Travelin Man! [Ricky Nelson]

It had been a very long day at work. I worked at the local Woolsworth there in town. I was a salesclerk. I worked long hours. With only a half hour lunch break. My feet were aching. These Hush Puppy heels were killing me. I had to invest in better shoes soon. When I got paid. All my pay checks had been going to my father to pay off this car that he had bought for me. He felt it was time I found a husband. That I needed a man to take care of me and my finances. To start a family for one. And be a housewife. Then I would not have to worry about making it on my own or money. But little did my father know even if I chose to marry off then I would still work. I did not want to stay home with the kids all the time. I would put off having kids for at least a year. If not maybe two. That way my husband and I could get to know one another better. With kids in the way it would be impossible to travel. Be romantic. I wanted romance before I got older. Like mom. My mom was a sweet lady, but she was a dull as could be. And I never wanted to be her. Doting to dad every time he called her name. I was not going to be wishy washy when it came to a man. When I got home, I noticed a car was in the driveway. It did not belong to mom or to dad. I groan. I know whose car this belonged to. Dean. Dean Costa. My dad loved Dean. Dean went to my high school. He was on the football team. Was well liked. We dated off and on. Nothing to serious. My parents got along real well with Dean's parents. Dad thought Dean and I were a perfect match for one another. He was bound to get us together. The more he pushed things the more I did not want to be with Dean. Friends only. But Dean was not for me. I knew there had to be more out there here in California. I sigh as I put my car keys into my purse. I check my make up. A bath would have to wait until Dean went home. My feet ached inside my shoes. I desperately wanted a bath right now. To soak my hurting toes. I lean against the car seat and undid my seatbelt. I so was not ready for entertaining someone on a weekday. But that was what was going to happen. Today. Right now! I get out of my car and grab my purse. I lock the car up. Dad always checked at night to make sure all the cars were locked before he locked the house up to. I would get lectured if I left my car unlocked. I head into the house. I see Dad sitting with Dean over by the fire place having a drink and laughing. ♪♬♪♡♪♬♪ Dean's brown eyes light up when he spots me. "Hi, doll" he greets me with a tender kiss on the cheek. "Hi what are you doing here? I was not expecting company" I mention. "I ran into your dad downtown and he invited me over" Dean tells me. "I see" I say as I raise my eyebrows over at my Dad who smirks at me. "I thought this would be a nice surprise and we could all catch up" Dad explains. "I worked all day you could have called me at work and told me to expect company" I argue. "Don't take that tone with your father young lady. Dinner will be done soon. Go freshen up" Mom demands to me. "I also made apple pie boys" she changes her tone around Dean. "Thanks Mrs. Arden! You remembered my all-time favorite" laughs Dean with pleasure. "The last time we have you over for dinner I asked if you liked cherry or apple you said apple" Mom reminds him with a plastered-on smile. "go freshen up Fiona" orders my Mom to me. "Fine!" I huff out. That meant go change out of the work clothing. ♪♬♪♡♪♬♪ Look good for Dean code. I rush upstairs. I change my dress to please Mom. Then add different lipstick color to make it seem like I went all out for Dean. To get my parents off my back. Or I might not get any dinner. I was starving. I loved cherry pie. But who cared what kind of pie I wanted? Heaven forbid they should make a fuss over me. Their own daughter! I lean on my dresser and glance in the mirror. I change my shoes. At least I did not have to wear my painful work shoes. Then I rush downstairs once again. Dean looks up when he spots me. He wanders over to my side. "You look lovely today Fiona" he praises me. "Thanks Dean you are a charmer" I say with a smile. "Oh, Dad come in the kitchen for a moment" Mom calls out from the kitchen. So, Dean and I could be alone. I sigh. Dad leaves me alone with Dean. "They are a little obvious huh?" jokes Dean. "Just a tad" I agree. "How has life been treating you these days?" Dean asks me. "Good, I am working at Woolsworth. Dad helped me get that swell car out there. Not too bad" I say. "Wow a real working woman" he whistles. "I am nearly done with college. Then I will be working with my father" he tells me. "That is great" I say. "Sure is. They want me to settle down start a family once college is done. I graduate next spring" he brags. He was always bragging about himself. Such a big turn off. Sure, Dean was a good-looking man. And he was nice at times. But he was boring. We had nothing in common. Looks would fade then what? We were not a good match. I wish my parents would see that to. But they did not see it. Dean ran his fingers in his dark sandy blond hair. He smiles at me. ♪♬♪♡♪♬♪ "Would you like to go out sometime?" he asks me. "Sure" I agree. I knew it would please my parents. It was just a date. Nothing serious. "Great" he answers with a happy smile. "I will make plans with you after dinner" he promises me. "Sounds grand" I say as I look at him. He was not bad to look at, but we did not have any chemistry. Did Dean feel that to? Or did Dean even care about chemistry? "Dinner kids! Come join us" calls Mom in a cheery tone. We head to the dining room. I am seated beside Dean. Dad is at the head of the table. Mom at the other end near Dad on the other side. Dean is a gentleman and gets the chair for me as I sit down at it. Mom smiles from ear to ear at me. Her blond hair was going gray again it was pulled back in a bun on top of her head. She wore an apron over her dress from cooking all afternoon. Dean gets the chair for Mom to. "Thank you, Dean you are so sweet. Isn't he Fiona?" she brags on him. "Yes, he is" I agree. ♪♬♪♡♪♬♪ I plaster on a fake smile for them all. We have a nice dinner. Dad talks to Dean about stock markets and football glory days. Mom talks about pie's to me and how to make the perfect pie crust. Like I cared about it. I just wanted a bath. A nice hot bath. The sooner I was getting along with Dean then this would be over, and I could. "Fiona help me do the dishes then we will all have pie and some coffee" Mom says. I help Mother clear the table off. Then we wash the dishes and dry them. "How did it go with Dean?" Mom wants to know. "He asked me out" I answer her. She squeals. "Sorry if you ended up marrying Dean one day then we would not have to worry over you so much" Mom explains. "I can take care of myself" I argue. "We went over this Fiona" she snaps. "You need to marry well" "I might. One day" I argue. "Do not do this here. Not now!" she warns me. She grabs the pies. "Get the coffee pot and mugs" she orders to me. I do as I am told. We head out to the dining room. "I could smell that pie a mile away wow it smells wonderful." Dean praises Mom. Mom beams a happy smile. We have pie. Dean and I make plans for a date late this week. Then I excuse myself once Dean heads home. I run my bath water upstairs. I hear the phone ring. "Fiona! Cora is on the phone" Mom calls for me. "Tell her I will call in a bit. I need a bath" I tell her. "Alrighty" Mom answers me from the bathroom intercom we had. ♪♬♪♡♪♬♪ I sprinkle bubble bath in the bath water. Bubbles immerge to the top of the water. I make sure the bathroom door is locked. Though I had a private bathroom. Lavender purple walls. My Mom made one of those doll things to cover the toilet paper. They were cute but tacky. It rested on the back of my toilet. She had made some with my grandma one Christmas. I get undressed then slip into the warm bath water. I sigh. This was the best part of the day. Me time. Was there more to life then work? Would I ever find real love? I did not want to settle for a marriage that would work. I wanted a marriage with love. Passion. Romance. I was not going to get that marrying the high school football star. Because he was a safe bet for me. I wanted so much more for my life. There had to be more. I had to find it. One day. ♡♪♬♪♡♪♬♪♡♪♬♪♡♪♬♪♡