Category One Hurricane:

The semester went by. I had gotten used to New Orleans by then. I had almost then. Daddy never even made an attempt to call me. Mama only called me on Christmas and New Years. I spent Christmas with your grandfather�s family. I refused to go back to go that house. Sure, I saw my so-called friends. They still disgust me to this day. I cannot believe that I hung out with them so to speak. They were just so� shallow. Now, I know I used be like them, but still�

I shuddered as I remembered my life before Jim. I hate thinking about it even now.

Anyway, Christmas break was good. Your grandfather�s family had come to accept me by this point. Well, almost all of them. His sister kept giving me weird looks. I wanted to ask, but I decided that I better not.

�She�s peculiar on certain people,� Jim�s mother told me after the day after Christmas as I helped her take down the decorations. I made a face when she said that.

�You sure?� I asked. �I mean, I believe you and everything. It just�� I paused to collect my thoughts.

�Doesn�t feel like it?� I heard his mother finish. I looked up to see her giving me a little smile. I nodded once.

�Exactly,� I said. Mrs. Robinson patted me on the head.

�There, there,� she said. �She�ll come around when she sees you have good intentions.� I still gave her an odd look.

�When will that be?� I asked.

�Give it time,� his mother said. �She�ll warm up to you eventually.� I pressed my lips together as I nodded. That felt too impossible at the time.

Then, New Year�s Eve came along. I felt someone shaking me on the arm in my bed. I looked to see your grandfather sitting over me. I blinked in confusion.

�Jim?� I asked. He leaned downwards to my face.

�Let�s go out today,� he whispered. I blinked at him.

�Where?� I asked. Jim gave me a little shrug.

�Just out on the town,� he said. I frowned at him.

�Why?� I asked. �It�s going to be the same as last year!� Your grandfather gave me that annoying goofy grin of his. I resisted the urge to smack him again. He touched his forehead against mine.

�I know where all of the good places are,� he said. I looked deep into his eyes.

�Really?� I asked.

�Yeah,� he replied. I raised an eyebrow at him.

�How?� I asked. He slapped me on the hip in bed.

�Get up and I�ll show you!� he said again. He slapped me on the hip again. I winced in pain.

�Ow,� I whispered to myself. Your grandfather was so heavy-handed back then.

By noon, I was dressed and out with Jim downtown. I looked around, frowning.

�Something wrong?� he asked.

�It looks the same,� I said. He held my waist.

�Patience, well ya?� he said. �We just got out the door.� I groaned and rolled my eyes.

�Look,� he said. �I�ll make it worth your while.� I glanced over at him.

�You promise?� I asked. Your grandfather had a tendency to pull little things on me.

I giggled to myself before speaking again. I looked and saw Frida looking at me oddly.

�What?� I asked. �Yes, this is another moment between your grandfather and I. So bear with me.�

Our new year�s that year started out simple enough. We went out to McDonalds for lunch. His treat, of course. He wouldn�t let me spend any money that day.

�This is a date,� he said. �You just enjoy the day.� Romantic, huh? Anyway, he couldn�t wait anymore.

�Hey, Jim,� I said. He glanced over at me with his cigarette hanging out of his mouth.

�Yeah?� he asked. I tried not sneer at the burning cancer stick in his mouth.

�What exactly are we doing tonight?� I asked. He gave me a cheeky grin. I frowned at him.

�No,� I said. �No games today. Just give it to me straight.� Jim sighed at me.

�Fine,� he said. Your grandfather leaned in close to my face.

�I�ll take you to favorite please,� he whispered. I gave him a funny look.

�Where is that?� I asked. He grinned and grabbed me by the hand. Before I knew it, your grandfather was pulling me down the street.

�Jim!� I cried. �Slow down! My arm!� I could only run to keep up with him. I couldn�t control his excitement at times.

We came to what we called the �urban gardens.� I marveled at the ice flowers on display.

�Wow!� I mouthed. Your grandfather nuzzled my ear.

�Pretty little thing, isn�t it?� he asked. I turned to him nodding. Then, he kissed me on the lips. I kissed him back. He gently pushed me to the ground. From that moment on, I went into a true wild ride that would go on for years.

1984