Peggy could feel every inch of the back of her blouse as the downpour drenched her. "This isn't gonna let up, is it?" she told the clerk as she entered the video store. The teenager smiled back without a reply as Peggy made her way to recent releases. All she could think of was a warm mug of hot chocolate and some dry clothes and a couple of movies tonight. Curt was gone for the weekend playing another concert. "The glamorous life of a drummer's girlfriend." she thought to herself. They had met in this same video store two years ago and she could still remember how shy he was. She had seen him in the $1 aisle and he was trying to be sly but she knew he was checking her out. She loved his long hair and tattoos but she had found so much more after getting to know him. There was a sensitivity to him that few others would ever see. He confessed to her on that first date that it was all for show. "If I don't have the look I don't get paid." It seemed a little sad to her but as a woman she understood it. How many hours had she spent in front of the mirror due to her PR job? It was all about the image. "Hey miss, those just came in today so you got first shot at 'em." As if waking from a dream the clerk had startled her. "Thanks." She had almost forgotten she wasn't alone. As she settled back into her little dream world her thoughts returned to Curt. "I'm gonna miss you this weekend." She needed to get home and change clothes. "Time to focus." she reported to the usual suspects lined in front of her. There was always the horror route but it wouldn't be the same without Curt on the couch. Plus, she didn't like to admit how scared she actually got. She wasn't exactly a 'chick flick' kind of gal either. "Romance is nice but I'd rather be the star." she told the row in front of her. "The new Tom Cruise just came out." the clerk yelled from his counter. "Thanks." A bit of humor came to the surface. "It's about time isn't it?" The clerk didn't understand what she meant so she returned to her search. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the rock documentary. "He really looks a lot like Curt." she told no one in particular. The picture on the front of the dvd looked just like a scene from one of Curt's numerous performances. As she made her way to the checkout she couldn't stop wondering how her boyfriend had let this one slip his mind. "They made a documentary about your life and you didn't tell me?" she mumbled to herself. As she handed the dvd cover to the clerk he stopped and stared as he placed the dvd inside. "Oh yeah. I heard about them. Really tragic." Peggy was taken aback a little by this strangers weird analysis. "What do you mean?" she asked. The clerk, who knew most things about rock bands, looked her over for a moment and then explained. "Well, they were on the top of their game when their bus crashed. Don't you remember?" Peggy stared at the picture on the cover for a moment and decided against looking nuts in front of a complete stranger. As she studied the cover she noticed the name of the band was not the same as Curt's. "How long ago did the crash happen?" she asked the clerk. "About two years ago. The whole band died." Peggy didn't understand why this clerk was screwing with her. "Whatever type of game your playing it isn't very funny." Peggy stared at him and waited for a response. "Hey, lady, I'm not trying to be funny. I'm just telling you what happened. You okay?" The boy had seen all types walk in but he never understood how the pretty ones were always so wacko. Peggy composed herself and paid and walked out. She just wanted to get home.
As she got into her car she started thinking about the life she had with Curt. "I really wish you were here babe." The past two years had been so good. Since she met him everything had seemed so much better. Even when she had lost her job Curt was the one who had told her about trying for the new position with the ad agency. He was always helping her that way. She had just figured he was one of those good luck charms in living form. She couldn't even remember ever having a fight with him. Life just seemed too good with him and was totally different then before they met. The night they had met she had just returned from St. Paul after her mother's funeral. She was gonna head home and had decided that a comedy or anything on tape would be better than just sitting in that empty apartment thinking about her mother. If Curt hadn't been at the video store that night ... It was in that moment, playing back through the memories of those two years, that the truth surfaced through. Curt had just been too good. She had been so close to her mom. They had talked every day on the phone and then she was just gone so suddenly. And Curt had shown up right after the funeral. "I guess it's time to watch this movie and really meet you, isn't it?" Curt had been so great but now she would have to move on with the life she had. But she would always love him for what he had given her - kindness only someone like Curt could have understood. My name is Rueuhy and I approve this blog.
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