The Contract

by Jerry D. Young

  “Hello?” Sara said.

  Her voice boomed and she jumped. Everyone laughed. The DJ made another adjustment and smiled at her encouragingly.

  Taking a deep breath, Sara decided to try to emulate Jason. She stood calmly and began to speak.

  Two hours later, just after she had sung another karaoke song, her second, Sara was again with Trinity, Bootsi, Pricilla and Kathy.

  “Oh, Sara,” Bootsi said breathlessly, “This party is a blast! Everyone is having a great time! My dad even came, for a few minutes, before he went on duty. He said all the cops are going to come by as they go on shift or off, to bring something.”

  “And keep an eye on you in that costume,” Pricilla said, nudging the others.

  Bootsi grinned. “I am kinda glad. The guys really seem to like our outfits.”

  “Amen to that,” Trinity said. “If I see any one of you getting fresh with Alan, I am going to kill all three of you. And Jason, when I find him.”

  “I still have not seen him,” Kathy said, looking around the crowded room. “How about you, Sara? You were up on stage. You had a good look at everyone.”

  Sara shook her head. “Not yet.” Then she sighed. “I see Mrs. MacDougal and Tommy headed this way. I think my presence is required. Again.”

  “You love being in charge,” Trinity said. She gave Sara a small push. “Go take care of business. We will keep an eye out for Jason.”

  Sara smiled when she walked up to Mrs. MacDougal and Tommy. “Mister Jones was wondering if it would be appropriate for the staff to mingle… Maybe dance, I think he also suggested.”

  Sara and Mrs. MacDougal turned their eyes in the same direction in which Tommy was currently looking.

  Candy, dressed in black, as a witch, was serving punch, beside another of the caterers. However, unlike the witch costume that Sara had started to make, Candy’s was sleek and sexy.

  “Oh, I do not see any problems there,” Sara said with a smile. “It turned out a lot of parents and other adults showed up to help. The caterers have really been great. I think they, and the other staff, could ease off and join in the fun.

  “Do you agree, Mrs. MacDougal?”

  “I think that would be acceptable,” she said, smiling as well. Tommy Jones had made a favorable impression.

  Tommy finally felt them looking at him and turned. Suddenly he grinned, and two flowers appeared. He handed one to each of them. “Thanks. You guys are great!”

  He hurried off and seemed to have very little trouble convincing Candy to go out onto the dance floor with him.

  “I shall go around to the others,” Mrs. MacDougal said, lifting her wand, “and give them the good word. Go be enchanting, my dear.” Mrs. MacDougal touched Sara lightly on the shoulder with the star tipped wand.

  “You are so great, Mrs. MacDougal!” Sara stepped forward and hugged her.

  When she rejoined Bootsi and Trinity, Trinity said, “That was cool, letting the staff join in. Everyone has been great. I cannot believe how good a couple of the caterers are at the mime stuff. Jason must be going nuts!”

  “What is it with you two and Jason?” Bootsi asked, around bites of a huge orange cookie.

  “How long have you known him?” Trinity asked, knowing the answer.

  Bootsi grinned. “Oh.” She looked over at Sara, who was carefully studying the occupants of the room.

  “Which is the most annoying? His annoying ways, being annoyed that you want to do stuff with him, instead of to him?”

  “What!” Sara replied. “I do not want to do stuff with him!”

  “With who? Whom? Whatever,” Pricilla asked, coming up to them.

  “Jason,” Bootsi said.

  Kathy had just come up, as well. “Well, I sure would like to do something with him. He actually said he would go out with me, next Saturday, if we all survive tonight. I am not sure what he meant about surviving tonight, but I sure intend to hold him to the date.”

  “He asked you out?” Sara asked. “I keep hearing that he does not go out on dates.”

  Bootsi grinned. So did Pricilla. Fortunately for their health and well being, Sara was looking at Kathy.

  “Well… He said he would take me to a movie and dinner. He said he was proud of me…” Kathy seemed suddenly about to cry.

  “Because of Rodney,” Trinity said softly.

  Kathy nodded.

