HOME TO MAYFIELD (fanfic)

[tdr]

HOME TO MAYFIELD
Part 1

As the bus driver opened the door and made the motion with his arm the bus was ready for boarding, Beaver Cleaver and Gilbert Bates were among the first passengers to climb on at the Crystal Falls station. Without hesitation they went all the way to the back. They had learned on their cross-country tour that it is better to sit near the back of the bus than near the front—at least on a bus full of boys aged 12 to 15, as they had spent 6 weeks with on the highways. If you are near the front, they quickly found out, you must expect to get hit by rubber bands and paper wads, or even pebbles if they managed to smuggle them onto the bus. But now their summertime tour around the country was over, and Crystal Falls was the tour bus’s nearest stop to Mayfield, so they were changing buses for the final leg home. This bus was not full of boys, but of the general public, mostly adults of all ages. Nevertheless, the influence of the previous 6 weeks had an effect on their choice of where to sit.

Gilbert: Boy, Beav, we had a whole lot of fun on this trip, but I guess it will be nice to see Mayfield again.

Beaver: Yeah—the first week or two, I didn’t care if we ever had to go back to Mayfield and school and our parents again. Then we started seeing the Grand Canyon, then Santa Fe, then Carlsbad Caverns, then the Alamo… it almost got to be like the bus was home and seeing all those places and having to listen to tour guides was like going to school.

Gilbert: Yeah, I know what you mean. I think when it was about half over, with three weeks to go, I got more interested in whether the girls' bus got to stay at the same place we did, and if the next hotel had a swimming pool or not, where we could swim and sun with Lori and Sharon. I cared more about that than the next site we were going on a tour of.

Beaver: I got Sharon’s address to write to her. Did you get Lori’s?

Gilbert: Yeah, she gave it to me, but I don’t know if I’ll really write to her or not. My dad’s always told me that when you meet somebody new it’s nice to say you’ll call them or write to them or see them again, but it’s okay to forget about it after that.

Beaver: Well, Sharon’s nice. I told her I’d write to her; so I will, at least once. If she doesn’t write back, that’ll be the end. Anyway, we’re going back to Mayfield and Mary Margaret Matthews-- remember?

Gilbert: Oh yeah. She’s pretty, but she’s kind o’ phony, you know. Even though the trip did start to get boring after three weeks, I'm still glad our parents thought we’d be better off seeing the country this summer than fighting over Mary Margaret.

As Beaver and Gilbert shared a few laughs about their trip and the antics of some of the guys they traveled with, the bus driver closed the door, but reopened it as one last passenger trotted up to come aboard. He looked about 14, was rather tall and a little stocky, with red hair blowing in the wind, carrying both a suitcase and a gym bag. The driver opened the luggage compartment and placed the suitcase in, then the passenger got on the bus and took the third seat from the front. The driver, as if he were beginning to fall behind schedule, hurriedly got into his seat, pulled the door closed, and the bus began moving. Beaver and Gilbert were still talking and laughing, although Beaver had an unusual feeling, and kept wanting to look away. Once as he did this, the young passenger with red hair was turning his head back at the same time, and as their eyes met, he grinned.

Beaver: Hey Gilbert—that guy up front with red hair; the last one to get on the bus. Was he in our group? I don’t remember him.

Gilbert: Heck, no. There were just twenty of us guys, so we got to know ‘em all.

Beaver: He just looked at me and grinned, like he knew us, or something.

Gilbert: Aaah, big deal! It’s probably just because everybody on this bus is older people, except him and us.

Beaver: I guess you’re right.

“Lindale—ten minute stop, folks!” said the bus driver, as the long vehicle slowed to a stop by the curb of the Lindale station. Since both Beaver and Gilbert still had some unspent cash—from their first experience of receiving wired money from their parents through Western Union—they decided to buy one last soda pop before their final hour back to Mayfield. They bought their drinks and took a seat for a couple of minutes before getting back on the bus. The boy with red hair looked at them from across the snack bar area, then he finally approached.

Redhair: How you guys doin’?

Gilbert: Okay.

Beaver: Yeah, we’re okay. And how—

Beaver stopped what he was saying, as he suddenly thought he knew this guy. His jaw dropped.

Redhair: Beaver—you do know me, don’t you?

