September 3rd, 1952, 6:52 pm. The Holley Household

"What was it ya wanted t'talk about?" I ask Buddy, closing the door. "Are you okay?"

Buddy stands up from his bed and starts pacing. "Larry, I met this girl and I really, really like her. I barely met her on Monday but she's so pretty and funny and nice!"

"Wait, you met this girl on Monday? Buddy, today's Wednesday!"

"But Larry, you don't understand! She's the prettiest girl I've ever seen ever and she's so nice to me and she likes the same music! She plays the drums! Ain't that crazy? A girl playin' drums?"

I shrug. "Don't matter what you are or what instrument you play."

"I know, I know, I just never've met a girl drummer before," he stops pacing and places his hands on his hips. "She's so pretty, Larry. She's so pretty!"

"I'm sure she is,"

"And she's got a sister and a brother and they're triplets and her and her sister are identical. She's so great, Larry. She really is,"

"Well, what's this girl's name?"

"Violet Winter. She's not from around here, she's brand new to Lubbock and I gotta get her before anyone else does!"

I sit down on his bed. "Well, I say you invite this Violet over for your birthday. See what she's like when it's just you two alone. See if it's awkward or if it feels right."

"She feels right. She does." He says sternly. "I'm gonna marry her someday."

I almost choke on my own tongue. "Buddy! You've known her for less than three days!"

"You've always said that when you meet 'the one' then you just know,"

"Buddy, you probably won't meet 'the one' until you're much older!"

"You don't know, Larry. You don't know and you won't know until we're married."

I've always admired that quality in Buddy. He's always been very clear in his ideas. He has very little uncertainty about what he wants. I guess he has no doubts about wanting this girl.

"I wanna marry Violet." He says definitively

"Buddy, think about this,"

"I have. And I love her."

"You what!?"

"I think I love her!"

"Bud-"

"I have to snag her before anyone else does. Guys are already all over her and her sister. I have to act fast!"

"All you can do now is to invite her over, y'know. Don't move in on her too fast, don't scare her away."

He looks at me firmly. "I won't, Larry. I won't."

I shrug my shoulders. There's only so much you can do to convince a fifteen-year-old that he isn't in love. "Well, I'm excited to meet her,"

"You should be. I wish I had a picture! Then I'd show you just how pretty she is,"

"Well what's she look like?" I ask.

"She's got this long red hair and these really cute green eyes and an hourglass and you have no idea, Larry. You'll be shocked that a gal like her even wants to be my friend."

"What're you talking about? You're a great kid, Bud. Anyone would be lucky to be your friend!"

He shakes his head. "You don't get it, Larry. She's pretty and she's already popular. Girls like that don't hang around guys like me."

"Guys like you?" I wonder what made his demeanor change so fast. He was just saying he had to get her and how he was going to marry her, now he's mopey about himself.

"Nerds who wear glasses and like music and such," he says quietly.

"What? What's your glasses gotta do with a damn thing?"

"Forget it, Larry. She's probably gonna get with someone better, but I just hope I'll still be her friend."

"You will be, Buddy. You will be,"

March 23rd, 1953, 10:10am

"Hello?" I answer impatiently. I was just about to head out the door for work.

"Larry!" I hear Buddy exclaim from the other end of the line. "Guess what!"

I chuckle. Hearing him so excited just melts all the frustration away. "What?"

"Vi and me kissed last night!"

I raise my eyebrows. "Y'all did?"

"Yeah!"

"See? I told ya that she and Jack would never last."

"I knew they wouldn't either, but I didn't think we'd kiss so soon after they broke it off,"

"When did her and Jack break it?"

"On the 6th,"

"Well damn, I guess you shot your shot, Bud."

"Larry..."

"Yes?"

"Is it weird that I asked if I could kiss her?" He mumbles.

"No, I don't think so. Better that you asked and got a yes rather than just done it when it woulda been a no,"

"She's perfect, Larry. She truly is."

"I'm glad you got her,"

"We aren't steady yet,"

I'm a little shocked. "What do you mean you aren't?"

"We just aren't offical,"

"But you kissed?"

"Yeah,"

"How'd you kiss without bein' steady?"

"Larry, call me crazy, but I think once we're steady, that'll be the absolute end. We'll be together forever."

I chew the inside of my cheek. "Yeah, I think you might be right,"

"So we're gonna wait a couple months. Just do whatever until we feel ready to commit like that."

