phone, but then realized that she would probably not want to be woken up because of what could be a silly thing. The only other thing he could do about it was to pray.
Heavenly father, Jimmy prayed silently, I’m praying for someone that I have prayed for countless times before, but this is something different. I don’t know how she is feeling now but I know you know. I ask that you would encourage her and that she would not give up hope. Just let her know that she is loved. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
____________
Jessica Hall was restless and could not sleep. She could not help but think of what was going to happen tomorrow. She was planning on going over to Jimmy’s, but with these new rules that she might have to obey she may not be able to. Hey, Jessica thought, Jimmy seems to never get in trouble with anyone. I bet it is because he somehow smooth talks his parents into letting him go places.
Although it was three in the morning, Jessica did not think it was a big deal to call at this time. “Hey, Jimmy?”
“Yes?” His voice was groggy.
“Are you awake?”
“Well, I was working on some lyrics, but then I kind of fell asleep. So you woke me up. Is it important?”
“You are working on that now? I should really pay you for doing this.”
“No, I’m good; I already have a job. But is it important?”
“Yeah, how do you get your parents to like you?”
“Who’s asking?”
Jessica pondered for a bit then said, “A friend.”
“At this time of night? Or morning?”
“Yeah, why not?”
“Well, can’t they call me in the morning?”
“They don’t have your number.”
“Well, can you give it to them?”
“No, they are sleeping now.”
“Well, then can’t you ask them─”
“Jimmy!”
“OK, OK. Calm down please. I’ll tell you. I─”
“Great!”
“Can you please stop interrupting me?” It sounded to Jessica as if he was losing his patience.
“Sure, sure. Go ahead.”
“Thank you. To be honest I don’t purposely get them to ‘like’ me. I just do what they ask of me— most of the time—and they give me more freedoms. In the Bib─”
“Oh really?”
“Jessica, remember?”
“Oh, yes, sorry.” Jessica felt a bit embarrassed. No one cut jimmy off when he spoke; it was a kind of respect people had for him.
“The Bible tells us that we need to obey our parents and if we do we will live a long and fruitful life.” Jessica couldn’t care less about the Bible; all she wanted was how to smooth talk herself out of her predicament.
“So you don’t smooch them into letting you do stuff?”
“Maybe you want to choose a different word, but no I don’t. Why? You need to get out of something?”
“Um, I told you it was for a friend.”
“Oh right, how I seem to have forgotten.” Jimmy said with a chuckle and then asked, “Are you free later this morning, say around eleven? I need to go over something with you.”
“About music?”
“Yeah, there is a song which I think we need to work on.”
“I don’t know Jimmy. I’ll call you when it actually gets light out and tell you if I can meet. If I don’t call then it is because I am still sleeping.”
“Alright, hope all is well. Goodnight.”
Jessica didn’t wish him a goodnight and just hung up. She did not get any help and she still had to face her parents in the morning. There was one more friend who could help her. Brittany. She usually got Jessica out of trouble and was the best source for good information.
FOUR
Jessica Hall took Brittany’s advice on dealing with her parents. Just before meeting with her parents in the living room Jessica went over what she was going to say. Knowing her mom, Jessica put on a gloomy face and pushed her bedroom door open. Just as Jessica expected her mother walked up to Jessica and gave her a hug. Jessica did her best to keep her saddened look.
“Are you OK Jessica?” Her mom asked.
“Kind of, the reason why I was out last night was because I was feeling a bit lonely and sad. I won’t do it again I’m sorry.” Only part of that was the truth; Jessica had no intentions to stop sneaking out.
“Oh, it’s OK honey.” Her mother said and embraced her once again. They spoke for a few more minutes mostly about the night before. Finally her dad said, “I don’t think that grounding you is the right punishment for right now. However, your mom and I still need to think more about this.”
“So can I go to Jimmy’s? It is about music. I’ll come right home after we are done.”
Her dad thought about it then said, “Yes you may, but I expect you back before lunch, and then we will give you your punishment.”
