Kimberly's Summer Vacation

by

Valentina Michelle Smith

(Part 3)

 

Evenings at Mason's Lake were leisurely affairs. Campers would sit around fires, telling stories or just making idle conversation. Home owners would gather on their porches or in their living rooms to socialize, to converse, or just to read and perhaps listen to the radio. Those who had televisions could tune in to the local stations, barely visible since Mason's Lake was in a fringe reception area.

Tonight, in Big Bill's Bungalow, it was family game night, and the game this evening was Monopoly.

Five players began the game. After two hours of play, three players had dropped out, succumbing to the onslaught of the two tycoons of the Monopoly board; Big Bill O'Connell, and his granddaughter, Maggie.

Across the board they stared each other down.

Big Bill's position was the weaker one. By shrewd dealing and plain good luck, young Maggie had acquired most of the properties on the board. Big Bill still had one monopoly, but he also owned the railroads and the utilities. It was his turn.

"Go ahead, Pop-pop," Maggie said, "roll."

"So I can land on something you own?" Big Bill answered.

"You might get lucky and land some place safe. And maybe I'll land on something you own and you get to take my money."

Big Bill picked up the dice, shook them in his hand, and rolled. He landed right on Boardwalk. Maggie owned Boardwalk, and she had a hotel on it.

Big Bill counted up his cash and handed it over to Maggie. "Here you go, Rockefeller," he said. He then handed over his deeds and houses. "You cleaned me out."

"I win! I win! I win!" Maggie could barely contain herself. She jumped out of her chair and started to dance. "I beat Pop-pop! I beat Pop-pop! I'm the winner!"

Then she ran over and kissed Big Bill on the cheek and gave him a big kitten hug. "You're not mad about losin' are you, Pop-pop?" she asked.

Big Bill just grinned and hugged his little granddaughter. "Mad? How could I be mad at my favorite little girl?" he said.

"Wait a minute!" Kim chimed in. She had been watching the game ever since she was wiped out by Maggie half an hour ago. "When did the squirt become your favorite?"

Big Bill looked up at Kim, hoping he hadn't offended her. The twinkle in her eye and the smile on her face let him know that she was only kidding. "You telling me your little sister isn't a cutie-pie?" he answered.

"I guess she's cute when she isn't being a pain in the neck," Kim replied.

"I'm the cute one! I'm the cute one!" Maggie started singing.

"Yep, you're as cute as a baby skunk," Kim said, "and you smell like one, too!"

"Mommy! Kim called me a skunk!"

"No I didn't! I just said you smell like one."

"Mommy! Mommy! Kim said I stink!"

"Will you two stop fighting?" Doris said. "You sound like a tribe of wild Indians the way you carry on. Kim, did call your sister a skunk?"

"Oh, Mommy, I was only kidding her. Besides, she's being a sore winner again."

"She's only eight years old. You're fourteen and I expect you to act more mature. It's not ladylike to tell your little sister she stinks."

Maggie began to giggle. "Kim's in trou-ble! Kim's in trou-ble!"

Doris now turned her attention to Maggie. "And you, young lady, have to learn how to behave! Just because I criticize your sister is no reason for you to behave so poorly. Now both of you kiss and make up."

Maggie looked a little annoyed, but then relented and hugged Kimberly. "I'm sorry, Kim."

"I'm sorry too, Maggie," said Kim as she leaned down and kissed her little sister. "I didn't mean it when I said that you stink."

Maggie began to giggle, and Kim joined in. They had a good laugh and hugged each other. "You're a really cool big sister, Kim. I love you."

"I love you too, squirt," said Kim.

"That's better," said Doris. "NOW you are behaving like young ladies. I expect you to behave like this from now on. Now go on and get ready for bed."

"Okay, Mommy," said Maggie, scooting off to her room.

"Me too?" asked Kim.

"Yes, you too," Doris replied. "I let the two of you stay up late to finish your game. It's bed time, so go get ready. Daddy and I will tuck you in shortly."

"Oh, all right," said Kim. She went to her room with something less than enthusiasm.

