G and his '55 Chevy
G still had his '55 Chevy. But, our double dates were mostly in W's new convertable. It never occured to me to wonder why he couldn't afford a new car too. It did occure to me that he wasn't as mature or responsible as W. My parents were right about his personality. But, as far as I was concerned, his over self confidence was an improvement over my previous dates personality. I could see his faults, but I was sure he'd been raised right and I believed he'd eventually outgrow the attitude. Mostly, I loved the way he was so protective of me in emotional ways. He went out of his way to make me feel important to him and good about myself. It was a thrilling change to be up on that pedestal.
He was also a bit rebelious. Not so much as to be a problem. He was too smart for that. But he was pleased to beat the system in small ways when he thought he could get away with it. It amused me and was something else I figured he'd outgrow. He always wanted to charge ahead, any time he was told no.
Like the night we were in his car, and had already taken P home and G and W were taking me home. I warned him to slow down for one of our counties raised rail road tracks. He stopped the car right there in the middle of the county road and asked me if I thought he needed advice about driving. That was a new side of him and I wasn't sure if he was angry or just felt challenged. Taking a laughing tone, I explained that this particular R.R. track had a way of launching you into space if you took it too fast. G looked at me a moment, then grinned. He backed his car up several yards, then gunned it and headed for those tracks. I was sitting between him and W and there wasn't anything to hang on to. So, I raised my arms and pushed my palms against the roof of the car. W must have decided I knew what I was doing and he followed my example. We hit the rise, went up and over the tracks and flew half the length of the pasture beside the road. When the car landed, it hit hard enough to raise all three of us up off the seat. Even with our hands pressed against the roof, W and I were tossed about. G had a death grip on the steering wheel, so he fared a little better than we did. When he got control and stopped the car, we discoverd we'd broken the seats back and it was tipped into the back seat. I was sorta angry, but I must admit, it had been a thrill too. We were ok, and I hoped maybe he'd learned something, though I wan't sure of that. We sat right where we'd stopped on that county road and caught our breaths. G made sure we were ok, cussed a bit about the broken seat and then took me home. I didn't tell my parents, of course. But, I did think about the guys having that hour drive home with no support at their back. And, I wondered what G would tell his parents about the broken seat. It's a wonder he didn't destroy the car. I found out later that G and W managed to fix the seat before his parents found out. And if anything else was broken, they never told me. I had, half heartedly scolded him after all.
One of the few times G and I had a date without our friends along, he'd taken me out to eat in Ohio's capital city. On the freeway home we were singing, and he was serenading me, and we were talking and lost in our own little world. We missed our exit and I didn't even realize it till I saw a sign for a town way north of home. We got turned around and headed back, but this meant I was going to miss my curfew by way over an hour. Mom was waiting for me and pretty mad. I'd never done it before, but she didn't want to know why. She told G that he couldn't come back for a month and I was grounded that long. This was extreme and not like my parents at all. Mom had always listened to my side before setting punishment. I knew she'd been worried and I knew better than to argue right then. But, G tried to change her mind. He was just making her madder, and then he got mad. By then, I knew him well enought to know he shouldn't be driving in that state. He left throwing gravel in the drive.
Mom sat down at the kitchen table with her cold coffee, and I sat down too. We didn't say anything at first. Then she asked me to go on to bed and we could talk in the morning. I just told her I wanted to wait a bit because I expected a phone call saying G had been in an accident.
And, that is just what happened. The phone rang after awhile and it was C.A.S.'s Father. (My early 4-H and first double date friend.) G has missed a curve in front of their house and ended up in the pasture between their house and the roller skating rink. The ambulance had already taken him to the hospital and he had asked Mr. S. to call us and not his parents. I was still dressed and Mom hurried to dress and tell Dad where we were going. We had no idea how bad it was. The only thing Mr. S. had told us on the phone was that the car was totaled.
G was very lucky. He had rolled his car several times, both sideways and end for end. Mr. S's. fence was wrapped around the car so tight, they had to cut G out. There weren't any broken bones, but there was internal bleeding. They didn't think he would need surgery, but were going to keep him several days to make sure the bleeding stopped.