Beaver: Larry!—Mondello!

Larry: Yeah, it’s me! And you’re Gilbert, right?

Gilbert: That’s right. Gee Larry, I think I remember you, and you used to be fatter.

Larry: I’m on my way back from a summer camp that’s especially for guys who need to get into shape. I lost 16 pounds in 4 weeks. And last year in school I lost 10 pounds while I grew 2 and a half inches when I played football. Then I gained some of it back until track season, when I did the shot put and discus. So, since last summer, I’m 3 inches taller and 19 pounds lighter.

Beaver: Gee, Larry, I sure didn’t know it was you, till you came over here like you knew us. Where’ve you been since you moved from Mayfield, anyway?

Larry: Well, I’ve lived in 2 different places; neither of ‘em as good as Mayfield. My mom’s always wanted to move back to Mayfield, and my dad finally got the chance, so that’s where moving back to now.

Beaver: No foolin’? You’re coming back to Mayfield? Wow, that’s neat! Now we get to go to high school together.

Larry: Yeah, I think that’s gonna be neat. Where you guys been, anyway? You just went up to Crystal Falls by yourself?

Gilbert: No, we’ve been gone for 6 weeks! Beaver’s parents and my parents sent us on a cross-country bus tour. We’ve been to the Washington, D.C. and Valley Forge, and way out west to the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone.

Larry: Man! Wow! That must have cost your folks a bunch of money!

Beaver: Yeah, but they said it was a good thing for us. Besides, they wanted to get us away from this girl who’s kind of an operator with all the guys. I wonder how old Whitey Whitney made out with her while we were gone.

Larry: Whitey! A girl who really operates wants him?

Beaver and Larry laughed, and Gilbert joined in, but not with a lot of enthusiasm. Gilbert remembered Larry, even better than he had admitted, but he well remembered that Beaver and Larry had been the closest of friends, while Gilbert himself had not really liked Larry that much.

Beaver: Come on, guys. We better get back on the bus.

[Leigh Ann]

Good job.
I can't picture Larry with red hair, though.

[*InThisMoment*]

OMG you should SO write more!

[BBF]

I was wondering when a new fanfic would show up! This is a great story tdr! Can't wait to read more!

[.:BF:.]

Cool fanfic! write some more, i wanna see what beaver & larry do together now that he's back. :)

[tdr]

Part 2

Larry went with Beaver and Gilbert toward the back of the bus, but the nearest seat available was the third seat ahead of them. So Larry took a seat, traveling alone as he had expected, while his presence had clearly changed the course of Beaver’s and Gilbert’s conversation.

Beaver: Boy! Larry Mondello back in Mayfield, just in time to start high school! Man, what a break!

Gilbert: Yeah—I guess so.

Beaver: Gee, Gilbert—don’t you remember how much fun Larry used to be? Cuttin’ up in class and sayin’ funny things? Sometimes I, or anyone, might get mad at him for something—but, heck, it always worked out okay.

Gilbert: Yeah, I know. But one time he charged me a quarter to show me a hiding place where we could spy on you when you had our teacher, Miss Landers, over for dinner, and we got caught. And I remember the time you wanted to punch him in the drug store because he went to the movies instead of paying you back the money he owed. I just don’t know whether he’s that good a friend, or not.

Gilbert, of course, didn’t mention that he himself was not “That good a friend” in these incidents, paying and urging Larry to do those things that got Beaver mad at him. But as the bus continued rolling toward Mayfield, it was plain that the 6-week tour of America was quickly to be filed away into the past, as Beaver had an old friendship to renew with just enough time to get caught up on it before high school started.

As the bus pulled into the Mayfield station, Beaver saw his mom and dad among a dozen or so people there awaiting its arrival. The boys got off the bus, and before Beaver got his suitcase and canvas bag from the luggage compartment, he went up to his parents and gave him mom a big hug.

June: Beaver!—Oh, Beaver! It’s so good to have you back home again! Tell me, did you have a lot of fun? Did you see a lot of interesting sites?

Ward: Dear, we’ll cover all that later when we get home. Right now, Beaver, we better get your bags off the bus—the driver appears to be in a hurry.