Will stretched his arms out, and then draped one arm around Doris' shoulder. "Well this has been a pleasant evening," he said. "I forgot how nice it could be to just spend a little time with you and the kids."

"The girls are enjoying it too, Will," Doris said, snuggling into her husband's arm. "They really loved playing Monopoly with you tonight. And it was nice of you to let them win."

"Let them?" Will said, "How do you figure I let them win? I want to tell you, honey, those kids play to win. I'm just out of practice."

"Well, it's still nice of you to practice with them. They really love you."

"Yeah, I really should have done this long ago."

"So why didn't you?" she asked.

An awkward silence followed, interrupted by Big Bill clearing his throat. "If you love birds will excuse me, I think I'll sit out on the porch a spell and chase away the mosquitoes." That was his euphemistic way of saying he was going to smoke a cigar and didn't want to disturb anybody.

"Okay, Pop," said Will. "I think Doris and I want to talk a little."

"Okay, then. If you decide to turn in, come check on me and make sure I didn't fall asleep on the porch."

"Sure thing, Pop., we'll see you a little later." Big Bill arose and walked out to the porch.

Doris snuggled a little closer. "Well this is nice," she said. "It's almost like we were dating again. Remember those days?"

Will smiled. "I don't think I could ever forget. It seems like it was just yesterday, doesn't it? But on the other hand, I don't think I remember what being single was like."

"Well I'm glad we have this time together, Will. I was really getting worried about you spending so much time at work."

"Well that's something I think I'm going to change, too. Maybe if I spent some more time at home, things would be different."

"What things?"

"You know," he said, feeling a bit uncomfortable, "the thing with Trip."

Doris moved a little. "You mean Kim?"

"Yeah, with Kim. Maybe if I had spent some more time with Trip this whole Kim thing would never have happened."

"This whole 'Kim thing?'" Doris asked.

"You know, the dressing up. I have to blame myself. I needed to give the right example to him, show him what it means to be a man."

"I don't know about that. Will. Kim told me she's always been curious about girls, and what it feels like to be a girl. I have this feeling she would have popped up sooner or later."

"Maybe; maybe not. Maybe we would have seen it happening sooner and could have done something about it. But at least she'll get it out of her system this summer. I only wish it happened sooner. I had a few plans for this summer."

"What kind of plans?" Doris asked, growing a little more distant.

"I figured that Trip and I could pal around this summer, go fishing together or maybe have a catch after dinner. I bought us both new gloves. He's probably outgrown his old one by now. But with this Kim thing, well, I guess I'll have to wait until next year and try to fit it in to my normal two weeks."

Doris pulled away a little. "Are you serious?" she asked. "What makes you think you can't do any of those things with Kim?"

"Oh come on, Doris," Will said, "Kim's a girl. Look, I know I was kind of a jerk when I first found out about it, but I think I've adjusted pretty well. Kim can be a girl all summer, and it's okay. I won't try to force her to be a boy."

"So catching a ball is just for boys?"

"Well, you know, girls just don't go in for baseball."

Doris just smiled. "Oh really? Do I have to remind you that I was the captain of the softball team when we met?"

"Of course not, and you were the best pitcher the team ever had, but this is different. I don't want Kim to think I'm trying to force her to be a boy. She wants to be a girl this summer, and I'm doing my best to accommodate her."

"I don't think she'll mind, Will. I think she might like to toss a ball around with you. Hey, I might just join you. Do you still have the gloves?"

"Well, yeah."

"Then why don't you give one to her? I think there's nothing in the world she would like better than to have a catch with her father."

"You think so?"

"Yes, I do. Go get the glove, Will."

"Okay. Yes, you're right, I'll give her the glove tonight. That's what I've decided."

Will walked out to the trunk of his car where he had stashed the gloves. He could smell his Pop's cigar burning away, but it really didn't do much to chase the mosquitoes. He slapped himself a few times to interrupt a hungry mosquito that found him appetizing.

Will knocked on Kim's door. "Hey, princess, are you decent?" he asked.

Kim giggled. "Come on in, Daddy," she said. Will opened the door. Kim was in her pajamas and was sitting on her bed with her guitar propped up on one knee.

