Country Boy

1

I am on my way to the small town of Williston, Ohio. I just came here today to stay with my grandma for the summer. I am a senior in high school and yeah I am missing my senior summer and it sucks but I promised my parents I would come here and help out if they would buy me a new car. So that was the deal and now I am here, well not yet, I am on my way to my grandma's house. I had to fly here and it took about four hours or so since I am coming from California. It was the first time I ever flew alone and the first time ever on a real plane. You see, my family is pretty wealthy. My father is a lawyer and my mother is a nurse. Every time we went on vacation somewhere we would take our private jet so I am not used to so many people I don't even know being on the plane with me. Anyway it was a pretty good flight and it helped that I was sitting in a first-class seat too so I was happy about that. The drive from the airport to Williston is like twenty minutes so I should be there in about five minutes. I haven't seen my grandma in almost five years. She isn't going to believe how much I've grown and that I am starting college in September. Oh and that's another thing I don't want to be thinking about...college. I don't even know where I am going yet, but wherever it is I'm sure I will get in and if not then daddy will pay for me. I remember what grandma's neighborhood looks like from when I was little. There are millions of little shops and markets and everyone knows everyone here. It is nothing compared to where I come from. I can almost smell grandma's homemade cookies fresh out of the oven. Well it looks like I have finally made it to Williston, Ohio.

When I got out of the car I grabbed my Louis Vuitton luggage and headed to the front door. Everything about this town is just how I remembered it. When I rang the doorbell I wasn't greeted by my grandma but by this boy. He looked about my age. He was tall with blue eyes and a lot of blonde hair. But where was grandma?

2

"Hi, you must be Carlie...Gretchen's granddaughter?" said the boy

"Yeah umm where is she? And who are you?" I say with an attitude

"She told me to wait here for you. I'm Garrett Lowe. I do some work around the neighborhood on all the houses, you know repairin' things and stuff. I was here fixin' the stove and she said she had to run to the store and get a few things before you came" he said

"What does she think I'm like a guest or something? I'm her granddaughter" I say with certainty

"Yeah well by the way she described you its good that she went to the store" he said

"Why? What did she tell you?" I ask

"Well she was very excited and all for you to come but she said you are a California girl with a feisty attitude"

"Oh...well then I guess that's me, I mean grandmothers know you best, right?" I say

"Yeah, um so have ya ever been up here before or is this your first time?" he asks

"Yea, I've been around. You don't remember me at all? I was the feisty little twelve year old girl from California" I say

"Hmm, well I guess you didn't really make a lasting impression" he says

"Good so then I'll make up for it this time" I say and push my way into the house

I looked around the house and I started to have major déjà vu. I wanted this Garrett kid to leave though. He was really annoying me, but he's really cute so I won't be that mean to him.

"Wow nothing changes around here, does it?" I ask Garrett

"Not really, no" he says

Garrett started walking towards the door. I wonder if he is leaving.

"Where are you going?" I ask

"I gotta go finish some work around town" he says

"Oh. Later" I say

"Later what?" he says

I laugh and tell him it's a way we California people say goodbye sometimes

"Country boys" I say and roll my eyes as he leaves

When is grandma coming home? I am starving and I am tired too. Hmm I wonder what there is to eat in this place. I look in the cabinets and refrigerator and wow these people still use ice boxes, I should introduce them to freezers. There is no food I like. It's all fish and pig and gross farm slash country food. No wonder why grandma went to the store. I hope she buys me good food. I could go for some penne vodka right about now. All of a sudden I heard a noise. I think she is home. Yes she is.

"Hey! Grandma! Hi do you need help with the bags?" I ask

"Yes please thank you" she says and gives me a great big hug

After bringing the groceries in and seeing she did buy some yummy food for me I put everything away for her in the cabinets and pantries.

"So come here Carlie sit. Sit down I wanna talk to you a little bit. Tell me what's new, you know, what's happenin'?'" Grandma Gretchen says

"Oh grandma it's the same old stuff" I say

"Well look at you your definitely not the same little girl I saw five years ago"

"So, I grew up. That's all. I am still the same feisty Carlie from Laguna Beach, California" I say

"So you've met Garrett I see" she says

"Yes, wait don't tell me...oh what is his last name again...oh right its Garrett Lowe" I say

"Yes... he does the housework around town you know all the repairs?"

"Yes, grandma he told me everything including that I have an attitude" I say

"Well even you know that you do Carlie. And tell ya what? I wanna try and change that this summer. Maybe, I don't know, change you" she says

"Into what? a country girl? Pshh no way José" I say

"No not a country girl Carlie. A proper well rounded young lady" she says

"You don't think I'm well rounded? Look at my coolie" I say

"Carlie I mean ... oh you know what I mean your just bustin' chops now" she says and laughs

"Grandma I appreciate the effort but you can't change Carlie Miscall from Cali"

"Maybe I can't but I bet you this town can and it will happen, that feisty attitude and your obsession with materialistic things is going to change by the end of this summer...you wait and see" she says

I roll my eyes and she says she is going to bed. I am really tired too so I think I am going to go to sleep too. Goodnight, ugh this was a long day.

