Away From Home

This had always been home, a small house on a large tract of land that belonged to your mother. It was here you spent the majority of your childhood, you were homeschooled by your mother and her friends from the church. One of the few places you were allowed to go was church where, under your mother's watchful eye, you spoke to whoever she allowed. Your only iota of free time was spent working your land under the eye of Jerry, your mother's foreman and his daughter Andi. To your mother's annoyance you and Andi had grown rather close, she was your only friend your age and really your only friend in general, she had been the one that pushed you to pursue a school away from home.

On Andi's advice you applied to a school in southern California with a program in virology. To your surprise you not only got in but were offered an incredibly generous scholarship, it was just up to you to come up with the money to get there. Your mother's support was out of the question, her offer was the local college where you would pursue a religion degree. Jerry, like Andi thought you would be wasted here and allowed you to spend the last year before college doing odd jobs in town for cash while he told your mother you were working for him.

With the money raised you booked a greyhound to take you to Jackson where you would catch a train the rest of the way. Your mother refused to offer you any help or even acknowledge your leaving and, at the last church service before your departure she had the congregation pray that you would see the error of your ways and choose to return home.

The morning of your departure you prepared to set out only to be greeted down the road by Andi in her dad's pickup.

"Hop in," she said with a smile.

"You didn't have to drive me," you said climbing into the passenger seat.

"I know," she said throwing the battered old truck into gear, "but I wanted to."

"Well, thank you"

"Don't mention it, are you excited?"

"Nervous," you replied, more so nervous that your mother would get her way and you'd end up back home.

"Don't be," said Andi, "you're gonna do great John."

The bus stop was only a short drive and soon you were parked across the street.

"I'm gonna miss you Andi," you said, "I'll write to you once I get there."

Andi leaned over and planted a soft kiss on your lips, your first.

"I'd like that," she said, "but don't dwell on home, you're leaving for new experiences, take advantage of what California has to offer."

She walked you to the bus and pulled you in for a tight hug. As she finally let you go she pulled you back in for a longer kiss pressing her tongue into your mouth.

"Andi," you started as she put her hand to your mouth.

"Hush," she said, "have a safe trip."

With that you climbed onto the bus and in a short while Andi and her slender form disappeared from view behind you. The bus from your home town to Jackson was relatively empty save for a few couples and one girl about your age who was traveling alone.

When you reached Jackson you slowly followed signs through the train station to your platform and shortly you found your train and a conductor showed you to your car and cabin. Across from you stood the girl from the bus who was struggling to get her bag into an overhead storage bin.