Gilbert’s older sister was there pick him up, and his meeting was simply 'matter of fact' compared to Beaver’s. He and Beaver, not knowing exactly what to do, just shook hands—more as a show for the “older folks” than a ‘it’s-been-swell’ parting gesture. Then Beaver, noticing Larry just looking around, went over to him to ask is he had a ride home. Larry said he was to call his mother when he arrived in Mayfield, but he was in no hurry to do it.

June: Ward, who is that boy Beaver’s talking to?

Ward: I don’t know; maybe he was one of them on the cross-country tour that Beaver took.

Beaver approached Ward and June with Larry.

Larry: Hello Mr. And Mrs. Cleaver.

June: Well, I don’t think I know the voice, but you definitely look familiar.

Ward: Why dear, this is—

June: Larry Mondello!

Larry: Yes, ma’am. I’m coming back from a summer camp to our new home in Mayfield.

Beaver: Isn’t it neat? The Mondellos moved back to Mayfield just in time for us to start Mayfield High at the same time.

Ward: Well Larry, it’s been a lot of years! It’s nice to hear that your family has moved back.

June: And you’re really looking good, too, Larry! You’re getting to be quite a handsome young man.

Larry: Thank you, Mrs. Cleaver. I guess I’ve changed a little since we moved away almost 4 years ago.

Beaver: Larry says he was supposed to call his mother when he got here. I was thinking maybe he could come home with us and call his mother from there.

June: Well, that’s fine with us, Larry. We have some chips and dips, and cake and punch all ready for Beaver’s return. We’d be glad to celebrate your return to Mayfield, too. Are you sure your parents won’t worry about you?

Larry: Heck, no. I think that they think the more I’m away from them, the better.

Larry rode home with the Cleavers, and they entered the house to find the food and punch covered with a cloth on the table, and when it was removed there was a cake decorated with a crude map of the United States and the words, “WELCOME HOME, BEAVER”.

Beaver: Gee, Mom, thanks for all of this. You guys didn’t really have to go all-out.

June: Oh, we’re glad to do it, Beaver. I don’t think we’ve ever had either you or Wally away for so long at a time before—but I suppose we might as well get used to it. Wally leaves for orientation at State in just a couple of weeks. And Larry, I wish we had known you would be here. Then the cake would say, “WELCOME BACK, BEAVER AND LARRY.”

Larry: Well—I’m kind o’ glad nobody made any fuss about me coming back to Mayfield. Really, we just changed houses again; that’s all.

They all got a plate of snacks and a cup of punch, and Ward and June were full of questions about what Beaver saw on his trip and what he thought about it all.

Beaver: The Grand Canyon was real neat. We knew we had to be close to it, because we went through that gate and Lee, our driver, had to show something to that ranger before we could go through. And then it seemed like it took another 10 minutes before we finally got parked and got out and went to that ledge with a fence around it and we saw the canyon. It was so big and so quiet it seemed kind o’ weird. But it’s great big crack in the ground that’s a long way down with what looked like a little stream at the bottom. Then Lee told us it’s mile down to the bottom and that stream is almost a mile across!

Ward: That’s right, Beaver. I’ve seen the Grand Canyon myself, and it’s just like you described it. But believe me, you’ll have more appreciation for such wonders after you take more science and geography in school and you learn more about the world.

Larry: Boy, Beav, I’d like to see the Grand Canyon some day. You sure were lucky to get to go on that trip.

Beaver: I’ll take some of my films to the drug store tomorrow to get them developed. But I got 4 whole rolls of film, and 2 of ‘em are color, so I guess I’ll have to get them developed one a month.

June: Beaver, your father and I have talked about that, and we’ve decided to give you a bonus to have all your pictures developed. We know you want those pictures, and of course we look forward to seeing them, too.

Beaver: By the way, are there any messages from anybody, or anything like that?

June: Well, no, Beaver. I suppose the only thing like that would be that Whitey Whitney called a couple of times, but he didn’t leave any message. Larry, I’m sure you remember Whitey.

Larry: Oh yes, ma’am. He and Beaver and I were good pals for a long time.

Beaver: He didn’t say anything about Mary Margaret?

Ward: Beaver, I’m sure that if he had, your mother would have told you.

Larry still delayed calling his mother, so Beaver invited him up to his room while he started unpacking clothes and souvenirs.

Larry: Hey Beaver, who’s this ‘Mary Margaret’ you were asking about?

