Ennio Morricone – The Return/Days of Heaven

Boston 1937

Abby, a young seventeen year old girl walked down the streets of Boston wearing brown slacks and a black button up blouse. A gray faded newsboy hat was pulled tightly over her head, only a few strands of her raven colored hair showing. She wore dusty boots, and happily skipped from stone to stone, humming a nursery rhyme she remembered from when she was a child.

It was a cool October day and thick smog was all ready rising from the city. Just then Abby stopped dead in her tracks and saw him.

He was tall, almost like a giant. He wore suspenders, a white shirt, and black slacks. His thick black hair was combed neatly back, and he was sweeping in front of a barber shop which had a swirling pole that slowly moved up constantly. Abby had only been in the city for a few days, but had never noticed this shop before. Glancing up she saw the street sign.

Green Ave.

She watched him finish sweeping before going back inside. Biting her bottom lip she reached behind her and felt the strands of hair that were touching the back of her neck. Smiling she felt her pockets for some loose change. Walking over to the shop, she saw the windows were polished and clean. In red and green paint it said across the glass…

Sy Donowitz & Family Barber Shop

Abby peered in through the windows and saw dimly inside. There he saw a line of leather swirling chairs beside a long counter. There were mirrors and sinks, and the floor was a checkered black and white tile. Smiling, she pushed the door open and the faint sound of the bell hanging above it rang.

Softly on the radio a Red Sox game played.

There was one older man getting his daily shave on the other end of the shop by another large man wearing an apron. His hair graying and a very deep tan against his worn face.

The man she had just watched was near the counters, cleaning his scissors; he was looking back at the other two men and laughing. It seemed as though they were talking about the game over the radio and laughing.

"Ben Shields doesn't know what the fuck he's doing out there. You could send a fucking flying cannon at him and he wouldn't be able to hit it."

The men laughed before he glanced over at the sound of the door. He was wiping his hands with a towel when he looked over. Abby stood in the doorway.

"Are you open?"

The man smiled before motioning with his head to the door. Abby turned and saw the open sign was flipped and facing the street. Smiling, she blushed before looking back. By then the other men were back to talking and completely ignoring her.

"I was wondering if you could cut my hair."

The man raised one of his thick eyebrows.

"Here? Listen lady there's plenty of beauty parlors down the street…"

Abby shook her head before pulling her hat off. Beautiful long black hair fell to her shoulders.

"I want it cut short, besides I don't have much money…"

She had all ready eyed the chalk board and it said a hair cut would only be 34 cents. The man looked amused.

"All right, how short we talking?"

"Short, maybe around my ears, a little above."

"Like a pixy?"

Abby really didn't understand that but nodded.

"Yeah sure…"

The man grinned before turning one of the chairs.

"All right, take a seat. We don't get much women in here."

Abby smiled before walking over. She tossed her hat on the counter before the man put a black smock around her and buttoned it around her neck.

"That good?"

Abby nodded.

The man then let out his huge hand. Abby noticed he had a gold chain bracelet around his wrist.

"Donny Donowitz."

Abby smiled as her hand became swallowed by his.

"Abby."

Donny smiled, waiting.

"Abby…?"

Abby shrugged.

"Don't have a last name."

"You're joking?"

Abby shook her head as Donny laid out his scissors and grabbed his comb. Standing behind her, both stared at each other in the reflection of the mirrors before Abby smiled.

"I've been on my own most of my life. No family…can't remember them. So I just so by Abby."

Donny looked at her before grabbing his spray bottle, and held his scissors and comb before wetting the back of her hair. Beginning to cut, his large clumsy looking fingers moved with surprising grace. Her hair was just as black as his, and felt smooth to the touch.

"Where you from?"

His Boston accent was thick.

"All over, Texas, Canada, the mid West."

Donny looked surprised as he continued to cut her hair.

"And what are you doing in Boston?"

"I jumped a stock car. I was headed up to Maine with a bunch of people I was working with…"

"What did you guys do?"

"What?"

"For work?"

"Oh, well we worked a farm in Texas. A whole group of us lived there for two years. A farmer had us mind the fields."

"Really?"

"Yeah, for Harvest. The farmer was an older guy; he kept us on…about twenty of us through the year. Wasn't that bad. Really beautiful."

"What made you guys want to go up to Maine?"

Abby shrugged before Donny asked her to sit up straighter. As she did so she glanced up at him, her eyes a dark hazel, almost sparking.

"The farmer asked us to. Try and round up some workers he knows that are living in Maine. A couple of us girls jumped the stock train and are staying here for a bit. We're missing a pretty important week in the harvest but a lot of the heavy work doesn't start until November."

