Penny Hartley has big plans for the summer of 1975. Instead of spending time with her family, she plans to make memories with her friends in Moose Creek by picking peaches, listening to her favorite musicians, and having a fun 15th birthday. Her childhood friend, Darren, looks different when she arrives. Darren has gotten taller and has a deeper voice that makes her question their relationship. She is unwilling to risk giving up years of friendship for something more, but she can't shake her feelings for him.
Penny's stepdad begins to struggle with his self worth and wants to cut their trip short. Time is running out, but as Penny debates what to do, everyone’s favorite band, Jesse Young and the Matches, whips into town, making Penny face the truth of rock and roll stardom, her feelings about Darren, and the bonds holding her family together by a thread.
14+ due to adult situations
Excerpt:
After dropping off my book into the return slot at the library, I sat beside Darren on the wooden picnic table under the gazebo. I held Fawn's leash tightly around my wrist. She was lying on the turf, staring at us.
There was tension in the air, and nothing could help us because our relationship had changed, and I would probably have to leave Moose Creek in less than a week. I tried to think of all the different ways to start a conversation about what happened. My brain remained empty, and my mouth couldn’t form any new words.
Fawn stirred like someone was behind us.
Before I could whip my head around, hands covered my eyes, and a squeaky girl’s voice said, “Surprise!”
Betsy removed her hands, and my eyes adjusted to the light. Betsy stood before me. She was tall and had auburn pin-straight hair cut to her chin.
Following close behind her was Thomas. Thomas looked like he could be one of the Beach Boys. Most boys grow out of their blond hair after puberty, but Thomas was still blond as ever.
They sat on the opposite side of the table from us.
I was relieved by their presence. Every previous summer, they were there to even out the playing field. Instead of a duo, we were a group.
"Thomas and I decided to come home from camp for the week to visit you! Zach stayed at camp. He told me to tell you to party on,” Betsy said.
“So, how is it going steady?” I asked.
Thomas started to speak, and Betsy shook her head at him. “We have been amazing. I like being with Thomas,” she said with a smirk.
We chatted about how they got together, and my stomach felt like a spinning record. According to Betsy, Thomas helped her build a birdhouse at camp, and while they glued the sides together, their hands touched, forming a deep and sensual bond. I prayed to any God that would listen that we would not talk about Darren and me. I was not ready to figure everything out, let alone gloat about it.
“I am sorry for missing your birthday, Penny. I wanted to come back yesterday. I begged for a ride from everyone I knew when my stupid parents wouldn’t come and get me. I did get you a little something to make up for it, though,” Betsy said, squealing. She motioned for Thomas to take the present out of his pocket.
He pulled out a sharp-edged box that resembled a deck of cards.
“Thomas told me that Darren told him he got you a portable 8-track… And I know Elvis is your guilty pleasure, so I got you an 8-track of his best hits! Sorry, I couldn’t wrap it up for you,” Betsy explained.
“I hope you like it. I helped Betsy pick it out on our way back from camp,” Thomas said, placing the track into the palm of my hand.
I thanked Betsy properly, with our best friend handshake we made when we were younger. Whenever I stayed the night at Betsy's house, we had the routine of painting our toenails while watching Elvis’ various appearances on television and gawking over his black hair, deep voice, and our attraction to him. When he was in his prime, he was a heartthrob. After a while, he struggled with health problems, and his music died out as bands like the Beatles overtook his throne. I loved the new bands and era of rock n’ roll, but I admired the musicians who paved the way for them, and Elvis did that. Rosetta Tharpe and Chuck Berry inspired Elvis. Music is a cycle of inspiration and adaptation.
“Elvis? Really, Copper?” Darren asked with a smug tight lip.
“Yes. Elvis is an important man,” I said, secure in my beliefs. I was happy to admit my love for Elvis if it meant I didn’t have to tell the group about the kiss Darren and I shared the night before.
A shiny silver bullet rolled across the street. It was a brand-new airstream. Everyone stopped talking to look at it. It was gorgeous and had to cost a fortune. No one with that much money would be caught dead in Moose Creek. Moose Creek was a tourist town for people who could not afford a fancier getaway. The door of the airstream flew open. A man walked out smoking a cigarette. He had a brown shag-like mullet, tattoos all over his arms, a mustache, flare jeans, and a tight shirt with a deep V-neck.
My jaw dropped.
Darren grabbed my hand under the table and pinched the skin on my thumb.
The man was Jesse Young, the lead singer of Jesse Young and The Matches.
“Darren, pinch me again. This cannot be real.”
“Pinch me because I think we all are having the same hallucination,” he gasped.
Jesse Young paced back and forth while he inhaled his cigarette. He looked stressed.
We frantically planned to walk by him and see what he was doing. We got up and pretended to stroll by his airstream. I maintained a casual composure as my heart thrashed out of my chest. When we got closer to him, Fawn yanked on her leash, causing his eyes to land on us.
“Do you folks know of a place where I can park my airstream? I am in need of a campground,” Jesse said, looking around him. “I also have no idea where we are.”
We were all too scared to say anything.
Darren stepped up. “Hey, man, there are many free camping spots around the creek. I can show you if you want.”
Ordinary people would not agree to go to a secluded place with a bunch of strangers, but Jesse Young was not ordinary.