Beaver: Well, it’s kind of a long story, but she’s a real ‘operator’ who had me and Gilbert both getting dressed up and calling on her. That’s the main reason my parents and Gilbert’s parents got together and decided to send us off on that trip; they knew were getting flaky. Then before we left, we saw Whitey there on her front porch, all dressed up and taking it all in. We tried not to think about it, but I wonder what’s happened since we’ve been gone.

Larry: Is she good-looking, Beaver?

Beaver: Oh yeah, she’s really good-looking! She really works on you, too.

Larry: Where does she live?

[*InThisMoment*]

Write More! It Sure Is Gettin' Interesting! :D

[Leigh Ann]

I can't wait to read more!! :)

[tdr]

Part 3

Wally Cleaver and Eddie Haskell were sitting at a table at the malt shop with Julie Foster and Cindy Andrews. It was getting close to 9 p.m., so the coolness of night had in recent moments become a relief as the ‘dog days of summer’ were bright and hot. Wally seemed a bit detached, and Julie and Cindy looked bored as Eddie continued to talk about the fall term at state as if they had already lived through it.

Eddie: As I was telling Wally just the other day, I don’t think we should accept Alpha Kappa’s pleading invitation for us to join at least until November. We’ll be so used to the system by then that we’ll know for sure that’s the outfit we really want to latch onto. We’ll know every frat inside and out, what they stand for, what kind of business connections the guys have… no need to rush ourselves and jump right into Alpha Kappa without doing a little reconnaisance.

Cindy: Eddie, we’ve each contacted one sorority so far, and both of them tell us we can’t be full members until our second semester.

Julie: Yes, and I know of 2 others that don’t take freshmen at all. But that’s okay with me, because I haven’t even made up my mind yet that I want to join any sorority.

Eddie: Well, play it simple and coy if you want to, but Wally and me can see what the frat did for his old man, so we’re gonna play up his recommendation and make it pay off!

Julie and Cindy glared at Wally, as if to say “Isn’t it time you headed him off.”

Wally: Oh, uh, Eddie—you might as well drop it. Because the fraternity probably dropped you after that trick you pulled saying you ‘reconsidered.’ And as for waiting till November, you know they won’t take any freshmen before November, and then only if they’ve already made some kind of a mark, like in athletics or student government or something.

Julie and Cindy giggled, and Eddie was down in the mouth.

Eddie: Sam, don’t you know pledging for a fraternity is a private matter? Anyway, his old man, generous but naïve as he is, even covered that little mistake I made, which was all because some guy had nothing better to do than going around knocking other people.

The girls smiled, but tried to suppress their giggling, and Wally just looked away.

Wally: Well, look guys—my mom and dad ought to be home with my brother by now, so they’re probably expecting me. They’re kind o’ making a big deal out of his 6-week bus trip and they’ve got a cake and a table all laid out with food—so I better be going.

Eddie: They’ve got a table with food all laid out because Beaver’s coming back, huh? I can understand that—you always find that extra food when a family’s in mourning, eh-eh-eh. Tell your folks they have my sympathy, too, and I’ll bring my dish tomorrow.

Julie: Eddie, I can’t believe you sometimes! He’s only going to be a high school freshman, and he’s been gone for 6 weeks, so they’re celebrating his coming home. Why make rude jokes about that?

Eddie: Hey, Wally knows I’m just kidding, don’t you, buddy?

Wally: Yeah, I know you’re just kidding. And I know if you take it any further, I’m gonna clop you.

Eddie: Okay, okay, Sam. I’m not Fidel Castro hiding missiles, you know. Can’t you take a little funnin’?

Wally’s attention was diverted as he saw a boy and a girl younger than most of the malt s shop patrons walk through the door. He recognized Whitey Whitney at once, and the nice-looking girl with him he did not know, but he had seen them together at least once before recently, so he thought she must be Mary Margaret, who Beaver, before he left on the bus tour, had described to him and had told about Whitey taking advantage of his and Gilbert’s leaving Mayfield for 6 weeks. Eddie turned to see who Wally was looking at.

Eddie: Well, well—it looks like the malt shop’s turning into a night nursery. What do you say, Whitey? Isn’t it time you were back in your cradle for the night? Eh-eh-eh…

Whitey: Eddie, I never was scared of you. I know you’re a lot bigger than I am, but I know you’re all bark and no bite!

