I'm on the phone with Dad, telling him about Mr. Charles wanting to pay for me to go to trade school because I think Mr. Charles has some nerve trying to dictate my life.

"Wow! That is a opportunity!" Dad exclaims. "What are you taking?"

"Nothing. Not doing it.  Need to peruse being a musician." I confess.

"Prince, Prince, you're giving me gray hairs here. The schooling is going to be paid for. Take something! Anything!"

"I don't want to do any of that stuff."

"Listen, you care about looking sharp. Study to be a barber. Work on music when you're not studying."

Dad doesn't sound like he wants to hear my thoughts on this. "Just get the training, put trying to get signed on hold for a bit. Then you'll have a skill to fall back on." he insists.

"If I don't, will you still pay for me to go to New York?" I ask.

"Yes. But I really think you'd regret turning down training."

Politely, I excuse myself from the conversation. Me? A barber? Get real. 

What kind of life would that be? A boring one! Let's see, I'd be able to finish studying in about a year while Margaret would be in college for up to four years! Would I stay around here being bored and trying to squeeze in dates between her schoolwork and her job? UGH! No! That ain't happening, I'm going to have a life that fulfills me and allows me to live well with Margaret.

I grab my guitar and practice as though my life depends on it, because at the end of the day, it does. "Prince, you've been practicing for four hours straight, give your hands a break. " Mrs. Anderson suggests.

"I'll call Pete and see if he could use me at the diner for a bit." I reply. Pete tells me to come over. I'll eat dinner there and dessert when I come home.

All is monotonous at the diner, without Margaret all it's magic is gone. Since it's Monday, various working men are sitting at the counter waiting for me to pour them their coffee. 

Probably the only moment of peace in their day before they go home to their nagging wives and unappreciative children. Then there are other working class men who are even more miserable, trying to drink their problems away at the bar. These men probably all had dreams before "getting a skill to fall back on" as Dad would say. Won't be me. My dreams come true and take Margaret along for the ride. Mr. Charles will just have to deal with it.

Coming to work today has just strengthened my resolve to be a musician come Hell or high water.

It's the middle of the night now. I can't sleep. My brain won't turn off at all. "Prince, what are you doing up? Cause you're keeping me up with your tossing and turning!" Andre gripes

"Can't stop thinking about the future" I confess.

"It's going to come anyway."

"Yeah..."

"Have you and Margaret discussed more than going to New York City, her enrolling in college and you getting a record deal?"

"No. Why? What is there to talk about?"

"Well, you two are sad about her going away for a week. Think what'll happen when you're on tour?"

"She can come with me! Write books while on the road, maybe write articles for magazines."

"While going to college? "Andre replies skeptically.

Margaret does really want to go. "What are you getting at?"

"Something tells me you two have to talk."

"We've got it figured out!" I yell.

"How?"

Mrs. Anderson flings the door open angrily "DO YOU BOYS KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS?"

"Yes, Ma'am." I reply.

"Why are you boys fighting?" Mrs. Anderson demands.

"Andre feels Margaret and I don't have life planned as well as we actually do."

"Look at how mopey he's been since Margaret left! What if he gets a contract and has to tour before she graduates college?" Andre points out.

"Is that a scenario you have thought about, Prince? "Mrs. Anderson asks.

"No." I reply.

"Margaret is reasonable, you can work something out. Now get to bed! Both of you!"

"I'm only seventeen. Aren't I too young to think about all this future stuff?" I wonder aloud.

"No. You're two going into your senior year of high school and you've both grown into a wonderful young men" Mrs. Anderson says while hugging me and Andre, "The future will be as great as you boys make it."