The Plan

Written in 2002

She turned fifteen and saved a couple hundred bucks. Actually, it wasn’t that easy and it wasn’t that fast, but by the time her sixteenth birthday rolled around she had her electric guitar. By sixteen and a half she was blowing speakers and amps. It didn’t happen overnight, but she flew through hours of school, spent the afternoon working at the CVS pharmacy in town, and then came home exhausted to spend the next couple hours indulging in her one delight, her music.

Music fed her soul. Music made her who she was, and music would make her who she was going to be. She carried a battered notebook with her and spent every spare minute memorizing chords and scribbling notes to herself. She wrote, she sang, and she played. Playing was her passion. School, church, work and even life were only distractions.

“Kate!” A voice pierced the blast of her speakers so she jumped for the amp and turned it down.

“Yeah?”

“Upstairs. Now.”

“Mom…”

“Now!”

Kate knew that tone. She set the guitar on its stand and turning off the speaker and amps unplugged them all. Her stocking feet pounded on the steps as she ran up. “Can’t I have another half hour?” She poked her head into the living room to ask.

“No. Your dad’s got a cold and needs rest and you have to do homework.”

“I’ll do it tomorrow morning.”

“No. You’re going to church with us.”

“Mom!”

“Yes, don’t bother arguing.”

Kate turned away and found her backpack already sitting on the kitchen table. She got a glass of diet Pepsi and sat down to work. She was now seventeen and a half, a high school senior, still working at CVS and still her parents’ worst nightmare. They thought music was a phase she was going through, but when it lasted and she never outgrew it they slowly realized that it was more. But there was nothing they could do to help her. The high school was small and had no music program and she had already taken advantage of everything else their small community had to offer.

The next morning was bright and cold, the frost clinging to the window panes seemed more reminiscent of winter than representative of the warm spring they had been experiencing. Kate’s fingers were almost numb with cold by the time she was dressed and downstairs where her mother had the electric heater warming the kitchen. But she had only a few minutes in that warmth before they hurried out the door to church.

It had been several months since Kate had last visited church. She preferred to spend Sunday mornings writing or trying out a new tune while the rest of the family was gone and the house was quiet. Yet this Sunday, as she sat there she came to the conclusion that church was okay. She had forgotten how inspiring it could be and she had some good lines floating through her head.

The week at school passed quickly, the same routine as each before. She handled her classes well and handled herself well. She had a few friends, most of them were kids from her parents’ church whom she had known all her life, but she didn’t think about them too often.

“Yo Kate! Earth to Kate!” Angie bumped her on the back during lunch Friday.

“Yeah?” Angie was the closest thing to a real friend Kate had ever known. She didn’t share her true feelings much, except in music.

“Do you want to come along with us tonight?”

“Where to?”

“You weren’t listening at all?”

“No.”

“K, we’re gonna see the new Tom Cruise movie, grab something to eat, hang out…”

“I dunno, My mom –“

“Don’t give me that.” Matt jumped in. ‘You know your parents trust us.”

Kate thought a minute. “You know I’d love to, but I’ve got a lot going.”

“Oh?” Angie looked surprised.

“Yeah!” Kate’s eyes shone. “I’ve got a great new tune! Awesome skag!”

“I thought you meant you were actually doing something with someone else. Don’t you ever want to get out of the basement?”

“Of course, but not now.”

“We want you to go.” Matt said.

Angie jabbed him. “Matt wants you to go.” He glared, so she amended herself. “We all do, really.”

Kate sighed. “Not tonight. I want to finish this.”

“Next week?”

“Maybe.” She hoped they would forget.

The week came and went and she refused every invitation. She knew they were getting frustrated and mad at her, but she just didn’t have the time. It didn’t fit the plan and she figured they would get the picture sooner or later. Hopefully sooner. She was running out of excuses.

Just as she was stepping in the door after a long day at work her mom called “Kate! Phone call!” She knew who it was.

“Not taking it mom! I gotta run!” And she disappeared up the stairs. She waited ten minutes then came down. “Sup?”

Her mother turned from the stove. “That was incredibly rude.”

Kate rolled her eyes and went for the fridge.

“Aren’t you going to change?”

“Huh? Why?”

“Angie said to tell you she’d be by in about fifteen minutes to pick you up.”

“Damn her!”

“Kate!”

“Mom did she say where we were going?”

“Dinner and bowling. It’s ok with me, just so you aren’t late.”