Eddie: Hey now, short stuff—

Wally: Eddie, leave him alone. How’s it going, Whitey?

Whitey: Okay, Wally. Oh, this is Mary Margaret Matthews. Mary, this is Wally Cleaver.

Mary Margaret: Hi, Wally. I know I’ve heard of you. You’re a big star in football, basketball, and swimming. And I think I can see why—you have such a strong, handsome build.

Wally looked embarrassed, and Julie and Cindy smiled, seeing in Mary Margaret the sudden infatuation they themselves may have had a few years ago for a guy like Wally, though they would not have come out and said what she just did to an ‘older man.’

Whitey: You know he’s Beaver’s brother, don’t you?

Mary Margaret: Oh, yes. That’s how I knew all about Wally; because Beaver told me about him, and I’ve seen his name in the paper a few times.

Wally: Well, I was just saying, I think I’m heading out now. Julie, you need a ride home?

Julie: Oh, thank you, Wally!

Eddie: Yeah, you were just saying you were going home because Beaver’s back tonight and you’re having a little family bash.

Wally: Eddie!

Whitey: Oh, Beaver’s home?—today?

Wally: Uh, yeah—he should be there by now. Mom and Dad were going to pick him up at the bus station.

Whitey looked none too happy with the news about Beaver’s return. Wally, who had no intention of saying anything about it, observed Mary Margaret and saw no reaction at all from her. Then he looked at Eddie and frowned. There was a moment of discomfort for the whole group.

Wally: Well, if you’re ready, Julie, let’s go.

As soon as they were out the door, Julie turned to Wally with an inquisitive face.

Wally: If you’re wondering about that girl and Beaver, don’t ask—because I really don’t know.

Julie: She didn’t seem interested in Beaver, or with that boy who came in with her. But she really wrapped a good line around you, didn’t she?

Wally: Yeah, I remember Beaver told me she was like that; a real junior Cleopatra. Oh well—anyway, we’ve got a week and half before we go for orientation at State, so we can’t spend much time watching a freshmen soap opera.

Julie: By “freshmen soap opera,” did you mean Beaver and that girl, or did you mean us? We’re all freshmen, just on a different scale.

Wally grinned as he opened the car door for Julie, then he got in on the driver’s side and pulled out with an easy little burnout move.

[tdr]

Part 4

It took almost a week, but Beaver finally got the word from Wally, finishing his summer stint as a soda jerk at Gibson’s Drug Store, that his pictures had come in. He called Gilbert to tell him to try to arrange for them both to go to the store to get their photographs from the cross-country tour and compare them over a soda. But Gilbert said that his parents have not been as generous as Beaver’s about giving him the money to get his films developed, so he had not sent them in yet. And feeling envious, he wanted to wait until he had his pictures, too, before he got together with Beaver to share and compare. So Beaver, who had seen Larry only once since the day they both returned to Mayfield, decided to call him to meet him at the drug store. Beaver got there first, got his pictures and paid Mr. Gibson, then went to the counter and told Wally he would have a soda.

Wally: Gee, Beav, it’s almost 4:30, so you’ll have supper at home in less than a couple of hours. You know Mom won’t like it if you—

Beaver: Hey Wally, didn’t Dad tell you, when you started working here the first time, that “the customer’s always right?”

Wally: Yeah, I guess he did. Alright, you get your soda—if you got the money—and I don’t’ say nothing, unless Mom or Dad ask.

Beaver: Well, if they do ask, just tell them you warned me, and I said okay—like I’m saying right now.

Beaver climbed onto the stool and opened the first of his envelopes of pictures while Wally made the soda. Just as he was setting the tall glass on the counter before Beaver, the door opened and in walked Lumpy Rutherford.

Wally: Hi Lumpy.

Lumpy: Hi Wally. Well, I just got back from the football team’s freshmen orientation. Oh, man! If those coaches really put us through everything they said, I don’t know if I’m gonna make it and get to keep that scholarship I spent most of the summer working for.

Wally: It’s gonna be that tough, huh, Lump? Well, I guess we knew everything was gonna be tougher at state than at Mayfield High—the studies, the sports; everything.

