Chapter 6: Janice: Junior Prom

March 23, 1966

“So who are you going to take to the prom?”

“I really haven’t thought about it. I know who I want to take, but her parents would never let her, plus with the mood swings she’s been suffering, I doubt she would want to. It embarrasses her when she can’t control her emotions.”

“We’ve tried everything we could think of, but Tina is just getting so isolated, that we can’t get through to her anymore, unless she has just had one of her secret dates with you.”

“Those are getting so erratic, the only thing she wants is sex, the more violent the better. She seems to be fighting to retain some of who she used to be. I love her, but I’m afraid she’s going to hurt herself. As much as I regret it, Tina’s out.”

“Well it’s not like you don’t have options. I can think of a couple dozen girls that would love to be on your arm for the prom. Half of them would ditch their boyfriend in a heartbeat for the chance.”

I tried to dodge this embarrassing conversation. The girls are always rubbing my nose in the fact that a couple other girls expressed a willingness to go out with me. “How’s JJ doing? I don’t see much of her since she dropped off the team.”

“She’s missed a lot of school because of the migraine headaches she gets. They have taken her out of class in an ambulance several times. She has lost so much weight; I’m really worried about her.”

“Well what are you, Tammy and Kelly doing for dates? You said you didn’t want me to take you already.” I tried to look crestfallen.

“We all talked it over and thought that what we have is the perfect situation. If one of us were to be your date to the prom, it would make it difficult, not for the ones who didn’t go ... let’s say I went with you, then I would feel terrible because Tam’s and Kelly were left out. The same goes for Wanda.”

“I’d feel the same way. That’s why I never pushed one of you. The only other person I would really be comfortable taking, besides you guys would be JJ. Do you think she would be willing to go out with me?”

“Yeah, I think she would be thrilled.”

I thought for a couple minutes. “I’ve got a better idea. Call Tammy and Kelly. Get them over here.”

Twenty minutes later the two girls came into the living room. “What’s up Tom?” Kelly said in that melodic voice I loved to hear.”

Barbara laughed. “Tom has been trying to figure out who to take to the prom. I thought I saw little whisps of smoke come out of his ears, he was thinking so hard.”

“Funny girl. I was thinking about asking JJ but came up with a better idea.” I stood and walked over to the three girls seated on the couch. “Would you Barbara, Tammy, and Kelly do me the honor of being my dates---along with Janice---to the prom.”

The three looked at one another, then me, then themselves again, before simply turning and starting to figure out what they were going to wear and how to spring the surprise on Janice.”

“Ah ... hello, I’m taking that as a yes.” I sat there scratching my head.

“Silly boy of course it’s a yes. Now go and do some guy stuff, we don’t have much time to get things organized.” Kelly went right back to planning with the other two. I went to the kitchen to get a glass of tea. About the time I disappeared around the corner, I heard the three squeal in delight.

“What’s all the ruckus in there.” Nancy was starting to make supper.

I had gone from maybe just storing some of my stuff in one of the spare bedrooms to generally living there full time. “It’s all about the prom. I just asked...”

Nancy cut me off. “That’s just wonderful. Which one did you invite? I never thought you would get up the nerve to actually ask one of them.”

“Well ... ah ... I kinda asked all three of them.”

Barbara’s mom put down the knife she was holding and started laughing so hard that she had to grip the countertop. “Tom, when you stick your foot in it, you go all the way. Any normal teenage human male blanches at inviting a date to their first prom. You go and snag three.”

“Actually, I’m asking Janice Jenkins to go with us also. Sort of getting the old gang back together.”

Nancy wiped her eyes. “That is a wonderful idea. She’s been through a lot since that asshole Shanks hurt her. But you know how to make your life complicated.”

“I know that prom is special, but it’s just a dance ... Isn’t it?”

“OH MY LORD, you are clueless. You know how big of a deal a wedding is, right.” I nodded. “Now take that experience and give it to a teenage girl, driven by female hormones and drunk on a diet of romance novels and movies. Multiply that by two ... no make that three, and you will come close. Now you can take that, times your four dates. If you survive this experience, you can live through anything.”

“You’re scaring me here Mrs. Connor. What do I need to do?”

