Chapter 3: Memories

LORELAI AND RORY ARE SITTING IN THE JEEP

"Hey, hand me that map, will you?" I asked, hoping Rory would not remember my little map "boycotting" act on their last trip.

"I though you were the no map, sense of adventure, spontaneity kind of gal!"
"Well, I actually know where we're going…sort of."
"Hey, that tree looks familiar."
"What are you talking about?
"Oh great, we're going in circles. We're missing the re run of the two fat ladies!"

Trying to reassure my kid who was terrified of missing the wild and unpredictable actions of the two fat ladies, I said, "Come on, we probably have it on tape anyway. And if not, I'll buy it and it'll end up collecting dust in the many boxes of tapes that we have."
"Oh god, please tell me this isn't going to be like that mystery breakfast…"
"Relax!"

In the distance, I see the pillars…the pillars to the entrance of my alma mater, Collingswood Prep…wow. I was so stunned I didn't even realize Rory's yelling in my ear to get my attention.

"Hello, mom? Is anyone there?"
"What? Oh uh, hey…well, we are staring at my high school."
"Your what? Oh my gosh! Show me everything! I want to see all your classes right down to where you sat and the gum you stuck under people's desks.
"Hey, I was not a gum sticker.!"
"Sorry, my mistake."
"Now, I want you to remember something. I wasn't into the whole academic path that my parents wanted me to go on. Not all the memories are so holly jolly, so…remember that."
"I promise. Now come on! I'm tired of sitting in the car."

Man, it's been a long time since I've been here, I thought. I take baby steps, dreading while simultaneously looking forward to what is waiting for me.

"Come on mom, it's not like there's a forcefield around the place. Move!"
"Oh right, I'm just studying the uh, architectural structure of the building."
"Stop it and get over here"
"Yes, mom."

I entered the code to get inside the school, miraculously surprised that I remembered it! 12, 15, 18, 5, 15, 1, 9. Maybe it's because that's the numbers corresponding to the letters of my name. After years of going to that school, that may have been my greatest accomplishment.

We walked past the office, to the lockers. They were a monochrome, boring off-white, and to the left, was the library. Then it hit me. That was the first time I saw Brian Hutchins!

[laughing] "Mom, what's wrong?" Rory said. You look like you've just seen Beau lick the key!

Oh gosh don't even remind me of that. No, I was just thinking…I was sitting right there! And he came up, and…oh my gosh I need a cup of coffee.

"Who came up?"
"BRIAN HUTCHINS!"

"Oh, your first boyfriend. I remember that anecdote. He asked you to go steady, and then you said yes, though I don't get why."

"I was young, innocent, I don't know can you think of a better reason why? And then I didn't see him till 10th grade, wow. I wonder where Brian Hutchins is this very day.

"I'll google him for you if you want."
"Don't mock."

"I'm tired of talking about Brian Hutchins! Take me somewhere else."

"I don't know where to go, this place feels just as unfamiliar and new to you as it does to me."

We walked around the campus, and what I saw made me wish I never thought of going.


To be continued...