Everyone called her Kitty. Her real name was Katerina Mushkia. Kitty was well known and liked around town, her mother worked in the sheriff's office, her father ran a small shop where he tried to make sure he had what everyone wanted. A person could go into Ivan Mushkia's shop and if he didn't have it, he would order it in as a special delivery.
They all lived in a small pleasant town. Most people looked out for each other. It hadn't changed much from the way it had been in 1945, even the cinema still opened for Saturday matinee's the way it used to and had an usher that would take you to your seat.
It was middle America at it's very best and proud of it. The stars and stipes hung from a flagpole and an old Marine would still hobble out every morning to salute it, straitening his back with pride and saluting smartly while his grandson played the bugle. It wasn't what most modern towns did and city people would watch with a kind of awe. Understanding of the tradition flying past them. But for the good people of Jarksville it was something they took for granted and found comfort in.
In 1995 a big company bought a large tract of land just outside the town. The people were happy at the new addition as the company promised a fully equipped, brand new hospital would be built as well as the massive complex it wanted.
Jarksville prospered, jobs were created and new people arrived, most of which embraced the town's traditions and found it a good place to live.
***
2008...
Kitty was fourteen when one of their family friends asked if she would be interested in an extra babysitting job. The newly arrived Jensen family had a small boy. The Jensen's both worked at Biodyne Technologies and were looking for someone to help once the nanny they had hired finished at six.
"Sure, the Davidson family don't need me anymore and I was hoping to find someone else." Kitty answered with a smile. She had her eye on a new phone.
Her parents were second generation Ukrainians and still held strict ideas regarding work ethic. Katerina had helped out at the store since she was small and once she got older, had been expected to find extra work if she wanted the things every teenage girl wanted.
Kitty found she liked the Jensen's very much. Mrs Jensen was from Baton Rouge, had a pleasant and welcoming air while maintaining a smart professional image. Mr Jensen was a tall blonde haired man with an easy smile and a background in biology. He too was cheerful and generous.
She soon found herself quite eager to go look after their son Alex as the boy was fairly easy to handle and once put to bed, Kitty could concentrate on her studies. If she wanted to relax, they had a pool, a jacuzzi and the very best TV. All of it was available for her to use as she wished.
At sixteen the Jensen's gave her a spare set of car keys, the bright yellow Mercedes was rarely used and she was allowed to drive it whenever she wanted. Her father objected at first but soon let the matter drop once he had talked with Mr and Mrs Jensen.
***
It was autumn and the town's trees were filled with a riot of bright gold, yellow and reds. Kitty drove carefully as she headed past the school and onto what was now called Biodyne Avenue. The town council had unanimously voted for the name change after the new hospital had been built as promised. Kitty had never know it as anything else so the new name was the way she always thought of it.
She stopped dutifully at the stop sign and checked left and right before moving off. Aside from the shopping in the rear, she carried the precious cargo of young Alex and was extra careful.
"Can I have an Ice-cream Kitty?... please?... please?" begged the now nine year-old boy.
Kitty laughed and nodded.
"Okay.. lets stop at Papa Luigi's." she agreed. Partially because the half Italian-half Polish Kyle would be working. She had a massive crush on him and took any chance to visit the place.
They found a parking spot with ease and were soon walking hand in hand into the Ice cream parlour. Alex never let go of her hand. Unlike most young boys, he didn't like to explore and felt a need to hold her hand.
"Hiya Kitty.. hi Alex.. what will it be?" asked Kyle with a smile. He liked Kitty a lot. She was taller than most girls her age, had large brown eyes and a pretty face. Her breasts were well developed too and filled out her sweater nicely.
Kitty flicked her hair and looked down at Alex. The action hiding the blush she felt rising when Kyle had smiled at her.
"What would you like?.. only one scoop." She asked and told the child. Aware that too much sugar sent Alex a bit wild.
Alex stared at the array of ice-creams, his mouth watering as he grinned in delight.
"Chocolate fudge." He said firmly, pointing to the one that looked the most chocolaty and sweet.
"Kitty... hey girl, I thought we could hit the library later." Samantha Brooks said in a gush as she walked into the store.
Kitty hugged her best friend.
"Sure, but I'll be late... Mrs Jensen can't get home until four." Kitty replied.
"Wow.. on a Saturday?" Sam said with a shake of her head.
Kitty shrugged.
"They both work super hard... it's good for me though... want an ice cream?... My treat." Kitty said with a grin. Knowing she had made well over a hundred dollars in the last few weeks.
The two girls giggled together as they chose what they wanted. Exchanging soft whispers as they watched the handsome Kyle fill their orders.
Kitty took Alex's spare hand as he licked his cone.
"Come on you." She said to him with affection. He grinned up at her and worked his fingers into hers as they headed for the door. Samantha already opening it.
"Kitty!!" blurted out Kyle, a bit more loudly than he had intended.
She turned and looked at him in surprise.
He blushed and fiddled with his apron. Gathered his courage and then seemed to swell up a bit.
"Will you go to prom with me?" he asked.
Her mouth dropped open a bit and she looked at him blankly in her shock.
"I mean.. I know it's not usual to ask a junior to senior prom... but... erm... would you?" Kyle said nervously.
Samantha had a hand over her mouth and was repeatedly whispering OMG.. OMG.. under her breath.
Kitty's eyes darted around the store, people were looking and a few were smiling. The older ones had that weird 'aww, how cute' look. It made her blush furiously and she gulped.
Samantha was the one that snapped her out of it. Tugging her around so they were face to face.
"Senior PROM... Oh.. MY .. GOSH... You HAVE to say yes." She hissed out quietly.
"Oh... but.. but."
"No.. no but's... I'll buy you a freakin dress myself if I have to... say YES." Samantha growled back in a whisper.
Kitty glanced over her shoulder. Kyle looked like he was about to vomit.
She turned around.
"Okay... YES." She said while continuing to blush.
It took a moment for her answer to register. Kyle blinked a few times and then grinned like a lunatic.
"I'll text you... erm.. maybe we could meet... later?... talk more?" he said.
Kitty nodded a bit stupidly and then was whisked out the shop by Samantha before she could form a reply or embarrass herself. Alex gripped her hand and followed. His eyes wide in confusion.
Outside, Samantha started to laugh delightedly.
"Holy SHIT.. my BFF is dating KYLE... just wait until I post THIS." She said with glee. Taking out her phone to hit up twitter, Facebook and a few other sites.
"NOOOOO... no you can't.. I'm not dating him... I mean.. oh crap.. I don't know what I mean." Kitty wailed.
Alex tugged on her hand.
The tug reminded her he was there and she shook her head before looking down at him with a smile.
"Hey little big man?" she said gently.
"Do you love him more than me?" Alex asked with a slightly desperate expression on his face.
Kitty knelt down and pulled him close.
"Don't be silly... of course not." She told him as she held him close.
Samantha groaned.
"Jesus Kitty.. you're not his mom."
