Have to leave you with good thoughts about Evan for Christmas - Day three.

The Journey - Chapter one - Day Three.

The sounds of the big trucks became a lullaby this morning. Evan woke up, as if he got any sleep, around day break. He was getting used to the smell of the highway but still felt sick to his stomach. From where he lay he could not see the sunrise. Cold morning it was. A thin layer of frost was on him. Still wet and very overcast and dark. Instead of getting up he balled all up in a ball around his duffel bag and went into a sound sleep. When he woke up it must have been at least 1:00 p.m. Evan felt strange and discombuberated. Almost forgot that he was up on a ledge under a bridge for a moment and almost fell from his little crawl space that he had called home for the night. His stomach was telling him he had to eat. Oh, but what can he eat? "Man I'm gonna starve out here". He muttered to himself. He drifted back to the breakfast table in the small dining area off the kitchen at home. As he closed his eyes and the images became more vivid. He could smell the pan cakes and eggs. Oh the maple syrup, to have some maple syrup. He swallowed hard and said "Damn you Dad". He said it out loud. As he gathered himself up and walked to the edge of the highway. Thumb high in the air. Traffic was light compared to past days. He couldn't shake the images of his Mom in the kitchen. He tried to hold back the tears but a few managed to run down his face anyway.

The cars came in packs of three or four and an occasional big rig. It still looked grimm out. The sky was filled with giant rain clouds and the wind was blowing harder. Thirty minutes or so went by and Evan decided he just could not stand along the highway any longer in his wet clothes. He looked all around to find someplace out of site and dry to change. He turned around and went back to the bridge to change his clothes. When he went for his dry pants, shirt and socks. He almost fell apart. "That's it I'm done. Damn it! All my stuff! Damn it!" Seemed that everything in his bag was wet. Somehow the rain must have blown in the top of his bag in the middle of the night. "Now what?" Evan pondered. "I'm gonna freeze to death if I don't get some dry clothes." It was unseasonably cold for this time of year. Evan kept thinking the weather has to break and it get warmer again real soon. He sat in his shelter for over an hour. Not having any idea what to do. Not a clue. Evan thought about so many things while sitting there. His room at home. He had his room just the way he wanted it. Jimi Hendrix posters, Dylan poster, his black light which lit up his posters. His stereo and records. His drum set. His special places. His trinkets, Mom, Dad, Nan and Baw... He just couldn't rest. His mind would not stop. It was impossible to hold back the tears. Everything gone. He had nothing left. So depressed and all alone. It was going to be late soon. Could he get a ride? Before dark? Evan finally decided to put up his thumb again and head south. At least twenty minutes went by. The cars were coming by one by one.

Then someone pulled over. Evan ran for the car. It was an old Lincoln, Mercury. The back door sprang open as Evan approached. A young ladies voice said "jump on in." Evan did. There was enough room for his bag on the floor under his feet. Evan caught the musty odor of his duffel bag and hoped no one else did. A middle age Mexican looking man with short jet black hair and a black mustache was in the driver's seat and a middle aged big blonde lady, in the passenger seat, with a low cut skin tight red polyester top. Her hair was piled high and very 50's. To Evan she appeared to be his wife. The best part to Evan was this pretty young girl in the back seat with him. She was fair as the morning sky, he thought. Long, straight red hair and dimples to boot. Her smile was more like a blush. Evan was hooked at first sight, she was so cool. Blue jeans, T-shirt, vest, bangles, boots, earrings and beads. She said in a soft very sexy tone. "My name's Rachel what's yours?" Mom and Dad had not even turned around. For a few minutes it was just him and Rachel in the car. "Evan" he whispered as if he wanted no one else to hear. Dad turned around. "Just call me Bill and this if my girlfriend Martha and my good friend Rachel who you have already met." Wow! This was not what Evan presumed at all. Not Mom and Dad at all. Rachel was there all by herself. The thoughts that developed were so erotic and exciting. "Where are you headed Evan" exclaimed Bill, as Martha turned round and handed Evan an Old Milwaukee can of beer. "Florida!" Evan proudly pronounced. "Yea, I go down there a couple times a year. I like the sunshine and the ocean and all you know?" Rachel just nodded and blushed. She was so calm and such an energy that Evan could not think. "Thanks for the beer Martha." "Your welcome" she smiled. "We are all going to a party at Rachel's brother's house a little farther down the road this evening Evan." "Oh cool" he said. "Would you like to come along?" Rachel ask. Wow this beautiful girl just ask him to go to a party with her. "Sure" he expounded with glee. Trying to hide his excitement. "I'd love to." "Will there be a lot of people there?" "Yea a bunch. It's my Brother's birthday." Wow a birthday party. Evan had never had a real birthday party of his own. He could not help but think that there would be food there. He got really excited at the thought. The beer was not sitting to well in his empty all ready upset stomach. He would be there with the birthday boys sister. I'm in like Flynn he grinned to himself. "Good beer" he told Rachel. He had no idea why he said that. The beer tasted flat, it was warm and making him sick. "I like sloe gin" she answered to him. "We will get some at the party. My Brother always has a bottle for me." Evan couldn't wait to get there now. What anticipation he was feeling.