"How long you staying?"

"A week, maybe. We need to get going to Maine as soon as we can. I like it here though, I mean it isn't Texas but it's different."

Donny smiled as more of her raven colored hair fell to the black and white checkered tile floor.

"You a sports fan?"

"Not sure, never really followed anything before. Back on the farm there's a radio on the screened in porch. This summer a lot of us would drink iced tea and listen to some races that played…"

"Any baseball?"

"A few games… couldn't really follow them. A few of the men are always trying to get a game going but the women don't understand it."

"Have you been to Fenway yet?"

"The stadium?"

"Yeah."

"No, not yet."

Donny looked shocked.

"You mean to tell me you've been in Boston and you haven't seen the greatest sports team in the world play?"

Abby laughed, sitting there with her head slightly lowered as Donny now worked behind her ears.

"Who?"

"Who?! You gotta be fucking kidding me!"

Abby laughed before the older man who was shaving the other customer glanced over before loudly clearing his throat.

"Language Donny."

Donny looked over, a little embarrassed.

"Sorry pop."

Abby smiled, looking over before lowering her voice.

"That your father?"

"Yeah, he owns the shop."

Abby nodded, turning back as Donny continued to cut her hair. Donny's father went back to what he was doing. Abby said there for a second before smiling.

"You mean the Red Sox?"

"Huh?"

"The greatest sports team in the world. Do you mean the Red Sox?"

"So you have heard of them!"

"Only from the street. Are they any good?"

Donny rolled his eyes making Abby laugh even harder. The two men out back watched them, amused looks on their faces.

A few minutes later Donny dusted off Abby's shoulders before removing the smock.

"What do you think?"

Abby looked at herself in the mirror. It was different, but she liked it. Running her fingers through her shorter hair she laughed. Donny smiled his eyes proud.

"I love it."

Donny helped her out of the chair as she stood looking at herself, turning slightly before laughing again. Running her hand through it she eyed the floor and laughed.

"Wow, didn't think I had that much hair."

Donny smiled.

"I don't usually cut hair for women, but I have to say this is my best work yet."

Just then two women came in through the front door, the bell chiming making Donny and Abby turn to look. Both were dressed in tight dresses that showed their cleavage and fanned themselves with painted paper fans. Their blond hair were done up in loose buns, strands of their hair almost curled as it laid against their tanned faces. Both were in the middle of laughing before they saw Abby.

"I knew you came in here! Oh my God what did you do to your hair?!"

Abby smiled modeling it.

"You guys like it?"

The two girls burst out laughing before Abby blushed. Rolling her eyes she dug into her pocket and handed Donny the change.

"I better get going, thanks again!"

Before he could say another word Abby raced over to her two friends who laughed and playfully swatted her head. Abby laughed before the three of them left, the door banging behind them. Donny stood there, as if she just disappeared within the blink of an eye. Looking over at the counter he saw her newsboy cap.

"Shit!"

Grabbing it he quickly went out the front door and stood on the sidewalk, searching for Abby and her friends on each end of the street.

They weren't there.

Sighing, she looked at the hat and supposed she would be back once she remembered it. At least, he hoped. Walking back, he tossed it to the counter before grabbing the broom. Sweeping, he found himself in a much better mood.

He couldn't stop thinking about how beautiful she was.

Sweeping the last of the hair away he picked up some and studied it closely between his fingers. It really was beautiful. Throwing the rest out, he tried to continue his day but found himself unable to focus.

He kept thinking about her.

A few blocks away, Abby and her two friends sat at a pub together. A younger man sat at the piano and played cheerful music as the girls laughed and toasted their frosted mugs together.

Gina, and Heidi were her friends, she had met them in Texas nearly a year ago.

"I still can't believe you did that to your hair. Who will want you now?"

Teased Gina. Laughing, Abby shrugged before taking a sip of her mug.

"I like it. It's different."

Heidi rolled her eyes.

"Well, that was some handsome barber you had there. Did you see the size of him?!"

Abby blushed.

"He was cute…"

The girls laughed and continued to talk before dust fell. By then they had decided a few more days in Boston before moving onto Maine. They needed to make as much money as they could before leaving.

By then they went their own ways, deciding to meet up later on that night at the apartment building they were staying. They told each other to be careful before heading off into the streets. Before leaving, Abby checked her new hairdo in the dirty mirror of the pub and smiled…thinking about Donny, the handsome barber who had done it.

Shortly before dusk he locked up the shop, Donny was planning on going to Al's the pub down the street. Afterward the Sox were playing again and he thought about maybe walking on over to Fenway to catch the last inning. Whistling as he walked.