Kate rolled her eyes again.

“Is that her?” Her mother asked

She glanced out the window at the blue beetle coming up the lane.

“Yeah. Stall her while I change.”

Mrs. Burke smiled as her daughter bounded up the stairs. Teenagers! She was glad Kate was finally beginning to act like one!

Ten minutes later Kate was sliding into the passengers seat of Angie's ’72 VW Bug.

“Hey!” Angie greeted her grinning.

“That was lousy.” Kate growled.

“Couldn’t help it. You wouldn’t talk to me.”

“You knew I didn’t want to come.”

“Tough luck. Too late. You’re here and since you are you might as well relax and have fun.”

A couple minutes passed and neither of them spoke. Angie flipped on the radio and fiddled with the dial. All she got was static. She hit it with her fist making Kate jump, but still, just static. Finally she gave up. “Wanna know the game plan for tonight?”

“Yeah.” Kate mimicked. “Tell me the game plan.”

With a sigh Angie did so. “We meet the gang at Sunnyway and leave some cars, then we stop for something to eat, then hit the bowling alley, then cruise.”

“Define gang.”

“You, me…”

“Duh.”

Angie sighed again. Maybe she should have left Kate alone. She certainly wasn’t making the even very enjoyable. “Matt, and Grace, Pat, Evan, Phil and Sherrie.”

“Pat?”

“Matt Patrick. We call him Pat, so we don’t mix him up with the other Matt.”

“Gotcha.”

They pulled into the Sunnyway parking lot and after looping around it Angie parked beside a team of pickup trucks. “Let’s go.”

Conversation died as the two of them got out of the car. “What is it?” Kate whispered.

“It ain’t me!” Angie laughed.

Evan stared at her. “You brought the Icebox!”

“Yeah man!” Angie highfived him. The rest of the group cheered and Evan slapped Kate’s arm.

“Where’s Sherrie? And Phil?” Angie asked.

“Not coming.” Evan told her. “Sherrie’s grounded and he won’t go without her.”

“Oh the beauty of love.” Someone said and they all laughed. “I guess we can fit in one vehicle then.”

“Not yours!” Kate said picturing the six of them in her tiny car. Everyone laughed again.

“She made me drive that thing once.” Evan said. “Never again!” I couldn’t even get out!”

Kate smiled. She could see why. This guy was huge! She was small already, and standing beside him made her feel tiny! He had grown to about six foot four with immense shoulders and arms, and he looked good! She watched everyone closely as they climbed into his white extended cab. She had known these kids for years, but when it came down to it, she really didn’t know then at all! She would have a good time and maybe she could get in an hour of practice when she got home.

Sunday came. Kate caught Grace and Angie grinned at her as she walked into church. They found her as soon as the service was over. “Hey! You wanna go out tonight?”

“Got school tomorrow.”

“Of course. We’re never out late on Sunday nights.”

“What are you gonna do?”

“Don’t know. Probably just crash with movies and food.”

Kate sighed and Angie could almost hear the debate going on in the other girl’s head. Finally she agreed. “Ok. Dad’s been laying down the law about not practicing on Sundays, so I might as well come.”

“Great!” Grace exclaimed. “We’ll tell Evan to come by for you!”

“No.” Kate said quickly. “Just tell me where and I’ll be there.”

“Uh. My place. I guess.” Angie said. “I’ll clean the rec room up some after lunch.”

“’kay.”

“yeah, tell everyone five.”

And that’s how it went. Kate became one of the group, still reluctant at first, but soon she was just as happy to join in as the others were to have her.

One night when they were meeting at Kate’s the doorbell rang and Mrs. Burke ushered Matt and Evan in. “Come on in boys! Kate must not have been expecting you for a while yet, she’s still down stairs.”

“Oh!” Evan said glancing at his watch. “We can leave!”

“It’s no problem.” Mrs. Burke said pointing to the basement door. “Go on down.”

Kate never heard them, come in, but stopped mid stroke when she saw them. “Hi! Am I late?”

“No, we’re early.” Matt apologized. “Your mom said you wouldn’t mind, so here we are.”

Kate shook her head a little. She did mind, not them, but the fact that they had interrupted her practice. She hadn’t had a good session in a month. “We still gotta wait for the girls?”

“Yeah.”

“Well have a seat.” She motioned to the dilapidated couch.

“Thanks.” They sat awkwardly.

She resumed her perch on her stool, still cradling her guitar.