3

I woke up this morning and looked out my window and saw a lot of land. I forgot I wasn't in Cali anymore. I looked at the time and saw it was seven am! Oh no way am I getting up yet...who set my alarm to this horrifying hour? I try to go back to sleep but then Grandma Gretchen woke me up again. I went downstairs to eat breakfast.

"Grandma, why so early? This is not normal to me. I usually wake up at like one in the afternoon" I say and hear someone laughing in the other room.

"Who is that?" I ask

"Garrett, he is showing you your new job. It starts today and that is why you are up now. How can you sleep so late and waste a whole day all the time?" she asks

"I don't know grandma... I am a normal teenager living in California"

"Well not for this summer so you better change your lifestyle" she says

After eating breakfast I go upstairs and get dressed. I have these really short white shorts and I mean they are really short but I don't know if I should wear them. Oh well I hope grandma doesn't flip. Why do I have to work anyway? Daddy gave me enough money to last through the summer. Especially in this town, everything is like a dollar.

"Hey sunshine you ready" says grandma and then the look comes

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask

"Did you change yet? I hope you aren't wearing those shorts"

"Why? It is so hot outside. They keep me cool. These are the only kind I have so..." I say and go outside

"Hey Garrett I am ready so where are you taking me...where am I working. I hope it's not somewhere gross" I say

Garrett looks at me for a long time before he answers me.

"Hello? Earth to Garrett. What you never saw shorts before?" I say and get in his truck which by the way is pretty banged up. Where is my Benz when I need it?

"Sorry um I'm bringing you to work at the market. It is a pretty simple job. All you have to do is ring people up. Like a cashier only by hand because we do not have cash registers here" he says

"That sounded easy until you told me that last part... wow I really feel like I am living in the sixties or something" I say

He laughs and starts driving. All the main roads are wide open roads, just like any old country. Then when you drive into town there are main streets and avenues and corners. I guess we had to get on the open road for where I am going.

"Is this all in the same town? All these roads?" I ask

"Yeah....but there is a bunch of different ways to get in. It's all still Williston" he says

"Oh... you have a lot to teach me about this place Garrett" I say

He chuckles...

4

When I reached the market I was working at it wasn't so bad after all. All I had to do was add numbers and collect money and that's easy for me. I am actually pretty smart with school and all but I just don't try hard enough. If I tried really hard and really dedicated myself to my studies then I probably would have gotten scholarships everywhere I applied to. Not that it matters anyway. I would hate to give up a scholarship when I can afford the school. I would rather give it to someone who really needs it.
After work I went back home to grandmas. She was baking cookies. I love her cookies, they are the best.

"Mmm, it smells delicious grandma...can I lick the spoon?" I ask

"You always do... so how was work" she says

"Oh, I love cookie dough. Work was good. It is really easy. I just wish I didn't have to get up so early every day" I say

"Well that's life sweetie...plus you get the weekends off" she says

"Do I really? That's so good, thank God...does Garrett get the weekends off?" I say

"I'm not sure...why?" she asks

"Oh, no reason I was just wondering because you know not everyone does so I was wondering that's all" I say babbling

"Right.... Well you better get to bed ... you have work tomorrow"

"You're right I should, ok goodnight grandma" I say and go to bed

5

It is the morning again and it is raining. I am waiting for Garrett to pick me up for work.

"Bye Grandma, have a nice day" I say

I run to the car trying not to get wet in the rain

"Hey what's the matter?" Garrett says and laughs

"My hair is getting all wet and messed up... ugh I hate the rain" I say

"Yup you're from California" he says

"Shut up" I say and laugh

"Why is there so much traffic today?" I ask

"There is always traffic on a Friday. It takes about twenty minutes to get to the market every Friday but it might take longer today since it is raining" he says

"Oh that sucks now I am going to be late" I say

"No. They don't count people late on Fridays. You can sleep if you want and I'll let you know when we get there" he says

"Oh. No thanks because then I won't want to get up. Let's just talk" I say

"Okay sure" he says

"So you're seventeen right?" I ask

"Yeah"

"And are you going to college...are there any around here?" I ask

"There is one out in Daytona. It's about a three to four hour drive from here. I probably will wind up goin' there but my folks they want me to go to this small town school about an hour from here" he says

"Well what do you want to do?" I ask

"I would like to go away to Daytona...you know to get a little experience in a bigger place, bigger environment, and lots of people" he says

"So you can end up like me? I hope your parents never meet me then" I say and chuckle.