Nancy came over and took my hand. “I’ll make you a list and help you anyway I can. Just don’t expect me to be nice and go easy on you. This is simply too rich to pass up ribbing you every chance I get.”

I grinned. “It’s a deal. I wouldn’t want it any other way. One thing though, this is going to create a big stir when we go. I want all four of them to have any-and-everything they think they want or need to make this the perfect evening. I may have been clueless a minute ago, but I recognize the reality now. It seems like my invitation will be diluting their experience significantly.”

She gave me a funny look. “Tom, you give yourself to little credit, Barbara has been dreaming about going with you since your second date. She has cried herself dry several times, because she felt guilty and wanted her sisters to have the same experience with you. I know the other two felt the same way. You just gave them the answer to their dreams.

Those guys are in love with you. Not wedding bells kind of love, but something even deeper.”

I was getting embarrassed. “I’m going to transfer some money to you, and I want you to promise that they will have what they want. Please. Everyone at the dance will be trying to find some way to get under their skin. I want all of them to shine equally bright.” I held up my hand. “No buts, if they say anything about it, tell them it’s a gift from Birdie. That should shut them up.”

Quickly taking her apron off, Nancy headed for the living room. “What am I doing in here. I need to get in there and help those girls plan. Would you mind picking up a couple pizzas later. Make it four, Tammy and Kelly’s mothers will want to come over and get in on this.” I just nodded and followed her into the living room.

“Whatever dresses we decide on, it can’t be a bulky ball gown. The four of us would never fit in Tom’s car.”

Thinking I would be helpful. “Actually I was planning to hire a limousine from Orlando. There would be plenty of room.”

The three girls looked at each other. “HELL NO!” They said in unison. Nancy just gave me a pitying look, shaking her head.

“That car of yours is as much a part of our identity as the swim team is. We’ll go in ‘Red’ or we’ll have to leave really early because we will be walking.” I just held my hands up in surrender.

Barbara sniffed. “Now that’s taken care of, where was I.” It’s going to be a long month and a half.

March 26, 1966

That Saturday we all went to Janice’s house. The girls made sure I looked presentable, I thought they were going to check to make sure I washed behind my ears. “Hi Mr. Jenkins, we came to see Janice. Is she free.”

“Your Tom, aren’t you. I never did get a chance to thank you for saving my daughter. If you hadn’t been there to make sure she got help, she might not have fared so well. And then all this martial arts stuff has given her a confidence she never had before. Our family owes you a debt we can never repay.”

“I’m the one that owes her. She stepped in to help me when she didn’t have to. She knew Phil was a bully as well as the rest of us did. Your girl is a hero.”

I could see the man fighting to hold back tears. “I just wanted to thank you.” He shook my hand and made a quick retreat.

“Well if it isn’t the four musketeers. What brings you over here.” Janice didn’t look bad, unless you compared her to a picture from last year. A little thinner in the face, several pounds lighter, and the light in those emerald eyes had lost a lot of its fire.

Barb gave me a little push forward. “I’m going, I’m going, geesh. JJ, we came to ask you if you would do us the honor of being our date to the prom. It won’t be the same without you.”

“You ... all four of you ... and me. I...” Janice broke down crying. Kelly gave me the signal to get lost. I was out of there in a flash.

“What’s going on in there?” Janice’s mother came down the hall

“Hi Mrs. Jenkins. I just asked Janice to go to the prom, she broke down crying.” I rubbed the back of my head. “I don’t think it’s a bad thing though.”

“You asked her to go with you alone.”

“Well no Barbara and Kelly is in there also.” She gave me that you’re a goober look. “Oh, I actually asked her to go along with Barb, Tammy, and Kelly. I...”

“Oh thank god. She would never have forgiven herself if she thought you had chosen her over the other three.” She laughed. “You know what you’ve gotten yourself into, right.”

“I have a feeling I’m living an ancient Chinese curse.”

“A curse?”

“Yeah, It’s said that about the worse thing the Chinese could wish on their enemies, was that they live in ‘Interesting times’.” I laughed. “Since moving down to Florida I have lived in nothing less than interesting times. Now it’s getting four times more so.” I got a big grin on my mug. “I’ll have to thank the first China man I see.”