“You’ve got a cool room down here.” Matt commented glancing around it. The carpet and furniture were old and worn, but her equipment was new.

“Yeah. Thanks.”

Evan noticed some notebooks laying on the table. “Homework?”

“No. Writing and stuff.”

“Like songs?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s The Plan?” He read the battered cover of a blue spiral bound.

“The Plan!” She looked at him sharply as if daring him to touch the book, which he suddenly realized must be very personal. Slowly she started to speak. These guys were, after all her friends. “The Plan is my plan, for my life I mean. I don’t intend to stay here forever.” She motioned taking in the whole room. “I will get out.”

“Leave town and be somebody?” Matt supplied.

“No.” She thought before replying. “No, I already am “somebody”, but I want to make my music “something”! Something worth playing and worth remembering.” The guys nodded and she continued. “If it’s not music, it’s not worth my time.”

“That’s a strong statement.” Evan said.

She met his gaze. “Yes it is, and I live by it.” But she wasn’t so sure inside.

It was graduation night. The speeches had been given, diplomas received, parties had, and gifts opened. For the 26 seniors in Kat’s class the fun was over. Yet was it? hadn’t their greatest adventure in life just begun? Kate thought so as she lay in bed. She was taking a year to work full time and then it was college for music and business. Then she would throw her words at the world and make them accept her. That little doubt popped up again. Did she have what it took? Did she have the dedication? Could she make it alone? She quickly suppressed those thoughts. She would have to. It wasn’t likely she could find anyone else who fit The Plan. She would miss her friends now that school was out. Oh well, they still had the weekends, and that was what counted.

Days dragged by at the pharmacy. Her job had lost all of it’s fun long ago. She came home each night more exhausted that ever before.

It was Thursday night and she stared at the notes on the paper in front of her, but they continued to blur. “God, I can’t do this.” She whispered. ‘I’m too tired. I’ll have to practice tomorrow night.” But Friday night she worked late, and Saturday Angie called.

“Hey! You wanna go see something?”

She knew she needed a break, so she agreed.

Matt and Angie picked her up. “We’re meeting Evan at the theatre.” He told her watching her face closely.

“Ok.” She laid her head back and closed her eyes. “I’m exhausted.”

Angie glanced at Matt and shrugged as if to say “That didn’t tell us anything.”

They found Evan, easily spotting his truck. Matt pulled him aside as they were walking in “Ang and I are gonna split. She wants to see her sister.”

“So you’re leaving us here?”

“Yeah. Consider it a date on me.”

“I’m sure Kate will be thrilled.” Evan glared at him.

“Well, you two are practically a couple anyway. We just thought we’d speed things up.”

“Well thanks, but no thanks.”

“Why?” Matt asked. “You’re dying to have her.”

“Maybe, but it won’t happen.” Evan responded a little too loudly.

‘Why not?”

“How can you forget? The Plan! I don’t fit! She won’t look at me twice!”

Matt rolled his eyes. “You really believe that?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re pretty naive for a diploma holder.” Matt turned to go.

“Wait!” Evan called him back. “What am I supposed to tell her?”

“Whatever you want bud!” Mike laughed as he disappeared.

He was still mad when Kate found him. “Where’s Angie?”

He shrugged. “I thought she went with you.”

Kate looked at him funny. “I was waiting for her in the bathroom, but she never came out, guess I missed her.”

“Yeah.” Evan said. “Actually Matt told me they were looking for a place to make out, so we’re on our own.”

It was Kate’s turn to roll her eyes. “You sure?”

“Yeah. Unless he might have said that we were set up and they were going to visit Angie’s sister.”

This time she really rolled her eyes. “Wait a minute, you have your keys?”

“Yes.”

“At least they were kind enough to leave us with a vehicle to get home in!”

“Now that’s an idea!” Evan exclaimed.

“Huh?”

“Wait! Let’s go in first!” He handed the attendant their tickets. “Then I’ll tell you.”

Kate held onto Evan’s jacket as they sneaked through the field next to Angie’s sister, Shelley’s home. “Check the back.” He whispered. “I’ll check the front.”

“’kay.” She answered slipping along the wall around the garage. A few minutes later she rejoined him by the corner.

“All clear up here.” He said.

“They’re all in the living room playing with the baby.” She reported.

“Great!” She laughed quietly. “Now you’re sure she never pulls her keys?”

“Never!”

“Ok! Let’s go!”