Bill made a turn off into the woods. It was pretty The way the near dusk sunlight cut through the thick trees and spooky too. "It's only a couple of more miles", Bill announced. As everyone sat quietly they turned in the drive. This was a big split level house on the side of a hill with a swimming pool and a big gate. Right in the middle of the woods. What a place! Evan was in amazement. He grew up in a small rancher on one building lot. An image of his families rancher flashed through his brain. The garage. The long blacktopped driveway that Evan and his Dad had put in by hand together that led up to it. Evan turned around and they all got out and moved to the trunk of the car. It was full of presents and a new set of golf clubs were so obvious. Bill and Martha grabbed it all and went inside. "Come on Evan I'll introduce you to my Brother Jake. Be careful Jake don't like many of my boyfriends." Wow! Evan thought almost out loud. I'm her boyfriend? Just think me. I'm her boyfriend. She's my girl friend. Wow, look at me. I got it made. What about the brother though? Got to make a good impression. All wet and run down, stinky and without a bath. Got to make a good impression. In the huge at least three car garage there were tables of all kinds of various finger food and kegs of beer lined half the other wall. Evan almost ran into the garage but waited for Rachel to introduce him. "Jake", Rachel yelled out. As they ran together and Jake picked her up and swung her around like a doll baby. He was as big as a truck. About six foot six and muscular as all get out. His sleeves were cut off of his button up plaid shirt which was not tucked in. He had a huge belly and Evan could tell that his pants didn't fit him right. Evan thought man this guy could be a mountain man. Well he was in the mountains? His wiry salt but mostly pepper hair and beard looked completely unkept. Rachel explained "this is my new friend Evan." He reached for Evan's hand and nearly crushed it with his hand shake. His hand was rough and dirty. The kind of dirt that doesn't wash off. "So, your my little sister's new boy friend huh?" Without giving Evan a chance to answer. Jake said, "Today is my birthday I turned 49. So believe me I don't need a rough time or a bunch of shit around here. So, you just behave yourself and enjoy the party Evan. That is your name isn't it? Evan?" "Yea that's it!" Evan spoke out. "Nice to meet you Evan." Rachel came running up and Jake picked her up and swung her around and ask her if she was feeling better today. She said "yes" as he hugged her and set her down. "Have a hors d'oevres" he said as he walked away. Evan turned around and to his surprise Rachel popped a chocolate covered strawberry right in his mouth. Evan just could not get over how delicious it was. The juice and the chocolate ran down his chin. Rachel came to the rescue with a paper napkin and wiped it off. Evan had never tasted anything so good. They walked into the garage. "What is this" he asked as he picked up a fancy tooth pick and stabbed a piece of chocolate. "I don't know" said Rachel. "Let me try it?" Evan was thrilled to feed it to her. Could he get any closer to touching her? As he gently laid the morsel on her lip and into her mouth. "Cantaloupe" she explained, as the juice ran down her chin she giggled. Evan was right on time with the napkin. He caressed the juice from her lips and face. As he got closer and closer to see if he got it all. Rachel whispered, "you get any closer and I'm gonna' kiss you." Evan moved closer and she did. Right on the lips. Evan was in heaven. They fed each other piece after piece. Strawberry and then a piece of honeydew. Oranges and grapes. Rachel was kissing the chocolate off Evan's chin and he was doing the same for her.

