Read Online Further Joy by John Brandon - Free Book Online

senioritis.”
    â€œI’ve always wished my memory could be spottier,” Kim answered.
    Franklin waited a moment, but Kim didn’t elaborate. He opened his door and stepped out. Kim turned in her seat and watched him pull a blanket out of the trunk, the bin of fruit from the back seat. He stepped around and opened her door, proffering his hand.
    She followed him down an overgrown trail that seemed to materialize in front of him as he went. The Audi disappeared behind them. There was only the dry leaning grass, hip-high to Kim, and the faded, half-cloudy sky. Franklin kept sweeping swaths of grass back out of the way with his free arm, holding them bent as Kim kept up with him in her flip-flops. They were heading toward a giant tree with very dark leaves, and when they reached its shade there was a break of clear ground. It was cool under the boughs. Franklin spread the blanket and set the bin down. He took off his shoes and socks and reclined flat on his back. Kim joined him, also on her back, on the other edge of the blanket but still in arm’s reach. She kicked her flip-flops off and stretched her legs out, aware of the flattering arch of her torso.
    Franklin was the first to speak. He asked Kim if she’d ever been engaged, his voice sounding a little grave. Kim brushed her hair out of her eyes. Shetold him she’d been engaged for a while, and that now she wasn’t. She was looking straight up, but could sense Franklin nodding, contemplating what she’d said.
    â€œI got proposed to last summer,” he told her.
    â€œProposed to for marriage?” Kim said. She had no idea whether to take him seriously. It didn’t seem like he was being cute, looking for a laugh.
    â€œWhat happened was we went to a cornbread festival in Tennessee and we drove down in her Volkswagen Bug. At the festival, she entered a raffle and the prize was a scooter. She was the type that enters any raffle she comes across. And this time she wins. They call her name while we’re standing there eating free samples of honey. We get back over to the raffle place and they’re like, ‘Here’s your scooter, miss.’ Just like that. She signed some paper and they’re like, ‘Y’all enjoy the parade.’ One problem, though. We get out to the parking lot and the scooter wouldn’t fit in the car, in the Volkswagen, so I offered to drive it back to Chicago. I said we could take the back roads. I’d just follow behind the car.”
    â€œThat was a sweet offer to make,” said Kim.
    â€œShe was of the same opinion. She thought that was a pretty touching gesture. Right on the spot she bought me a ring from a booth at the festival, with a big orange stone, and asked me to marry her. I couldn’t believe it. We ran around the whole night kissing each other’s hands, and then we managed to get some wine and we watched movies all night right in her car and slept in there. We were still holding hands while we were sleeping. We just drove down off the road by a little stream. Well, as you could probably guess, the next day we thought better of the whole thing. We were both embarrassed. It felt like a stunt or something. It made us feel like silly young people who wish they were older. It was her fault, really. She’s the one who asked. We fizzled out after that trip. We saw each other maybe one more time.”
    Kim rested her hands on her stomach. She had an image of the orange engagement ring in her mind. “So you didn’t end up driving the scooter back or you did?”
    â€œNo, I did. I meant the offer when I made it. It was fun, too. The weather was gorgeous, pretty much like today.”
    Franklin turned toward her, propping himself on his elbow. He pulled the bin of fruit in between them. Kim stayed on her back but she found the bin with her hand and ate one strawberry and then another. She tossed the stems behind her, into the weeds, and it was like