Kate quietly opened the door and hopped in the bug. Feeling around on the floor she found an empty soda bottle and tossed it in the back, then her fingers felt the keys. She inserted them in the ignition and turned partway popping it into neutral. “Got it!” She called softly.

“Great! Let up the break.”

She did and they slowly coasted down the driveway with Evan pushing. On the road she turned it and deciding they were far enough from the house started the engine and drove up the road to park by Evan’s truck, then hurried back to where he was waiting by the cornfield. “You still got it?” She asked.

He felt his pocket to make sure. “Yeah. Safe and sound.” He pulled out a piece of chalk that was used to mark dairy cows, which they had found in the truck. They hurried back to the house and did a quick check.

“Still in the living room.” He said, “and that kid is cute!” She laughed softly as they wrote under the glare of the porch light, in big orange letters, “haha! Guess who!” They took off again.

They left Angie’s car parked just off the end of her lane where it wasn’t visible from the house.

“I think we’re crazy!” Kate said as she climbed back into Evan’s truck.

“I’d just like to see their faces when they walk out and the car’s gone!”

They both laughed.

They were sitting in Taco Bell when Evan glanced at his watch. “Almost 10:30. Do you think they’d have left yet?”

“Probably soon.” Kate said.

“Wanna drive by?”

“They might see us.” Kate said doubtfully.

“They already know it was us.”

“True. Ok, let’s do it, but we are not, under any circumstances stopping or giving them a ride!”

“Definitely not!” They laughed.

Angie called Sunday night. “Thanks for the ride last Friday.”

“Oh you’re welcome! Maybe I should thank you for the ride.” Kate responded.

“No, just got shopping with me Tuesday?”

“Okay.”

They were searching through the clearance racks. “I gotta find something perfect for Friday night.”

“What’s Friday?” Kate asked.

“Goin’ out with Matt.” The jacket she was holding up muffled Angie’s voice.

“And what’s so special about this time? You two have been a couple for…years.”

“Yeah Kate, but this time it’s real!”

“Oh? Like?”

“Well, he called Dad Sunday. I don’t know what all they talked about, but he came by later and Dad was real nice to him, and he said he didn’t want to keep playing around anymore. He wanted to be serious.”

“Wow!” Kate grinned and hugged her, jacket and all. “That is great.”

“Yeah.” Angie sniffed. “I know!” We haven’t really talked about it, but he’s kinda hinted around like we’ll be together in the future, and he’s working real hard for that promotion. I swear, after this outfit I won’t splurge at all! Save! Save! Save!”

Kate shook her head. “You’ve only just finished high school…”

“Three months ago!”

“Okay, you graduated three months ago, short months I might add, and now you are thinking about getting married?” Angie nodded. “And you are totally happy!” Kate marveled. “He’s all you ever wanted isn’t he?”

“Yes.” She admitted, crying for real by now.”

“I bet Grace flipped!” Kate said trying to lighten the mood. It worked but she didn’t get the answer she expected.

“I haven’t told her.”

“What?”

Angie shrugged. “of course I had to tell my best friend first.”

Kate grinned and hugged her again.

“What about you?” Angie pulled away.

“On with The Plan. You know that.”

“Yeah, but don’t you want a little romance?”

“Yes, but not now. Not here.”

“I thought you and Evan were getting pretty close?”

That was true, if you thought about it that way. They had been spending a lot of time together, but considering that they were the two singles while the others were coupled it was more convenient that way. She laughed it off. “You know he doesn’t care about me. And that he doesn’t fit me.”

“I think you are deceiving yourself.”

Kate laughed again. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing!” And she really thought she did.

It was a week later when they met at their favorite pizza place for supper. Like always, the couples were together and that left Evan and Kate. No one else thought about it, but tonight however, she was noticing him. She had never before realized just how nice he was. He knew just when to talk, and when to listen. He leaned over grabbing someone’s napkin from under the table. Those shoulders, that red hair. She looked away and caught Angie watching her. She shifted and stared at her plate as Angie smirked.

“What are we doing tonight?” Pat asked.

“Dunno.”

“I’m broke.” Kate said. “Just had enough for supper.”

“Me too.” Evan said.

They looked at Grace. “Broke. Pat?”

“Same.”

All four turned to Matt and Angie. “Hey!” Angie raised her hands in defense. “Don’t look at me! I’m not spending!”

“I guess we could always spend Friday night at home for once.” Grace said.

“Yeah, s’pose so.” Matt winked at Angie.