Lumpy notices the seated customer is Beaver, whom he had not seen in quite some time, looking through his snapshots. Beaver suddenly felt unnerved at someone watching him, looked to his side and saw Lumpy’s smile of embarrassment.

Beaver: Hiya Lumpy!

Lumpy: Hey, Squirt! Where ya been all summer?

Wally: Heck, Lumpy, I thought I told you he was going on that cross-country bus tour. He got back a few days ago and our parents gave him the money to get all of his pictures developed.

Lumpy: Well, I don’t remember. I had to do more studying for most of the summer than I’ve ever done in a regular semester, so I don’t remember much else that’s happened, and sure not much else that I’ve only heard about.

Beaver: You want to see my pictures of the Grand Canyon and big tall cactuses and stuff?

Lumpy: No thanks, kid. Some other time, maybe. I just came in to ask Wally if we’re going in my car or his, to registration tomorrow.

Wally: It’s fine with me to take mine, Lump. My dad got a new timing light, and he let me borrow it to tune my engine up, so we ought to make it there and back. I guess Eddie’ll go with us, too, but I think Julie and Cindy and Mary Ellen and Kathy are all going in Mary Ellen’s new car.

Lumpy: Man oh man! You ought to switch girlfriends back to Mary Ellen and maybe you’d be driving that ’63 Thunderbird!

Wally: Oh lay off, Lump. You know how strict her dad still is about what guy she’s going out with, and there’s no way he’d let any guy drive that car. I mean, it’s her car, but he gave it to her as her graduation present, and you know how that goes--- it’ll still really be his for a long time.

Lumpy: Yeah, I guess so. But you’re still lucky, though, how all the girls go for you, so you have your pick for any situation.

Wally hesitated, as he was about to contest what Lumpy was saying, but then the door opened and Larry Mondello walked in.

Wally: Hey Larry!

Lumpy turned around and saw the younger guy, almost as tall as he was, approaching.

Lumpy: Larry?... Mondello?

Larry: Well, if it ain’t old Lumpy.

Lumpy: I remember you hanging around Beaver all the time, but that was years ago. When did you ever get back to Mayfield?

Larry: Last week. My dad took a new job where we all wanted to be again—so, we’re here. Hey, I heard you got a football scholarship to State!

Lumpy: Yeah, I just got back from the freshmen team’s orientation. I think it’s gonna be tough.

Larry: I’ll bet so. I’ve always heard that “Mad Bill” Brays is a real tyrant.

Lumpy: Well, he only talked to us about 5 minutes, then he left and slammed the door and let the freshman coach take over. I don’t think I’m gonna like either one of ‘em.

Beaver: Hey Larry, don’t you want to see my pictures?

Larry: Oh, yeah. You know, Beav, you and I start football practice next week, too, at Mayfield High.

Beaver: Really, Larry; have you already signed up and everything? I did last spring.

Larry: Yeah, I did that yesterday. I talked to Coach Henderson and he says he thinks I can play tight end and linebacker. I’ve always played tackle and end before.

Wally: Gee guys, I feel left out. After playing football for 5 years, this is the first year I won’t be playing, and all you guys will be.

Lumpy: Well, I heard there’s an intramural flag football club; you know, for all you non-athletes.

Wally: Watch it, Lump. I’ll be an athlete; don’t worry about t hat. I’d have a scholarship, too, if they awarded them to freshmen for swimming. So I’ll just have to go a year on all that dough Mom and Dad saved up for me.

Lumpy: Maybe I’ll buy my own brand new T-bird with the money they saved for me… when the ‘64’s come out, that is.

Wally: Yeah, sure, Lump.

Beaver: By the way, Larry, I heard there’s gonna be an end-of-summer party at Violet Rutherford’s a week from Saturday. I’m sure she remembers you, so I’ll tell her you’re back in town and you’ll probably get invited.

Lumpy: Oh yeah, I know about that. It was Daddy’s idea more than Violet’s, but maybe he won’t make too big a scene.

Beaver: Yeah, Larry, it could be your chance to meet Mary Margaret—she ought to be there.

Larry: Heck, Beaver, I’ve already met Mary Margaret. I got ahold of Whitey and he told me where she lives. Man oh man, she’s got more lines than Sandra Dee!