Chapter 33

“I have no idea I don’t know anyone in school with that nickname.”

“Maybe I misunderstood my Dad. He is the new Commander at the airbase. He told me I could date any boy, but that blankity blank Cowboy. He was involved in some incident out at the base. It is why my Dad the Colonel is now in Command. Anyway, he said he doesn’t want me anywhere near that guy.”

Just then the ladies came downstairs, so I was saved from having to answer. The introductions had been made and phone numbers exchanged. Mrs. Hawthorne had come down to collect Cheryl. It gave me a moment to think. I knew I had to speak up. The longer I waited the worse it would be.

“Excuse me I have to tell Cheryl and Mrs. Hawthorne something.” They looked at me expectantly with no idea what I was about to say.

“No one calls me Cowboy, but I was the guy involved with that incident out at the radar station.”

Mrs. Hawthorne looked nonplussed. Cheryl just stood there stunned.

“I’m sorry I just found out that Mr. Hawthorne doesn’t want Cheryl near me.”

You should have seen the look on Mum’s face. If she had been a violent person someone might be getting ready to die.

“What do you mean,” asked Mum through gritted teeth?

“Mr. or rather Colonel Hawthorne knows a little about the problem last month out at the base and he doesn’t want her to be near the boy who was involved.”

Mrs. Hawthorne spoke up, “Jim only knows that Rick came on to the base with an unauthorized weapon and fired it.”

Mum through still gritted teeth asked, “Was he told why Rick did that?”

“No, he was told that it involved a National security matter.”

“Well, I suggest that he finds out what went on before he blackens my son’s reputation.”

I could see that this was about to go downhill fast.

“There is nothing we can do or settle here. I suggest we leave this till later when your husband can get more details of why I did what I did.”

During this very short tense conversation Cheryl had moved over by my side, it was like we were in this together. Mum relented and agreed that would be a good idea. Mrs. Hawthorne said her goodbyes and almost ran upstairs with Cheryl trailing.

Mrs. Hernandez said brightly, “That went well.”

It was too much, we broke out laughing. Denny, Eddie, and Mary had been there with their mouths open the whole time. They didn’t know what to do and they still didn’t, but they laughed with us anyway.

Mum, Dad and I talked it over after dinner. We all agreed there was really nothing any of us could do. Either the Colonel would get enough information to change his decision or he would relent anyway.

If he did great if not well it was his decision as long as he didn’t slander me. The bigger question was whether I even wanted to date Cheryl.

I found her attractive and she seemed very nice. She didn’t even know anything about me so that was a plus. I am certain that will change as she gets back to school. The next question was whether she wanted to date me. While I hadn’t known her very long she didn’t seem repulsed by me.

It would all work out or it wouldn’t. One thing I knew was none of that Romeo and Juliet stuff for me. I might pout for a while, but committing suicide was out of the question.

Wednesday was clear and cold again. Ice skating would be great if this kept up. Breakfast was hot porridge, as usual during winter. Dad gave us a quick update on his plans for the day. Jackson Housing now owned a total of four buildings with eight rental units and six of them were currently occupied. This was well ahead of our original schedule. The Simmons had settled into their unit and looked like they would be model renters.

He was finishing up painting the two empty units and hoped to have them available to rent by the end of the month. Only one of the units had needed major work. Dad went to install a shower and when he opened up the wall it had leaked and there was mold. He had to pull out a lot of the laths and replace them. That took more time than cost but it still was work.

Dad’s contracting course said that they thought that some molds could cause lung problems so he bought sick room masks at the pharmacy and wore them while pulling stuff out. I asked him why he was concerned about his lungs all of a sudden or was he going to quit smoking. I was reminded sharply he was my Dad and I wasn’t too big for him to belt.

He also told me later he was trying to quit. It was harder to stop smoking than to stop drinking but he was trying. He was down to one pack of Lucky Strikes a day. I apologized for being out of line and he accepted it.

I walked to school with Tom from next door. He told me he heard that I had received detention again.

“How did you hear that and who would care?”

“You are kidding, right? The guy who pays for detention getting detention? That is news. Everyone thinks it’s a wonderful payback.”

“You know why my family did that.”

“Yep but it is still too funny. Besides, it proves you aren’t Ricky Perfect the Super Boy.”

“Are we going back to that crap again?”

“No,” said Tom, “but it is fun to pull your chain.”

I picked up a handful of leftover yellow snow and chased Tom to school but didn’t catch him.