"Hey, you been practicing that thing?" he asked.

"Yeah, I like to play," she said. "It makes me feel, I don't know, happy."

"Play something for me?" Will asked.

"Really? Sure! What do you want to hear?"

"You pick something. I'm sure I'll enjoy it."

"Okay, Daddy, how about a cowboy song?"

"A cowboy song? You mean like I used to sing to you when you were little?"

"Yep! How about this?" Kim started strumming an arpeggio on the guitar and played a few bars. Then she started to sing.

 

I ride an old paint, lead an old dam,

Goin' to Montana to throw the houlihan.

Feed 'em in the coulees, and water in the draw,

Tails are all matted and their backs are all raw.

 

Ride around, little dogies, ride around them slow,

They're fiery and snuffy and a-rarin' to go.

 

Old Bill Jones had two daughters and a song,

One went to college, and the other went wrong.

His wife got killed in a free-for-all fight,

Still he keeps singin' from mornin' till night.

 

Ride around, little dogies, ride around them slow,

They're fiery and snuffy and a-rarin' to go.

 

I've worked in your town, worked on your farm,

And all I got to show is the muscle in my arm,

Blisters on my feet, and the callous on my hand,

And I'm a-goin' to Montana to throw the houlihan.

 

Ride around, little dogies, ride around them slow,

They're fiery and snuffy and a-rarin' to go.

 

When I die, take my saddle from the wall,

Put it on my pony, lead him out of his stall.

Tie my bones to his back, turn our faces to the west,

We'll ride the prairie that we loved the best.

 

Ride around, little dogies, ride around them slow,

They're fiery and snuffy and a-rarin' to go. (1)

 

Will was stunned at Kim's song. "Wow! Kim, that was great! I never knew you could play so well."

Kim smiled. "Thanks, Daddy. I've been practicing."

"Well I hope you keep practicing. I wish I could play like that."

"Would you like to sing one with me?"

"Sure. Do you know "Way Out There'?"

Kim answered by strumming the song. "You start, Daddy."

 

Will sang, accompanied by his daughter's playing.

A lonely spot I know where no man will go

Where the shadows have all the room

I was riding free on the old S.P.

Humming a southern tune,

When a man came along, made me hush my song,

Kicked me off away out there,

 

Kim joined in on the chorus, yodeling with her father.

Ohh - yo -dl - ay - dee - ohh - ay

Ohh - ay - hoo ohh o - dl - ay - dee - ohh - way ohh - way hoo.

 

Kim sang the next verse.

Well I set down my load in the desert road,

Rested my weary legs,

As I watched the setting sun make the tall shadows run

Out across the barren plains.

Then I hummed a tune to the rising moon;

She gets lonesome way out there,

 

Ohh - yo -dl - ay - dee - ohh - ay

Ohh - ay - hoo ohh o - dl - ay - dee - ohh - way ohh - way hoo.

 

Will sang the third verse.

Well I closed my eyes to the starlit skies

Lost myself in dreams.

And I dreamed the desert sand was a milk and honey land

And then I awoke with a start.

There was a train coming back on the one way track,

Gonna carry me away from here,

Ohh - yo -dl - ay - dee - ohh - ay

Ohh - ay - hoo ohh o - dl - ay - dee - ohh - way ohh - way hoo.

 

Kim and Will sang the last verse together.

As she passed me by I caught her on the fly

Climbed in an open door.

I looked around and saw the desert ground,

To the spot I would see no more,

As I was riding away I heard that pale moon say,

"So long, pal, it sure gets lonesome here."

 

Ohh - yo -dl - ay - dee - ohh - ay

Ohh - ay - hoo ohh o - dl - ay - dee - ohh - way ohh - way hoo. (2)

 

"Wow, does that ever bring back memories," Will said. "I remember singing that song with you and Becky. It must have been years ago."

Will's expression became pensive as his memories opened. "Becky loved those old cowboy songs. I remember singing the two of you to sleep to songs like "Hobo's Lullabye" or "Get Along Little Dogies."

"I remember, Daddy," said Kim. "Becky always kidded you about the way you sang."