He loved this city, he had spent his entire life here and intended on dying here.

He knew nearly everyone from his small Jewish neighborhood, and felt safe with his close knit family. Instead of many of the boys he grew up with, he planned on taking over his father's trade and raising a family here.

He couldn't believe how much had changed due to the Great Depression. Even his own family had struggled to put food on the table.

He knew his brother was back home, playing with his wooden cars near the radio. His father had just gotten home and was smoking his pipe, and his mother was busy fussing away in the kitchen. Smiling as he thought about them, he wondered what it would be like to have a family of his own.

For a brief second he saw Abby in his mind. Waiting at the door for him as he returned from work. Much like how his own mother did whenever his father came through the door. He could see himself, a few years older and how Abby's beautiful smile would light up and how she would wrap her arms around him before kissing him.

He could see her as his wife.

That thought faded away as he kept walking, a crisp breeze in the air.

The streets were beginning to get crowded, and everyone seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere.

That's when he stopped.

Abby was across the street at an apple cart. She was laughing with the vendor and looking beautiful. The sky was pink, as the golden sun began to slowly set. The wind was blowing and running past him was a group of giggling kids holding sparklers.

He smiled watching her.

Walking over, his hands stuffed in his pockets he smiled before tapping her on the counter.

She turned, biting into her apple.

"Say lady, that's one pretty hair cut you got."

Turning, she looked at him slightly surprised and smiled.

"Hey…"

He smiled looking down at her before she pouted her lips and batted her eyelashes.

"Well, the man who did it is very talented."

Donny laughed.

"You left your hat at my place."

"Oh shit, I did huh?"

Donny laughed, he never heard many girls as pretty as her swear…he liked it.

"Yeah, I got it back there. I just closed up, but if you need it…"

She waved her hand.

"I'll get it later."

Donny looked around.

"Where are your friends?"

"Oh their just fooling around someplace. I was thinking about heading on over to Fenway."

"Really?"

"Yeah, after talking to you I saw how important it is to now to see the greatest team in the world play. I mean what would my visit to Boston be all about if I didn't go see the sox."

Donny laughed amused.

"I was headed there too actually. Do you want to come with?"

"You?"

"No Clark Gable, of course me."

Abby smiled before taking hold of his arm. With her free hand she offered his her apple.

"Bite?"

Donny smiled before leaning down and biting it into. The juice inside it was so strong it tickled his taste buds. Smiling, Abby watched him, her eyes locking with his for a second before she laughed and held the apple. He smiled, wiping his mouth before offering his hand. Taking it, they began to walk down the street.

On their way to the stadium, both talked a little as the sky became darker. Abby asked if they could still play in the dark and Donny said of course. That they had lights set up and that the players could see perfectly fine, even though games later on in the evening were rare.

He told her that he had lived in Boston all his life. That his family lived here and that he was Jewish. He told her that his father had opened the shop when he was his age and he had been cutting hair ever since he was twelve. He worked odd jobs before, bricking houses, and roofing but his real passion was cutting hair. Abby seemed amused by his stories and listened closely.

When he asked her about herself she shrugged. There wasn't much to tell.

She didn't have any family and had moved around a lot. She now lived in Texas working on the farm and had a lot of friends down there.

"Anything else?"

Donny asked. He insisted he paid for their tickets.

Abby shook her head.

"Not really…"

"Well when is your birthday?"

Abby laughed before Donny stopped, his eyes huge.

"Don't tell me you don't know your birthday?"

Abby laughed.

"Well…all I remember is it's sometime before the first snow falls. So I pick a different day each year."

"How old are you? Do you know that?"

"Seventeen…I think."

Donny smiled.

"You know, you're very different than the other women I've met."

Abby smiled staring up at him.

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

Donny studied her closely, smiling.

"Good."

Abby smiled before they found their seats and finished her apple. That evening he explained everything about baseball to her. Both sat together as he pointed out the players and told her everything that they were doing. Abby sat beside him, closely watching and listening. At one point his arm went around her shoulders and she didn't even notice.

By the end of the game both walked out together, laughing despite the fact that the team lost. Donny told her his favorite players, how long he had been playing, and a brief history about the Sox. Donny offered to walk Abby home but, stopped by a pizza shop beforehand. Both sat in a booth together, sharing a pizza and laughing. They talked a little about how the great depression had affected them. Donny said his family had been lucky since his father's shop had been around for so long, but a good amount of his friends had gone elsewhere looking for work. Both kept eating the pizza, laughing and staring at each other as the record player behind the counter played some old big band music.

