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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Family & Friends
- Subject: Childhood / Youth
- Published: 11/09/2020
A License to Practice
Born 1944, F, from Melbourne, FL, United StatesA License to Practice
by
Valerie Allen
“Roy, Roy!,” Blanch screamed. Breathless, she ran into the garage and flailed her arms frantically toward her husband.
Roy turned off the leaf blower and looked at her in surprise. “What's goin' on? He hoisted the blower up onto his workbench.
“Oh, thank goodness you're here!” Blanch said. Her voice was high pitched and cracking.
“Are you alright?” He scanned his wife's flushed cheeks and the tears on her face.
She leaned against a wooden storage shelf and tried to catch her breath.
“What's wrong?” he asked, alarm spreading across his face. His eyes narrowed and two deep lines formed between his eyebrows.
“It's Louise.”
“Louise?” He stepped toward Blanch. “Is she hurt?”
Blanch sucked in her breath; anger blazed on her cheeks. “Not yet, but when I get a hold of her I make no promises!”
Roy's shoulders sagged, and he let out a deep sigh. “Blanch quit hollerin' like your hair's on fire and just tell me what's goin' on.”
“I'll tell you what's goin' on. That kid—the one we always thought was the best of the bunch—the one with a brain in her head—the one who never caused us a lick of trouble...”
Roy tugged on his ball cap. “Cut the drama, Blanch, we ain't got no axe murders in the bunch. All our kids are doin' okay.”
“Well, not this one—not anymore!”
“What in the world are you talkin' about? You're not making any sense. Where's Lou now?”
“She's off with her friends at the mall—thinkin' she's all in love with not a care in the world.” Blanch shook her head.
Roy raised his chin and squinted his eyes. “What do you mean she's in love? She's only 16; when did she fall in love? Where do you get these crazy ideas?”
“I wish it was just my crazy idea, but wait until you see this.” She grabbed him by the arm, pulled him along behind her and headed into the house.
“Where are we goin'?” he demanded.
“You need to see what just popped up in Lou's email,” she said in a strained voice. “You need to read it yourself.” She lead him into Lou's room and walked to the computer desk. “You better sit down. You will not believe this,” she said through clenched teeth.
He frowned and sat in front of the computer screen. His eyes searched the brief message.
Thanks Lou, for all those practice runs in the park! Lucky we never got caught! - Love you always, Billy.
Roy's face paled. He swallowed hard. “Who's this Billy?” He glared at his wife. “I'm gonna kill that kid before today's over.” He pounded his fist on the desk. The laptop jolted to the right. The screen blinked off and then back on.
Blanch dropped onto Lou's bed and sank onto the rumpled flowered quilt. She and Roy stared at each other in stunned silence. “We need to call his parents,” she said.
“I've got a thing or two to say to those people!” he punched his finger into the air and shook his head. “A lot of good that's going to do now,” Roy said.
Blanch rubbed her fingers back and forth across her lips. “I can't believe she'd do something like this. We've talked about this so many times. She's always been a good girl. How could she be so dumb?”
Roy stared ahead blankly, his breathing uneven. He slammed down the computer screen on the laptop. “Dumb?” Roy shouted, his face red. He shot up and paced. “This is beyond dumb. This is out-and-out stupid!”
Blanch looked up at him. “Our only kid on track to graduate from high school—maybe even go to college. What if she got pregnant? What if she has a STD?”
“A what?” Roy asked.
“A sexually transmitted disease,” Blanch said in a whisper.
Roy stopped pacing and narrowed his eyes. “You mean The Clap?”
Her face reddened. “Yes, that's exactly what I mean.”
Roy squinted. “I'm gonna kill that boy. Where's my rifle?”
“Oh, Roy, please stop acting crazy. We need to worry about Louise, not that jerk who's been ….”
Roy ran his hands through his hair. “What's wrong with that girl? Doesn't she see how this could mess up her life?”
Blanch looked up at him. “I don't think she knows what she's doing. She's a stupid kid—maybe a stupid kid in love.”
