"Mikey's Weekend" Chapter Ten __________________________________________________________________________ "Though I know I'll never ever lose affection "For people and things that went before "I know I'll often stop and think about them "In my life, "I loved you more." I'd like to tell you that Beth came back, and we spent more time together. I'd like to tell you that she and I were meant to always be together. But, it really wouldn't be the truth. Good things and bad things happen in life, but nothing remains constant. I guess that's the point of it all. When things are totally fucked up, you can at least take some solace in the fact that things will, eventually, change. Likewise, before you get too caught up in how great you think the world is, it will kick you back down, and bust your ass. The only thing we can do is appreciate the good moments while we have them. Maybe that's why the good moments exist at all. They exist to keep you fighting through the bad moments. At least you can cling onto a memory. Or, the bad moment will kill you. Then, all the shit's over anyway, so who the hell cares? I know I must have mentioned I was a terrible liar. This thought definitely crossed my mind a few times after Beth left the house on that day. Would I be able to hide what had just happened from my family? The day was pretty much uneventful after she drove away. Some time in the afternoon, my brother Ray came back, but he totally ignored me. That was the way I liked my brother the very best. Thing is, even if I had told him everything that had happened, there would have been no way in hell he would have believed me anyway. Eventually, my parents returned from their trip in San Diego. That's what I was anxious about. I tried to be pleasant with them, and ask them how everything went. They filled me in. It was a successful business venture, and the restaurant was up and running smoothly. No matter what I said, or how calm I tried to act, my mother and father could tell that something had happened. They kept asking if I was "okay", or if anything "strange" had happened while they'd been gone. My folks knew me better than anyone else in the world, and now I was different. It was obvious. However, they couldn't imagine just how different I really now was. I tried to shrug it off, and I went to my room early in the evening. I told them I was coming down with a cold or some shit. Of course, they didn't buy it. I couldn't just ignore this problem--I'd have to tell them something. I was acting weird around them, and I couldn't help it. I had just fucked the hot next door neighbor. It's not easy to have that floating around inside your head when you're 15 years old without anyone else noticing that dazed look in your eyes. Luckily, I kind of had a stroke of genius. My father, bless his soul, knocked on my door that night and asked me how I was doing. I responded and said I was fine. He entered my room, and looked at me with a concerned expression. I could tell he was worried. Damn, that made me feel guilty. I had betrayed their trust over the weekend. Leave me alone for two days and what do I do? ...the vixen next door. Still, there was no way I could tell them what happened and risk getting Beth in trouble. My mind raced frantically as I tried to think of something, anything, I could say as an excuse. Suddenly, a vision of Ray's girlfriend came into my mind, and I thought about her pussy. That was perfect! I explained how weirded out I was, because after my folks left, my brother brought his girlfriend over for the night. The next morning, she flashed me, and I had felt odd ever since. When I told my father that story, which was the absolute truth, you could see the understanding in his eyes. It was a little embarrassing to talk about, but I would have done anything to keep Beth out of trouble. I really did love her. I tried to stress to him how creeped out I was by her. If this was going to be my alibi, I had better sell it. My father patted me on the knee, and said he would have a talk with Ray about Trisha, and that she wouldn't be over at the house ever again. Thank God. Trisha was bad news, anyway. My brother really didn't need to be seeing her. So, he agreed to break up with her, and he told her to stay away from his house and his little brother. I guess Ray actually was concerned for me. It seemed like he understood the situation, and was upset with Trisha. Maybe he wasn't such a jackass after all. I dunno, whatever. I went to school the next day and saw Emily, the squirrel I had a crush on. She didn't scare me nearly as much as she used to. I talked with her, and we laughed, and got along great. I didn't care if she had a boyfriend. I even invited her over to my house after school for dinner and everything. She wasn't able to make it, but she said she'd come over the next night. I just smiled and winked at her, and told her I was looking forward to it. It's funny. Beth said she wanted to help me get past my unease around girls, and she did. She did what she promised. She helped me. She was so sweet. I would never, ever forget her. After a week or two of hanging out with Emily, she broke up with her boyfriend Chris. I shit you not, I was serious when I said he was a really good guy. We ended up being good friends, even after Emily and I started dating. It's a good thing I didn't kick him in the nuts like I always wanted to. A few years passed. I ended up being Emily's first. It was a beautiful night. We made love, and I'm sure the experience I had earlier in life helped, because I know I made her feel amazing. She made me feel wonderful, too. It was different than when I was with Beth. It was different, because I knew that Emily was the one. She was the one I'd spend the rest of my life with. We got married. Chris was the best man. My brother had moved out years before, and we never stayed in touch. I wanted him at the wedding, but he probably would have just arrived drunk anyway. My parents were awesome, and so proud of me. I had officially grown up. Now, as I write out my memories, we're expecting a son. Can you believe it? It's still surreal to me. I thought Beth had been the most amazing thing to ever happen in my life, but I'm guessing this will probably top that. Probably. We'll have to wait and see. The thing is, Beth and I never did really stay in touch. She just remained the polite next door neighbor for a few years. I only rarely saw her after that weekend. I never called her again. I think she understood why. We couldn't risk having anyone find out about us. I think she ended up meeting some lawyer or doctor or something. She moved out to Portland in Maine when I was 18. I never saw her again. It's my greatest hope that someday, my son will meet someone like Beth, and that he'll experience the very best life has to offer. Fuck it, I don't care if what she did to me was against the law, she helped me when I was a kid, and she made me feel amazing. Just when I felt like no one else in the world cared about me, just when I felt more alone than I had ever been before, she was there to pick me up. It was so much more than just sex. It was one soul touching another. I wouldn't mind at all if my son got to experience that just once in his life. I'd be grateful. I'd be happy for him. Still, I doubt he will ever meet someone like her. She was one of a kind. There will never be anyone else on this Earth quite like Beth, and without a doubt, she'll forever hold the most special place in my heart. All we have in life are our memories. Beth gave me my very best ones. I can't imagine what I would do without them. I guess, looking back, it was a good thing I dropped that damn avocado. The end.