She laughed and snuggled against his shoulder. “You can come to my place, Matt. Mom and Dad won’t mind!”

A few minutes later they were out in the parking lot in the pouring rain. “See ya!” Kate yelled. She turned the key, but the engine only growled. She tried again and this time as it growled she growled back. She hit the dash. This was not a good time for a breakdown. She looked up in time to see Evan’s truck headed past her for the exit, but the others were gone.

“Evan!” She yelled jumping out. “Evan!” She ran into the beam of his lights waving her arms frantically.

He slowed then stopped beside her winding his window down. “What’s wrong?”

“My car won’t start.” She said, rain running down her face.

He parked next to her and came over trying to start it himself. “It’s not the starter.” He said. “Listen. It’s turning over, but just not catching.”

“Oh.”

“You’re soaked.” He said jumping out and looking up at the rain. “I bet it’s your distributor cap. Did it start ok when you came.”

“Stalled once.”

“Yeah.” He said, “This rain’s getting to it. Come on, I’ll give you a lift. You can get it towed in the morning.”

“Thanks.” She said and climbed back in her car dripping water on the seats to get her purse and backpack. He waited to get the door for her. “You’ll get soaked.” She protested.

“Already am!” He laughed shaking the water out of his hair in a shower of fine droplets. He noticed her shiver as he started the truck so he reached into the back and found the afghan he kept there. “Here ya go.”

“I’ll get it wet.” She protested again, but he didn’t respond except to wrap it around her. “Thanks.”

“I guess I should take you home.” He said pulling out of the driveway.

“Wouldn’t have to right away.”

He almost shouted with joy. “Okay.” And they turned onto the first of a maze of back roads. When they wound their way around and finally arrived at her home an hour later she was still reluctant to go in.

He parked at the far end of her lane, just off the road and fiddled with the radio. He looked at her in the darkness. A shiver ran down her spine as she met his gaze. He saw it. “Why didn’t you tell me you were still cold?” He tugged the blanket more snuggly around her.

“It’s ok.” She barely breathed.

He again tugged on the blanket pulling her slightly closer. She turned her face up to him as they kissed.

They both drew back. “Wow.” She whispered.

He was brushing her cheek and pushing back damp hair. As he bent towards her again she let go of the throw and tentatively wrapped her arms around his neck.

When they took a breath he checked the blanket again and pulled her against him so her head rested on his chest. He buried his face in her hair that miraculously still smelled like Pert.

Finally she knew she had to go in. He started the truck and drove in the lane, then got out to let her out his door. “Here’s your blanket.” She held it out to him.

“Keep it.” He said. “I bought it for you, but didn’t know how to give it to you.”

“Thanks.” She managed.

He grinned at her. “Anytime.”

She reached up to touch his face. “Thanks.”

She woke up with a cold and a constant pain in her ear. Probably from lying against his wet T-shirt and chest, she thought, then shook her head. She hadn’t intended for all that to happen. She hadn’t even considered the possibility, and she… it just happened.

When the pain in her ear hadn’t subsided by Sunday she stayed home in bed and called the doctor who usually worked with the pharmacy she worked for and asked him to write out a prescription for her.

Angie called. “Where are you?”

“Home. Duh.” Kate winced switching the phone to her other ear.

“Yeah, I know that, but why weren’t you at church.”

“Sick.”

“Fun.” Angie groaned. “Evan’s worried about you.”

“Why?”

“Dunno, maybe because he’s fallen head over heals for you, and from what he told Matt, something happened between the two of you.”

“Big deal.”

“Come on!”

“Ok. I know!” Kate said. ‘I don’t know what’s up! I’ve done a lot of thinking, but I’m still not really sure how I feel except sick!”

“Alright. I’ll let you go, but call me when you feel better.”

Kate lay on the sofa curled up in Evan’s afghan. She wasn’t sure what to do, but she kept remembering how she had felt in his arms.

It was Wednesday till Kate went back to work, but she still wasn’t taking phone calls. By Thursday her mother and everyone else was extremely upset with her.

“Angie called three times today, and Evan called at least as many!”

“Cool.” She mumbled grabbing a muffin.

“You’ve got to call them back.” The phone interrupted Mrs. Burke and she turned to her daughter. “You are answering that.”

She couldn’t protest. “hewo?”

“Kate? What are you eating?”

Thank God it was Angie! “Mwephwn.”

“What?”

“Muffin.”