"Would you like to get out of those wet clothes" Rachel ask. What thoughts Evan was imagining at that point. "Yes I would but I don't have anything that's dry. The rain soaked all my stuff last night." "That's O.K. I will wash them and put them in the dryer downstairs. Come on," she said as she took Evan by the hand. They went to the car and got Evan's bag, down the stone stairs around the pool and to the basement they went. As they came in through the double glass doors Evan was astonished. It was a huge basement with a pool table, ping pong table, bar with 8 chairs, outrageous big oil paintings on the walls, oriental carpets everywhere and over stuffed leather furniture placed around a very ornate coffee table in the main room. One of the biggest T.V.s Evan had ever seen against the wall. It was like a small theater. There was even a kitchen and a full bath. Evan had never seen such a place. He thought, gee wiz my whole house could fit in just the main room. Then his thoughts turned. What house? I don't have a home anymore as he imagined his room. He got really sad and began to cry. He quickly hid his face and tried to smile. He knew Rachel saw his tears but she did not say anything about it. How cool she was not to have mentioned anything about his crying. He was still a little embarrassed that he cried in front of her.

"There is the shower right over there you can use. Take off those wet things and hand them out to me," she smiled. She was rummaging through Evan's bag pulling out everything in the bag including his underwear. "Here let me do that Rachel?" "That's alright you just relax and have a nice hot shower Hun. There is a robe you can wear in the closet and clean towels too. The shampoo is on the top shelf. I will be back in a little while to check on you and your laundry." She gently kissed Evan again and directed him to his shower. He so wanted to ask her to join him but thought better of the idea. He found the robe, towel and shampoo, handed his wet clothes out to Rachel and jumped in the shower. As he was showering he kept peaking out through the curtain to see if she would surprise him and jump in the shower. Didn't happen.

What a great shower. The bathroom was very big with mirrors all around and a double marble vanity. You could almost walk in the closet. Evan didn't have a lot of whiskers yet but what he did have were looking a little funky. Evan helped himself to the electric razor and the electric hair dryer hanging on the wall. He was thinking, what a fantastic place he was at and with a beautiful young lady. Old spice on the sink. That is what Evan's Dad always used and what Evan had grew up with. He splashed a little on his cleanly shaven face. He was forced to picture his Dad shaving and him laughing at Evan as soon as he hit puberty. He used to ask Evan "why he cultivated on his face what grew wild on his ass." Evan would tell him "It grows wild on my face too! I am growing a beard!" That was another thing that Dick did not agree with. Evan just could not shake the feeling that he was not ever going to see his Mom again. "No good Son of a bitchen son of a bitch you are Dad!" The tears swelled up in his eyes again. Have to stop crying before Rachel gets back. Can't let her see him like this again. The door to the bathroom opened a crack and Rachel inquired, "you alright in there Hun?" Evan answered shakily, "Yea I am fine Baby thanks." "Well then when your done come on out. I brought you a drink and some food." Evan finished brushing his long black hair, threw some water in his face and mustered up his best happy look and went out to the basement. Rachel was racking the balls on the pool table. "Want to shoot a game she asked." "Sure that would be great Baby," Evan announced. "O.K. Hun you break" she said as she handed him a sloe gin fizz. "Hope you like slow gin sweetheart." Just couldn't get any better than this Evan smiled to himself. As Evan was about to break Rachel reached over the table and fed him a succulant piece of lean roast beef. It just about melted in his mouth. "Mmmm that sure is good, thank you." Crack went the cue ball. Evan had learned to shoot pool at an early age. Another one of the things that his Dad had showed him. Dick used to take Evan to the pool hall/bar when Evan was just a little boy. Dick had trophies from shooting bar room pool all over his small basement.