Abby said the depression just meant more people were looking for work in Texas. Harvest time nearly two hundred people came to the fields, and before winter they would all leave looking for new work.

Donny bought them beers, and they shared some laughs before it got late. Walking her to the small apartment building she was staying at, she turned on the stoop and smiled at him.

It was getting cold out and Donny had draped his leather jacket over her shoulders.

Taking it off she handed it to him.

"I had a lot of fun tonight, thank-you."

Donny smiled.

"Don't mention it. I hope we can see each other real soon again. You said you girls aren't moving onto Maine for a bit longer."

"Yeah, it will be awhile. I really hope we can see each other again."

Both smiled, staring at each other before Abby leaned down and gently kissed Donny. Both smiled through the kiss before she pulled away slightly. Laughing, she winked at him before turning and climbing up the stairs.

"Sweet dreams Donny…"

She called to him before opening the front door and disappearing. Donny watched, smiling from ear to ear before turning. As he walked home, he found himself happier than usual. He had dated plenty of girls, most of them neighbors who grew up with him. His mother couldn't wait until he settled down, while Donny went through life completely carefree.

But Abby was different.

He couldn't get her out of his mind.

By the time he came through the front door of his apartment, his younger brother had all ready gone to bed. His parents sat up by the radio. His father smoking his pipe, while his mother knitted. Both looked up as Donny smiled.

"Hey mom, hey pop."

"Your dinner is in the oven. I guess you're too good to sit down with your family to eat now."

His mother added, not looking up. Donny grinned, trying to ignore her tone as he walked into the living room, cracking his back and smiling. His father noticed.

"You're in a rather good mood."

"Yeah I guess I am pop."

"It's that girl today huh?"

Right away Donny's mother's head snapped up like a bullet.

"Girl? What girl?"

Donny's father smiled, as the radio played a soap opera softly in the background.

"A pretty little gal came into the shop today. Donny gave her a haircut. Seemed as though they had hit it off."

"She went into the shop to get her hair done?"

"Strange, but she sure was pretty. Wasn't she Donny?"

Donny grinned.

"She sure was."

"And what is this girl's name?"

"Abby."

"She from around here?"

Donny shook his head.

"Texas."

"Texas?"

Her mother asked, her eyes uneasy.

"Yeah, she's with a few friends. Their heading up to Maine…"

"Oh…so she won't be here long?"

Donny stared at his mother before shrugging.

"I don't know."

"Well…it's just for the best. Now I wanted to let you know on Sunday we're having the De Luca's over for dinner and their daughter Rose just can't wait to meet you."

Donny knew where this was coming from and rolled his eyes.

"Listen I'm beat. I'll see you guys in the morning…"

Walking to his room, he hated whenever his mother tried to run his life. She always hated whenever he was interested in a girl unless she was a Jewish Italian that was a daughter of a friend she knew. Going down the hall, he reached his bedroom door and went inside. Shutting it behind him he leaned against the door before closing his eyes and replaying the kiss over and over again.

"I don't like it whenever he meets a strange girl…it means trouble."

His mother said as she went back to her knitting,.

Donny's father smiled shaking his head as he lit his pipe again.

"He's old enough to make his own choices. Besides…he hasn't looked that happy in a while."

The next morning.

Donny woke up in a great mood.

He showered, shaved, and dressed whistling. His eight year old brother Tony was at the kitchen table with his fake wooden gun. Lately he had become obsessed with cowboys, and sitting there he aimed right at Donny and clicked trigger.

"Bang! Your dead!"

Donny laughed, clutching his chest before pretending to fall against the wall.

"Ah! You got me!"

Usually he didn't goof around like this with Tony, but today he found himself falling against the wall while rolling his eyes back in his head and pretending to hunch over. His mother who wore her apron while frying eggs did not look amused.

His father was all ready at the shop.

It was a beautiful crisp autumn day.

Walking, he saw the few trees that lined the streets were all ready starting to change color. Turning inside, the bell rang and he saw his father cutting Mr. Steve's hair. Walking in, his father smiled across to him.

"Hey Donny there's something for you here!"

Donny raised an eyebrow, throwing his leather jacket that his father had saved up for last Christmas over one of the chairs.

"Humm?"

"Over there, it was in-between the doors. Lucky it didn't get stolen."

Donny went over to his father's desk where he made out the bills and saw a brand new slugger baseball bat laying there with a note stuck to it. Donny grinned before opening the card.

Hope you like it! Try to meet me at Central Park at noon. Bring the bat! – Abby

Donny studied her thin handwriting and smiled. His heart thumping in his chest. Smiling, he raised the baseball bat and held it tightly before giving the air a good swing.