“In love?” he shouted. “Are you kiddin' me? You think either of them know what love is about? What's wrong with that boy—doesn't he know she's not 18 yet? Doesn't he care?” Roy picked up a pillow and sailed it across the room. “Idiots! They're both a couple of idiots!”
Blanch lowered her head and rubbed her fingertips in small circles at her temples. “We've talked about sex, pregnancy, dating. I even had her out to Brewster's farm to watch when the pups were being born. I thought for sure that would get the message across.” Blanch looked up at him. “I asked her if she wanted to go on birth control.”
Roy started at her. “What did she say?”
“She said she didn't need it.” Slowly, she and Roy looked at each other and their eyes locked.
“Well, that could take on a whole new meaning,” he said. “Maybe she didn't need birth control because she's already pregnant!”
“Oh, please God, let's not be faced with that,” Blanch said.
“I think it's beyond the point of prayer,” Roy said.
* * *
“Hi, Louise,” Billy called across the food court in the mall. He waved for her to join him.
She balanced her purse, drink, burger, and fries on a yellow plastic tray and worked her way through the lunch crowd.
Billy hooked his foot around a chair leg and yanked it out for her to sit.
She faced him and leaned over her lunch tray. “Got my test results back,” she said.
He took her hand in his. “So, how'd it go?” He leaned toward her, eager for the news.
She pretended not to hear. She slid the paper from her straw, tossed it at him, and poked the straw into her milkshake.
He flicked the paper off the table and watched as it sailed onto the floor. “Hey don't play dumb with me, Lou,” he said. “Come on, time to spill the beans.”
She gave a small laugh. “It's all good. I aced it. College is in my future!” she said proudly. “My SAT score was in the top 10%.”
“I knew you could do it!” They did a high-five. “Your folks will be over the moon when you tell them.”
“Yep. I can't wait to break the news. How did your test go?” she asked.
He offered a slow smile and reached for his wallet. “You're not the only one with good news.”
Her face lit up with pride.
He flipped open his wallet. “Here's proof of my success!” He pulled his newly issued driver's license from his billfold and handed it to her.
She smiled at him. “See, I said all you needed was a little more practice. All those nights we spent driving around in the park finally paid off!”
He grinned from ear to ear. “It sure did! I can't wait to tell my folks about it.”
# # #
Thank you for taking the time to read
A License to Practice.
If you enjoyed it,
please consider telling your friends
and posting a review on
Amazon.com or other online sites.
Word-of-mouth referrals are
an author's best friend
and much appreciated.
A License to Practice
Amazon.com/dp/B073JVSC2Q
Copyright 2017 by Valerie Allen
VAllenWriter@gmail.com
Amazon.com/author/valerieallen
Short Stories
by
Valerie Allen
A Good Thing on a Bad Day
A License to Practice
A Marriage of Convenience
A Mother's Love
A Tooth for a Tooth
Ad Hoc Committee
Best Wishes
Brotherly Love
Conditional Love
Doggie Tales
Father's Day
Fire Engine Red
Fireworks on the 4th
Fit for Life
Future Plans
Holiday Traditions
Home for the Holidays
I Remember Momma
Just Be Cos
Ladies in Waiting
Leisureville
Love is in the Air
Match-maker
Mother Knows Best
No Goin' Home
Potty Talk
Puppy Love
Queen for a Day
Second Chance
Small Steps
Split Second Timing
Thank You, Mr. Jackson!
The Big Winner!
The Garden of Love
The Lonely Life of Amanda Miller
The Penalty Box
Words of Wisdom
Valentine's Day
Visiting Day
~ ~ ~
A License to Practice(Valerie Allen)
A License to Practice
by
Valerie Allen
“Roy, Roy!,” Blanch screamed. Breathless, she ran into the garage and flailed her arms frantically toward her husband.
Roy turned off the leaf blower and looked at her in surprise. “What's goin' on? He hoisted the blower up onto his workbench.
