One Final Time

Part Three

Four years flew by as a thief of time steals away the hours, Les found himself approaching law school graduation and the final approach to adulthood. With Monica by his side these last few years, he had begun the ascent into the next frontier with a spring in his step and a positive look forward. Yet, still the memories of the care-free youth haunted him. Deep inside, he felt a loss of self, a sense of disappointment in who he was becoming, not being true to the person he was on the inside.

Outwardly, everything appeared to be peachy keen and falling into place. He and Monica had gotten a place in Laguna Niguel, beautiful and looking over the ocean. How they had managed that was based on careful financial planning and loving help from family. They took trips up north to Sonoma County to see his family, toured the wineries, and had tastings. They had friends over once a week for board games and movie nights. He joined the gym and took up racket ball. Tucked away in his locked glove compartment was a shiny diamond ring just waiting for the moment when he could kneel before Monica, asking for her hand in marriage in a perfectly planned and timed romantic moment. Everything was falling into place and everything was perfect.

So, why did he feel, at times, so miserable and, dare he say, alone?

Late one night, in their computer room and study, he sat book before him, trying to find the energy and sense of purpose to study for his impending exams. Distractedly, he scanned the screen of facebook, clicking over to his email when he heard the familiar ping of the incoming message.

The message read:

“Hi all you Crowshaven fam,

I'm in Los Angeles this weekend...guess what? I'm opening for Jewel! I know, right? Its pretty amazing! I'd love for you all to come, backstage passes & everything! Write back if you can make it & I'll send you all the info.

Can't wait to see you all,

Your Jewel(S)”

And, that was it. He hesitated to hit reply but found his fingers clicking the button on the mouse before he could stop himself. Her response was swift, happily detailing the information about the locale of the concert, times, and places. Although it was an email, he still could not see any hint of excitement or emotion other than that of an old friend to another. He took down the information on a piece of paper, tore it, and placed it discreetly in a secluded pocket of his brief-case. Why, he did not know, but he felt the need to keep this and Ruby a secret from Monica.

He left his house about 6:00 in the evening and headed for the nearby subway. He was meeting Geoff and his new partner, Biff, at a Starbucks near the venue, they'd carpool there together. He could not remember when he'd seen any of these people, the last time he'd even talked to anyone from camp was that late night phone call years back with Ruby herself. And, now here she was front-lining for Jewel.

Later, Geoff, Biff, and Les crowded into Geoff's small blue VW bug and headed over to the concert hall. Tera was awaiting them outside and hugs were passed all around.

As they sat side by side in the auditorium, they held their breaths as the lights descended and ascended on the stage, with the entrance of Ruby Rhodes, wearing a strapless sun-dress and carrying only her guitar. She stood in the center of the stage and began playing her original songs. New songs he had yet to hear and songs that sounded so very familiar.

“I'd like to start out with a song that's very special to me because it reminds me of a very special time and a very special place in my life, it reminds me of the value of friendship, loyalty, honesty, love, and truthfulness to yourself, and its a blend of a variety of different songs I've heard or written throughout my life, I call it “Summer Love,” she began and started strumming chords and began to sing out:

“Just a boy and a girl in a little canoe, with the moon shining bright and clear,

Hmmm, I want to linger.

And as the boy paddled he said, you better kiss me or get out and swim,

Hmmm, It's such a perfect night.

So what you gonna do in a little canoe, with the moon shining bright,

and the boy, and the boy, and the boy

Hmmm, And come September,

The girl is paddling now, paddling now, paddling now,

All alone

Hmmm, And as the years go by,

The boy is swimming, swimming, swimming

Farther into the distance

Hmmm I want to linger.

Hmmm, A little longer.
Hmmm, A little longer,
Here with you.
Hmmm, It doesn't seem quite right.
Hmmm, That this should be,
My last with you.
Hmmm, I will remember,
Hmmm, Our Scouting days,
Of friendships true.
Hmmm, I'll think of you and sigh.
Hmmm, This is good night
And not good bye.
Hmmm A little longer.
Hmmm A little longer,
Here with you.

Ruby smiled at the audience as they cheered loudly in appreciation for her beautiful work. As the applause died down, she began another song, this one with out explanation and Les felt the longing, the loss coupled with desire, painfully coming across in her voice.

“There was a girl named yellow, her name was yellow, and all she ever knew was what she saw.

But then one day everything changed.

She made some friends, a girl named Blue, a boy named Red

They played, they played, they played.

One day she saw what she was afraid to see, she was different.

Blue touched her and she turned green, green, green

Red touched her and she turned orange, orange, orange

And she never was the same, never was the same

But long after they'd left, in her heart they remained,

Forever changed she was, not just yellow, but a rainbow.

I'm a rainbow now, through the tears I've shed for you, have made me something new,

I'm a rainbow now, stronger than I was before, fighting for my dream ever-more

I'm rainbow now, that's all I'll ever be, all that you'll ever need to know

A rainbow, A rainbow, A rainbow

The lights dimmed and the audience was still a moment, reflecting in the magic of that last song. Then the lights rose and the emcee announced her name and cheers from the audience went up. None louder than the three people in the audience, Geoff, Les, and Tera who knew the true origins of the songs and the reasons behind their words.

As Jewel entered the stage and the young teenage and twenty-something girls shrieked with delight, Les and his friends made their way to the backstage entrance, showing their passes and being let behind the scenes. Ruby ran to them, her arms wide and her eyes bright.

“Oh my god,” shrieked Tera, almost as loud as the girls out front and hugged her friend.