His father and Mr. Stevens looked up. His father smiled.

"Nice bat. Your new girlfriend get you it?"

Donny blushed before smiling. He looked over at bat and couldn't believe how perfect it was. Turning, he kept smiling before laying the bat back down. He was in such a good mood that morning, he didn't even mind cutting two five year olds hair.

At noon he told his dad he was going to lunch. Hurrying to Central Park he carried the bat. Passing a pumpkin stand, he kept thinking back to the night before. He couldn't believe all of this had happened within the space of a day. Reaching the park right away panic leaped inside of him.

She didn't say where.

Standing there, he looked around before hearing her voice.

"Are you going to teach me how to play for what?"

Donny grinned before turning. She stood there in slacks again and a red wine blouse. Wooden bracelets around her wrists. Smiling, she tossed him a worn baseball.

Donny walked over, looking into her beautiful eyes.

"You really shouldn't have…"

He motioned at the bat. Abby looked up at him.

"Don't mention it. The second I saw it…I thought of you."

Both locked eyes for a moment before Donny leaned down and gently kissed her again. Smiling, he stood up straight before tossing the ball back to her. She caught it smiling.

"So you ready to learn the Boston way?"

That afternoon they spend together in the park. Donny stood behind Abby, his arms slowly going around her waist as he showed her how to bat. Both leaned up close against each other, smiling as he put his face against her and showed her how to swing the bat back all the way.

An hour later Donny bumped into a friend of his Sonny. He joined in and pitched for them. At first Abby was horrible, Donny didn't think he had laughed so hard before whenever she went to swing and the bat fell out of her hands, nearly hitting him.

Soon another one of Donny's friends came, Andy. The four of them played for a few hours and by the end Abby had really gotten the hang of it. They all grabbed cokes together and Sonny and Andy seemed very interested in Abby.

Seeing how late it was getting, Donny swore.

"Shit! I need to get back to the shop."

"I'll walk you."

Abby said smiling. Both walked down the streets together before saying goodbye to Donny's friends. While they walked, Abby's hand slipped into Donny's. Looking down he smiled.

Once they reached the shop, Donny placed the bat on his shoulders before looking down at Abby.

"When can I see you again?"

Abby smiled.

"How about tonight?"

Donny smiled before putting one of his hands though his hair.

"Okay…where?"

"I don't know. Maybe we can go dancing?"

Donny laughed.

"You like to dance?"

"Hey I'm not completely a tomboy."

Donny smiled before shuffling his feet.

"This is a little embarrassing, but…I don't know how to dance."

Abby laughed.

"Really?"

Donny shrugged.

"Maybe we can go after we have dinner. Would you mind meeting my parents?"

The second he said this he wanted to slap himself for being so forward. Abby smiled before thinking for a second.

"Sure…do you think they will like me?"

Donny laughed.

"Like you! What's not to like? My pop in there thinks your sweet and I bet my mom will get a kick out of you. She's a little old fashion but she'll warm up to you."

"Really?"

"Of course…so I pick you up at your place?"

"Yeah sure…what time?"

"Seven?"

"Seven sounds great. Then dancing?"

Donny smiled.

"Yeah sure, dancing until we drop."

Abby smiled before standing on her tiptoes and kissing him on his cheek. Donny smiled before watching her walk away and out of sight. Going inside the shop, his father was sitting at his desk with his feet up. He was looking over some paperwork with his glasses on the edge of his nose. Looking up he smiled.

"Why hello stranger!"

Donny smiled before walking over.

"Sorry dad I was gone so long."

His father waved his hand.

"No problem, it's been slow. Besides, looks like you had fun."

Donny felt his cheek where Abby had kissed him and smiled.

"Yeah…I guess I did. I invited her over for dinner tonight. You think that's okay with mom?"

Donny's father shrugged.

"I'm sure she will."

Donny put his bat down, and couldn't seem to stop thinking about Abby. As funny as it sounded…he really thought he was falling in love.

Later that night.

Donny wore a nice button up shirt and slacks. Picking Abby up, his eyes almost fell out of his head. She was wearing a simple navy blue dress with strap heels. It looked as though she had gone to a lot of trouble to look lady like. She seemed nervous.

Donny smiled.

"Wow…you look great."

Abby nervously smiled before twirling for him.

"You think so? I borrowed it from Heidi. I'm not overdressed am I?"

Donny smiled, before shaking his head.

"You look perfect."

Taking her hand, he walked her down the street, her heels clicking against the sidewalk. From the apartment window, Heidi and Gina watched.

