A Lil' Southern Twang Straight from the Carton

Vera sat on her porch swing, on an early Sunday morning, sliding her feet back and forth on the bright white wood. It was a perfect day outside, with the flowers in full bloom, and the sky a beautiful shade of blue. She loved sitting outside on days like these. Next to her, was one of her favorite books that she owned, Pride and Prejudice. On her bookmarked page was her harmonica that her grandfather gave her when she was just four years old. She took it everywhere she went and she was a master at using it. It meant everything to Vera because her grandfather passed away two years earlier, leaving her grandmother, Edith, alone. Reading and playing the harmonica were about the only things to do, due to the fact that she lived out in the middle of nowhere. Other than Bryan, the seventeen year old that lived next door, there wasn't a soul for miles. Vera and Bryan became very good friends over the years that Vera lived with her grandmother. Edith took her in when she had no one else. Her mother skipped out on her when she was just a baby, beginning to learn the word "mommy". Sadly, she never got to use it. Her father on the other hand, was forced to enlist in the army at the age of twenty by Vera's grandfather. Just five years after enlisting, when Vera was eight, he was sent to Iraq. Now, at the age of sixteen, Vera's only seen her father maybe twice since he went away. They used to be very close, that was until Vera grew up to act and look more like her mother. Her father became more distant, and it took Vera the longest time to figure out the reason. To this day, she doesn't know how he's doing, if he's okay, or if he even loves her. He never calls when he's in town, and when he's miles and miles away, he doesn't bother to write. If she's lucky, she'll stumble upon him when she's running errands. Only then will he pretend that he has a daughter.

She saw a red car driving slowly up the dirt road. She knew exactly who it was, because Bryan's mom was the type of woman who was extra careful when she was driving. Bryan's mom drove Edith wherever she needed or desired to go. Since Edith never drove herself, and didn't aspire to get her license any time soon, she had no means of transportation. As the car slowed to a halt, Bryan and Edith got out of the car, and Vera saw Judy waving at her. She kindly returned the gesture.

"Hello there, beautiful," Bryan said as his mother drove away.

"Hello, love." She always referred to him as "love". Actually, come to think of it, she called almost everyone that.

"How was church?"

"Good. How was pretending to be sick so you didn't have to attend church, hmm?" He whispered as he glided swiftly by me.

"Perfectly fine," I scolded.

Edith walked up to her.

"Well, you sure look better," She said bringing the back of her hand to Vera's forehead.

"I feel better. It must've just been a little cold that got the best of me this morning."

"Mmhmm." Bryan said sarcastically.

"Listen here you—" Vera began.

"Haha. I love when you get angry or flustered. Your cute southern accent comes out." He smiled playfully.

She crossed her arms and stuck her tongue out at him, and he winked.

"Well, I'm glad you feel better. Now you don't have to miss school." Edith said.

"Oh joy." Vera said, rolling her eyes.

Bryan helped himself to the carton of milk in out refrigerator. He always did that since he was practically family.

Edith decided to head over to Judy's to help with dinner as a favor.

"I think I might go for a walk." Vera said grabbing her purse and placing her harmonica in it.

"Why don't we go for a drive instead," Bryan suggested.

"Um, okay?"

He went and jumped behind the wheel of his truck that he received last year for his birthday. It was his baby, and he loved it so much that he even named it. Darla, he thought was the perfect name.

Vera brought the seatbelt across her chest.

"Where to?" Vera asked.

"Where do you want to go?"

"Well, the store since you enjoy drinking all of our milk. Not to mention, straight from the damn carton."

He snickered. "To the store then."

Bryan pulled into the Mini-Mart and pulled alongside a gas tank. Bryan handed her a twenty and asked her to pay for the gas.

"Do it yourself." She said.

"Aw, come on. You're already in there."

She grabbed the twenty from his hand.

"You jackass."

"There's that sweet southern accent that I love." He said jokingly.

When she entered the store she went quickly to the milk and grabbed 2%. Vera didn't enjoy stores because you never know what kind of people you might stumble upon. She walked up to the cashier counter and handed the cashier her merchandise. She grabbed her bag, and turned to walk out of the store. She bumped into someone, which stopped her suddenly.

"I'm so sorry." Vera pleaded.

She looked up at him. When she saw his face it reminded her so much of her father. The tan, the way his nose pointed at the end, the stern look, and the shaved head. He completely ignored the fact the she bumped into him. Vera exited the store, walking backwards because she couldn't believe what she saw.

"I could have sworn that was him." She said under her breath.

"Huh?"

"Oh, never mind."

He shrugged it off, and began driving towards Vera's house. Once they got there, she jumped out of the car and ran inside the house.

"Hi." Vera said to her grandmother that sat on her rocking chair sewing and humming a tune.

"Hey. Where'd you run off to?" She asked skeptically.

"Just the store to get some milk."

"Okay."

Vera poured herself a glass, and Bryan went straight for the damn carton.

"Edith?" Vera asked softly.

"What is it, dear?"

"This might sound crazy, but I think I saw my father at the store," she said with a sip of her milk.

"That's possible. Oh, dear heavens. I didn't tell you. Your father is on leave."

Vera dropped her glass and turned to Bryan whose mouth was wide open with a milk mustache above it.

No fucking way. Vera thought to herself, as she heard a knock on the door. Vera was hesitant to opening the door. She was biting the inside of her left cheek as she neared the door. She opened it, and there stood the man that she clumsily bumped into at the Mini-Mart.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but are you Vera Williams?" He asked.

She was thinking this was her father, and that he was going to throw his arms around her and call her his little girl.

"You dropped your ID when you left the store earlier."

He handed her the ID.

"Th—Thank you." She stuttered.

He nodded and headed for his car. Vera stood there, with the door still hanging wide open.

"Who was it?" Edith asked.

Vera ignored her grandmother and watched as the mysterious man's car pulled out of her driveway. She noticed a bumper sticker on the back of his car. "Proud to be an American Soldier."

"Just some guy," Vera sighed, and closed the door. Vera realized another paper taped to the back of her ID. She took it off and unfolded it.

Dear May May,

You may think that I did not recognize you at the store earlier or when I came to your door. But you do know who I am, and I certainly know you. You're Vera May Williams. My daughter that I haven't shown love to. I can no longer be in your life, even though I barely am now. I am choosing to be a soldier, not a father. I'm sorry. I wanted to let you know that I do still love you.

Sincerely, Charles Williams