Chapter 12
An hour had passed.
Ernie and Louie waited in the motorcycle nestled between trees by the two-lane road that leads out of Waterford.
Ernie started to doze off in the sidecar.
Louie's eyes started to drift closed, and his butt was getting sore from the motorcycle seat.
Then the sound of an approaching car was heard coming from the Waterford direction.
Louie opened up his eyes and saw Jesse's Bel-Air, with the top up, while it raced down the road.
He leaned over and poked Ernie's shoulder.
Ernie woke up and looked a little dazed and for a few seconds didn't have a clue what was going on.
"I think they're coming," Louie told him and motioned down the road.
Ernie looked and saw the Bel-Air while it raced closer to them.
Louie and Ernie watched while the Bel-Air raced past them with Jesse and Beth inside.
Louie stomped on the kick starter pedal.
The motorcycle engine wouldn't turn over.
He tried again. It wouldn't start.
He tried again. The engine started with puffs of smoke shooting out the exhaust pipes.
Louie pulled the motorcycle onto the road and raced after the Bel-Air.
"I gotta find a way to take this Indian back home," he called out to Ernie while they raced after the Bel-Air.
Ernie rolled his eyes, wondering why Louie loved this hung of junk.
Inside the Bel-Air, Jesse drove with Beth sitting by his side and wore a cute yellow sundress.
Jesse wore his cowboy boots, jeans and a nice shirt with the sleeves rolled up so he can look cool.
Beth removed her shoes and socks. She placed the heels of her feet on the dashboard while she leaned against Jesse.
They were both unaware of the motorcycle trailing their car.
Beth reached over and turned on the AM radio. The song "Ooby Dooby" by Roy Orbison played on the radio and was almost over.
"I love this song," Beth said then her feet started swaying to the beat of the music.
"Well you won't be a struttin' 'cause now you know," Beth sang out along with Roy Orbison from the radio.
Beth started dancing in her seat.
Jesse looked irritated and turned the channel.
The song "Crazy Arms" sung by Patsy Cline played on the radio.
"Now that's more like it," Jesse said then started whistling along with the song. "Someday my crazy arms will hold somebody new," Jesse sang out along with Patsy Cline then he looked and blew Beth a kiss.
Beth frowned overhearing that song. She reached over and turned the radio back to the other station. The song "See You Later Alligator," by Bill Haley and His Comets started.
"No, that's more like it," she said and gave Jesse the stare that he better not touch that radio knob.
Jesse obeyed and left the radio alone.
Beth's feet started swaying on the dashboard to the beat of the song. "See you later, alligator. After 'while, crocodile," Beth sang out along with Bill Haley.
Jesse started to like the song. "See you later, alligator. After 'while, crocodile," he softly sang out while he thought about Erica.
Beth sang along with the song while her feet swayed on the dashboard to the beat of the song. She wasn't nervous about seeing the doctor, as being pregnant wasn't on her mind at the moment.
Jesse thought about Erica and schemed on how he could get out of the marriage he loathed.
A few minutes passed, and the song was over.
"And now we have Elvis Presley's new song called Don't Be Cruel," the disc jokey said over the radio.
"Elvis is so adorable," Beth said while she listened to the new song that started. Then she glanced up at Jesse and stroked his crew cut. "Why don't you grow your hair out like Elvis? I think you'll look sexy," she said.
Jesse rolled his eyes at that thought. "I like my hair the way it is."
Beth listened to the new Elvis song for a few seconds. Then she looked up at Jesse and got curious. "How did you come up with the money?"
Jesse looked a little nervous, as he wasn't expecting that question. "Ah, what?"
Beth sat up and looked at Jesse. "How did you come up with the thousand dollars?"
"Ah," he replied, then hesitated while he pondered for a right answer for a few seconds. "I borrowed it from a friend."
"A friend would let you borrow a thousand dollars?" she asked and looked a little leery of his answer.
"Yeah. We were on the football team. He's doing great up in Atlanta, and he wired me the money. And of course, he sent me a payment plan to pay it all back with interest," Jesse lied through his teeth.
Beth thought about his answer for a few seconds. "He must be a really good friend," she said then rested her head against Jesse's shoulder. But she looked like she has doubts, but didn't want to know the truth.
She propped her feet back up on the dashboard. They started swaying to the beat of the Elvis song.
Jesse looked relieved when she quit asking those types of questions.
Beth's feet stopped swaying on the dashboard. She looked serious while she glanced back up at Jesse. "I've been doing some thinking during the last couple of days."
"About what?"
"I've been thinking that if you don't divorce Erica, we should stop seeing each other. I can't sneak around anymore. I want to marry you," she said while she ran a finger around her ring finger, longing for a wedding ring.
Jesse felt the pressure and knew he better do something quick, as he didn't want to lose Beth. She was way too sexy to let go. "We'll have to leave town."
Beth took Jesse's arm and placed it around her shoulder while she cuddled up to him. "Then we'll leave town. We can start a new life up in Atlanta. Maybe your friend can help us find jobs?" she said.
Jesse went into deep thought while he thought about Erica. Then an idea popped into his head on how he can get rid of her. It would be risky, but he knew he could pull it off. But he also thought the risk would be low, especially since those two strangers that have been hanging around town.
Ernie and Louie still continued to follow Jesse's Bel-Air and kept a safe distance behind.
