Dead Summer

I used this story for my English research paper. I based my research on The Help. I wanted to write a character similar to Skeeter, who breaks away from her society. I also pulled some inspiration from one of my favorite movies, Almost Famous. I hope you enjoy "Dead Summer."

“Alright, that’s strong. Tracy take a hit,” Lisa said, handing over the smoking joint. Tracy took a big inhale and then coughed hard.

“Man that is good. You want another Sage?”

“Nah, I’m good. I’m in a whole nother universe,” said Sage.

 Tracy, Lisa and Sage all sat around listening to ‘Dark Star’ and let the melody create hauntingly trippy images in their heads.

“Wow,” said Lisa.

“What?” asked Tracy.

“Just thinking about the words.” Lisa raised the smoking joint to her lips and took another deep drag. “’Mirror shatters in formless reflections of matter’ it just sounds so…deep. I mean Jerry is a legend. ”

“No way. What about Hunter?” asked Sage, who was referring to Robert Hunter, who not only played in the Dead but wrote their lyrics as well. “Hunter wrote the words. What was he thinking about?”

“Wish we could ask him,” suggested Tracy. Then Lisa and Sage turned, looking at each other, staring as if they had thought of the same idea at once.

“You guys. We should be groupies,” said Lisa, “it’s the perfect gig. You follow the band, listen to music, sing with them, and you know do this with them.” Lisa took another drag. “I think this is done,” she said, holding the stub of a joint in her finger tips. She then waved the stub at each of her friends who refused another hit. She then pulled out her ashtray and put it out.

“It’ll be perfect! Hanging out with Jerry, chillin with Bob. It’s a dream come true,” said Sage.

“I wonder what they’re all like in person. I bet they all meditate outside in big fields and smoke while writing,” dreamed Lisa.

Tracy, who had been quiet during this conversation, gave her friends a troubling look and said, "I hate to be the one to say this but I don't think that we can pull this off."

"Why not?" Sage asked, attempting to put in eye drops. She spread her eye open with two fingers, dropped in the medication and rubbed her eye after. She was skilled in the art of eye dropping. When she was done she handed the bottle to Lisa.

"You know how our mothers are. Jesus!" Tracy quickly crossed herself, "my mother is getting me ready for the convent. She won't stop talking about how she doesn't ever want me to end up like her. Single, alone, raising a kid. And Lisa, your mom is getting obsessed with that debutante crap. Charm school, etiquette classes,--"

“That's where she thinks I am now," Lisa interrupted before Tracy could finish.

"Sage, you know the reason why we only hang out at your house and neither of ours is because your parents understand. They know the music and the soul behind it."

This was true. Sage's parents were Dead Heads themselves, they smoked pot and ate vegan food. Sage was thankful for her parents and felt badly for her friends whose mothers had taken control of their lives. She thought and thought about how to help her friends so that they could all go. There had to be a way. Then it clicked, "Why don't we follow them over the summer? The last day of school is June eighteenth and thwe Dead is playing a show in San Francisco on the nineteenth. It's perfect! Lisa, tell your mom you are going to debutante lessons and Tracy tell yours that you are going to Bible camp, they'll totally buy it. No questions asked!"

"This is not going to work," Tracy sighed.

"At least try. Don't you want to see Jerry? Don't you want to hang out with Phil and party with Bob?"

Just then Sage's mother, self-proclaimed "Sunshine" walked into the room, wearing a long white skirt, a fringe vest and a blue tank top, "Did I hear someone say they wanted to party with Bob?"

"Bob Weir, Mo--Sunshine, we want to follow the Dead this summer," said Sage.

‘”Sounds groovy! Do it, live it and love it. Follow the Dead forever, just go where the music takes you." Sage's father, self proclaimed, Lennon, after extensively following the Beatles walked by in his bell bottoms, and vest. Lennon had met Sunshine at a Beatles' concert, and after that they just sort of went together. They never got married, despite having Sage. "Len, the girls wanna go with the Dead."