Mrs. Jenkins swatted me with a towel. “Well she couldn’t be in better hands. Thank you.

April 1966

It had been a month since I had asked my four girls to go with me to the prom, and it has been a mad house ever since. Come to find out the proper lead time for the invitation was around Christmas for couples in a relationship. I tried to defend my lack of forethought by pointing out that we were not a couple, and we didn’t have a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. The girls just stared at me as if I had horns and Nancy---who was sitting next to me---slapped the back of my head.

Nancy had taken them to Tampa to get fitted for dresses. I offered to take them but was told in no uncertain terms that I was not to get within miles of their outfits until the night of the prom, on penalty of losing parts of my body I was very attached to. When Barbara, said it would be a shame, because she was very fond of those parts. The four mothers went into a laughing fit that took several minutes to calm down from. From that point on every time I made any kind of perceived bone-head comment, one, or all eight of the women would make little snipping gestures with their fingers. Of course I knew they were just ribbing me. I think. I hope. Nancy told me that because of the short lead time the dresses would cost over twice as much. I just transferred more money over.

Expectations of the prom seemed to do wonders for Janice. Every time I saw her, she seemed to be more her old self, her eyes had most of the sparkle she used to have, and she was back to a healthy weight. No doubt because of her ‘sister’s’ shoving food down her at every opportunity, followed by rigorous workouts and trampoline work to make sure all those calories went in the right places. She wasn’t the only one though, all of the girls stepped up their martial arts training even drawing their mothers into the regime. While Tammy and Kelly’s fathers laughed at the mother daughter bonding, In just a few weeks they definitely noticed the difference in their wife’s appearance and bearing. There was no such thing as to much information in this group. I had to admit that all four moms looked hot, when they dressed up and headed out to take the girls shopping. I quickly found out that a prom dress was not the only things that the girls needed for prom night.

April 25, 1966

My Chinese curse was having an effect on my girls as well. All four girls were getting offers from guys to take them to the prom and had no qualms in declining and telling them that I was their date. Our high school social standing could be considered as second tier. We were below the cool kid’s, social elite, and we never regretted it. The girl-boy ratio in our school was heavily weighted against the guy’s, at least in the senior class, which meant the senior guys had to ‘lower’ their standards and troll the lower grades for a date.

“Hey gorgeous, what time do you want me to pick you up to go to the prom.” Gary Lake, all star running back, swaggered over to Barbara.

“Thanks but I have a ride and a date.” She tried to walk around the six-three senior.

Stepping in her way again. “Of course you have a date, with me. I decided to allow you to be my date.”

“What happened to Tiffany. Oh that’s right, she dumped you before the football season was over. And you haven’t had a girlfriend since.” Barb didn’t shout but her voice caried very well none-the-less.

I was just leaving the gym, heading to the back parking lot with Wanda. Holding my friend back, I pointed to the scene unfolding. “This ought to be interesting.” I whispered. Wanda grinned.

“I was dating a sophomore in Gainesville. She’s got a bigger rack than yours, and much better at showing her appreciation to her fella.” Gary grabbed Barbara’s arm.

She looked down at his hand. “You mean she’s better at letting you use her tits to masturbate on. Can she even keep track of that little pecker of yours between her jugs?” In a low menacing voice she looked up and met his eyes. “Take your damned hand off me, or the only fucking you will be doing is with your other hand.” When he started to pull her toward him, she grabbed his thumb and pulled it backward with a satisfying pop.

The guy dropped to his knees, gabbing his hand. “You bitch. I’m going to...”

“You’re going to what? You worthless piece of shit. We dated for two months and the only thing you wanted from me was to shove that little pecker between my tits. You didn’t even last long enough to get me mildly turned on. Stop whining and give me your hand.” She was much louder this time, grabbing it she relocated his thumb. “Get into the gym and have coach get some ice on that. Don’t forget to tell him who hurt the big bad football star.” Barbara turned and walked to her car.

Back at home, barb was still mad enough to fry an egg on her forehead. “Tom, this is getting ridiculous. Gary only kissed me on our first date. After that he would just drag me behind the bleachers and get his nut off between my tits. And he had the nerve to call me his girlfriend. He’s lucky his thumb was the only thing I dislocated.”