“Oh. Do you know how good it is to hear your voice?”

Kate just mumbled something.

“Want to go out tomorrow night?”

“Aww Angie.” She tried to sound disappointed. “I’m still not feeling so great.”

“You sound fine.”

“Work wears me out, and I’m supposed to stay later tomorrow. I’ll be beat. Anyway, I’ve got to practice.”

“I thought you were over that.”

Kate wrinkled her forehead. “No, why’d you think that?”

“You stopped thanking about it.”

“Oh. I should go sleep.” She started to hang up but heard Angie yell. “Call Evan!”

A week later it was still the same. Kate did not answer the phone and would not return calls. She only talked to Angie when her mother forced her to and those conversations usually ended in arguments. Grace tried to visit her at work, but Kate locked herself in the bathroom. There was not way to get to her.

Each night she came home and went straight to her music room, staying there for hours. She had never accomplished so much before in such a short time.

Evan had gotten into a routine of calling every night at 8:15 to check on her. Her parents had no idea what to do. Finally in the second week when Kate’s father was tired of interrupting his evening cup of coffee to answer Evans calls it was the doorbell instead of the phone. “Good evening Mr. Burke.”

He nodded and motioned to the basement steps. “Go on, she’s downstairs.”

She never heard him approach, but something made her turn.

“Hey.”

She nodded slowly closing her book. “What’s up.”

“That’s what I came to find out.”

She tried to laugh. “Well, as you can see, not a whole lot happening here.”

“Don’t play with me, Kate. Please.”

“I’m not meaning to.” She said softly.

“Why didn’t you talk to me?” Evan asked.

“I- I don’t know.” She looked down.

“Kate!” He got her attention. “What happened? What went wrong?”

“Nothing happened. I’m just busy. I don’t have time.”

“You don’t have time for your best friends?”

“No! I have to practice my music. Do you realize how long it has been since I wrote anything? Since I learned anything new? I put it all away to spend time with everyone. I put my life away.”

“You don’t have time for me. If your music is so important why did you make me feel like I meant something to you? What caused this? I know I didn’t push you with anything! Those kisses were as much yours as mine! I thought you cared about me!”

“I have to decide what I want for my life.” She said earnestly. “Don’t you see, I do care, but I can’t! It doesn’t work! Do you think this is easy for me?”

“I hope not cuz your killing me.”

“I never asked you to care for me!” She protested.

“I tried not to. I held back for so long. When you opened up, I thought you had changed.”

“I have to stick to The Plan.” She turned away.

“What have you been up to?” Kate asked sipping on her milkshake.

Angie grinned. “Work, babysitting Shelley’s kid, and Matt, that’s about it.”

Kate laughed. “You finally admit it! Babysitting Matt!”

Angie choked and laughed. “It does seem like that sometimes.”

“He hasn’t popped the question yet?”

“Do you think I wouldn’t tell you? But, nope, he hasn’t.” She shook her head. “I’m hoping he’ll wait a little longer. The more I think about it, the more I have that I want to do before getting married.”

“Yeah, but I get the feeling that you wouldn’t mind too much if he did ask now.”

“Not at all!” She shook her head. “But how have you been? What are your plans?”

Kate was glad she didn’t mention Evan, it had been a long six months since she had talked to him last. “I got accepted at South Plains College.”

“Great!” Still going for that music and business program?”

“Of course! And South Plains has a good one.”

“Anybody famous ever go there?”

“Heath Wright.”

“I was kidding, but his name does sound familiar.” Angie chuckled.

“Of Ricochet. Great guitarist.”

She laughed again. “Gotcha. Oh, that reminds me. Evan isn’t coming around much at all anymore.”

“What’s does that mean? I should come back and totally alienate him from his friends?”

“No, but –“

Kate interrupted her. “I’m still trying to figure out how you got from a great guitarist to Evan.”

“Ok, let’s not talk about him.”

“Fine by me.”

Kate came home one evening to find the house empty and a note from her mom on the table. “Went shopping, supper in fridge. Eat first! Then practice” She vaguely wondered what her mom needed so badly that she went out for it on a Wednesday night. Shrugging it off she made a PB and Jelly sandwich and headed downstairs. She heard soft music. Someone must have turned her stereo on.

She stopped when she saw Evan’s form hunched over an acoustic guitar sitting on her stool. He took her hand and pulled her toward the soda in front of him. “Please sit down.”

She was incapable of doing otherwise.