"Alright. Sounds boss."

*                                          *                                  *

                Tracy slowly walked  into the bakery below their apartment where her mother, Christina, was making apple pie. The smell of spices filled the bake shop and made it seem like September on that steamy June day. Tracy fought the munchies and walked toward he mother,  trembling with each step. “Mom?”

“Yes honey,” Christina wiped her forehead with her flower covered hand.

“I was wondering if, well, instead of working at the bakery with you this summer, could I possibly go to camp?” Christina gave her daughter a horrified look, then Tracy realized that she needed to clarify. “It’s a Bible camp. It’s called Camp, uhhhhh, Christ.”

“I don’t see why not. A girl came into the store today, actually, looking for a summer job. How much is camp and when does it start?”

“It starts the day after school ends and its, uhh,” Tracy knew that this was her chance to get as much money as she wanted, “two hundred dollars.”

“Sounds reasonable. Where am I going to drop you off?”

Tracy stood there for a few seconds, realizing that she was seconds away from being caught in a lie. She had never thought of where she was going, but just then she thought of an idea. “You won’t need to drop me off.”

“Oh? Why not?”

“Because I’m going with Sage.”

“That heathen. You are most certainly not going with her.”

“Mother you are misunderstanding me. I am bringing her to show her the light and save her soul. I want to show her the way of the Lord.”

“Well that is quite noble of you. Okay, you can go. You have my blessing,” Christina chuckled, “well don’t you get it? It’s a play on words. Because you’re going to Bible Camp.”

“Oh. I’m gonna go upstairs and do my work. Call up if you need me,” Tracy ran up the stairs and called Sage.

“Hello?”

“Hi Sunshine, it’s Tracy.”

“You wanna talk to Sage, right?”

“Yep.” Tracy gripped the phone with excitement as she waited for Sage to grab it so she could tell her the good news.

“Hey.”

“Sage, I’m in!”

*                                          *                                  *

                Lisa walked in on her mother, Lynda. using her belt massaging exercise machine, while smoking a cigarette and drinking a martini. Lynda was dressed in her usual work out attire, a tight black shirt tucked into even tighter leopard pants, a thick red belt and red heels. At the sight of her daughter, Lynda turned off the machine and took one last gulp of the martini.

“Well you’re back late.”

“Yeah mom, the teacher was pretty rough on me today.”

“You’re slouching again.”

Lisa angrily rolled back her shoulders, and yet again attempted a normal conversation with her mother.  “Mom, this summer, can I-”

“Honey pull in from your core. You’re starting to look chubby. Also, we need to get your nails done," Lynda leaned closer to Lisa's face and said, "oh and your eyebrows too. Remember, ladies always want to look their best.”

“Mom I’m trying to talk to you. Can you let me speak for one second?”

“I have been letting you speak. I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“I found a charm school for me to attend this summer.”

“Fabulous darling. How much is it?”

"It's three hundred dollars."

"Where is it?"

"It's in Los Angeles."

"Oh LA! Well they'll shape you up there better than I can here. When do I drop you off?"

“You uh, don't have to," Lisa realized that he mother had never met Sunshine, "My new personal teacher will pick me up June ninteenth."

"This must be one high-end summer program. Okay you can go."

“Thanks mom," Lisa said squeezing her mother tightly,

"Careful! I just ironed this outfit and- don't tell your father- I just got the girls done."

Lisa, entirely disappointed by her mother, rolled her eyes and went to her room.

*                                          *                                  *

The next day the girls got together at Sage's house to devise a plan on how to get backstage. They had to meet them, they just had to.

"We have to meet Jerry," said Sage, holding a photo of Jerry Garcia in her arms as she laid on her back.

"No, we have to meet Bob, he's the cutest," sighed Lisa.

"We should call the fan club president and see if he knows how to get to them," suggested Tracy. Lisa and Sage agreed that that would be the best course of action. Tracy then picked up the phone and dialed the fan club president, self-proclaimed             Casey Jones.