"Why what's wrong with being like you... you are a big world girl... that's all" he says

"Yeah well that's not all everyone thinks" I say

"Well what do they think?"

"Well my grandma thinks I am feisty, every person I meet thinks I am like this big spoiled brat because I get everything I want, my parents are like in another world I don't even know if they want me around anymore because they claim I am too much trouble, I don't know... just a lot of stuff about me isn't just about being a world girl" I say

"Well I certainly don't think you are a spoiled brat because even though you get a lot of things you do appreciate everything" he says

"I guess it's just different here for me. When I come here I feel like I don't have to worry about everything else back at home you know? And when I do go back it's always back to reality" I say

"Don't beat yourself up over all of this, ok?" he says

"Thanks Garrett" I say

Garrett drops me off at work and I start thinking that he is right and maybe grandma is right too. Maybe this town can change me or maybe it already has when I was a little girl. Maybe I just acted the way I acted back home because of the environment, because it was the way everyone acted. Sometimes I need a break I guess. We will see what happens.

"Hi how are you today, welcome to Williston Market" I say to a customer

"Do I know you from anywhere? You look very familiar" the old lady says to me

"No. I don't think so. I am staying here for the summer with my grandma, Gretchen Miscall" I tell her

"Oh how wonderful, welcome to Williston. Do you know that you look exactly as your grandma did when she was your age?" she says

"Oh really... no I didn't know that" I say

"Oh im sorry... this is my granddaughter. Her name is Sophie. She is the same age as you"

"Hi Sophie, I am Carlie from California" I say

"Thought you were from there, lets go grandma" the girl says with an attitude

"Bye Carlie it was nice meeting you, tell your grandma I said hi"

"Have a nice day"

Work was okay today. I am getting pretty bored there though. I do the same thing like every day and it gets annoying. Anyway that girl Sophie seemed pleasant...psh yeah ok ...talk about feisty.

6

It was Saturday morning. I finally got to sleep until at least ten today. I needed to get some beauty rest. Garrett is coming over since he is off on the weekends and we are going to the lake today.

"Good morning Grandma"

"Oh Carlie, you slept well last night I believe"

"Yes I did, finally. I am going with Garrett to the lake today" I tell her

"Oh are you? How nice. Just tell him to please have you home by supper" she says

"Okay I will"

He picks me up and we are on our way. The drive to the lake was long but it was nice. I saw a lot of farms and land. When we got there I was expecting the lake to be a little tiny thing but it was big. It was a gorgeous lake.

"It is so nice here. It's so quiet and peaceful. I can relax now without anyone bothering me...ah" I say

"Who said I wasn't gonna bother you?" he says

"I did..." I say

We were sitting on the grass by the lake. There were so many fish and flowers and nature by the lake. It felt like I was in the movie Snow White

"My grandma said to tell you that I should be home by supper" I tell him

He laughs and says ok. I think he thinks I am cute or funny. Maybe both.

"So yesterday at work I met this old woman and her granddaughter. The girls name was Sophie... she was kinda feisty to me" I say

"Oh I know Sophie... don't mind her she uh ... she still isn't over us" he says

"Wait....did u go out with her" I ask

"She was my girl for like three months and then I just didn't like her anymore ... I don't know what changed my mind I just had this funny feeling that she wasn't right for me right before you showed up actually" he says

"Well I don't think she likes me"

"She must have seen us together a couple of times" he says

"Maybe..." I say

"So do you have a boy....or however you say it... boyfriend?" he asks

"No...guys in California are crazy jerks. Nothing like the sort here so...." I say

"They could be crazy jerks here too Carl" he says

"Well I haven't met any yet so..." I say

Garrett smiles and looks like he wants to say something

"What?" I ask

"No nothing umm I was just wondering if uh in California do a lot of kids our age you know..."

"Have sex?" I ask

"Yeah...do they?"

"Yes a lot ... its like people don't think you are cool if you don't do it so its kinda like beer and drugs" I say

"Have you ever done any of those things?" he asks

"Beer? Yes. Drugs? No. Sex? Almost but no"

"What happened?" he asks

"I didn't feel like he was the right guy but I just told everyone that I did have sex to fit in. The truth is I really want to wait until I am in love with someone and not just do it to do it you know?" I say

"Yeah same here..."

"How far have you been with a girl?"

"Not too far...truth is I never actually made out with a girl... just kissed"

"Really? You are missing out on fun stuff" I say

"Yea I know..."

"You wanna try it? Come here" I say

I kiss Garrett and I make out with him. When we are done he looks satisfied.

"So? Did you like it?" I ask

"Yeah thanks ...really you didn't have to do that"

"Don't worry about it... I wanted to" I say

"What do you say we get out of here? It's almost time for supper" he says

Garrett and I leave the lake and go back to my grandma's house. Grandma invites him to eat with us and he does. I had a lot of fun with Garrett today and I just hope that Sophie doesn't find out about it. Country kids are so different from California kids.

