Watermelon Days and Firefly Nights: Heartwarming Scenes from Small Town Life by Annette Smith Page A

night, she stayed holed up in the bathroom for what seemed like forever. When she came out, she said she had a headache and went up to her room. Not until Sunday did Millard find time to have a word with her.
    “Come sit with me on the porch, honey. Let’s talk.” He patted the spot on the swing next to him. “How’s school?”
    “Good, Daddy. Really good.”
    “You like your new roommate?”
    “Well, she snores and she has to have a light on at night, but other than that, I like her all right.” Shonda smiled.
    “How about boys? You been talking to any boys?”
    “A few.” She sat on her hands and unsuccessfully tried to look him in the eye.
    “Been out on any dates?”
    “Just a couple. Daddy, I’m twenty years old.”
    “There’s time for that later, girl. You know me and your mother expect you to get your degree.”
    “Daddy, why are you asking me all this? You know I’ve got lots of friends. Some of them are boys, and yes, sometimes we go out on dates. Everything’s fine.”
    Millard called her bluff. “Jerry Jeff Maffett was traveling through. Says he saw you and some boy in a car at the Sonic. Said he saw you kissing.”
    Shonda did not blink.
    “That true?”
    She did not answer.
    Millard drew a breath. “Little girl, I raised you better than that. You know I did. I best not be hearing any more of you hanging all over some boy, putting on a show for the whole town. If ever I do, you can kiss college good-bye. I will bring you back home to where me and your mother can look after you. Do I make myself clear?”
    He thought he had.

    T WO MONTHS LATER , Millard and Sugar got a late-night call. When they heard the ring, they picked up on different phones at the same time.
    “Hello?”
    “Hello?”
    “Mama? Daddy? It’s me. I need to come home.”
    “Tonight? Honey, what’s wrong?” Sugar could tell Shonda had been crying. Millard could too.
    “I-I-I just want to come home.”
    “What do you think’s the matter?” asked Millard after they’d hung up.
    Sugar couldn’t guess.
    When Shonda pulled up into the driveway well after midnight, she looked a mess—nose runny, skin blotchy, hair in her eyes.
    Sugar reached her first. “Honey, come on in the house.” Shonda fell into her arms. Millard guided the two of them up the steps.
    “What’s happened? Are you cold, honey?” Shonda was trembling. “Millard, she needs that afghan off the rocker to put around her shoulders. There now.” Sugar tucked the blanket close. “Baby, what is it?”
    Shonda wiped her nose with the back of her hand. Millard handed her a clean handkerchief out of his back pocket.
    “There was a car wreck. This afternoon.” Shonda rocked back and forth.
    “Are you hurt?” Millard said sharply.
    “No—yes—I mean, it wasn’t me. My friend was on his way home from work. They say he ran a red light. I went to the hospital as soon as I heard, but it was too late. I never even got to see him.” Her face crumpled. “I thought he would be all right, but he wasn’t. They say that he died, but I can’t believe he’s really gone. I just can’t believe that it’s real.”
    Millard gathered his little girl in his arms and breathed a silent, selfish prayer of thanks. It could have been his child killed tonight. Even though she was twenty years old and had been driving for four years, every time he watched Shonda get behind the wheel of a car he worried that it might be the last time he would see her. So many kids have accidents. So many get killed. What agony the family of the young man must be going through right now!
    “I’m so sorry, honey.” He kissed the top of her head. “You did right coming home. We’re so glad you’re here. Was the boy someone from around here? Did he have a family?”
    “He had me.”
    Millard stroked her hair. Sugar leaned close.
    “You were dating this boy?” asked Millard.
    “Yes.”
    “Were you serious?”
    Shonda drew her knees up under her chin, laid her head on her