“You were a-mazing!” Geoff announced, in his flamboyant fashion. Ruby hugged him and introduced herself to Biff with a warm hug. She turned to Les and looked up at him, biting her lip in a way that made her more desirable. Any thought of Monica flew quickly out of his mind as he looked down at what could have been at one time his childhood sweetheart, the girl who got away.

“You guys want to come back here and have a glass of champagne with me?” She smiled and tentatively reached for his hand. He took it and she led him and the others back to a back room that was decked out with Jewel's entourage, a table full of food, and a table full of different types of beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Ruby secured a bottle of champagne for them and led them to a corner area with arm-chairs and a sofa. She sat, and skillfully popped the cork off the bottle without spilling any of the drink, and poured it around to the glasses already on the table between the chairs.

“To success,” toasted Tera towards Ruby as she raised her glass.

“To us,” Ruby corrected her. “And for Crowshaven.”

They all toasted to that and drank.

“So, what exactly is Crowshaven?” Biff wanted to know and looked eagerly at Geoff.

“Uh, oh, you haven't told him yet,” smirked Ruby. Les noticed how comfortable she appeared with herself, something she hadn't been in years past. “You haven't outed your geeky past yet, huh?”

“Oh no, what is it?” Biff's eyes widened and his eyebrows raised in mirth.

“So, I was a junior counselor at a Y-camp when I was in high school,” began Geoff. “And, it was called Crowshaven, and I met all these guys there, they were counselors with me.”

“Junior counselors, huh?” Biff laughed. “Sounds similar to what I did, the Boys & Girls Club.”

“Really?” Geoff was surprised and pleased. They chinked their glasses and kissed on the lips in congratulatory pleasure in sharing a similar childhood past-time.

“So, I bet you all have such crazy stories to tell,” Biff said looking round at the rest of them. “Come on, don't be shy, do tell!”

“There was the one time that guy, “Bliss”, his camp name, Biff, scored some weed and we all got high and broke into the cafeteria late at night,” Geoff began.

“Oh god yeah,” Les continued. “We had the munchies so bad, and then Jewels ate all the peanut butter!”

“Well, I was hungry!” exclaimed Ruby, or Jewels.

“For peanut butter?” Les looked over at her and winked. She smiled at him and he scooted himself just a big closer to her.

“Wait, whose Jewels?” Biff was confused.

“That was my camp name,” Ruby began to explain. “They used to call me...well, our friend, Jess, used to say, “ Emerald, Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, Jewels, and Jewels just stuck!”

“And you just opened for Jewel tonight!” Biff said excitedly.

“Yeah, its like fate or something, right?” Ruby laughed and chinked her glass with Biff.

“So did you all have nicknames or something?” Biff looked around.

“Well,” Les began slowly. “They called me Trip, all because of that boyfriend of yours.”

“Boyfriend?” Biff looked at Geoff and smiled. “Yeah, I'll buy that. But, how'd he get the nickname Trip?”

“I'm not supposed to say,” Geoff started to say. “But, um, he used to get all trippy about stuff, so Trip just stuck,”

“What about you two?” Biff asked, nodding towards Geoff and Tera.

Tera shook her head. “I never acquired a nick-name, it was optional for junior counselors, I was always just Tera.”

“The best Tera ever!” rang out Ruby and raised her glass to her friend.

Later, after Jewel had finished her set, they followed her entourage to her nearby home where the celebration continued in a quiet yet festive fashion. There was light music for dancing, a hot tub to soak in, and plenty of room to mill about and chat with one another.

Les and Ruby found themselves alone, at last, in a dark corner of the living room, glasses of red wine on the table before them, their hands found one another's and held on tight. Without a thought of anyone or anything else in their room, they put their heads close to one another and found a closeness they had both been desiring since that long ago night at camp. 

Les teased Ruby about the songs she'd sung, saying "Sounded a bit familiar, but I liked the new twist on them."

"Thanks," Ruby smiled up at him, snuggling against him further.  

"You missed one though, maybe next time?"

"Yeah, what's the song?"

"What's your name, little girl?" Les began softly.

"Oh, but it starts with the girl singing," Ruby teased him.  

"Oh, right!"

"What's your name, little boy?" Ruby started singing.

"My name is Lemme," Les responded.

"Lemme what, little boy?"

"Lemme kiss you," Les responded. "What's your name, little girl?"

"My name is Ida," Ruby responded sharply.

"Ida what, little girl?" 

"Ida wanna!" Ruby answered.  "What's your name, little boy?"

"My name is Lemme," Les smiled.

"Lemme what, little boy?"

"Lemme kiss you," Les pleaded.  "What's your name, little girl?"

"My name's Alaska," replied Ruby.

"Alaska what, Little girl?" Les wanted to know.

"Alaska my momma!" Ruby smiled in her answer.  "What's your name, little boy?"

"My name is Lemme."

"Lemme what, little boy?"

"Lemme kiss you!" Les pleaded.  "What's your name, little girl?"

"My name is Ollie," Ruby said shyly.

"Ollie what, little girl?"

"Ollie right!" Ruby smiled.

As their lips drew close to one another, the couch cushion beside them bounced upwards and Geoff drunkenly wanted to know,

“So, Les, how's Monica?”

Les pulled away, but tried to maintain his grasp on Ruby's hand. His mind was frantic as to what to say or do. His whole life, or what he had built it to be, outside this moment was coming back to him.

“Monica?” Ruby asked, a tremor in her voice.

“Um, yeah, um,” Les began. “She's kind of...my girl-friend, yeah.”

“Oh,” Ruby began, pulling her hand from his and sitting up. “Oh.”

She got up and stumbled over towards Tera, leaning into her friend and whispering. Tera put her arms around Ruby and glanced over her shoulder, eyeing Les with disapproval.

Linger by The Cranberries

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