“Don’t worry, it should not take very long.” Jessica was slow to get up so that she would not give away that it was all just a joke to her. She got to her room and had a smirk on her face; Brittany’s tactic worked.
Jessica took a quick shower and looked at the clock. It was a few minutes to ten. That would give Jimmy and Jessica around two hours by the time she got to his house. It would be a short bike ride to Jimmy’s house; she only lived a few streets away from him.
The bike ride was really easy since it was mostly downhill, but Jessica was more worried about the ride back to her house. She parked her bike outside the front door.
____________
Jimmy King had just woken up. Still in his boxers he made his way to the kitchen knowing that no one else was at home. He had received no phone call from Jessica so he assumed that she was either still sleeping and would call later or that she wasn’t coming.
Jimmy liked to keep up with the news every day. He noticed that his dad, Robert, did not take the paper in from this morning. Still groggy Jimmy made his way to the door to collect the paper outside.
Jimmy immediately snapped out of his grogginess to the sight of Jessica Hall right in front of him. Both stood there speechless at the sight of each other. Embarrassed Jimmy hid himself behind the door. He stuck his head out from behind the door and said, “Uh, hi. I wasn’t expecting you now.”
Jessica pushed her way in and said, “Well, you told me that you needed me to come over. And don’t worry, I have seen you in a bathing suit before.”
“Okay. Do you want to go into the studio while I shower and get dressed?”
“Yeah, fine, whatever. What is it that you need me for?”
“I don’t need you, but I thought if you had time we could work on some new songs.”
“Really Jimmy? I’m gonna go on tour in a few weeks and the new album might not come out for like at least eight months. Why do we have to work now?” Jessica said slightly exhausted. They reached Jimmy’s room and he went in and got some fresh clothes. Then he said, “We’ll talk after my shower. In the meantime if you want to go to the studio you can make something. Or maybe you want to check out what my brother made last night.”
“Alright, can I take a hat?”
“You can wear one.”
____________
Jessica Hall looked at Jimmy’s hat collection and a cap caught her eye. It was nothing flashy but it stood out from the ones around it. It was a dark green fitted cap that had “AF-1’82” on the front outlined in white and stitched on. She opened the door and checked down the hall for Jimmy. She could not see him so she walked out into the hallway.
The hallway walls had a beige color to them and were lined with family pictures. Jessica had been all around Jimmy’s house many times before. She shuddered when she saw the family picture. They look so happy, Jessica thought, they never fight, they always get along, and worst— or best for them—they are actually happy. Jessica knew that their pictures, were unlike the King’s. Sure the Halls looked happy in their pictures but the reality was that she—deep inside—was sad, lonely, and depressed. But she coul
d not let it show. She did not want to look weak in front of her friends or family.
Jessica made her way up the stairs to some of the other bedrooms in their big house. The carpet on the stairs was so soft it felt like she was walking on clouds. Jessica was daydreaming of her dream house when Jimmy’s voice snapped her out of it. “What are you doing up here?”
“Oh, I was just taking a tour of the house. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Nah, I don’t. Just don’t go into any of the rooms, I think they are messy. Nice selection on the cap.”
“Yeah you like it?”
“The hat? Not especially. I just said it looked good. But actually I think the blue one would look way better on you.”
“Oh yeah. Well then I had better put that one on instead.” Jessica took the cap off of her head and said, “Can you catch it on your head?” Before Jimmy could reply she threw it at him. He ducked to catch it and it landed on his head with the back facing forwards.
Jimmy adjusted the cap; his hair was still damp from coming out of the shower. He then raced Jessica down to the studio. She donned the blue cap and they both sat in front of a desk. Jimmy pulled out the portfolio containing lyrics and he put it on the table. Then Jessica asked, “So, you have a new song? Or what?”
____________
Jimmy King did not know how to ask Jessica the question. His mind was flying around with ideas of how to ask the question. “Read this,” Jimmy said. Jessica took a minute to read it through then asked, “You want me to sing a song about depression? I don’t think that the producer would like this.”
“I didn’t write it Jessica. I-I-I was wondering if this is how you really feel. I mean last night you didn’t look too well at