Where the Boys Are by Mel Gilden

Author:Mel Gilden [Gilden, Mel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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Brenda loved the open road—it was glorious. The ocean glittered on their right and then was hidden by towns full of small stucco buildings. Dylan's tape of the Beach Boys's greatest hits blared from the speakers in the doors of his Porsche. They passed Camp Pendelton, and Brenda was amused by a sign at what was evidently a bus stop. It said PICK UP SERVICEMEN HERE.

"I didn't think the Marines encouraged that sort of activity," Dylan said, and they both laughed.

Brenda had allowed Dylan to believe that she had followed his advice and had been straight with her parents. She would tell him the truth eventually, of course, but she didn't want to spoil their good time, and it would be spoiled if he knew he was taking her out of the country without her parents' permission.

They drove through San Diego, then crossed the border with little trouble. In Mexico, the land remained the same as it had been for the last few miles: desert with low hardy-looking trees and bushes; the quality of the roads decayed badly. However, the Mexican countryside seemed to inspire Dylan. He tried to remember the words to the tide song from The Three Caballeros, an old Disney cartoon. Brenda told him she couldn't remember ever seeing it, which was a mistake, because he spent some time telling her about it in great gory detail.

About halfway between the border and Ensenada, Dylan stopped for gas. As they pulled into the Pemex station, he said, "I can't tell you how glad I am that you finally stood up to your parents."

Brenda saw that the time had come to clear up Dylan's misunderstanding. She said, "I didn't actually stand up to them. Not as such."

"No?"

"No. They think I'm at Kelly's."

Dylan shook his head and said, "Brenda—" in a way that led her to believe that he had suddenly become possessed by the spirit of her father. She hoped the possession would not last.

Brenda said, "We'll be fine. I just have to make a phone call."

Dylan had a pouch full of Mexican change that he had accumulated over the years, and Brenda used a lot of it to call home. Before she left, she had had the foresight to find out how to call the United States from a Mexican phone.

The phone rang and she was all set to sound chipper and local for her mom, but Brandon answered. Meanwhile, Dylan had joined her in the booth and was driving her crazy with tiny kisses on the back of her neck.

Brandon alerted her that he'd told the parents that she was at a flea market with Kelly, picking out a wedding present. "That's why you left so early this morning."

"Check," Brenda said. "Thanks, Brandon."

"You owe me big for this, Brenda."

"Check. Let me talk to Mom."

Brenda heard Brandon call their mom, then some muffled conversation, and then Brandon was back on the line. Bemused, he said, "She doesn't need to talk to you as long as you're okay.

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