Will smiled. "I remember. She said I ought to get a job singing on the radio so she could listen to another station." Will and Kim laughed, recalling a familiar memory.

"It's funny," Will said, "Becky always teased me about my singing voice. But you know when she was sick she always wanted me to sing for her? I remember right at the end, just before she passed, she asked me to sing something."

Will hesitated, as though he were uncovering something unpleasant. "She was in the hospital, and had tubes and things hooked up to her. All her hair had fallen out from the cancer medicine. Her eyes were kind of sunken and her cheeks were pale, but she still smiled and she asked me to sing for her. I remember the song she asked me to sing."

Another hesitation, then Will sang.

I'm a roaming cowboy riding all day long,
Tumbleweeds around me sing their lonely song.
Nights underneath the prairie moon,
I ride along and sing this tune.

See them tumbling down
Pledging their love to the ground
Lonely but free I'll be found
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds. (3)

 

As he sang the last verse, Will's voice started to break. A tear trickled down his cheek. "I remember how she smiled as I sang to her. And then she sort of stopped. She closed her eyes and she just stopped breathing. I knew she had left us."

Tears began to spring unbidden from Will. "She was only eleven," he said. "She was only beginning to taste life, and she was taken away from us. And I couldn't do anything. I'm her father, and I'm supposed to protect her, and I couldn't do anything. She was my little girl, my little girl." His voice trailed off, buried by the tears he had denied himself for so long.

Then, he grabbed Kim into his arms. He hugged her and kissed her and held her close as he cried. Kim began to cry too. "I'm sorry Daddy," she said, "I didn't mean to make you cry!"

Will held her even closer. "You didn't make me cry, Kim. You make me happy. Don't you ever think you make me cry! I love you!"

"I love you too, Daddy," said Kim. "I really do love you."

"I know, honey, I know, and it makes me so happy. I'm so happy that I have a daughter like you."

The tears began to subside. Will let go of Kim and kissed her. She reached over to a box of tissues and wiped her eyes. Then she gave one to Will. "Here, Daddy, you can wipe your eyes."

Will smiled as he accepted the tissue from Kim. He wiped his eyes, and then blew his nose loudly, making Kim giggle. "Now don't you go teasing me about my nose!" he said. He smiled as Kim laughed.

"Listen, Kim," said Will, "When I came in here I meant to give you something. Here." He held out the glove.

Kim's eyes opened in amazement. "Wow, a new glove! Is that for me?"

"It sure is, princess. You think you might be up for a catch with your old man tomorrow?"

"You bet!" she said. "Do you think Maggie might like to catch with us too? I'll bet my old glove will fit her fine."

"Why not? And maybe Mom can get in on the fun. Did you know she was the captain of her softball team?"

"Wow! Really? She never said anything about it."

"Well, your Mother isn't the kind to brag, but she was the best pitcher her team ever had, and she led the high school to the regional championship."

"Gee, that'll be great, Daddy. Thanks. You're the greatest Daddy in the world!"

Will grinned. "I'm glad you think so. Remind me how great I am when I make you do your homework this fall."

Kim just grinned and gave her father a hug. "Don't worry, Daddy, I'll never forget, not ever."

"I know, honey. But it's getting late, and it's way past your bedtime. Did you say your prayers?"

"Yes, sir, I did."

"Good. You have sweet dreams now, princess. Good night." He gave her a little kiss on the cheek.

"Good night, Daddy," Kim said. She crawled into bed. Will turned off the light and closed the door.

Doris was smiling as he emerged. "You were in there quite a while. How did Kim like her new glove?"

"She really likes it," Will answered. "We're having us a catch tomorrow. Would you like to join us?"

"Join you? Just you try and keep up with me, Will O'Connell!"

They laughed, hugged, and kissed, and then went in to tuck Maggie in for the night.

 

(End of Part 3)

 

© 2005 Valentina Michelle Smith

 

(1) "I Ride an Old Paint", traditional

(2) "Way Out There", Words and Music by Bob Nolan © 1936

(3) "Tumbling Tumbleweeds", Words and Music by Bob Nolan © 1934

  

  

  

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