ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Chapter Thirty-Seven

First Anniversary

"So, Rose, where do you want to go first?"

"The roller coaster," she said, like a little child.

They were at the pier in Santa Monica.

"All right."

They got the tickets and went over to the roller coaster.

There wasn't a long line, so it didn't take but a few minutes to wait.

It was now their turn.

They got into the cart and took off.

Rose screamed at the drop and they lifted their hands into the air.

When the ride was over, they walked to the bar.

"Well, Jack, I didn't throw up."

He laughed.

"Do you wanna ride it again?"

"Sure!"

"We'll do it again. Let's just get some of that cheap beer and we'll be on our way."

While they were drinking, Rose said, "There's only one more thing to do now."

"What's that?" he asked.

"We gotta chew tobacco."

"Well...it's kind of disgusting. I gave that up. I saw some of the old men that chew it, and their teeth are brown. I don't want that happening," he said.

She cringed at the thought.

"Never mind, then."

He smiled.

Rose ordered another beer and gulped it down.

"Let's go," she nagged.

"All right. Hold on."

He drank the rest of his beer, and she dragged him to the roller coaster.

Once the ride was over, he asked, "Feel like throwing up yet?"

"No...I just have a headache."

"Then let's go."

"Okay."

They walked down the beach for a while.

The sun was setting and they sat in the sand, in each other's arms.

"It's so beautiful, Jack."

"It doesn't even compare to your beauty."

She smiled.

"You're too good to me, Jack."

"Well, you deserve the best."

"Do we have to leave so soon? I want to stay here forever," she said.

"We'll move here one day. Okay?"

"Really?"

"Sure, if you'd like."

"I'd love it!"

He smiled.

"But I love our house in Chippewa Falls. I wouldn't want to leave it," said Rose.

"Why don't we move down here, and when we get older we'll move back?"

"That sounds good to me."

They went back to the beach house, and spent most of the rest of their trip there.

Chapter Thirty-Eight
Stories