Chapter 13

Calling her chemistry class to order, Carla Franklin took out her lesson plans. “All right, my supplies are limited, so you folks have to work in teams. Both students will share the lab work, and anyone not pulling their share will need to repeat the class next year.” Groans surged across the room.

Conley and White were teamed. Len volunteered to be re-matched, but Cathie declined. “Naw, just don’t slack off.” He occasionally saw Jessie but kept his eyes lowered to avoid offense. As the course continued, the partners settled into an easy working relationship.

One day, Len was accosted after Geometry. Sarita Fuentes appraised Len. “You’ll do, I shall allow you to coach me in these stupid proofs.” Len was dumbfounded. Sarita was the queen bee at school, with flowing curves and warm brown eyes. Len knew that he was far below her usual court of confident males. Worse, he knew some of them would thump him if he tried anything non-mathematical.

What he did not know is that his own standing ticked up with Sarita’s interest. Cathie watched him oscillate from self-confidence to fear depending on Sarita’s grade reports. But there were subtle signs of interest among the girls in the Jessie and Cathie’s academic squad.

Junior Prom was ahead. Len believed Sarita would hurt herself laughing if he invited her, and her big-ass male friends would put a bigger hurt on him if they knew. Cathie was invited by some guy in her history class, so Len was SOL for a prom date.

Cathie was watching their lab experiment bubble. “Partner, who are you taking to the prom?” “I’m not going.” He flushed and added, “No one to take.” Cathie: “What about Jessie?” “She wouldn’t want me, like you said.”

There was silence between them. “I may have been too— Look, as a personal favor to me, would you at least ask her? She is so sad. Only her Mom, my Dad, and me seem to care if she’s alive.”

At their next lunch Len approached the girls. Jessie made to take her leave. Cathie whispered, “Sit, please.” Len tried for calm. “Jessie, come to the prom, er, with me. Please?” Unable to speak, Jessie just nodded. Len said, “Great,” and moved away quickly. Cathie held on to Jessie’s shaking shoulders. “Don’t worry, I will help you get ready.”

On Prom night, Cathie was fussing over Jessie’s formal. It was long and gray, with a glossy black belt. She wore only a little makeup, and some low heels. But Cathie was fully decked in her best, her hair up and full-height pumps on her stocking feet. “Dang, Cathie, you look great.”

Len arrived at the White house right on time. (Cathie’s date would be meeting them at the event.) Bettie Dawes brought him inside, while Bruce White fiddled with his camera. “Five minutes!” Cathie called. Bruce knew Len was his daughter’s lab partner, so they talked a little about school. Bettie fidgeted nervously.

Jessie appeared in the hallway, and saw Len in his coat and tie. Her frightened eyes rolled back and she fell, bringing Cathie down also. Len was frantic. “I’m sorry, so sorry! What have I done?” He held her hand, like ice in his grasp.

Eventually, Len went home on a raft of fresh apologies. Cathie called her date and said someone had an accident and so she wouldn’t be coming.

It was weeks before Jessie was able to shake free of that awful night. Leonard Conley transferred to a different high school and was never seen again.

Jessie finally regained some equanimity and focused on her studies. Her group thrived and this helped with her self-confidence. Cathie had discreet dates with her male peers, but Jessie simply avoided discussing them and showed no interest in them herself.

By the end of their senior year, each of the girls held scholarships and invitations to several universities. Both wanted the University of Texas at Austin.