February 2nd, 1959

I was heading over to my boyfriend's house. He was going to be calling there before we all decided to go to church that Sunday afternoon. I was sure missing Ritchie so very much.

I had known Ritchie Valens the famous singer before he was famous, when we went to school here together. Back then we were only friends. And he had his sights set on Donna Ludwig. A friend of mine.

Thanks to my lucky stars Donna's father did not like her dating Ritchie so they broke up last year. He tried to get her back with his award winning song "Oh Donna" but nothing convinced her father to change his mind. He was better off with me. We were happy together. And in love.

We had been dating for a year now. Ritchie had been talking about marrying me. And I was going to accept. Ritchie's manager was my uncle Bobby. That was how else we met.

I told uncle all about Ritchie in town doing local shows. My uncle was good at finding musical talent. And I helped him discover Ritchie. I told him to meet me at the VFW Hall where Ritchie was playing in a band with his best friends.

One was Gilbert but I do not recall the other men's names. The crowd pulled in to see Ritchie. We were packed there. I helped Rosie and Ritchie's mom pass out drinks there behind the bar counter. It was all going well until Ritchie's drunk brother Bob had started a big fight there.

He was always jealous of his brother. He wished he had Ritchie's father as his instead of the shithead he had for a father. But who could blame him for that? Other than that Ritchie loved his brother and they got along well.

Bob just had a daughter with Rosie. I was not. Sure he he would ever settle down and marry her though. I make my way to the house. I ring the doorbell. I had my umbrella. It was raining here on this February in 1959.

It was exciting that the 60's were almost here! I was excited to finish school, and marry Ritchie so that I could travel with him. He hated to fly so I wanted to be able to comfort him when we were out.

I had one more year here to finish my school here in California. Rosie always told me it was important to get an education. She had dropped out and had a hard time getting a good job.

I ring there doorbell. And I was trying not to let my bible get rained on. I was going to church with his family. I ring again. Soon Ritchie's little sister Connie answers the door., she hugs me before I can get in the door.

•ღ︎︎•

"Hi, sweetheart!" I greet her warmly.

"Ritchie has not called yet we will be late for church" she sighs as I come inside.

"He will soon. He never forgets to call us" I remind her. She missed her big brother so much.

"Ritchie said he got me something on the road trip and I can't wait to see" she informs me. She was so cute in her red dress and pigtails in her hair.

"I bet he misses you to" I say to make her feel better, she and his mother worried about him when he was on the road.

"Ritchie, has not called yet" sighs Rosie as she checks out her image in the mirror.

"I know. Connie told me." I reply.

"Emily, that dress Ritchie got you for Christmas looks adorable on you!" Gushes Rosie.

"Thanks" I say as I blush with pleasure,"he has good taste"

"We will be late. We can call Ritchie tonight once he gets to his hotel" his mother declares as she gathers the kids around so we could leave.

"Where is Bob?" demands an angered Rosie.

"He is going to stay home with the baby. Bob does not care for church" his mother answers her.

Rosie shakes her head looking annoyed with Bob.

"I can stay and help. And I do not mind. I really want to stay and talk to Ritchie. I really miss him" I mention.

"That is up to you is up to you sweetheart" says his mother.

"Bob can use all the help he can get" sighs Rosie. "Bob! Emily is going to stay here to wait for Ritchie's call she can help with the baby" she hollers at Bob.

"Alright" he grumbles back from down the hall.

•ღ︎︎•

They head out to church. Then I pace the floors. Ritchie was in a show. Maybe he had not gotten out of it yet. Maybe he was greeting fans. He was out in Illinois. The middle of nowhere at the Surf Ball Room.

"Em! Can you get the baby's lion stuffed animal it is in the living room" Bob asks me.

"Be right there" I call back,

I look around me then find the lion toy Ritchie had gotten for the baby, I pick it up then I head to the bedroom where Bob was with the baby. I walk down the hall to the room. I hand Bob the toy. Soon the phone rings,

Bob smiles and I do to. I take a necklace that was covered in feathers. And looked like it came from an Indian I played with the baby dangling it in front of the infant. She coos happily at me as she watches me.

•ღ︎︎•

"Hello? Ritchie? No no one else is here but me and Em. Everyone else went to church, you sound like hell" laughs Bob.

"I want to talk when you are done" I whisper to Bob. He nods.

"Em wants to talk to you" says Bob. Then he looked serious as they had a talk, "I miss you to man. We all do" he tells his brother.

"Sure I would love to hang out when you get home man" answers Bob.

Then he hands the phone to me.

"Ritchie, I miss you so much" I answer the phone.

"Hi, kitten" he says then coughs a lot.

"Are you sick?" I demand to know.

"Yes, all the buses are without heat and we are freezing I am hoping to get on a plane tonight" he tells me.

"But you hate planes" I remind him.

"Better than freezing" he coughs.

"My poor Ritchie. Come home" I beg him.

"I can't I have to do these shows" he sighs.

"Connie misses you" I tell him. "She wanted me to tell you"

"I miss her and everyone. Especially you my love" he reminds me sweetly before coughing again.

"We will be together soon the tours are nearly over" I say.

"Yes soon" he agrees. "How is your uncle? Tell him the bosses have no heat. I called him to" he complains.

"I will harp on him to fix them you guys can't get sick" I worry. I hear loud music in the background.

"Time is up!" hear the operator say on the call.

"I better go kitten, I love you with all my heart. Always remember that" he tells me. "I have a very special gift to for you when I get home" he says to me.

"I love you to Ritchie. Get better okay? Take care of yourself" I demand.

"Bye kitten" he says as we hang up the phone.

A surprise for me? I wondered what that was. I think I knew, I smiled. Bob smiled at me.

"Ritchie needs to come home he is sick" I worry.

"Yeah he sounds like shit" sighs Bob.

"Nothing we can do about it" I grumble. I would make a point to talk to my uncle about those buses.

Tomorrow.

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