TURNING POINT

He made his way back to the rooming house and showered finishing just as Mrs. James gave the dinner call. Jeff sat in silence this evening as he finished his dinner. He excused himself and went back to his room. Stretching out on the bed he closed his eyes and began to think of Beth Ann. “OH, sweet Beth Ann” he groaned as thoughts of her flooded his mind. As hard as he tried to force these thoughts from his mind he could not block them out. His mind drifted back to that day in July as he saw himself in his old blue Chevy speeding down the country road on the way to see Beth. He knew he shouldn’t be driving that fast but he was in a hurry to see his sweetheart. He turned off the highway onto the old dirt road that led back into the woods to the Jackson place. As he rounded the curve in the road he had to brake sharply to keep from hitting the old razorback pig that was creeping along the side of the road. He jerked the wheel sharply to the right to prevent hitting it. Swearing lightly under his breath he managed to get the car under control. He saw the Jackson cottage off in the distance. As he approached he saw Mr. Jackson in the swing out by the barn with his jug of corn. He drove over to where Mr. Jackson was sitting and got out of the car. “Good evening, Mr. Jackson”. Mr. Jackson looked up at Jeff through somewhat red eyes and said, “Well howdy Jeff. How’s Jeffery today?” “I’m find sir. I just came to get Beth Ann. Were going over to Uniontown for a dance tonight. I’ll have her back before midnight.” Looking up again at Jeff Mr. Jackson took another drink from his jug and offered it to Jeff. “No thanks sir” Jeff said as he took a step backwards. Jeff added, “Is Beth ready to go?” Sitting his jug down beside him Mr. Jackson motioned his head toward the house and said, “I don’t know. She’s up at the house yonder. I heard her bumping around in there for quite some time. Go on up and see.” Feeling glad to get away Jeff turned toward the house and said over his shoulder to Mr. Jackson, “Thanks sir, you have a good evening now.” Jeff could hardly keep from running the  fifty or so feet to the house. As he arrived at the poach he heard Beth singing inside. He climbed the steps to the rickety old porch and hoped he wouldn’t fall through on the way to the door. He thought that he would be glad if he could get Beth Ann out of all this. He knew she deserved better. Every since Beth Ann’s mother had died Mr. Jackson had not done much of anything. He had almost become a bum. Jeff called out,” Beth Ann.” He saw her standing in the doorway and he could not remember when he had seen a more beautiful sight. Her long golden hair was pined up the way he liked to see it and she wore that green dress he had told her that he liked so well.