I pulled my girl over and wrapped her in all the love I could muster. “I’m proud of the way you handled yourself.”

Barbara’s mother was sitting across from us. “Aren’t you worried that he’ll try to get you in trouble?”

Barb finally gave a little chuckle. “First off, he’s too big of a jock to admit a mere girl brought him to his knees, despite the fact that dozens of people heard and saw what happened.”

I nodded in agreement. “I also took a photo of the bruise on her arm. And gave it to chief Simmons. He says we should press assault charges. I also gave him a list of everyone I recognized in the parking lot. He’s going to take statements about what they saw. Just in case.”

Wanda came in from the kitchen. “You know everybody in school is talking about you guys.” She sat down next to Nancy. “Most of the girls in school think that it’s cool. The guys, not so much. I get the feeling there is going to be a lot of push back from those who think your hogging all the best girls.”

Tammy laughed. “As if ninety-nine percent of those guys ever had a chance with us. Besides it’s just the four of us. There are plenty of girls out there.”

“Actually, it’s more than you think. All the girls on the swim team have learned from your example, and won’t settle, just so they can have a date. They’ve passed that along to their friends. A lot of the female student population of our school have upgraded their standards for a boyfriend, almost as high as yours. The way I’m hearing it is that there are going to be a lot of girls with dates from other schools and a lot of singles at the prom this year.”

“In a way I feel bad for the girls. On the other hand, it now sounds like they are looking at their life, and for guys who really fulfill their needs.”

Wanda sighed. “A lot of the girls aren’t much better than I was. Where I was just a victim, waiting for anyone to use me. They were willing to take anyone who they thought were hot or connected enough.”

“That’s exactly the way I was before this bozo came around.” Barbara wrapped her arms around me. “I thought I needed the hottest guy to take care of me. I wasn’t looking at the person, just the wrapping and the prestige to feel wanted.” When her mom started to say something, she held up her hands. “I never let on, because I didn’t understand myself until Tom showed me what a real relationship should look like. And before you blame yourself, as much as I love and respect you, even if you knew what I thought, most likely I would have ignored you or gone behind your back. It was the social norm.”

Nancy came over to her daughter, with tears in her eyes, and hugged her tightly. “I knew you were dealing with a lot when you had your growth spurt, and I didn’t know how to help. I had about the same dynamics when I was in high school, but we were in the middle of a war when I met your father. I accept that I couldn’t have really done anything to fix things. But I really regret you had to go through it alone.” Looking over her daughters shoulder she mouthed thanks to me.

April 27, 1966

“Hey Hardy, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Well, right now I’m taking this projector to Mr. Wrights Biology class. He’s showing a riveting film on the human digestive system.”

“You know what I mean. You’re filling all our girls with stupid ideas.”

“You mean ideas like we are more than living fuck toys. That we deserve to be treated with respect and our enjoyment is just as important as yours. Are those the stupid ideas you’re talking about?” Wanda had walked up behind Rafe Miller Just as he was confronting me.”

“Stay out of this bitch.”

Stay out of what? Mr. Miller, In my office, now.” He turned to me. “Mr. Hardy, I assume that you are taking that equipment somewhere, and not just taking it for an afternoon stroll.”

I laughed. “No sir, this is a new projector, we haven’t gotten to the dating stage yet. I’m heading to Mr. Wright’s Biology class.”

“Well, keep your relationship plutonic. That is school property, and I don’t want to have it pining for you after you graduate next year.”

“No promises, sir she is a good-looking piece of machinery.” I grinned as I lovingly stroked the case of the Bell and Howell projector.

“Scram but swing by after your finished.”

“Yes Sir.” Wanda just stared at me. “What?” I asked.

“You and the school’s Principal.”

I took her arm and pulled her a little closer. “Yeah, he jokes around with a few of the guys he knows won’t get fat heads horsing around with him. I think he believes it humanizes him to the school body. It also puts pressure on me, If I screw up in the slightest, he’ll have me in his office for a meeting with the ‘board of education.’ I might actually have a date when I go later.”

“Wanda started to get mad. “Why, you didn’t take the bait Rafe Miller tried on you.”