“Hello, Grateful Dead fan club!” Casey Jones’ voice was smooth over the phone,

Tracy studdered for a second, not able to believe that she was on the phone with the man himself, “I’m um um Tracy.”

“Hi Tracy,” he said.

“H-hi Tracy,” said Tracy, who had never been so flustered. Sage immediately grabbed the phone.

“I apologize for my friend, she’s a bit tongue tied after talking to someone so legenrdary.”

“I don’t believe I am that legendary. Who am I speaking with now?”

“Sage, I’m Sage. We’re looking to get back stage with the Dead. You know they’re having that concert in San Fran in June?”

“Of course I am well aware of their concert schedule. Getting with the Dead is near impossible. My buddies and I tried it back in ’67 and it did not end up well. However, I am willing to make a second attempt with some far out babes. How about this, why don’t you ladies meet me at Star Diner? The one on Maple Street? We’ll have some lunch and make a plan,” Casey suggested.

“Sure! How’s tomorrow at noon?” said Sage.

“Alright!” said Casey, “See you babes tomorrow.”

Sage hung up the phone and told her friends the good news. They agreed to meet up with at the Star Diner at 11;30 so they could prepare for their meeting with Casey.

*                                  *                                  *

The next day the girls met up at the Star Diner. Tracy showed up in a black Grateful Dead shirt with high wasted jean shorts, white Keds and sunglasses. Lisa was wearing a flowey flower print dress with a headband and sandals. Finally, Sage showed up wearing a headband around her head, a long flowey skirt, jean jacket and a white shirt.

            “How do I look,” Tracy asked, seeming frantic.

            “You look fine,” said Lisa, rolling her eyes.

            “He’ll be here any minute,” said Sage, “I can’t believe we’re meeting-” and as Sage was about to say the word Casey, she saw a man walking towards them. He was tall and tan. He was wearing bell bottoms and a long sleeve shirt. Casey had his dreads tied up in a pony tail and looked as though he were 20 years old. Tracy almost fainted.

            “I’m assuming you’re the ladies I’m meeting. Let me to introduce myself. I’m Casey. But I think you knew that.”

            “Of course we did, I’m Sage.”

            “I’m Lisa.”

            “And I’m uh, uh…”

            “She’s Tracy.”

“Is she always this shy?”

“Only when I’m looking at someone as cute as you are,” Tracy blurted without thinking. Her friends’ jaws simultaneously dropped.

“Well, babes, let’s go in side,” said Casey. The three girls followed Casey into the diner. A waitress showed them to a corner booth. Lisa sat with Sage and Tracy made sure she sat right next to Casey, staring at him and twisting her hair around her finger.

“So, you girls want to see the Dead?”

“We are huge fans. We actually want to follow them,” said Sage

“For how long?”

“However long it takes. We’re letting the music take us where it wants to go,” Sage said.

“Ladies, I’ve always heard it’s easier to get back stage with a few foxes. Look, I’m sure I’ll be able to get us all back stage if you ladies are willing to get down with the music,” Casey.

“Oh we will do anything to meet them,” said Tracey.

“Well then we’re in business,” said Casey, “We will all go to the Grateful Dead concert together on the nineteenth. We will make friends with a security guard, and this is where I need you ladies to look extra lovely, and then boom! We’ll get back stage.”

“Alright, I think we can handle that. But how do we get tickets?” Lisa asked.

“Already taken care of,” Casey pulled four tickets out of his jeans. “The fan club gets these all the time. They’re twenty dollars a piece.”

“Deal,” said Sage. Then all the girls handed him a twenty dollar bill.

“Okay, I will pick you all up the morning of the concert in my van and then we’ll drive up to San Fran to the concert,” said Casey.

The girls all thanked him for the offer and for the rest of the lunch they discussed the Dead and the concert and who in the band they loved the most. When the lunch was over they stood outside and talked while Casey smoked a cigarette.