7

Today is Sunday. That means no work for me....or Garrett. I am not hanging out with him today though since he has to go to a party for his family. I don't really know what the relationship between us is but I think I might like him. I decided to go into town and shop a little bit...maybe get something for my parents and grandma too. I walked into this little boutique that had a lot of antique things. I remember grandma having a rocking chair in her house but then when I was little I think I might have broken it so I bought her a new one today. While I was walking along the streets I heard a girl call my name. I turned around and saw Sophie and her friends holding up a sign that said SLUT and I couldn't believe my eyes. I don't know what they were talking about but I was going to find out. I went back to my grandma's house and she was sitting at the kitchen table. I gave her the rocking chair and she thanked me but still didn't seem too happy and I didn't know why.

"Grandma is everything ok?" I ask

"Sit down here Carlie"

"Have you been into town? I suppose you have today" she says

"Yes...why?"

"Have you seen the signs the girls are holding up about you"

"Actually yes I did see one today that Sophie was holding up and it said slut but I don't know why, I didn't do anything" I say

"Honey I asked Sophie what was going on and she told me everything"

"Um what did she tell you? I don't know what is going on" I say

"About what happened at the lake with you and Garrett? She said one of her girlfriends were there watching you two.... Have sex?" she says

"What!? Oh no, no, no.........no grandma we did not have sex I would never. We both even talked about it and he said he was waiting and so did I. We did not have sex by the lake....We just made out...that's all" I say

"I really hope you are telling me the truth Carlie because those girls seldom lie and..."

"Grandma, Sophie is just jealous...she used to date Garrett so she started rumors about us that's all"

"Have you talked to Garrett?" asked my grandma

"No, not today. He is at his family party"

"Well I think you should" she says

"Now, but what if his parents saw all the signs and everything and... no I can't go over there now grandma"

"Sweetie, he hasn't seen the signs yet. He has been in his house all day long so go tell him what is going on before it is too late. If you really like the boy you'll fix this because now everyone in the town is giving you a bad reputation" she says

I listen to my grandma and go over to Garrett's house. I knock on the door and his mother answers.

"Hi Mrs. Lowe I am Gretchen Miscalls granddaughter Carlie. I am good friends with your son"

"Hi how are you come on in....did he invite you to our party?" she asks

"Oh no, no, I would just very much like to speak with him for like a little while it will only take a little bit...please"

"Sure go up to his room he is in there" she says

"Thank you so much"

I go upstairs to his bedroom. His house is very similar to grandma's house. It is very nice and his mom seems nice too. I knock on his door.

"Carlie? What are you doing here? Hi" he says and gives me a hug

"Hi Garrett listen I am really sorry for barging in like this but I need to talk to you right now...its important"

I go in his room and we sit down on the bed.

"What's up?" he asks

"Have you been into town yet today?" I ask

"No. Why?"

"Well because I was in town earlier and I saw Sophie and her friends and they all had signs that said Carlie is a slut and I was a little angry and I didn't know why they were saying that so when I went home to my grandmas she told me that Sophie told her that we had sex and I told my grandma we just made out but she said that one of Sophie's friends saw us by the lake and probably told Sophie but then Sophie probably twisted around the story so I get a bad reputation in town and so your parents don't like me and I really don't want any of that to happen because I really like you a lot and I want to be your girl Garrett and I just wish she could just stop all of this and ...."

"Hey, hey, Carlie calm down...relax. Now if this is all true then I am going to tell Sophie myself that we just made out and I will fix all of this. Ok?"

"Is she going to believe you?" I ask

"If she doesn't then ...ugh never mind"

"If she doesn't then what? Tell me" I say

"No I was thinking we can prove it to her but there is only one way and its really not appropriate..."

"Oh. I am not showing her my private area thank you very much" I say and laugh

"Sorry it was just a suggestion... "He says

"You can see it though...some day" I say and smile

"Some day... Carlie I want you to be my girl if I know that someday you will love me maybe" he says

"Definitely ... come here Garr"

We make out again in his bedroom.

"Listen I'll fix everything don't worry" he says

"Ok. Thank you. I guess I'll go home now." I say

"No stay. Stay for the party. I will tell my family about what Sophie is doing ok? Don't worry Carl" he says

"Thank You"

So the party was really good and his family loves me. Garrett straightened everything out with Sophie and now the whole town hates her. My grandma is very happy with me and she says that I have changed a lot. My parents are planning on moving here in the fall because I will be starting college.....with Garrett. Yes, I got into DAYTONA AND SO DID GARRETT and I am still his girl too. I guess this summer wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be and I guess I am a different person now. It doesn't matter where I live, what kind of car I drive, or how much money I have. All that matters to me is my family and friends ...and of course my future husband, Garrett Lowe.