Once they reached the apartment, Abby laughed before nervously rubbing her hands to smooth out her dress. Going up the stairs, they finally reached the door. Donny smiled before opening it and both stopped dead in their tracks in the doorway.

The De Luca's were there.

Maria De Luca, his mother's good friend stood in the kitchen with his own mother finishing making bread. Al De Luca, the father, who worked in roofing sat at the set kitchen table with his father.

And Rose, their daughter sat at the other end of the table in a light pink dress. Her hair done up, and pear earrings on.

Right away everyone stopped talking and stared.

Donny's father almost choked on his pipe before his mother shot him a look. Donny felt Abby's grip tighten on his hand.

"Donny…you brought a guest."

Donny eyed his father who cleared his throat.

"Yes, I told you honey. Remember?"

Donny glared at his mother. In the living room Tony was playing with his toy horses. Donny's mother looked Abby and down before making a face.

"Oh, I guess I forgot…"

"I thought you said they were coming over Sunday mom."

Donny's mother pretended a smile before going back to mixing the bread.

"Donny, where are your manners. Now come sit down."

Mrs. De Luca looked Abby up and down and snorted.

"That's some interesting dress you have on. Haven't I seen you before?"

Abby suddenly looked very nervous, Donny felt her backing up.

"Ummm…Donny I don't feel so well…"

Her voice lowered, just enough for Donny to hear.

Donny glanced over, and couldn't believe it. He felt temper raising by his family. Growing up his temper had been a problem, he couldn't count how many times as a young boy he had lost it in the schoolyard. In fact, his father got him into cutting hair because he said it was something that would calm him down.

Seeing the way the De Luca's were looking and speaking to her, and how her mother was acting he felt as though he would snap at any moment. Just then Rose looked over, enough makeup on her face to make Donny sick before she tried her hardest to make a pouting face.

"Mom, you didn't say anything about Donny bringing another girl!"

Mrs. De Luca kept staring at Abby, her hands on her hips.

"I know I've seen you before!"

Abby then let go of Donny's wrist and quickly ran out. Donny stared at all of them before turning and running after her.

"Abby!"

He raced down the stairs chasing her. Pushing the doors, open he found her beginning to quickly go down the front apartment steps. Grabbing her shoulder he stopped her.

"Hey!"

Abby nearly lost her balance in her heels and began to stumble forward. Donny was able to grab her arm before she fell forward completely. Just in time, he yanked her back before she fell flat on her face. Turning her around, both were out of breath. He stared down at her, their eyes locking.

"Abby wait!"

Abby seemed upset, almost on the verge of tears.

"Listen Donny I need to go…"

She tried pulling away, but Donny held her.

"Please, don't listen to those idiots up there! It's my mother she does this and tries to get to me…"

Shaking her head, Abby tried to smile.

"It isn't that. Trust me I've seen it before…I just need to go…"

Donny pulled her closer.

"Don't…"

Abby looked up at him, her eyes slightly unsure.

"Donny there's a beautiful girl waiting for you upstairs. You don't want me…besides I'll only be here a while longer, better to just leave things as they are…"

Before she could say another word Donny kissed her.

Smiling through the kiss, he pulled away before lacing his fingers against hers. Abby laughed before he brought her hand up and squeezed it.

"Come on, let's go dancing…"

Later that night.

"Where are your friends?"

Donny asked as Abby as the two stumbled and fell against each other going down the hallway to her apartment. It was a couple of hours later and both found a small jazz club. This usually wasn't Donny's thing, but he had promised her dancing. Abby held onto his hands and guided him, teaching just as he had earlier when they played baseball in the park. There was plenty of tripping, stumbling, laughing, and swearing. By the end of the night, and half a bottle of liquor, both held onto each other before Donny offered to walk her back home.

When they reached the apartment she saw the lights were off in the window two floors up. She said Heidi and Ginger were out and most likely wouldn't be back until morning. She offered if he wanted to come inside.

Now both of them very drunk and struggling to get to Abby's apartment door.

"They go out, they know people…'

"Wow really?"

Abby quickly nodded before finding the door and opening it. Donny followed, seeing how drunk he really was when he shut the door behind him. Abby turned on the lights and Donny saw how small the place really was. He couldn't believe three women lived in here.

Abby rubbed her bare arms before turning and facing him.

Smiling, she stared at him. Suddenly Donny became very nervous.

"I'm not like other girls Donny…"

She softly said.

Donny took a step closer, his heart pounding in his chest.

"I know…"

"I really mean it. I just wanted to let you know you're like the rest of them. You're special."

Donny smiled nervously.