Mom phoned his parents, and to her amazement, they told her they'd drive up sometime the next day, since it didn't sound serious. If that had been one of us, she'd have been there immediately. (Just like we were.) Mom and I both stayed at the hospital with G the night. G was distraught about Mom being mad at him. He kept telling her he was sorry and wanted her so say it was going to be ok. Instead of a "cocky showoff" she realized he was more of an insecure young man who's parents weren't concerned enough to rush to his side when he needed them. She still didn't totally like or trust him, but she understood him better.
He was also a bit rebelious. Not so much as to be a problem. He was too smart for that. But he was pleased to beat the system in small ways when he thought he could get away with it. It amused me and was something else I figured he'd outgrow. He always wanted to charge ahead, any time he was told no.
Like the night we were in his car, and had already taken P home and G and W were taking me home. I warned him to slow down for one of our counties raised rail road tracks. He stopped the car right there in the middle of the county road and asked me if I thought he needed advice about driving. That was a new side of him and I wasn't sure if he was angry or just felt challenged. Taking a laughing tone, I explained that this particular R.R. track had a way of launching you into space if you took it too fast. G looked at me a moment, then grinned. He backed his car up several yards, then gunned it and headed for those tracks. I was sitting between him and W and there wasn't anything to hang on to. So, I raised my arms and pushed my palms against the roof of the car. W must have decided I knew what I was doing and he followed my example. We hit the rise, went up and over the tracks and flew half the length of the pasture beside the road. When the car landed, it hit hard enough to raise all three of us up off the seat. Even with our hands pressed against the roof, W and I were tossed about. G had a death grip on the steering wheel, so he fared a little better than we did. When he got control and stopped the car, we discoverd we'd broken the seats back and it was tipped into the back seat. I was sorta angry, but I must admit, it had been a thrill too. We were ok, and I hoped maybe he'd learned something, though I wan't sure of that. We sat right where we'd stopped on that county road and caught our breaths. G made sure we were ok, cussed a bit about the broken seat and then took me home. I didn't tell my parents, of course. But, I did think about the guys having that hour drive home with no support at their back. And, I wondered what G would tell his parents about the broken seat. It's a wonder he didn't destroy the car. I found out later that G and W managed to fix the seat before his parents found out. And if anything else was broken, they never told me. I had, half heartedly scolded him after all.
One of the few times G and I had a date without our friends along, he'd taken me out to eat in Ohio's capital city. On the freeway home we were singing, and he was serenading me, and we were talking and lost in our own little world. We missed our exit and I didn't even realize it till I saw a sign for a town way north of home. We got turned around and headed back, but this meant I was going to miss my curfew by way over an hour. Mom was waiting for me and pretty mad. I'd never done it before, but she didn't want to know why. She told G that he couldn't come back for a month and I was grounded that long. This was extreme and not like my parents at all. Mom had always listened to my side before setting punishment. I knew she'd been worried and I knew better than to argue right then. But, G tried to change her mind. He was just making her madder, and then he got mad. By then, I knew him well enought to know he shouldn't be driving in that state. He left throwing gravel in the drive.
Mom sat down at the kitchen table with her cold coffee, and I sat down too. We didn't say anything at first. Then she asked me to go on to bed and we could talk in the morning. I just told her I wanted to wait a bit because I expected a phone call saying G had been in an accident.
And, that is just what happened. The phone rang after awhile and it was C.A.S.'s Father. (My early 4-H and first double date friend.) G has missed a curve in front of their house and ended up in the pasture between their house and the roller skating rink. The ambulance had already taken him to the hospital and he had asked Mr. S. to call us and not his parents. I was still dressed and Mom hurried to dress and tell Dad where we were going. We had no idea how bad it was. The only thing Mr. S. had told us on the phone was that the car was totaled.
G was very lucky. He had rolled his car several times, both sideways and end for end. Mr. S's. fence was wrapped around the car so tight, they had to cut G out. There weren't any broken bones, but there was internal bleeding. They didn't think he would need surgery, but were going to keep him several days to make sure the bleeding stopped.
Mom phoned his parents, and to her amazement, they told her they'd drive up sometime the next day, since it didn't sound serious. If that had been one of us, she'd have been there immediately. (Just like we were.) Mom and I both stayed at the hospital with G the night. G was distraught about Mom being mad at him. He kept telling her he was sorry and wanted her so say it was going to be ok. Instead of a "cocky showoff" she realized he was more of an insecure young man who's parents weren't concerned enough to rush to his side when he needed them. She still didn't totally like or trust him, but she understood him better.
posted by LeeAnn | 5:17 PM
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