“Please.” He began. “Please don’t say anything, just hear me through.”

She nodded.

He gently began to strum the guitar.

“I’d walk through the fire

I’d stand in the rain

I’d give up my life

To ease your pain.

I’d dig you a valley,

I’d move you a mountain

I’d give my whole soul

If you’d let my heart in.

You’ve got big dreams,

I’ve got a little home

There’s no hope for our future

You want to freedom to roam

But save a place in your heart

You don’t know if you’ll need me

I’ll be there for you when the night grows dark

Save a place just for me. You know you can touch me.

I’ll still be there if your world falls apart.

Save a place for me.

Her eyes were brimming with tears and a few began to trickle down her tired cheeks.

“Kate.” He paused watching her. “I’m not asking for anything right now, just a chance, and maybe a promise that you’ll keep a place in your heart for me. I’ll wait for you as long as I have to. You can go to college and build your plan, but let me help you! I’ll move wherever you want. I’ll do all I can for you. All I ask is that you love me.”

“You did all this for me? She whispered. “You – you learned to play. You wrote a song.”

“I know I’m not real good, but I love you.”

“I can’t ask you to do all that for me! To give up your life here!” Kate protested weakly.

“You don’t have to ask. I’m volunteering. I want to! Without you, there is no life here.”

“I can’t believe this.” She could barely speak.

“Kate! Tell me. Do I have a chance?” He was desperate.

“Evan. I shouldn’t let you. I shouldn’t consider it, but I have tried so hard to live without you, and it doesn’t work.” She slowly rose her and went to him. “I need you and I love you.”

All characters and situations are original. Any resemblance to others is unintentional. Please do not “borrow” from my work at all.

I wrote this story in two days. It stuck to the plot that I outlined, but is shorter than I expected. I really should add some more substance to the story. I wanted to write more about Kate’s spiritual life. In this story she seems very shallow, but her Christianity really did influence her.

Some of the characters are not developed at all. e.g. we never even meet Phil and Sherrie and Pat and Grace have no personalities! They just tag along, now that I think about it, we barely even know the main characters!

I think I caught all of the mistakes, but I kept thinking Matt’s name was Mike, so if you saw any Mike’s, that’s what it was.

Why did I write this? I had been doing a lot of thinking about writing a “coming of age” story about somewhere local to me. People always say “write about what you know about.” But I didn’t want it to be too close to the real thing.

Do my character’s resemble me at all? I didn’t try to make them, but I am sure they do because I created them. The only one I intentionally partially modeled after anyone I know is Evan, but that is only because I couldn’t help it!

I considered called the story Save a Place for Me instead of The Plan. I don’t prefer one title more than the other, just stuck with The Plan.

I intend to re-write Evan’s song into something a lot better. I don’t think I will change it in the story though because this one was written from his perspective. Even though it is really rough, it fits, because as he said, he wasn’t all that good. My idea for the song was totally separate from the story

I got to thinking, I never wrote a double story, one with two sets of people who may be related in some way, but have very little to do with each other. I should try that next, and I have another story line that could be mixed with this one. We’ll see.

Interesting facts: (Most of these things should have been worked into the story, but weren’t)

Angie’s radio in her car hadn’t worked in about 10 years, way before she got the car. She just fiddled with it because she was nervous.

Kate was going to change her name when she got into the music industry. She was considering Reva, but knew it sounded to similar to Reba.

Evan’s guitar was actually an old one that had belonged to his grandfather. He found it in the attic. It was ruined, but he refurbished it and worked on it for weeks before it was fit for him to even begin learning to play. His grandfather helped him some, but he was pretty much on his own. Matt and Angie were the only ones who knew about it, that is how Angie “got from a great guitarist to Evan” Even though he really wasn’t all that good.

The story takes place in rural south central Pennsylvania.

Sunnyway is a grocery store.

This story has just over 5200 words. That equals 10 pages on Microsoft Word, or about 15 pages in a normal sized novel. That’s not very much when you compare it to a full-fledged book.

Now I need your help.

How could I have developed the characters better?

What would you have liked to know about them?

What scenes are awkward?

What scenes need cut out?

What needs added?

What did you like?

What didn’t you like?

Could you identify with the characters at all?

Was that good or bad?

Would this story be worth rewriting, and lengthening to a book?

Do you think the title fits?

What would be a better title?

I am open to any suggestions. I may not rewrite this story, but I will definitely keep them in mind as I go on writing.