The End of the Rainbow (Hudson 4)

I went over to see him while he was cleaning and

polishing his motorcycle.

"Did you see how pretty your mother is in her

new hairdo?" I asked.

He nodded and kept working.

"Daddy told us about Uncle Roy's new suit. He

went to the same tailor to get fitted. Isn't it

wonderful?"

He didn't speak, but concentrated on some

small part as if the whole world depended on it being

spotless.

"Harley Arnold, you could at least give me one

of your famous mints," I said.

He stopped looked at me and then stood up. "It just makes me nervous." he finally admitted

and after having done so, began to walk toward the

lake. "Why?" I asked running after him.

"I'm graduating, big deal. After the pomp and

circumstance and all the cheers, what happens next? I

haven't even applied to go to a college or do anything

else. I haven't even enlisted in the army.

"We'll go to the ceremony, go out to eat with

your parents, and then come home to... to nothing," he

said. "My mother will hang up her new dress and put

away her new shoes and purse and Roy will do the

same with his suit. All it will be is... is some

interruption."

"You've got to stop that," I insisted. I actually

stomped my foot, which brought a surprised smile to

his lips. "You've got to stop looking on the dark side

of everything. Wrong, wrong, wrong. This is not some