Chapter 24: One Down One To Go

We heard back from Helen a couple weeks later. Jane and I read the letter together.

Dear Jane,

I don't hate you. If you and Brett can figure out how to get married I will do my best to be there. You two have a very unusual love story. Not many guys raise their girlfriend and future wife from a baby. I can only guess at the bond between you two. It must be stronger than any husband/wife relationship. It must be hard to keep your feelings secret from people you know. You secret is safe with me though. I have not told Henry yet, but he may not be all that shocked to hear it either. He once told me 'they seem almost like brother and sister sometimes.' Feel free to write me anytime if you need somebody to confess to.

Still your friend,
Helen

P.S. Hi Brett, I am sure you will read this too.

"I'm glad she is alright with us," Jane said relieved.

"Me too, I like her too."

I had been thinking about what Mr. Jameson said about a scholarship. What had me worried is if it were to a school out of state. I would not leave Jane, ever. What I had to do was figure out how to make sure I got one in state or take Jane with me.

"Jane," I said as we cuddled on the couch.

"Yeah?"

"Remember Mr. Jameson talking about a scholarship to college?"

"Yeah."

"If I get one out of state you have to come with me, would you want to?"

"I could never stay here without you."

"Good, I am thinking we need to work as much as we can to save money. Any scholarship would probably cover tuition, but they probably wouldn't pay for me to live off campus with you. You can't live in a dorm with me so we need money."

"Okay, what about Mom?"

"I don't think that will be too hard to do."

"Maybe not, if she is still with her latest jerk that will let him move in with his nasty son."

"True, and when we get to wherever, you will just be my girlfriend, nobody will ever know you are my sister. Wouldn't that be great."

"Oh yes. I can't wait. We will have our own place."

"You can go to the high school there while I go to college."

"I can take you to my dances!"

"You will be the girl with the older guy at school. Hmm, you might not tell everybody our age difference though at first. When your friends meet me okay but don't just tell anybody or the teachers. I will be eighteen, and you will only be fourteen. Teachers could cause problems, but your friends won't."

"Yeah, I know how to keep a secret, that's a little one."

We got more aggressive in looking for lawns to take care of that summer. Surprisingly we got as much as we wanted. We even charged more on the new customers. Jane would use the trimmer or another mower, and we would knock a yard out fast then. I wanted to get a bank account but knew that we needed Mom to help, and I did not want her to get our money. We got so much cash every so often, we would go to a bank and trade smaller bills for larger. On a good day, we made over one hundred and fifty dollars. We spent at least four days a week, dawn to dusk working with a break to go swimming or relaxing in the heat of the day. Often, we worked all seven days a week including the half days we worked. We still found time to go on short camping trips to get away from it all; just for a couple days during the week.

When school started that fall, my senior year, I went and talked to a counseler. It was the first time I had ever talked to one. Her name was Mrs. Smith. She was a middle-aged black woman that had that matronly dignified look. She put me at ease pretty quickly. Having kids like me she said, ones not in trouble, come see her was the part of her job that she really liked.

"So Brett, I have not seen you before. What do I owe the pleasure of your visit to?"

"I kind of want to know how to get into college."