Rosita decided that kissing Lyle Harvan made the whole evening worthwhile, even when she had to face her father’s wrath. She wasn’t allowed to go anywhere on her own for the whole month of February and it was her father who drove her to and from school.
“Oh but I can’t wait to be eighteen,” Rosita told Nancy in English class. “I am getting out of my father’s house.”
“And going where?” Nancy asked.
“Probably Ohio,” Rosita sighed. “My grandparents are there…on Mom’s side. They are so much nicer to me than my father is.”
“But what about Lyle?” Nancy asked.
“We shall see,” Rosita smiled. “I mean…I have a whole year and a half before I am eighteen. I might consider staying if I have someone to stay with.”
Nancy giggled as Rosita cocked her head.
“What about you?”
“Oh,” Nancy said.“Well…I’m guessing I’ll keep working at the shop.”
“Will Jim keep working at the shop?” Rosita asked slyly.
Nancy gave a grin.
“He plans to. And he’s coming to church with me.”
Rosita giggled again as Nancy sighed.
“But on the other hand,” she said, “his father wants him to go to college. I could very well lose him to some hot co-ed if he’s gone for several years.”
Rosita nodded.
“Yeah. Things might not work out with Lyle either…if I go to Ohio.”
“He might follow you there,” Nancy smiled.
Rosita raised her eyebrows.
“You think he would?”
“I don’t know him that well,” Nancy said. “But his father does…and he said the boy is truly smitten. He might even show up at church.”
Rosita bit her lip.
“I haven’t told him to. He’s…Jewish.”
“He might change,” Nancy nodded. “Jim is showing interest in Jesus…and I never expected that.”
Rosita blinked as Nancy looked at her notebook.
“Are you doing anything on Friday?”
“Um…not that I know of,” Rosita said. “Why?”
“Well…Jim’s family is throwing a big party for Chinese New Year. It’s the Year of the Rat.”
“Oh wow,” Rosita said. “And he asked you to go with him?”
“Yes,” Nancy smiled.“But my parents have a big delivery…and we need someone to watch Easter.”
Rosita smiled at this.
“I’d be happy to watch a girl for a change. So long as she doesn’t play Monopoly.”
“Um…no,” Nancy said. “She wants to have some friends over so they can do their nails.”
Rosita gave a nod.
“I’d be happy to watch them. I need my nails done too.”
Lyle raised his eyebrows when he saw Rosita waiting by Jim’s car after school that Friday. But she did give him a smile, so we went over to her.
“You uh…not grounded anymore?” Lyle asked.
“No,” Rosita said. “I told my father I had an offer for a babysitting job…which means money for him…so he agreed I could get a ride with Nancy.”
YOU ARE READING
The Rides of Rosita Banks
RomanceRosita is swept off her feet by the handsome mechanic with a Harley. But what will she do when he's suddenly accused of murder?