“Relax tiger, there are a number of reasons I might have gotten hauled in. usually there is always an upside to it though.”

“Principle Tucker will see you now, Tom.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Phelps.” I had just walked into the office.”

“You’re not in trouble Mr. Hardy. I’m impressed, that was a textbook example of passive-aggressive one-upmanship. I heard the whole exchange in the hall. The problem is I can’t discipline Mr. Miller without including Ms. Polaski for her language also.

“We do have a potential problem though. The girls in---what they call---your circle have caused quite a stir. Can you explain what is going on?”

I fidgeted in my chair. “Well you see ... I have dated a couple...” The principle raised his eyebrows at me. “OK, quite a few girls. They seem to appreciate the way I treat them. When they move on, they say they have a different perspective on the types of guys they want to date. I just treat them the way they deserve.”

“And that is exactly why they look up to you. My daughter is one of your converts. She used to go gaga for the jocks and rich jerks with the hot cars. Now she is looking for a guy with the guts to drive a Rambler.” I choked and started to cough. “You drive a Rambler, don’t you?”

“Ah ... yes sir I love the looks of a Mustang or ‘Vette, but I like mine better than them because I don’t have to obsess over it, doesn’t matter if it gets scratched.”

“Well I wanted to thank you for your part in the changes I’ve seen in my girl and warn you about the changes you have made in other girls in this school. Officially I can’t take a side in this, but I promise that any incidents will be looked at with a non-biased eye. That if the best I can do, though I have spoken to Chief Simmons.”

“Thank you, Sir. I appreciate the heads up.”

“One more thing, about these martial arts classes your ‘friends’ are taking. My little girl is only a freshman, but do you think you could get her in. Frankly she is too shy to ask herself, your crew intimidates her.”

“I can guarantee that my girls would be happy to include her and her friends. I warn you though. After a few weeks with them, your daughter won’t be a shy wall flower anymore.”

“Thanks for the warning, but with what I’ve scene of those girls of yours, I’ll live with any future nervous breakdown they cause me. It will be far better than the potential one’s I’m facing now.”

May 13, 1966

“Is this thing on properly?” I was struggling to get my cummerbund on right, Kelly’s mother was helping me while the others were with their daughters, getting them ready. “Relax, it’s on just right, I swear your more nervous than they are.”

“I know I’m just escorting four of the most beautiful girls in the state to our prom. What’s there to be nervous about. There is no way I can give them the attention they deserve.”

Mrs. Parker turned me to look at her. “If you hadn’t asked them all, they would never have gone. They are thrilled to be with you, I know what they have planned for after the prom and I want you to know that all of us approve of their plans. We know you will make it a memorable night.”

“They refused to tell me anything about what’s happening afterwards.”

She grinned. “A girl has to have a few secrets, you know.”

“That’s all you guys are. A bundle of secrets wrapped in movie star quality bodies. All eight of you drive me bonkers.” I could watch the blood flush Kelly’s mom’s face. “I mean...”

She put a finger to my lips. “Shush, thank you Tom. Now keep looking this way until I tell you to turn around.” The wait seemed interminable but was probably only a couple of minutes. “You can turn around now Tom.”

I turned and my knees went weak, there in front of me were four of the most exquisite women on the face of the earth. I was speechless.

The girls giggled as one by one they stepped forward, did a little pirouette then stepped back. They all were different yet looked the same. I guess variations on a theme would be an accurate description. They all wore floor length gowns with a distinct oriental flair. All dresses had mandarin collars, were backless with slits on the front of their right leg up to mid-thigh and were so perfectly fitted they seemed to be spray painted on from the hips up. That’s where the similarity ended. Barbara was in snow white That made her golden hair stand out, Kelly was in black accentuating her red hair while Tammy’s’ dress was blue, and Janice’s was red. How they could have high collars and still display mass amounts of cleavage escapes my ability to do it justice. They all had their hair up in a similar oriental motif with what looked like chop sticks holding it together.

“Oh my gawd, what did I ever do to deserve this honor.”

Barbara came up to me. “You are who you are, that’s how. Since you told Janice’s mom, we were a Chinese curse. We thought we should dress the part. I assume you approve.”