"That's a real smart idea, Buddy. I'm proud of you kids,"

"I told you I'm gonna marry her someday. I told you,"

"You did, and y'know, I actually think you will."

Over these last few months, Buddy's proved himself to be dedicated to Vi, no matter what. Vi dated another boy and Buddy stuck around as her friend. Vi's been having a rough time (he won't tell me what's been so tough on her) and he's been there for her. They've consistently been hanging out since they met, despite Buddy being convinced that she's way too popular to be his friend and Violet being so reserved from having friends. Buddy's told me all about how Vi is sort of shy and doesn't like to have too many people around. I've tried to tell him that he should feel special because she likes to have him, but for some reason he just can't accept that.

"I gotta go, Larry. I'm supposed to head to Vi's here an a few minutes. I'll call you later,"

I nod. "Yeah, go be with your gal. I'll talk to you later. Love ya,"

"Love ya too, see ya," the phone clicks and the line goes dead.

I still can't believe my baby brother's growing up so fast.

June 5th, 1953, 10:42 pm.

I'm just about to drift off when the shrill ring of the phone jolts me awake. Who the hell calls at this hour?!

Whatever it is, it better be damn important. "Hel-"

"LARRY!" Buddy shouts. "LARRY SHE'S MY GIRLFRIEND!"

"What?"

"SHE'S MY GIRLFRIEND! SHE'S MINE!"

"Vi is?"

"YEAH! WE'RE STEADY! WE'RE OFFICAL!"

"That's great," I yawn.

"VIOLET ROSALINE WINTER IS MY GIRLFRIEND!"

I finally comprehend the words he's been shouting. "WAIT WHAT?!"

"She told me that she really likes me! She said she likes my glasses, too. Ain't that crazy? A girl told me she likes my glasses! She told me she's been 'pining' after me and she's glad to have me, I swear, Larry, I just about cried,"

"That's really great, Buddy! I'm real happy for you! Did you tell her anything back?"

"I was too shocked, I couldn't reply. The prettiest girl ever told me all that! I didn't even know what to say, but I'll make it up to her someday, y'know? I got plenty of time to tell her just how I feel."

"You sure do, Buddy. You've got just about forever,"

"I'm in love with her."

"I know you are,"

"I'm gonna go now and smile until I fall asleep. I'll see ya later, Larry. Love you,"

"Love you too, Buddy," I hang up the phone.

He's growing up real fine.

November 17th, 1954, 7:10pm

I hang up the phone and turn to Buddy. "What the hell was that?!"

He shrugs. "Mr. Winter is a weird guy,"

"How'd you reckon he found out about...that?"

"I'll ask Vi tomorrow, because there's no way she just came clean, especially to her dad. She told me that the other day her parents chewed Juliet out for it."

"Well, I dont care if you're doing anything as long as you dont knock her up,"

"Trust me, we don't want that either!"

"Y'know that momma knows?" I ask.

Buddy nods sheepishly. "Yeah, I know she does. I dunno how, though!"

"Motherly intuition. She knew for me and Trav, too."

"How even-"

I shake my head. "Don't even try to understand it. Anyways, when did y'all, y'know, start?"

Buddy rolls his eyes. "Not your business,"

"I know y'all were doin' stuff before you were steady but-"

"Last September,"

"As in September '53?"

"Yep."

"That's way later than I thought!"

"I know, I woulda thought it'd've been sooner, but I guess we just didn't get around to it,"

"How did you just not-"

"I was too shy to say anything about goin' all the way and she was too,"

"You held off from sex 'cause you were both too candy to ask the other?" I laugh. "Y'know, that's the most 'Buddy and Violet' thing I've ever heard!"

Buddy's face turns red. "Shhhh!"

"You two crack me up. I'm glad y'all got eachother,"

"I'm glad I got her all to myself, Larry. I really am,"

"I love you kids." I laugh once again. "Dorks, both of you."

May 1st, 1956, 3:19pm

I walk into the room that Buddy's been laying tile in. He started working for me part time just for extra cash. "What was it you wanted to talk about? I'm done with the bathroom now,"

"I think I'm gonna ask Vi to marry me." He says quietly. "I really think I am."

"You should, she'll for sure say yes,"

"I know. I've been saving money for a ring and such. I think I'm ready."

"You're both ninteen, though. If y'all tie the knot now then you're gonna be on your own this young,"

"My music is startin' t'get rollin' here. Slowly but surely," he bites his lower lip. That's his signature 'I'm thinking really hard' look.

"That's true, I suppose."

