1st of Many
Rain pelted the top of the car as the couple decided which movie to see on their 1 year anniversary. The clouds and precipitation enveloped the city as the monsoon season came to an end on this fine summer day. Basset Premiere Cinemas had a variety of films including: Pineapple Express at 3:00 or 3:45. The Mummy 3 at 3:15 or 4:10. Or maybe the two could see The Dark Knight yet again, for the 5th time in two months at 3:30.
The two laughed and giggled like school children. Making silly inside jokes no one else in the world would understand, the pair spent the day revisiting past blunders that made humiliation romantic. Jim sat in the drivers seat with his best friend in the passenger seat. In this hot Chihuahuan desert, Jim hardly spent a day without his black beanie A La Andrew Reynolds. On this rainy, cool day though, it fit the weather. His partner in crime was a vision of beauty and he never missed a chance to remind her his eyes were only for her. Though the two attended high schools separated by 13 miles of valleys and desert, it was not difficult for the pair to keep an air of fidelity. It was actually easy as pie. Jim was the life of the party, always talking to people and engaging the passions and life of the present. Pam, his best friend and meek, Valkyrie was his complete opposite.The two had separately conquered very different worlds in their respective high schools. One led a path of popularity and raging parties that legends were made of. Underclassmen gushed at the idea of hanging out with the guy all the girls wanted and all the other guys wanted to be. They didn’t call him Chief for nothing. Pam on the other hand was a reserved wild card. Her walk of life led her to leading a sub culture ring that some would say is a little more on the “scary side”. As the little sister to who was once the top dog of the SKUNKS, she was given control of the high school and led as an example. She had vision and even though her male counterparts seemed to disagree with her decisions at first it became clear at the end of the school year that through her logic based planning, not one of the underclassmen had been popped by the police and she had helped with gaining respect for her hood on a massive scale. She towered over her crew in respect as her moniker was Big Bird.
The two canoodled in the front seat of the car causing the windows to fog. Playful couples playing like playful couples do. Jim had popped the trunk just as the rain picked up and the two decided to wait out this spat of weather. What started with a simple thumb war quickly turned into a tickling war waged by Jim on Pam’s legs and feet. From the outside looking in, this looked totally different. A police cruiser on Mall Patrol came to a stop with lights blaring right behind the 1999 Kia Sephia.
A harsh knock at the drivers window broke playtime up. The officer motioned for Jim to roll down his window. The cool air of the monsoon season filled the car and the couple was hit by reality when Jim was asked to step out of the vehicle. After taking his ID card and returning, the officer seemed to have some bad news that matched the weather. The handcuffs were put on just a bit too tight. Two warrants for No License and No Insurance linked with a some bad luck in fashion and how movie stereotypes are perceived had robbed this young couple of their first anniversary together.
Jim was placed in the back seat of the cruiser as Pam began her drive back home. With mascara running down her face she ran into her Mom’s room to tell her the bad news.
Downtown, Jim sat in the tank being questioned in earnest about what he was doing in that car with his girlfriend. The officers felt a sudden pang of guilt when Jim revealed that today was their first year anniversary. Jim chuckled it off as he knew it wasn’t all bad. Every problem in life has a silver lining and Jim could prove it.
Time ticked off the clock. Einsteins theory of relativity would be put to the test by Jim and Pam tonight. As the sun set on the city of El Paso, Pam cried herself to sleep with heartbreak. Jim felt the heart ache as well but didn’t have the luxury of showing it inside the tank of the County Jail.
At long last, the clock struck twelve. Rain still flooded the gutters. Jim didn’t know it but his warrants only had enough juice to keep him till the next morning. By the time he collected his things and signed his release forms, the time read 12:41. Jim felt the urgency and tied his shoes in haste. From the county jail to where Pam lived was 8 miles to traverse. El Paso had no buses running at this time. His only option was to make his own way out there to salvage what he could on this, their first anniversary.
His lungs heaved and pulled as he forced himself to dig deeper. His heart was pumping battery acid. With tunnel vision, he finally made his way to the steps of his beloved Pam’s doorstep. Out of breath, he tapped his secret tap on Pams window. She rushed to the front door. The two embraced like they hadn’t seen each other in years. The clouds had begun to clear as the couple shared a late kiss. It would become one of many.
