Chapter 27

Tom and Bill were waiting as usual Thursday morning. It was a cool but clear day so I had done my morning run. The conversation today was about Elvis being in the Army; Tom had a picture of him as they cut his hair. We wondered if they saved it, or just swept it away.

Bill figured some barber saved it and was selling it. From there it was, well he could sell all the hair cut that day or any day and say it was Elvis’. Tom said, “I can just see him selling a bag of blonde hair or better yet red hair, as Elvis’s.”

The way we talked you would have thought we were teenagers.

Waiting at the front door at school was Janet. She wanted to make sure everything was okay for the dance. I thought that was a little odd. She didn’t ask how I was. She just wanted to know if everything was still on for the dance. Of course, it was.

Once she heard that it was, “Great, C’ya.”

No one said anything about my speech in the cafeteria or how I left school. At the same time, I got a lot of good mornings. I felt so much better today than yesterday. Being treated like I was normal was much better than being some fake hero.

Classes went well except the teachers gave us an early homecoming present. They knew that homecoming day wasn’t the day to give tests, so they all gave them today! What a present.

Golf practice was fun. We did the front nine, and I did some things right and got a thirty-two. Coach told me the course record was sixty-four so if I kept it up for nine more holes I would have tied it.

After practice, I stopped at the restaurant and confirmed that my reservations were still correct. They were. Kathy got me good. She asked me if I was so nervous about things because I was going to pop the big question.

“What big question?”

“Propose to her.”

She burst out laughing.

“You should have seen the look on your face. I wish I had a picture.”

I was blushing and feeling pale at the same time. I swear my life flashed before my eyes.

Kathy grinned, “I was just teasing.”

I know but it was a shock.

“I won’t be fifteen not until next month.”

This took Kathy aback. You are fourteen? I thought you were seventeen going on eighteen. You are certainly big for your age.”

I just nodded, not knowing what else to do.

The fact that Kathy had even looked at me was astounding. She was an extremely attractive twenty-something. Way out of my class. I retreated from this minefield as quickly as I could. Anyway, the bus was almost ready to leave to take us back to school.

Dinner was cheerful. Mary had decided she would rather be a pony. Not have a pony, be a pony. She talked Denny and Eddie into taking rides, but took one look at me and said, “Some people are too big to ride ponies, they ride horses.”

I continued my nightly reading and finished the adventures of Tom Jones. Now there was a life.

School Friday was a complete waste as far as learning went. All the talk was of homecoming. The biggest issue was that the Captain of the football team, Tim Jefferson was black. The Captain of the team was always the homecoming King.

He would crown the homecoming Queen and then kiss her. This created all sorts of potential problems but the senior class elected Connie Hastings. Connie was the only black girl in the class.

That solved the racial issue nicely. It was politely ignored that Tim and Connie were first cousins. I always wondered later how their families felt about that.

Right after the second lunch period, there was a big pep rally. The team and Coaches were introduced and we were told how they were going to beat the Kenton Wildcats. Many cheers were led and we were dismissed for the day. I picked up the corsage from the junior class. They had set up in the cafeteria and from the number of corsages being picked up; they would have a very nice prom. Not that I was old enough to go.

There wasn’t golf practice that night, but we did have a match on Saturday, so Coach Stone asked us to not stay out too late on Friday because we played Sidney on Saturday. Luckily it was a home match for us, so we didn’t have to be at the course until nine o’clock for a ten o’clock tee off.

I was dressed for dinner just on time. My suit still fits me, just. It was tight in the shoulders and the pants cuff should have been let down. The pants weren’t embarrassingly short, but I would have to have the cuffs turned down if I tried to wear the suit again. When the limo pulled up I was about to walk out the door; when Mum reminded me of the corsage in the refrigerator.

“Thanks, Mum; that would have been a bad start to the evening.”

“I would’ve brought it with me.”

“Brought it with you? What’s going on Mum?”

“Sue Ellen and Belinda and I are going together to Janet’s house to take pictures. You didn’t think we would let our boys go on their first dates without pictures did you.”

Actually, pictures never entered my mind.

“Oh, then see you there.”

The limo gleamed it had been shined so much. There was discreet lettering on the driver’s door which said, “Maverick Taxi Service.” The driver who turned out to be John Sullivan was wearing an old fashion driver’s uniform with buttons, he even had the hat.

He jumped out and opened the door for me. This was going to be neat. I told him so.

Mr. Sullivan said, “This is our big night, our opportunity to show this thing off and make some money. Speaking of which, you still owe twenty dollars.”

I had the money ready. He had a receipt already made out so it was an easy exchange.