like this, but I have to know if you still care.
I can send your ring back to you if you don’t want me anymore. Please let me know by Christmas. You can write a letter or call me. You don’t have to break up with me face to face. I just need to k now if you are still interested. I do have some things to tell you.
My heart is on tiptoes, waiting to hear what you have to say.
With love,
Betty
She addressed the envelope and ran to the mailbox on the corner and put it down the chute before she had time to rethink what she wrote.
When she returned to her room, she felt sick to her stomach. I wish I hadn’t done that.
She sat with paper and pen and wrote:
My heart is on tiptoes
waiting to hear
Do you care for me
or is it what I fear?
The love we once shared
seems so far away.
I need to hear back
before Christmas day.
She got into her bed and sobbed until sleep overtook her tired body. She dreamed of the farm boy and the working man. They were alike and so different. Her heart belonged to Johnny and she sent it in a letter. Would he crush it?
The dream went from a mailbox to a trash can with many disconnected phrases sung by Sonny. First her heart was in the letter, then it was on a platter. What would
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