The House on Seventh Street by Karen Vorbeck Williams

Author:Karen Vorbeck Williams [Williams, Karen Vorbeck]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Karen V. Williams
Published: 2015-07-26T23:00:00+00:00

22

1956

ALL IT TOOK was for Winna to load up her old Mercury with a bunch of girlfriends for a night at the picture show and a drag down Main for Johnny to feel threatened. Then they would fight. She would accuse him of never taking her anywhere anymore, never wanting anything from her but sex, and he would say that was about all she was good for. Ashamed that she had become no more to him than a toy and furious with him for bringing that to her attention, she would break up with him again.

But always after their fights, he swept her away by the sweetness of his apologies, the earnestness of his promises, the urgency of his kisses. She would go back to him, only to wonder in a very few days why she had been so stupid. Why she could not part with him. They didn’t talk anymore, not even about their plans for college because, to Johnny, that meant separation from her. All she knew was that he thought he would study history or business and that he wanted to be rich.

One night, they parked on a dirt road that ran alongside a farmer’s field. The stars and a sliver of moon gave off enough light for them to make out the silhouette of a hay wagon parked in the middle of a newly mown field. Johnny did not reach across the seat for her, but got out of the car and walked around to the passenger door.

“Come on, baby,” he said, opening the door for her. “Let’s go for a walk.”

The evening was warm and dry as a bone. She crossed the field in ballerina flats and a cotton sleeveless blouse, her full skirt catching a sudden gust of breeze. Enveloped in dark night air and quiet, they walked toward the hay wagon. No words were necessary. Winna knew where they were going and what they were going to do when they got there.

They climbed up on the hay. He first, his hand extended for her. He removed his cotton shirt, spread it out on the hay for her to lie down on, then crawled into her arms. She wrapped her arms around his strong bare back and looked up at the stars, shining like bright pinpoints in the sky. She loved him—loved how they came together, how he made her feel.

Alone in the dark, deeply lost in one another, they suddenly found themselves at the center of a bright light. Winna screamed. Voices spoiled the night silence—hoots, whistles, laughter—mocking, suggestive male noises she’d always hated. Johnny took Winna’s hand and helped her up. They jumped off the wagon and ran. Terrified that someone would recognize her, Winna lifted her skirt over her face as they raced for his convertible. Petrified for her reputation, she hurled herself on the floor of the front seat and sobbed. Johnny sped away chuckling. He thought it was funny. She hated him.

ONE AFTERNOON, AFTER they had parked a while

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