Julie’s Ride Home from Beach City

“Alone Again Naturally”

Listen to Chapter 4, “Julie’s Ride Home from Beach City”

Allen drove part of the way back home to Riverdale. But because of his fatigue, Mrs. Macintosh took over. Allen climbed into the back seat beside Julie.

“Hi, there,” he began, and immediately took her hand. Julie tensed. What was going to happen? Did Allen mean it—was he sorry for what had happened yesterday? Or was he only trying to prove to himself and to everyone else in the car that Julie was “easy to get”? Julie slipped her hand out of his.

“Please hold hands with me.”

“Why should I?” Both Allen and Julie were very facetious now.

“Because you want to.”

“You’re sitting beside me. That’s enough.”

“Whole hog or none.”

Julie sighed inwardly as her apprehension grew. This sounded and acted like the old Allen. Was there to be another horrible ten months—or more? Every minute of the way home Julie was conscious of his every move. If he was sincere, she didn’t want to hurt him. But she would not let Allen play her for a fool.

Allen helped her with carrying her things to her door. But his stiff expression as he muttered, “Goodbye, Stuck-up,” left Julie with a very uncomfortable feeling.

It did not surprise Julie when she answered the phone that night to find Allen on the other end.

“Hi, how are you?” he greeted as usual.

“Fine. And you?”

“Okay.” There was a brief pause. “Julie, I—I just called to say, well, I’m sorry…for the way I acted tonight. I don’t mean to hurt you, honest, Julie. I—I guess I just acted without thinking.”

“Don’t we all?” she replied softly.

“Oh, I know,” he said. “But I acted so selfishly. I am sorry, Julie. Please forgive me.”

Julie hardly knew what to say. Many, many times in the past she had heard the same apologetic plea and listened to promises that Allen had broken. But somehow she believed Allen meant it this time. He was not emotional, but his voice was filled with warmth.

“Okay,” she finally whispered. Then, “Are you coming to the youth prayer meeting tonight?”

“No, I’ve got so much homework. See you…sometime. ‘Bye.”

“‘Bye.” And her heart echoed, “Goodbye, dear Allen—goodbye.”

Allen continued to date Mindi back at San Margo Academy. He came home to Riverdale once after Youth Congress. He and Peter enjoyed the company of Sandra and Kurt and Julie, as always. Meanwhile, Julie received letters from Bill and saw much more of him on the weekends when he and his mother Lena came to Riverdale to look for a house. But after that magic April day in Beach City, Allen and Julie’s relationship remained the same. While she graciously accepted his apologies for his crummy behavior, she no longer gave in to his pleas for “another chance” to love her in the same way as before.

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