  “You have done great, Kathy,” Sara said, putting her arm around the other girl’s shoulder. “We all know it is hard, dealing with him, but you are doing great.”

  “He calls me such awful names.”

  “Jason is not going to get a chance to hurt him,” Sara said angrily. “I am going to do it myself.”

  Kathy was hurriedly repairing her makeup as the others shielded her.

  Everything seemed normal to Tommy as he walked up, intending to ask Sara to dance. Before he had a chance, Sara asked, with a smile on her face, “Where is Candy?”

  Tommy smiled back. “Jason sure knows how to pick ‘em,” he thought to him-self. He turned and motioned. “She’s dancing with some slug.”

  The others looked, assuming Tommy meant anyone that danced with Candy besides himself was a slug.

  Then they saw a big white slug dancing with Candy.

  “Who in the world is that?” Kathy asked. “I cannot even see eye slits in the thing.”

  Suddenly all five girls were exchanging looks. “Jason!”

  Tommy had no chance to ask Sara to dance. All five girls were headed toward the slug.

  They did not quite tackle the slug, but it was close. “Gotcha!” Trinity exclaimed as she grabbed the slug.

  “Okay. How do you get the top… All right. Found it.” Bootsi was taking the head portion of the slug costume off.

  “Daddy!” Trinity nearly screamed. “You said you were going to be… oh…” Her voice faded away.

  The others looked at her. “He said he was coming as my father. Hey! I only called him a slug once! When he would not let me get a bra when I thought I was ready!”

  The others all laughed. Mr. Vandeuson put his slug head back on and finished the dance with Candy as the others moved away. “Your dad is so cool,” Bootsi said.

  “Yeah. He is pretty okay,” Trinity said, casting a look back over her shoulder. “I sure wish he could find someone. Mom’s been gone for a long time.” She sighed.

  “Oh! I almost forgot,” Kathy said. “Sara, there is a big bad wolf looking for you.”

  “Very, funny,” Sara said, scanning the people in costume around her for signs of Jason.

  “No. I am serious. It is George Goddard. He was looking for you.”

  Sara noticed Trinity edging away. “George is here? In a wolf costume? Trinity!”

  She caught the back of Trinity’s costume as Trinity bolted. “Oh, no! You are not going any…”

  Sara released Trinity when a tall, hairy thing walked up. “Uh. Hi, George,” Sara said.

  “Aw, you recognized me,” the beast said, removing a hairy mask.

  He glanced over at Trinity. “Trinity did not tell me you were going to be Little Red Riding Hood. I would not have worn this.”

  “Oh, Trinity leaves out lots of things, sometimes,” Sara said, with a quick glare at Trinity.

  “I think we should let these two have a dance,” Trinity said, moving quickly away.

  “I am going to seriously maim someone,” Sara muttered when the DJ stared a really old rock and roll tune called Lil’ Red Ridin’ Hood.

  “Not me, I hope. That is usually left to the Woodsman. And so far, I have not seen one here.”

  Sara smiled up at the tall young man. “No, not you, George. Just the person or persons, partly known, who set me up.”

  “I am almost afraid to ask you to dance,” he replied.

  “I would love to dance,” Sara said quickly, stepping forward to let George take her hand and put his other on her hip. Everyone seemed to be looking at them.

  “I am afraid I can only stay a litt
le while. I have to work tonight. Fortunately, they wanted us to wear costumes tonight.”

  Genuinely disappointed, Sara said so.

  “You sure are doing a good thing, here, Sara. We talked about doing something like it over at Montrose, when we heard about this. Just could not get anything set up.”

  “Everyone just pitched in and helped,” Sara said as they continued to dance to the next slow number.

  “I am afraid I have to go. I really am glad I got to see you tonight. Have you thought any more about going to the carnival with me next weekend?”

  Sara quickly decided. “I would love to, George. Call me early next week, okay?”

  With a large smile on his face George agreed.

  “I do not have paper or pencil,” Sara hurriedly said. “I will have to…”

  “That is all right. I will find out your number.”

  Her friends immediately surrounded her when George left. Trinity made sure to stay just out of Sara’s handy lunging range.

