7805ac+Norman+Rockwell+Story

Boulevard Joe's   Alexander Christie

Rodney-James walked across Central Boulevard, on his way to Joe’s Ice Cream parlor where he worked as a soda jerk. He entered the parlor, nearly empty, and put on his small white hat and white apron. He grabbed an order pad and a pen, then adjusted his glasses. The second he stood behind the counter, Edith Howling, Sarah McCoy, and Elise Niminouse entered the parlor. The three girls said in unison, “Hi, Rod,” giggling with wide grins. Rodney had a problem with these girls. He liked them all but could not decide which one to ask to prom, since it was coming up in a month. He really wanted to go. It had been that way all summer. Rodney just wanted to ask his favorite out, but who, that is, he still didn’t know. Rodney walked towards the mixing machine and made each a vanilla shake. He gave the shakes to the girls and walked toward the soda machine. He filled three glasses with Coca-Cola and placed one in front of each girl. He leaned over the counter towards them, and each girl leaned over the counter towards Rodney. After a moment of intense staring and mutual puppy love, Sarah said to him, “You know, Rod, the city should name a street after you called ‘Rodney-James Boulevard,’ since that’s your real name. Then you could live on it. Wouldn’t you love the address ‘17 Rodney-James Boulevard!’ You could be famous!” “Don’t be silly, I’d have to be famous before having a street named after me. Plus, why would anyone name a street after.......” “Because of your perfect name,” interrupted Edith. “Be right back,” said Rodney, walking to help another customer. He assisted the customer sitting at the counter. Then he walked back to Sarah, Edith and Elise. __...__  “Oh,no, if I don't head home now, my mother will kill me! “Gotta go, I’ll see you later! Here’s the dollar I owe you.” exclaimed Sarah as she placed a dollar on the counter before she departed and ran across the street.

Later, both Edith and Elise said their goodbyes to Rodney, each left a dollar on the counter and left the store. When 3:30 rolled around, Rodney hung-up his hat and apron, left the ice cream parlor and stood outside on the sidewalk. Two minutes later, his father’s Ford came to a stop to pick him up. On the way home, Mr. Boulevard talked again about the war and his dislike of the Germany’s leader, Adolf Hitler. His father was always talking about the war. War, war, war and war. Rodney asked his father why he always talked about the war. His father told him that it was the most important thing going on now, and because Rodney’s uncle was as an Air Force pilot sent to Germany. His father pulled into their driveway. Rodney and Mr. Boulevard entered their home and in the kitchen, Mrs. Boulevard was reading a home design magazine. The air was scented of freshly washed clothes, and Rodney’s favorite, fresh peanut butter cookies! “Rodney-James Boulevard, how’s my son doing on this fine day?," greeted Mrs. Boulevard cheerfully,”How was work today? I made peanut butter cookies for you!” “Thanks Mom," replied Rodney, taking the plate of cookies on the table and poured himself a glass of milk. He ate the cookies, and then went into the living room. There, he turned on the radio to listen to the news. Just as the news began, the telephone rang. He was the first to reach the phone in the living room, and picked it up. “Hello,” he said into the receiver. “Hi, Rod," he heard from the other end of the line. It was Elise’s voice. “Hi Elise, is there something you wanted?," asked Rodney. “I went out for dinner with my family and en route we stopped by your home to drop off a note in your mailbox.” The line clicked. Rodney hung up the telephone, and walked outside to the mailbox at the end of his driveway. In the mailbox sure enough there it was, the note with his name on it. He entered the house and walked down the hallway to his room. He sat at his desk and opened the envelope using his letter opener a present from his parents. He unfolded it and read: Rod, I think that you know that I like you. Sarah and Edith like you too, but not as much as I do. I think they like Joe’s more. than you.

E  __...__ A month before the Prom rolled around, Rodney asked Elise to go and she couldn’t refuse. Finally Prom evening arrived and Rodney and Elise danced the hours away and afterwards, went to the diner that Elise’s father owned to show him the bouquet of flowers Rodney had given her. Both Mr. and Mrs. Boulevard and Mr. and Mrs. Niminouse were all very pleased that their children enjoyed their high school Prom night.

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