I wrapped her in my arms. “Darling, in my wildest imagination, I couldn’t dream of four more radiant creatures on the face of this earth.”

The girls gave each mother’s mother a hug, and a not so motherly kiss. Then the moms came to me. Janice whispered in my ear. “Do us proud boyfriend.” I looked at her bewildered. “This is as much their night as it is ours. They deserve a taste of what we get daily if we want.”

Nancy was first and more-or-less set the standard for the rest. Her kiss was slow, passionate, and made sure her body made me well aware that she was her daughter’s mother. “Let our girls treat you the way you deserve for a change.” She whispered in my ear before giving it a little nip.

When I caught my breath, all I could get out was. “yes ma’am.”

I had kind of expected this from Nancy, but then Kelly’s mother wrapped her arms around me and wasted no time. Her kiss was as fiery as her hair, any hesitation on my part rapidly faded when one of her hands traveled between my legs. My hand instantly cupped a firm breast. “Oh my God.” She gasped. “Kel’ I love your father, but I’m SOOO jealous right now.” Lauren Parker looked me in the eyes. “You’re a good man Tom Hardy, you deserve my girl.”

Tammy’s mother took my face in her hands and maintained eye contact with me until our lips met, she moaned into my mouth. Her leg went between mine and my eyes were rolling in the back of my head as she dry-humped my leg. By the time she broke away my pants were threatening to rip at the seams. She didn’t say a word, just made room for Janice’s mother.

Helen Jenkins Was wearing a scoop neck blouse and a short skirt. Her five-foot-two frame launched herself into my arms. Her legs wrapped around my waist, mouth hungry. I had given up any though of resistance. I grabbed her ass as she ground against me. “Janice is lucky to have you in her life.”

We we’re heading towards the car. “What was that all about?”

“Our moms grew up together and have always been close friends, like we are now. As we were planning for the prom. We got to ask a lot of questions about when they were growing up, and while we love our dad’s they look at sex with the same attitude Wanda’s folks did.”

Janice laughed sardonically. “My folks still have twin beds, though that’s more about problems dad has after he returned from Korea. He has violent nightmares, and problems with intimacy. I have never seen him hug mom much less kiss. We thought they deserved a taste of you.” They all laughed.

“Will it end here though?”

“That kind of depends on them and you. Just know whatever happens, we are more than OK with that.”

“Interesting times.” I mumbled to myself.

On the short drive the school Janice was in the front with me, her hand found my erection before we pulled out of the driveway and was gently stroking it through my pants as her sisters were evaluating their mothers’ kissing techniques When we pulled up to the school gym, I had to sit there a moment and calm down before I could get out. I went to the passenger side, opening the rear door where Kelly, Barbara, and Tammy accepted my hand and literally flowed out of the car, making every guy in the area stop whatever they were doing to stare. I then opened the door for Janice, with the passenger door still open, blocking the view, she pulled her skirt up even further, making sure I got a good view of a pair of translucent panties that were an exact color match for her dress. “You all know you don’t play fair. After your mom’s goodbye ritual, and the ride over here, your killing me here.

Janice gave me a wicked little smile. “You know what they say about love and war.”

“So which one are we fighting?”

“Love for you. War for them. They---being the guys---have been giving us grief for the last couple of weeks. Tonight they learn they had no way of competing. Besides you’re a big boy, consider this a warmup for things to come.”

I groaned. “If you call being thrown into a bonfire a warmup. I wouldn’t have it any other way though.” She gave me her hand and I kissed it as I guided her out and closed the doors. After quickly parking next to an officer’s patrol car, who had traffic duty, I went to join my girls, and realized that for the first time I really saw them as My Girls. For almost a year these four beautiful young ladies---and their mothers---have stuck by me through the hardest time in my life. There was nothing I could possibly do to repay them except for the fact that they were mine as much as I was theirs. Together we walked arm-in-arm through the bamboo archway. It was then I realized that while the theme of the prom was supposed to give off a Hawaiian vibe, it was more oriental. Over the last week we had built a bamboo pagoda, oriental style arches, and paper lanterns surrounded the gym. My girls were a perfect fit for the atmosphere.