Good Directions
Considering this was Kelley's last year in Peach Tree City before she headed off to Stanford and pursued her soccer career, she did not want to spend her summer babysitting the Maxwell boys. Her mom had volunteered her for the job before she even had time to react.
So, as Kelley got into her car and made her way to the Maxwell household, she soon began to regret her mother's quick and rather hasty suggestions.
The day seemed to drag on. Tommy and Mason had different ideas of fun than Kelley. While she wanted to relax and watch some movies with the boys, they wanted to play with every toy that they owned. Kelley had never seen so many Legos and Nerf guns in her life. Sure, she had her own younger brother at home, but he was never this rowdy. She and Jerry had always had a rather calm relationship. They fought from time to time just as any siblings do, but he never acted as crazy as these two boys were.
Once lunch time rolled around, Kelley had had enough. She needed some fresh air and thought that the boys could use some too.
"Mason, can you please put your shoes on?'' She asked pleadingly.
"I don't know, can I?" Mason replied with a smirk.
"Mase, that doesn't even make sense," Kelley began to get annoyed. "Just put your shoes on and we'll go get something to eat. Why can't you just listen like your brother?"
With that, Tommy gave Kelley a toothy grin. "Yeah, I actually listen. That's why Kelley likes me better. Right, Kelley?"
Although Kelley couldn't admit it to their faces, she did like him better. Both boys were complete troublemakers but if she had to pick a favorite, it would without a doubt be Tommy. At times, he could be a pain in the ass but if he saw how obnoxious he and his brother were being, he'd dial it down just to give Kelley a piece of mind. So, rather than agree or disagree, she made a slight dismissive sound in the back of her throat.
Three tantrums, two pairs of shoes, and one spilled Gatorade later, Kelley and the boys were off to Chick Fil A for what she hoped to be a quick and painless errand.
She was lost and lookin' for the interstate
Needin' directions and I was the man for the job
While at Chick Fil A, Kelley had made the monumental mistake of allowing the boys to get milkshakes. Instead of having a pair of six-year-olds ready for nap time, she had two kids who seemed an awful lot like the spawns of Satan at the moment. They both were riding their sugar high and Kelley could only pray that they would come crashing down soon.
With some quick thinking, Kelley kept the boys outside with the hopes of them running out of energy. She had just begun setting up a soccer net for them when an unfamiliar car pulled up to the curb. She squinted her eyes and read that they had Los Angeles license plates.
Kelley was just about to shoo the boys inside because of "stranger danger" until she saw the beautiful girl exit the car. She had olive skin with gorgeous green eyes. She began to walk up the driveway and any previous thought that Kelley had suddenly slipped her mind.
"Hi. I was on my way to the Peach Tree City Dog Park, and I think I took a wrong turn," the girl let out a nervous laugh. "Do you know how to get back to I-75? Once I make it back there, I should have a pretty good idea of where I'm going."
Kelley had no idea what to say. She knew how to get to the dog park with her eyes closed, but she had lost all train of thought. Her voice caught in her throat. "Um, I- actually, yeah. I can help you out."
"Thank you! You have no idea how much you're helping me out!" Her voice was so soft and soothing; it put Kelley at ease.
"So, if you make a right onto the main road and go for about four or five blocks, you'll come to a stoplight. The light has been stuck on yellow for who knows how many years. Don't be fooled by it. When I first got my license, I waited almost ten minutes for that light to change. People passing through town always seem to get tripped up by it."
"Thanks for the heads up. To be honest with you, I would've been the one who sat at the light for years," she laughed again and at that moment, Kelley knew that she only had one goal from here on out. It would be to ensure that she is the one to make this girl laugh loudly every day.
"Once you get to that light, you'll see a little pizza parlor on the corner. You have to stop in there. There'll be this big, Italian man behind the counter. His name is Mr. Marino; ask him for half a dozen garlic knots. My entire family swears by them."
"I might just have to try these life-changing garlic knots for myself. Alright, so where do I go after that little pit stop?"
"You'll want to get back onto that main road and follow it until you get to the next crossroad," Just then, Kelley felt uncharacteristically confident and let her urge get the best of her. "When you get to that intersection, you can either go left or right. If you make a left, it'll take you right to I-75 nice and easy. But if you make the right, it'll take you through a roundabout and you'll end up right back here, with me and my boys."
"I'll consider it. Maybe if those garlic knots are half as good as you say they are, I'll come back soon for a visit. Well, I've got to get going. Thanks again for the directions!"
"Yeah, no problem. I'll see you around."
And with that, Kelley's dream girl was in her car and driving away as quickly as she had gotten here.
I was sittin' there thinkin' 'bout her pretty face
Kickin' myself for not catchin' her name
As soon as Kelley got inside, her mind had registered what had happened. She had let possibly the most gorgeous girl she had ever seen. She was given the perfect opportunity to seize the moment, yet she was oblivious to it at the time.
"Kelley, who was that?" Mason asked while the three of them were watching the Eagles vs. Falcons game.
"I would like to know that too."
Tommy said what Kelley had been thinking all along. "She was really pretty. Kind of like Pocahontas."
"Yeah, well, too late now. She seemed in a rush anyways."
Is this Georgia heat playin' tricks on me
Or am I really seein' what I think I see
The woman of my dreams comin' back to me
Once the boys settled down for their naps, Kelley was able to think more clearly.
She had just been approached by possibly the most attractive girl who's ever made her way into Peach Tree City. She had gotten too confident and said some utterly stupid things. She had allowed this girl to swiftly exit her life.
Kelley's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. When she revealed who was on the other side, she had to do a double-take. The girl who had consumed all of her thinking for the past few hours was now standing face to face with her.
"So," the girl began. "We haven't formally met. I'm Christen."
"Kelley."
"Well, Kelley. You're probably wondering why I came back. And frankly, I'm kind of wondering that myself. By the way, I made sure to follow your directions to a tee."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yep. Anyways, I took your advice and stopped at that pizza shop. And might I say, you were right. Those garlic knots were just about the best thing I've ever eaten. But while I was there, I started thinking about this town. I grew up in Los Angeles and these types of small towns aren't something I'm used to. Then, I started thinking about you. About how this girl, who doesn't look much older than me, should be planning on going off to college yet, she's spending her summer babysitting two boys and giving directions to strangers. Why'd you do it? You could've given me the quick and easy directions, but instead, you showed me something local and gave me the option of coming back. Why?"
Kelley looked at Christen with an expression that could only be described as pure joy. "There's no rhyme or reason. I just thank God for good directions."