“Casey I should go,” said Lisa, “my mom thinks I’m at charm class. It was nice to meet you.”

“Alright, see ya,” Casey said.

Tracey nudged Sage  who abruptly realized that she needed to go. “I should go too. I have a protest to prepare for.”

Casey looked at Tracy and said “I guess it’s just the two of us.”

“I guess so she said,” looking deep into his dark chocolate eyes. They leaned into each other and then, before Tracy even knew what was happening, Casey kissed her.

“So can I walk you home?”

“Groovy,” she said. The almost the whole way to her house they held hands and talked. Then about a block away from her house she let go.

“Something wrong?”

“Listen, my mother is preparing me for a convent. I can’t let her see me with a boy, like at all. Okay?”

“I get that. I’ll take myself home. Live and let live girl.” Casey kissed her on the cheek and walked away. Tracy smiled and rubbed her hand on her cheek.

*                                  *                                  *

The day of the nineteenth had finally arrived. Casey picked each of the girls up at their houses, two of them, having lied to their mothers.

“You babes ready for the night of your lives?”

“Totally,” said Tracy.

“Right on!” The whole drive they sang Dead songs and talked about the meaning of every word of every album. When they arrived at the venue, the girls were in awe. They approached the door and the three best friends pushed the doors open together.

“It’s uh, cool,” said Sage.

“Yeah, uhh, cool,” said Lisa.

“It’s unbelievable, Casey! I can’t believe I have never done this before,” screamed Tracy, who then grabbed the hands of Casey and Lisa, who grabbed Sage. They stood in the center of the mosh pit trying to push their way to the front. Lisa and Sage looked around. It was crowded, it smelled like too much pot and they were scared that someone would try to get them, after seeing someone who was having a “bad trip.” They simultaneously ran out and attempted to get some fresh air. They waited outside for the concert to clear out, but there was no sign of Tracy or Casey. So they went back in side the theater. There was no security guard so they went backstage.

“Tracy!” shouted Sage.

“Casey!” shouted Lisa.

“I cannot believe this. Of course Tracy ran off with him.”

“Lisa don’t worry! We’ll find her and then we’ll go home,” said Sage. Then they saw a door and heard noises from behind it. They knocked on the door and it swung open, Bob Weir was standing behind it.

“Hey there, you looking for someone?” He asked, taking a sip of a beer.

“You’re Bob Weir!” Lisa screamed.

“That’s what they tell me.”

“I’m sorry, she’s flustered now. None of my friends can hold it together around cute guys,” complained Sage. “Have you seen Casey Jones? He’s the president of one of your fan clubs.”

“Sure he’s with his girl over there!” Sure enough Tracy and Casey were sitting on a couch together talking to Jerry Garcia. The girls stormed over to them.

“I’m sorry Jerry, I mean Mr. Garcia. But Tracy it’s time to go,” said Sage, “Lisa and I were waiting outside all night. The least you can do is come home with us now.”

“No,” said Tracy, “I’m staying here.”

“This is not the world we thought it was. We’re just some girls from a small California town and that’s what we’re meant to be,” said Sage.

“You can go. I’m not coming,” said Tracy.

Lisa put her hand on Sage’s shoulder and said “C’mon, we’ve clearly lost her.” So the girls headed home and went back to their normal lives while Tracy and Casey stayed with the dead.

*                      *                      *

After months of trying to contact her Tracy’s mom gave up on her daughters soul. She never saw her daughter again.

Lisa went on later in life to become a successful lawyer. She worked on adoption cases.

Sage became a music teacher at the local elementary school and made sure she taught her students about the life behind music. However, due to the content of her course, after just one year they decided that she should teach high school.

Finally, Tracy stayed with Casey and the Dead. And much like Sage’s parents they we’re just together, and then they eventually, after the Dead broke up, had a baby,  they named him Jerry.