  “You going out with him?” Bootsi immediately asked.

  “To the carnival,” Sara admitted.

  “You are not going to hurt me, are you?” Trinity asked, edging closer.

  “No. I guess not,” Sara said. “But you had better never set me up like that again.”

  Trinity smiled. “Okay. I will leave that to Jason.”

  “Do not ever encourage him, either,” Sara said warningly.

  “I just sort of felt sorry for him, knowing all these mimes…”

  “You mean he set it up for George…” Sara fumed.

  “Well… No… I just knew we were getting him with the mimes. And…”

  “You decided to get me, too, just to even things up a bit.”

  “Not exactly,” Trinity said.

  Sara frowned at her. “Okay. Exactly. But it turned out good, right? I know you really wanted to go out with George. And Kathy is going out with Jason…”

  “What does that have to do with Sara going out with George?” Bootsi asked.

  “Nothing,” Sara said. “You know how annoying he can be.”

  “Boy, do I! I still have not seen him. I cannot believe he is not here. I have never known him to lie.”

  “You guys keep looking,” Kathy said. “I have to go to the ladies room. I will be back in a jiff. And if you have not found Jason by the time I get back, see if you can snag one of the caterers for me to dance with.”

  “Like you have been having trouble getting guys to dance with you,” Trinity said.

  Kathy just grinned as she walked away.

  “What is going on over by the doors?” Trinity said a few minutes later.

  They headed that direction. Sara was behind the others and started trying to push her way through the small crowd when she heard Kathy.

  “Cut it out, Rodney! I told you I do not want to dance with you! You were not even invited to this!”

  “Yeah, well, everyone else was. You cannot keep me out.”

  “Who is this bozo?” Sara heard Tommy say. “Should I throw him out?”

  “Lay a hand on me, you goofy mime, and I will have you in jail for years. I am a minor. And my daddy is a state congressman.”

  “Well, now, none of us intend to lay a hand on you, young man. But I do sug-gest you leave. You are not welcome here.”

  Sara recognized the Commodore. She kept trying to work her way forward.

  “Shut up, you old coot! You are just a parking attendant with a fancy title. Commodore! What a laugh.”

  She was growling now, and starting to make progress, though not as fast as she wanted.

  “Now, you little twerp, you better come dance with me, or else.”

  “No, Rodney! I do not have to dance with you! You are a jerk.”

  “You are lousy poor white trailer trash! Who do you think you are, turning me down?”

  “I am not trash! I am somebody,” Kathy said.

  Sara could hear the tears near the surface.

  “Your father is a stinking trash man and your mother is a waitress at the truck stop. That makes you trash. Now come on and dance with me.”

  “Hey! Cut it out, Rodney!”

  “Let me through! I am going to…” Sara squealed.

  “Let her take care of it.”

  Sara whirled around. It had been Jason that whispered into her ear. But she could not see him.

  She turned back and finally broke through the ring of people around Kathy and Rodney. Sara saw the anguish on several peoples’ faces. All adults. They knew there was a limited amount they could do, without getting into trouble. Rodney’s father was a state congressman and liked to throw his weight around.

  Sara could tell that Tommy was going to do something, anyway. And the only reason the Commodore was not, was because Mrs. Erickson was whispering quietly into his ear, her hand firmly on his forearm.

  Her eyes went to Kathy. Tears were streaming down Kathy’s face, but Sara marveled at the strength suddenly in the other girl’s voice.

  “Take your hand off me, Rodney, or I will make you regret it!”

  “Yeah? What are you going to do? Get Little Red Riding Hood, or her goofball friend, the Iron Princess to fight me for you? Or maybe that little no good wimp Jason will come swinging to your rescue.”

  “No,” Kathy said. “I will just do what Jason and Sara have been suggesting I do.

  “I am a minor, too. And a girl. I do not think anyone is going to make trouble for me,” Kathy said, just before she swung her fist into Rodney’s solar plexus.

  Rodney went almost to his knees. When he could focus, he glared at Kathy. “My daddy will make you pay for this! He’ll get your parents both fired.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Kathy said. “He will have garbage piled to the roof of that fancy house if he tries. And every semi truck coming into or out of this city will be looking for a chance to run right over his limo.”