“Oh, thank goodness you're here!” Blanch said. Her voice was high pitched and cracking.
“Are you alright?” He scanned his wife's flushed cheeks and the tears on her face.
She leaned against a wooden storage shelf and tried to catch her breath.
“What's wrong?” he asked, alarm spreading across his face. His eyes narrowed and two deep lines formed between his eyebrows.
“It's Louise.”
“Louise?” He stepped toward Blanch. “Is she hurt?”
Blanch sucked in her breath; anger blazed on her cheeks. “Not yet, but when I get a hold of her I make no promises!”
Roy's shoulders sagged, and he let out a deep sigh. “Blanch quit hollerin' like your hair's on fire and just tell me what's goin' on.”
“I'll tell you what's goin' on. That kid—the one we always thought was the best of the bunch—the one with a brain in her head—the one who never caused us a lick of trouble...”
Roy tugged on his ball cap. “Cut the drama, Blanch, we ain't got no axe murders in the bunch. All our kids are doin' okay.”
“Well, not this one—not anymore!”
“What in the world are you talkin' about? You're not making any sense. Where's Lou now?”
“She's off with her friends at the mall—thinkin' she's all in love with not a care in the world.” Blanch shook her head.
Roy raised his chin and squinted his eyes. “What do you mean she's in love? She's only 16; when did she fall in love? Where do you get these crazy ideas?”
“I wish it was just my crazy idea, but wait until you see this.” She grabbed him by the arm, pulled him along behind her and headed into the house.
“Where are we goin'?” he demanded.
“You need to see what just popped up in Lou's email,” she said in a strained voice. “You need to read it yourself.” She lead him into Lou's room and walked to the computer desk. “You better sit down. You will not believe this,” she said through clenched teeth.
He frowned and sat in front of the computer screen. His eyes searched the brief message.
Thanks Lou, for all those practice runs in the park! Lucky we never got caught! - Love you always, Billy.
Roy's face paled. He swallowed hard. “Who's this Billy?” He glared at his wife. “I'm gonna kill that kid before today's over.” He pounded his fist on the desk. The laptop jolted to the right. The screen blinked off and then back on.
Blanch dropped onto Lou's bed and sank onto the rumpled flowered quilt. She and Roy stared at each other in stunned silence. “We need to call his parents,” she said.
“I've got a thing or two to say to those people!” he punched his finger into the air and shook his head. “A lot of good that's going to do now,” Roy said.
Blanch rubbed her fingers back and forth across her lips. “I can't believe she'd do something like this. We've talked about this so many times. She's always been a good girl. How could she be so dumb?”
Roy stared ahead blankly, his breathing uneven. He slammed down the computer screen on the laptop. “Dumb?” Roy shouted, his face red. He shot up and paced. “This is beyond dumb. This is out-and-out stupid!”
Blanch looked up at him. “Our only kid on track to graduate from high school—maybe even go to college. What if she got pregnant? What if she has a STD?”
“A what?” Roy asked.
“A sexually transmitted disease,” Blanch said in a whisper.
Roy stopped pacing and narrowed his eyes. “You mean The Clap?”
Her face reddened. “Yes, that's exactly what I mean.”
Roy squinted. “I'm gonna kill that boy. Where's my rifle?”
“Oh, Roy, please stop acting crazy. We need to worry about Louise, not that jerk who's been ….”
Roy ran his hands through his hair. “What's wrong with that girl? Doesn't she see how this could mess up her life?”
Blanch looked up at him. “I don't think she knows what she's doing. She's a stupid kid—maybe a stupid kid in love.”
“In love?” he shouted. “Are you kiddin' me? You think either of them know what love is about? What's wrong with that boy—doesn't he know she's not 18 yet? Doesn't he care?” Roy picked up a pillow and sailed it across the room. “Idiots! They're both a couple of idiots!”
Blanch lowered her head and rubbed her fingertips in small circles at her temples. “We've talked about sex, pregnancy, dating. I even had her out to Brewster's farm to watch when the pups were being born. I thought for sure that would get the message across.” Blanch looked up at him. “I asked her if she wanted to go on birth control.”