"Plus she's been workin' at the emergency room. She makes pretty solid money there, I don't think we'd have any financial issues,"

"If you think you two are ready to go on your own, I support you. I'll even help you find a place to move into,"

He furrows his eyebrows. "You will?"

"Of course. I can't let you fight that battle on your own, Buddy. I had to and it was tough to get through." It's true, I don't want them to be on their own like that, so young and having no idea what to look for in places. And I know for a fact that Mr. and Mrs. Winter wouldn't dream of helping.

"Are we supposed to live together before we get married?" He asks. "I've never seen it before but I sorta wanna live with her just t'try it out,"

I shrug. "It ain't illegal, I don't think it matters. Maybe you should try it out, see if y'all can handle each other when you're always together."

"We can. I know we can,"

"I don't got any doubts either. Ask that gal to marry you. You've been saying you were gonna marry her since two days after you met."

"Because I've always known it was true,"

"What's her ring size?"

"Five and a half,"

"Well, atleast you already know that,"

"I asked Juliet. She's the only one I've told so far, anyway. She's gonna try t'help me pick a ring,"

I raise my eyebrows. "Yeah?"

He nods. "If anyone's gonna know what Vi likes it's gonna be me and her. And besides, she can try on the ring and we'd be able to see how it'd look on Vi."

"I guess that's true. How much you got saved so far?"

"D'you really wanna know?"

"Yes!"

"Around $250..."

I almost feel my jaw drop. "$250?! Where'd you even get that sorta cash?!"

"Workin' with you and some gigs I've been playin'."

"How long-"

"Almost three years."

"You've been saving for an engagement ring for almost three years?!"

"I knew it'd take a while t'get enough for a decent one."

"Buddy, wow..." I purse my lips. "You've really been dedicated since day one..."

"I told you, I've always known that Vi would be around. Meeting her feels like destiny."

"Destiny? You really think she was your destiny?"

"Uh-huh. She feels so right. When I'm with her it all feels calm and like everything will just be okay. She feels so natural for me, there's a weird sense of familiarity."

"That's a fair reason to think so, I suppose. That's how I feel with Maxine, after all."

"I'm just head over heels, Larry."

"I know. I've never seen you like this before."

"And you'll never see me like this for another girl. Violet's special, and I hope she knows that."

"She feels the same for you,"

"I sure hope she does."

"She does. She really, really does."

December 30th, 1957, 11:23am

"Buddy, hey, calm down. You've been waiting for this day for years,"

"But I didn't think it all through! Not the details, anyway. She's gonna walk down the aisle and toss her bouquet and say 'I do'. She's gonna say vows and so will I and we'll be at a reception. Larry, we're admittin' t'everyone there that we're gonna have sex tonight-"

I laugh lightly. "Hush, Bud. Only everyone over the age of fifteen will know that last part. You've said you were gonna marry her since y'all met and you're finally doing it! Be excited, not nervous!"

"I'm tryin', but it's real hard. I know that not much is gonna change, we live together and we've been sorta actin' married, but the ceremony, it's happenin'. It's happenin' today. Everyone is gonna watch us commit the rest of our lives to the other. Everyone will know-"

"Hey," I grab his shoulder. "It'll be okay. Try to cool down. You're okay, remember, it's just Vi. You've been together since forever, everyone already knows you love her. It's just y'all's friends and family, after all. You know all these people, there's no strangers,"

"Were you this nervous on your wedding day?" Buddy chews on his bottom lip. "I'm too nervous-"

"I was worse, Bud,"

"But Maxine's parents like you!" He exclaims. "Vi's parents don't like anything about her, including me! I'm shocked Frank is even gonna walk her down the aisle, he practically threw her to me when I asked if I could marry her. If it doesnt go perfectly then they're gonna hate us even more!"

"They don't hate you!"

"They heavily dislike us!"

I shake my head, straightening Buddy's tie. "It's almost go time, stop sweating bullets and go marry that woman,"

Buddy's eyes start to tear up. "Holy shit," he whispers. "I'm gonna see her in her dress,"

"You sure will. Now take a deep breath and go out there. Remember than Waylon, Jerry, and me will all be up there with you. Let's go, c'mon,"

"I can do this!" He says firmly. "I can!"

"You can! I'll go grab Jerry and Waylon and we'll all go out there!"

"Okay, okay, go, go and grab 'em. I'm gonna try to hype down,"

I glance at my baby brother before leaving the room. He grew up too fast.