Samantha Cole
Accel English 12
A block
The Long Journey Ahead
( The Bean Trees, Friday Night Lights)
There was nothing but my bug, the open road, and I. The only other thing besides nature was the welcome to Kentucky sign in the distance behind me. This was my escape I needed to get out of here, I was going to drive and drive until my bug wouldn't let me anymore. I was so exhausted, the long stretch of road looked never ending. Then I saw a sign that said Welcome to Arizona, and a small little coffee shop just up the road. I walked inside, and sat down at a small table in the back. The waiter came over and I swear I had seen him before.
“Mike? Mike Winchell?” I asked. “It’s me Missy, well now I go by Taylor.” I hadn't seen Mike since I was a little girl, when I used to live in Texas. “Missy! Hey, how are you?” Mike asked me. “ I'm alright, as you can see i left Texas, i live in Kentucky now, well actually i just left there too. i think I'm going to stay here in Arizona.” “How are you, what brings you here Mike?” “I played football all through high school, we even made it to semi finals for states, but then we lost. Now I'm here looking at a college to play ball at. I'm working here part time to make a little money.” Mike explained. Mike had always loved football, even when we were growing up. “So how come you came to Arizona, um Taylor, right?” Mike asked. “ Well mama isn't too happy with me leaving home, but i wanted better for myself. Every girl in high school was dropping out cause they were pregnant, i didn't want that kind of life.” i explained. Mike nodded understandingly. “ Well I'm glad you made a smart decision. Lately I've been thinking that my decisions aren't so smart. I'm never going to get onto the college ball team, what was i thinking?” Ive never seen Mike so disappointed before.
I told Mike to sit down, and have a cup of coffee with me, i couldn't leave until i knew that he had his head held high. “ Do you remember when we were little kids Mike? and you used to make me play ball with you everyday, that's all you ever did. You loved it, and you still do. You've got to go after your dreams Mike, I know you can do it, its what you love. Just promise me one thing, that you’ll try?” Mike just starred down with a blank face for awhile, then he looked up at me and said, “okay.” “You're more successful than me, at least you finished high school, i dropped out and practically ran away.” i explained to him.
“ Well, you better get back to work, i don't want to get you fired. I should probably get back on the road anyways.” I said. “ thank you Taylor, I'll see you around, it was great to see you.” Mike said. I smiled and walked out of the shop. As i got to the car i noticed something moving in the back seat, it was a baby. I couldn't tell the gender, and it looked as though it had been abused. I didn't know what to do, except to take it with me. I couldn’t believe someone would do this. I started up the bug and drove off into the distance. “This is going to be a long journey ahead of me” I whispered to myself.