"Funny, I was about to say the same thing about you…"

Just then Abby reached behind her neck and unhooked her dress. The straps fell silently and finally it pooled around her ankles. Standing there completely nude, she stared at Donny and smiled before looking down at himself and raising an eyebrow.

"I take it I had something to do with that?"

Donny saw through his slacks he was all ready beginning to get a huge erection. Embarrassed, he laughed and before he could say anything she took a step closer and wrapped her arms around him. Pulling him close, she rotate her lower body against his groin. Standing on her tip toes, her tongue lightly danced across his mouth, her taste sweet, almost like sugar. Donny felt himself beginning to sweat despite the chill outside.

He had only been with a few women, the last one was Jane Achille, a girl from his neighborhood he had taken out for nearly a year. His mother didn't like her simply because she seemed like the girl who would dance over tabletops and not even care about settling down and starting a family. Jane's family moved away last spring.

Her slim hands began to unbutton his shirt, revealing his thick black chest hair. Often his friends ragged on him because of his hairy he was, saying that he looked like Sasquatch between the hair and his height. He of course always flipped them off, saying they were just jealous because they hadn't hit puberty yet.

Abby's hands rubbed his chest before one dropped and began to undo his belt. Donny felt himself getting worked up and didn't know how much longer he could stand it.

"Y-you…got a rubber?"

Abby burst out laughing and Donny right away wanted to slap himself. Instead she nodded before she leaned up and gently began kissing his jaw line. Donny then knew he needed to take control. Trying to get his hands to stop shaking, he scooped her up and brought her over to one of the cots.

She helped him unzip his slacks and push them down. Smiling, she looked at him and then met his eyes.

"My Donny…what's that?"

Donny grinned as he crawled up over her, his mouth roughly kissing hers.

"Something that I'm sure you'll like…"

Both laughed at this before he fell upon her.

In the middle of the night, as they made love her nails dug into his tanned back and cried out his name. When he finished, shaken and completely exhausted and buried his head against her neck before saying…

"I love you Abby…"

He hadn't ever said this to another girl in his entire life.

Abby laid awake, feeling of weight of him slightly crushing her. He was still inside of her, and made her body dully ache in a good way. Laying there, she stared up at the ceiling before kissing the side of his face as he drifted off to sleep.

"And I love you Donny…"

Soon they fell asleep.

The next morning.

Donny's eyes opened and the first thing he saw was gentle gold dust slightly floating in the air from the sunlight that poured through the windows.

He was in a strange place.

Opening his eyes, he blinked the sleep out of them before turning over.

Abby wasn't there.

Instead just an empty side of the small cot they had shared. The room was completely empty. Laying there, he felt how sore he was and looked down at himself. Smiling, he tilted his head back and couldn't believe what had happened last night.

Rubbing his stubble covered face, he laughed before seeing a note.

Donny had to run out. I'm with Ginger and Heidi. Sleep in if you want. I'll come by your place later on tonight. – Ps. Last night was amazing, I'll never forget it. – love Abby.

Donny smiled, crumbling up the letter in his hands before laying back and sighing.

He was in love.

Dressing shortly after, he wondered which pile of clothes were Abby's. Going over to one of the dressers, he saw a beautiful silver stopwatch. Opening it he saw it was broken, but a beautiful tune began to play from it. Smiling, he closed it and the music stopped. Opening it again it played. The tune was gentle and haunting at the same time.

Closing it and placing it back on the dresser he left the apartment and walked to his father's shop.

Coming, he saw it was still early. His father was alone and sweeping the inside. Donny smiled as the bell behind him rang.

"Morning Donny."

"Morning pop."

"Looks like you need a shave."

Donny grinned before feeling his face.

"Yeah…I guess I do."

His father went over to one of the chairs and brushed it off.

"Then take a seat, and tell me all about last night."

Donny smiled before walking over.

As his father shaved him with his straightedge razor he apologized about the night before. He said he was sorry on how everyone had acted and that he liked Abby a whole lot more than Rose. Sighing as his father carefully worked on his neck he shut his eyes. Remembering every detail about last night.

"She needs to stop controlling my life pop. I'm a grown man."

"I know, I know. I've tried to tell her but she just won't go. She nearly died having you and she believes there's some special link between you two. I think she's just worried of loosing you."

"I think I'm in love with Abby pop."

The words hung in the air before he saw his father smiling.

"I would of guessed so. She's different isn't she?"

Donny smiled as his father began to wipe his face with a towel.

"She sure is."

"Can't stop thinking about her? Get nervous whenever she's around? You're heart races?"

Donny smiled.

"Yeah…"

"Yep you're in love. That's how I felt whenever you're mother was around when we first met."