They shot pool, ate roast beef, mashed potatoes, suckatash, cole slaw and potato salad, drank sloe gin, laughed, joked, kissed and brushed against each other every time they got close enough. Evan was getting excited and it was getting a little too obvious in the Terry cloth robe he was wearing. Rachel was such a powerful spirit. The buzzer went off on the dryer. Rachel had come down while Evan was showering and put his clothes in the dryer. "You finish your food and I'll get your clothes Dear." "I can get them" Evan said. "No! You just relax Honey. I'll get them." She folded everything so neatly and brought them to the sofa. "Now you get dressed. I'll be right back." Evan looked at the small pile of clothes. Three pair of blue jeans and five T-shirts some socks and underwear. Man I really didn't bring much he frowned. Damn you Dad! He went into the bathroom and got dressed. When he came out Rachel was sitting at the bar. "Come on lets go upstairs the Band is about to start and my brother wants to get to know you better. Some of my best girl friends are here and they really want to meet you too. Come on Hun" as she took him by the hand and led him to a door leading to a closed stairway. It was dark and Rachel spun around and next thing you know Evan and her are wrapped around each other in hot embrace. They are kissing and petting like young wild animals. Rachel breaks away and runs up the stairs. Evan playfully chases after her. At the top of the stairway was a huge living room.

There were a couple of long tables full of food along one wall! A full bar on another wall with two Bartenders in white shirts and black bow ties. The Band was set up at the far end of the room and everyone was mulling around eating, drinking and really having a good time. Jake walked straight up to Evan and ask. "You feel better now man?" Evan exclaimed, "I sure do." Evan answered Jake with a half smile. "Thank you for the hospitality Jake." "No problem! Hope you like rock and roll man? This Band is called Rhythm and Reason and are out of Richmond. They are kick ass," he yelled! Evan cringed for a second he was so loud. "You take good care of my little Sister now and have fun."

Right then about two dozen people came in and the place was a buzzin'. "Let's sit over here with my friends Evan", Rachel directed. The living room was set up like a grand ball room and still had room for the black leather living room furniture set up around a humongus T.V.. Big round tables and chairs all filled with all kinds of people. The table where they sat was filled with gorgeous young girls. Evan was the only guy at the table. He was flipping out. All of the girls were asking him all kinds of questions all at the same time. He could hardly keep up. "So! Your Rachel's new boy friend?" "Where are you from?" "Where are you going?" "How old are you?" "Do you like movies?" "How long have you been growing your hair?" "Where do you go to school?" With that question Evan thought. School? What about school? Man I will not graduate. What kind of a life will I have without a diploma? Wow, I probably won't be able to find a job. Quickly he replied. "I will be finishing school in Florida."

The band started and they were excellent. A tall dark haired girl singer and four guys. The keyboard player was superb. He was playing a Wurlitzer suit case keyboard. Evan having played drums since he was nine was checking out the drummer. Pretty good Evan thought. Yea, pretty good. Evan just about danced the night away with every girl at the table. Sometimes there were five dancing with him at a time. He danced all of the slow dances with Rachel. Her soft petite body tight against his. "They moved like they were made to be together" Rachel told him. He agreed whole heartedly. They danced and kissed and kissed and danced. A few times Evan was so light headed he almost fell down. Jake kept coming by and slapping Evan on the back and laughing very loud. Jake was drunk as a skunk and Evan and Rachel were not too far behind him. The room seemed to spin around and the lights were flashing from the stage. The Band was rockin', very loud and they played for hours. They were playing the Fugs' stuff from their second album, Frank Zappa's songs from Freak Out, the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Wilson Picket, Velvet Underground, James Brown, the Who, the Doors, Aretha , Patsy Cline and Dylan to mention a few.