Roy started at her. “What did she say?”
“She said she didn't need it.” Slowly, she and Roy looked at each other and their eyes locked.
“Well, that could take on a whole new meaning,” he said. “Maybe she didn't need birth control because she's already pregnant!”
“Oh, please God, let's not be faced with that,” Blanch said.
“I think it's beyond the point of prayer,” Roy said.
* * *
“Hi, Louise,” Billy called across the food court in the mall. He waved for her to join him.
She balanced her purse, drink, burger, and fries on a yellow plastic tray and worked her way through the lunch crowd.
Billy hooked his foot around a chair leg and yanked it out for her to sit.
She faced him and leaned over her lunch tray. “Got my test results back,” she said.
He took her hand in his. “So, how'd it go?” He leaned toward her, eager for the news.
She pretended not to hear. She slid the paper from her straw, tossed it at him, and poked the straw into her milkshake.
He flicked the paper off the table and watched as it sailed onto the floor. “Hey don't play dumb with me, Lou,” he said. “Come on, time to spill the beans.”
She gave a small laugh. “It's all good. I aced it. College is in my future!” she said proudly. “My SAT score was in the top 10%.”
“I knew you could do it!” They did a high-five. “Your folks will be over the moon when you tell them.”
“Yep. I can't wait to break the news. How did your test go?” she asked.
He offered a slow smile and reached for his wallet. “You're not the only one with good news.”
Her face lit up with pride.
He flipped open his wallet. “Here's proof of my success!” He pulled his newly issued driver's license from his billfold and handed it to her.
She smiled at him. “See, I said all you needed was a little more practice. All those nights we spent driving around in the park finally paid off!”
He grinned from ear to ear. “It sure did! I can't wait to tell my folks about it.”
# # #
Thank you for taking the time to read
A License to Practice.
If you enjoyed it,
please consider telling your friends
and posting a review on
Amazon.com or other online sites.
Word-of-mouth referrals are
an author's best friend
and much appreciated.
A License to Practice
Amazon.com/dp/B073JVSC2Q
Copyright 2017 by Valerie Allen
VAllenWriter@gmail.com
Amazon.com/author/valerieallen
Short Stories
by
Valerie Allen
A Good Thing on a Bad Day
A License to Practice
A Marriage of Convenience
A Mother's Love
A Tooth for a Tooth
Ad Hoc Committee
Best Wishes
Brotherly Love
Conditional Love
Doggie Tales
Father's Day
Fire Engine Red
Fireworks on the 4th
Fit for Life
Future Plans
Holiday Traditions
Home for the Holidays
I Remember Momma
Just Be Cos
Ladies in Waiting
Leisureville
Love is in the Air
Match-maker
Mother Knows Best
No Goin' Home
Potty Talk
Puppy Love
Queen for a Day
Second Chance
Small Steps
Split Second Timing
Thank You, Mr. Jackson!
The Big Winner!
The Garden of Love
The Lonely Life of Amanda Miller
The Penalty Box
Words of Wisdom
Valentine's Day
Visiting Day
~ ~ ~
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- 8
JD
11/09/2020I liked everything about this story except the line that caused the whole misunderstanding, because 'practice run' could mean anything, so it didn't make much sense to me that her parents both interpreted the message 'thanks for the practice runs' to be about sex. Especially with how worked up and out of control they became, without questioning each other as to whether or not they might be misinterpreting things, or jumping to conclusions. I know that a lot of trauma and heartbreak is caused in relationships due to misunderstandings, miscommunications, and misinterpretations. Many times you can see how and why something was misconstrued. But in this case I couldn't see how and why. It seems too absurd and unbelievable to me that such a simple generic comment, which could mean so many things, was so badly misinterpreted without question or second guessing by a 'good girl's' parents. I didn't 'buy' it. Otherwise, a great story. Thanks Valerie.
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