Between Friends. Debbie Macomber
June 4th
Latin Class
Dearest Lesley,
Can you believe this is our last day of school? As of this afternoon we’re officially Seniors. We should celebrate. Mom and Dad want me to go to Hawaii with them again, which means no real job for me. I hate Hawaii. I don’t understand why we can’t go to San Francisco instead. I’d love it there, I know I would. Did you hear that My Fair Lady with Audrey Hepburn is starting next Wednesday? Do you want to go or do you have a date with Buck? You’re still seeing a lot of him, aren’t you? Meet me after school and we’ll celebrate being Seniors.
Jillian
French Class
Jillian,
Sorry, I can’t go out with you after school this afternoon. I got a call from the library—I have an interview for a summer job. I’d just about given up hope of getting hired. Say a prayer that I get the job. This is important. Besides, the library pays more than babysitting. I’ll call you the minute I know. Buck said he’d take me to the drive-in tonight. Are you and Scott doing anything special?
Lesley
August 10, 1965
Dear Lesley,
Here I am in Hawaii again. (Sigh.) I wish you were here. I can’t tell you how bored I am with nothing to do but read and laze around the beach every day. I miss you and Scott so much. I’m counting the days until I return. I hope your summer is more exciting than mine. See you soon.
Love,
Jillian
Miss Lesley Adamski,
220 Railroad Ave.,
Pine Ridge, Washington
98005
August 25, 1965
Dear Jillian,
I was so glad to hear from you. Is the water in Hawaii truly that blue? I’m sorry you’re bored, especially when there’s so much happening elsewhere. Did you hear about all the rioting in California? The television news has been full of it every night. Last night they reported that there were 20,000 National Guard troops in Watts. So far, 34 people have died, and after five days of rioting it’s still going on. I didn’t think anything this terrible would ever happen in our country. Mom said it all has to do with civil rights and moral wrongs. I won’t tell you what my dad and Buck said, but I think you can guess.
Every day before I start work at the library, I’ve been checking into different kinds of scholarships. You wouldn’t believe how many are available. Mom’s been encouraging me to apply at the University of Washington. I know your parents are set on you going to Barnard College, but that’s in New York and Jillian, I just can’t afford it. At the same time, I can’t imagine attending college without you.
The Soroptomists offer a thousand-dollar scholarship. A thousand dollars would pay all my expenses for the first year at the state university. I’ve been thinking about it and I’d like to get into the nursing program. My mom thinks nursing would be a good choice for me. My dad doesn’t know anything about this yet. Mom said she’d deal with him when the time came. I’m so excited to think about where we’ll be a year from now. But we have to finish high school first and I’m going to need top grades if I plan on getting any scholarships.
I’m putting every cent I earn into a savings account, but I did buy myself a pair of bell-bottom trousers. Buck said I have a cute behind, and he’d like me to wear miniskirts. Can you imagine what Sister Agnes would say if she saw me in one of those??!
I miss you so much. At least ten times a day I think of something I want to tell you. Five weeks has never seemed so long. I know you’re sick and tired of Hawaii and that you’re missing Scott, but do try and have a good time. Call me the minute you’re back. Until then, I remain…
Your Friend Forever,
Lesley
August 27, 1965
Dear Scott,
Just a postcard to let you know how much I miss you. Before you ask, I’m wearing your class ring so every guy here will know I’m your girl. Tell everyone hello for me. See you soon.
Love,
Jillian
Scott McDougal,
4520 Country Club Lane,
Pine Ridge, Washington
98005
Lesley’s Diary
October 13, 1965
Buck phoned twice, but I had Susan tell him I wasn’t home. I don’t want to talk to him, not after what happened last week. When he picked me up for our date he’d been drinking, but I thought everything would be all right. It wasn’t, and Friday was the worst night of my life.
He said it was my fault, and that I can’t lead a man on and then turn him off. He was so rough and angry and it hurt so badly. Jillian and I used to discuss what it would be like the first time and this wasn’t anything beautiful or tender. Buck hurt me.
I know I should go to confession, but I don’t want to talk about this. Father Morris wouldn’t understand. He’s a man and he’d say I was as much to blame as Buck. It wasn’t my fault! I didn’t do anything to lead Buck into thinking that was what I wanted. We started kissing and when I saw he was getting really worked up I tried to stop, but that only made Buck want me more. Next thing I knew, his hands were on my breasts and then he pinned me down on his davenport and he’d shoved my panties down.
When Dad came home from work tonight, he wanted to know why I wasn’t talking to Buck. I told him we’d had a fight, which we did, and Dad got mad at me. My own father sided with Buck! I’ve decided to have nothing to do with Buck ever again. I don’t think I can forgive my father for thinking I was the one in the wrong. He doesn’t even know what happened. No one does. I can’t talk to Mom about this, or Susan. My sister has barely been kissed. As much as I’d like to tell Jillian, I can’t. I can’t even tell my best friend! My dress is ruined and even if it wasn’t, I’d never want to wear it again. I feel ugly and dirty and so ashamed.
October 14th
Latin Class
Lesley,
Are you all right? You’ve been so quiet lately and that isn’t like you. Is your dad out of work again? I bought an album yesterday by a new group called The Rolling Stones. My dad listened to “Satisfaction” and ordered me to destroy the record because he considers the lyrics indecent. I think they’re swell.
Have you seen the show Get Smart? I laughed all the way through it. It’s so much better than My Mother the Car.
Jillian
Lesley’s Diary
October 26, 1965
Buck phoned and this time I was unlucky enough to answer. He begged me to see him. I said no, but he turned up at the house anyway and insisted on taking me to the Dairy Queen for a Dilly bar. I didn’t want to go, but my dad asked me if I considered myself too good for a man who worked at the mill. I told him not seeing Buck didn’t have anything to do with his job.
Buck