Donny smiled sitting back in the chair.

"I know it's fast, but I think I might want to marry her."

His father seemed pleased as he stood back letting Donny out of the chair.

"She must be special, never thought I would see the day where my son Donny would want to settle down."

Donny laughed before his father wiped his hands.

"You just need to make sure she doesn't fly away…that's what women like Abby are like. Birds, their so beautiful you're in complete awe when you see them. If you don't move fast enough…they simply fly away."

Later that evening.

"You want to do what?!"

Donny's mother yelled, a sauce spoon in her hands.

Donny stood in the kitchen with his father. He tried to speak more slowly.

"I want grandmother's ring. I'm going to propose to Abby…"

"You just met her!"

"I love her mom. I've never felt this way before."

"It's not love it's lust! And I'll be damned to have you shame this family Donny!"

Donny looked at his father, his arms crossed. He wouldn't help. This was Donny's fight.

"She's coming over soon. I want you and her to meet…really meet."

"I won't have any whores in my house!"

Donny froze, his eyes darkening.

"What?"

Donny's mother put her hands on her hips.

"A whore, I called her exactly what she was!"

"Don't you ever call her that…"

Donny's voice was barely above a whisper.

"Maria De Luca was right. Those three girls are whores! Everyone has been talking about them! They came up from Texas and their passing through, selling their bodies to gain a little extra money. Maria saw the same exact girl you want to become your wife a week ago behind the farmer's market spreading her legs for a group of men. She's a dirty little whore Donny and I rather die before you bring her into this family!"

Donny was speechless. It couldn't be true. Turning to his father, his eyes wide.

"Pop?"

His father looked ashamed.

"On my way back tonight, Bobby from down the street mentioned seeing those girls downtown…selling themselves…."

Donny felt sick.

At that exact moment, listening outside the front door in the hallway was Abby. She could hear everything. Stopping, her heart sank when she didn't hear Donny's voice say another word.

He's ashamed…

Fighting back tears, she stepped back shaking her head.

This was a mistake. Turning, she quickly left the building.

Donny sat at his kitchen table in shock as his father poured his some whiskey.

"It's okay son…"

Donny looked up and saw his mother's eyes. She was smiling. Shaking his head he stood up, pushing the chair aside.

"No, I don't believe you. Even if she was a whore she was doing it to survive. That isn't her and that's not how I'll look at her!"

His mother made the sign of the cross.

"Donny!"

Donny ran out of the apartment, ignoring his father's cries.

By the time he reached Abby's apartment and pounded on the door there was no answer.

"Abby!"

He yelled, pounding on the door again. He didn't care if it was true. He needed to let her know he loved her, and would turn his back on his family if it came to it. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

"What's all the noise?"

Donny turned and saw the landlord, a heavy set man with graying hair.

"Are they still here?"

"Who?"

"The girls…"

"Is your name Donny?"

"Yes."

The man reached into his back pocket and handed Donny something.

A piece of paper.

"They left about twenty or so minuets ago, never saw women move that fast. One of them…the one with the short black hair seemed real upset. If they hadn't paid for another two weeks I would of chased them but before she left she gave me this and said if a man named Donny came looking to give it."

Donny opened the letter.

Donny, I'm so sorry I lied. Everything you heard was true. I'm nothing but a filthy whore. I'm so sorry, I hope I didn't shame you in any way. I'm moving on now, hope you can forgive me. I just wanted to let you know I never met anyone like you before. Thank you for making me feel like a lady. Maybe we'll meet again. Have a good life Donny. Enjoy the bat, and keep playing…Abby.

Donny stared at the letter in disbelief.

She must have come to his apartment and heard the yelling. Throwing the letter down he quickly ran out. By the time he reached the trains, they had left. Swearing, he went back to his father's locked up shop and quickly let himself in.

He was shaking.

He would hitch a ride to Maine…somehow find her…explain everything.

But had she lied about Maine? Did he even know if he would find her? Finding his baseball bat on his father's desk he grabbed it and quickly swung to one of the mirrors.

It shattered into a million pieces.

Falling to his knees, he dropped the bat and began to cry.

Somewhere on a train, Abby sat bundled up between Heidi and Ginger.

"It happens all the time love, they fall for you then their disgusted…"

"I don't he was, it was his family. I couldn't do that to him…"

"It's just as well. We got ourselves enough money. We'll hit up Maine for a week and try to get the old gang to come back to the panhandle with us. Just in time for the last of the harvest. Put this all behind us…"

Abby stared at the passing woods in the darkness of the night as the train rode on. Sighing, she laid back and shut her eyes.