Twenty minutes later, Jesse drove his Bel-Air down the road toward the outskirts of Emerson, which was a larger town as compared to Waterford.
Jesse and Beth saw the "Welcome To Emerson, Population 4,698" sign to the right.
Beth started to get a little nervous since they were closer to the doctor. "We're here," she said while she glanced around at the buildings of Emerson.
Jesse drove his Bel-Air straight down Peachtree Street, which was the main drag of Emerson.
Louie trailed three car lengths behind the Bel-Air on his motorcycle.
Jesse and Beth were still clueless that the motorcycle with sidecar was following them.
While Jesse drove his Bel-Air down Peachtree Street, he saw the Emerson Motor Court on the left side.
They drove down Peachtree Street a little farther and passed by a Sinclair gas station on the right side.
A little farther down the street, Jesse made a left-turn down Bryant Avenue.
Louie turned his motorcycle down Bryant Avenue.
While Louie drove down Bryant Avenue, Ernie saw Hank's Camera Shop on the right side of the street.
Jesse made a right turn down Lee Street.
Beth started to fidget a little in the seat. She moved away from Jesse.
Louie turned his motorcycle down Lee Street.
Everybody passed by a Woolworths on Lee Street and Ernie thought about Erica the second he spotted the store.
Jesse drove down Lee Street then made a left turn down Jefferson Lane, which was a residential street.
Louie turned down Jefferson Lane.
Jesse drove down Jefferson Lane, and when he got halfway down the street, he pulled over to the curb by a "Robert Sampson, MD" sign out by the sidewalk.
He turned the car off and placed it park.
Beth looked really nervous while she glanced at the sign and started to shake a little. "Are you sure he knows what he's doing?"
Jesse noticed Beth started to shake a little. He held her left hand. "He came highly recommended from a friend that used him when we were in college. His girlfriend survived," he said.
"I'm still afraid," she replied.
"Well, we can go back to Waterford and let our parents know you're pregnant," Jesse said then started up the car and placed it in drive.
Beth thought about the alternative. "Let's get this over with," she said knowing the alternative would be pure hell.
Jesse placed the car back in park and turned off the engine.
Louie pulled his motorcycle along the curb across the street three houses down from Dr. Sampson's office.
Ernie got his camera ready the second he spotted Jesse and Beth getting out of the Bel-Air.
He snapped a picture while Jesse and Beth walked down the walkway and headed to the front porch of the doctor's home.
"You know, I'm starting to feel a little guilty with getting Beth in trouble. She's been good to me and prevented a lot of beatings from dad's belt, while he snapped another picture.
"The causalities of war my friend. The causalities of war," Louie replied while he looked at Beth and Jesse.
Ernie looked at Louie. He accepted his response, but he still felt guilty while he saw Jesse and Beth waiting at the doctor's front door.
Jesse and Beth stood by the screened door on the porch. Jesse took a deep breath then he knocked on the screen door.
A few seconds passed, and footsteps could be heard from inside the house walking to the door.
The front door opened, and Doctor Robert Sampson, sixty-years old appeared behind the screen door. "You, Jesse? And is this Beth?" he asked and seemed a little cautious.
"Yes, sir. My friend Ricky Burrows recommended me," Jesse replied.
Dr. Sampson opened his screen door and motioned for them to step inside.
Jesse and Beth stepped inside his house.
Dr. Sampson took a quick glance outside and was satisfied that the coast was clear. He closed the front door.
Jesse reached in his pocket and removed a wad of cash.
Dr. Sampson stuck his hand out and salivated over the sight of all that cash.
Jesse placed the cash in Dr. Sampson's hand, and he immediately started counting. He was satisfied and shoved the money into his pocket.
"Are you ready, darling?" Dr. Sampson asked Beth.
Beth's body started shaking again.
Dr. Sampson noticed and placed an arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry darling. You're in good hands," he said in a comforting tone then he looked at Jesse. "You can wait in the living room."
Dr. Sampson walked Beth down the hallway.
Jesse walked into the living room.
Dr. Sampson walked Beth into a small room he used for examinations and abortions.
Beth started to get a little weak in the knees.
"You can get undressed behind that privacy wall. There's a gown you can wear," Dr. Sampson said while he pointed the finger at the privacy wall.
Beth went behind the privacy wall. Her hands shook while she started to remove her dress. She dropped it to the floor and then removed her bra. She dropped it to the floor. She slipped her panties down to her ankles and stepped out of them. She stood bare ass naked and thought about chickening out, but the sounds of her father's voice screaming at her haunted her mind, so she slipped on the gown.
She stepped out behind the privacy wall.
"Hop up on the table and place your legs in the stirrups," Dr. Sampson while he checked his instruments.
Beth hopped up on the table and placed her feet in the stirrups. She turned pale and was on the verge of passing out while Dr. Sampson walked over to her with a mask covering his mouth.
In the living room, Jesse nervously paced back and forth while he waited.
Louie and Ernie waited outside on the motorcycle.
Then Louie saw some peering eyes from behind the living room curtains by the house where they parked.
"We better leave and come back before someone calls the cops," Louie told Ernie while he motioned to check out the house they were parked in front of.
"We could get something to eat at the Woolworths we passed on the other street," Ernie replied when he saw the peering eyes behind the curtains.
Louie kicked started his motorcycle and drove away from the street.
The peering eyes behind the curtains went away satisfied those strangers were gone.
A little while later, Ernie and Louie ate lunch at Woolworths.