Evan talked to all the band members throughout the night. The drummer Jay, a little short bald guy from Cleveland, offered Evan to play a couple songs. Not that Evan didn't just about insist that he play. He was getting a little tipsy. The lead Singer, Megan, announced Evan and he climbed up on the drum riser and behind this fantastic set of Gretch drums. "What do you want to do?" Ask Larry the Guitar player. "Anything you want I can play it" Evan responded. "How about Wooly Bully?" "You know it right?" Evan answered "Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs" and Larry counted it off. Evan thought it went super well. Larry said to the crowd, "lets here it for Evan from Maryland! Good job". They went straight into Soul Man by Sam and Dave and Evan played right along. He used to play this one with his Uncles. Larry said lets slow it down a little bit and kicked off Dock of the Bay by Otis. Evan choked back the tears during that one. He received a big round of applause and went back to his table. Thank you all Evan waved as he bowed and left the stage. Rachel was all over him now and the other girls were brushing up against him and touching him the rest of the night. A few of them went so far as to grab hold of him and kiss him. Just climbed right up on him like he was a tree. Right out of nowhere. The girls were all considerably shorter than Evan. He really didn't mind. Rachel didn't seem to care. She actually encouraged them to kiss and hug him. He was the envy of all the younger boys. They all hung out together on the other side of the room. Come by the table three at a time to ask the girls to dance and only a couple of times did Evan manage to make eye contact with one of them. He wasn't going to let these rich young punks mess up his evening. He ignored their stares and rude remarks about his hair and his boots. He had tucked is pant legs into his Dingo boots to play. Evan was having the time of his life. Eating jumbo shrimp with incredible cocktail sauce, sweet roast beef, fried spicy chicken wings, all kinds of cheeses, chocolate covered fruit and drinking one sloe gin right after the other. He was in Heaven! That was all there was to it. What a party!

Must have been 4:00 am by the time the people who were leaving were gone and those who were staying bedded down. This place must have had ten bedrooms at least. Evan and Rachel ended up being the only two still up. The living room was a total mess. Jake had passed out about an hour earlier and was on the living room sofa. A few other older guys were sprawled out around the room on the floor. The band had packed up and left over an hour ago. Rachel and Evan were almost both too drunk to move. "Let's go downstairs and sleep" Rachel suggested. "O.K. Baby sounds like a plan" Evan said. Evan was filled with anticipation as they helped each other across the room and down the stairs. Stopping to kiss and pet a few times along the way. Once in the basement. Rachel fixed them both another sloe gin and they sat together on the sofa. They couldn't keep their hands off of each other. This was the best lovin' Evan had ever experienced. Evan hadn't been this far with a girl before. He gently maneuvered Rachel to a prone position. They curled up on the over stuffed sofa as one. Evan had way too much to drink. They kissed, cuddled and petted for a few minutes more and both passed out all wrapped around each other fully dressed. Nose to nose. Cheek to cheek. Breathing each others breath. "Sweet dreams" Evan whispered as he momentarily woke up. A little later Evan woke up in a panic. Looked around trying to figure out where he was. It was all so strange. He was utterly confused. The odd feeling passed and he smiled and kissed Rachel. She would respond for a second and go back to sleep. How perfect this night was. Evan had wild ideas running through his brain throughout the hours before day break. He could get a job, get a place with Rachel and stay with her forever. He dreamt that they moved into the basement and Evan worked for Jake doing something. It was summer time and Rachel was half naked and all of her girlfriends were also. He was laying by the pool and they were feeding him chocolates. Evan drifted in and out of sleep all morning. His head was pounding and his stomach was queasy from all the sloe gin, chocolate and shrimp he consumed.

Day four