  Sara could see Kathy starting to shake. She quickly stepped forward, motioned to Trinity and the two of them hurried Kathy through the crowd, which was suddenly starting to applaud.

  “And you tell your daddy to do anything he wants to me. I would not mind doing two years, if I can kick your tail all the way out of this place.”

  “I shall hold the door for you,” the Commodore growled.

  A path was opened. Tommy gave Rodney the bum’s rush out to the parking lot.

  “I cannot believe I did that!” Kathy was saying. She was still shaking almost uncontrollably.

  “You did great!” Pricilla said. “Laid the weasel low!”

  “And do not worry about the threats, Kathy. The police commissioner is Rod-ney’s daddy’s buddy, but I know my father will talk to some of the other officers. They will make sure Rodney or his friends do not try anything at your house.”’

  “Gee,” Kathy said, voice low.

  “You did good,” Sara said softly. “Jason knew you would. I was just about to tackle Rodney when Jason told me to let you handle it. And you did. Just fine.”

  All eyes turned to Sara. “You saw him!” Trinity said.

  Sara frowned. “No. He was behind me. When I turned around I could not see him. But it was definitely him. I recognized his voice.”

  “How could you not see him?” Bootsi asked.

  Sara just looked around.

  “Oh. Yeah. I guess so,” Bootsi said sheepishly.

  Tommy came up, rather tentatively. “Is she okay? I could not get to him before he started in. I am sorry.” The last was directed to Kathy herself.

  Kathy smiled at Tommy. “That is okay. You were a big help, anyway.”

  “He was pretty magnificent, vocally and physically, for a mime.”

  They could see Tommy color, despite the white face makeup he wore when Candy made her comment.

  “Uh…”

  “See what I mean, Ladies?” Candy said with a laugh. She took Tommy’s hand and led him off to dance.

  “Nice going, Kathy,” Alan said, coming up to ask Trinity to
dance.

  “Thanks, Alan,” Kathy replied with a smile.

  One of the caterers came up then, bowed to Kathy, produced a flower, and motioned her out to dance.

  With a grin, Kathy accepted.

  “Those guys are so cool,” Pricilla said.

  “Who?” asked Sara.

  “The caterers. Or mimes. They are doing so well at both jobs, I am not sure what to call them.”

  Bootsi chuckled. “Mimes that caterer or caterers that mime.”

  “Did you see the girl one, dancing with Steve? She made him look graceful.”

  “He is graceful,” Sara said. “He moves like a cat on the basketball court.”

  “OW! STEVE!” they heard Trinity call.

  “Yeah. Like a cat,” Bootsi replied, looking over to where Steve was setting Trinity back on her own feet, after nearly knocking her and Alan both down.

  “He is just nervous,” Sara said. “He is six eleven. He towers over every girl here, including Manusco.”

  “Even with her as the Statue of Liberty, he towers over her,” Bootsi said.

  “Well, maybe I should just go give him a dancing lesson,” Pricilla said. “He is nice guy.”

  Kathy returned on the caterer’s arm just as Pricilla was leaving.

  “You still have not seen Jason, Sara?” Kathy asked. “Oh. Thanks. You are a very good dancer.”

  The caterer made another grand gesture to Kathy, then turned to Sara.

  “No. Not yet. And I am getting worried. We will have to unmask soon,” Sara replied. She smiled at the caterer patiently waiting for her to finish talking to Kathy before miming an invitation to dance.

  “Go ahead, Sara,” Kathy urged. “He is a good dancer. I want to circulate and look for Jason.”

  As Sara took the caterer’s gloved hand Trinity and Alan danced by. “Do not forget, Sara. You have one more karaoke song to do.”

  “Do not remind me,” Sara replied.

  She smiled at the caterer as he held her some distance from him in a formal dance hold. “You guys have been really great,” Sara told him. “Kathy is right. You are a good dancer.”

  When they finished the dance, Sara politely thanked him again. “I do not suppose you have noticed anyone being obnoxious to any of you, have you?”