“I couldn’t say.” Mandy said as she changed the subject.
Ella, are you planning on being at the Home Coming football game Friday night?”
“Yes, I thought I would be there. It will be fun to see the team play and to possibly see some of our class.” Ella answered.
“Where do you live Ella?” A lady asked.
“I moved back to the home place recently. Both my parents are gone and I got homesick. So, this will be home for now.”
“Is there anything I can do to help with the reunion?” Ella asked.
“Everything is in order. We just had this last meeting before the reunion for an excuse to get together. I’m glad you called and could join us.” Mandy said as the other ladies joined in agreement.
Just like high school they wanted to see how fat I’d gotten since high school. Ella thought to herself. Same ole’ clicks.
Friday night Ella drove up in her Corvette to the football game. Everyone was looking to see who was
exiting the car. Ella noticed some of the ladies poking their husband’s ribs when they took a second look.
A couple of the guys came over and introduced themselves. Guys that wouldn’t take a second look at Ella in high school. Ella was polite and shook their hand. Ella noticed a few whispering but didn’t pay any attention. She started up the bleachers looking for a seat. It was very crowded. One nice couple asked her to set with them. They scooted over and gave Ella enough room to fit in. He extended his hand.
“Chuck Frost, remember me.” This is my wife, Cheryl Spencer, do you remember Cheryl?” Chuck asked.
“Yes, I remember you both in high school.
“We remember you too and boy have you changed.” Chuck said as Cheryl poked him in the ribs.
“You have certainly changed and that’s good. I remember the mean kids called you Chunky Frost. It used to make me so mad. I guess that’s because I was taller than any of the boys and no one except Phil Young asked me out.” Ella shared with them.
Cheryl spoke up. “I wore braces and Chuck was the only boy that noticed me.”
“Well, you are both beautiful people.” Ella said as the whistle blew for the first kick off.
Half time came Ella watched the Home Coming crowning of the King and Queen.
Things haven’t changed much. Ella looked around at the pretty people all together. The over weight, tall lanky girls and those with braces, those with bad hair and not wearing the fashionable clothes staying to themselves. High school hasn’t changed. There are still the clicks. Some will grow out of being snobs and most will become beautiful in their own way. But there will always be a few snobs that will go through life missing out on meeting good people because they don’t fit the mold. Ella thought to herself.
The game was over and Linville came out with the winning score. The class of ‘62’ was invited to attend the dance but Ella chose to go home. She scanned the bleachers and didn’t see Phil Young or if she saw him she didn’t recognize him.
Ella didn’t purchase a new dress for the dinner dance. She looked through her closet and came upon the most beautiful dress. She tried it on and it was a perfect fit.
Ella drove up in front of the Elks lodge without a date in her bright red Corvette. Ella didn’t have anyone on her arm. She could have invited Frank but he had been through so much she thought it would be asking too much.
Ella hoped to see Phil Young although until this week she thought he was married. Now she doesn’t know anything about Phil Young. Anyway, she thought to herself. Mandy said, she couldn’t say if Phil was going to be there or not. That’s kind of strange now that I think about it since Mandy takes care of the RSVP’s.
Ella walked into the room decorated in Linville High School colors of orange and green. I suppose the orange is for the valley filled with orange groves and the green for the foliage.
Mandy asked Ella if she was wearing her prom dress.
Ella shuck her head yes. “No need and letting it go to waste hanging in the closet.” Ella said.
A few classmates introduced themselves. Most asked if she came with a date. She thought, they think it’s just like high school. Ella without a date. They still think if you don’t have a date you are a nerd. Ella didn’t care she sashayed herself around the room meeting everyone. Most had grown up but of course there were a few still in the ‘click’.
You could tell the seating arrangements had been made by the reunion committee. The elite were all setting together. Ella walked around the room looking for her name on a place setting. Subconsciously she was hoping to see Phil’s name.
The microphone gave out a loud squeak and the Master of Ceremonies asked for the ‘Class of ‘62’ to be seated. Ella located her seat near the back of the room with a few of the undesirables as she expected. Steve Lewis, the tough guy of the class gave the opening prayer. Come to find out he and his wife are missionaries in Africa. You never know how people will turn out.
Everyone enjoyed the dinner. Plates were being cleared from the tables. The music started. Couples were dancing to tunes from the 60’s. Such as, Love Me Tender, The Twist, Blue Velvet, and many more. A couple of the guys asked Ella to dance but the first part of the dance she stayed seated. Chuck asked her to dance and they were dancing when the song changed to ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow’.
There was a tap on Ella’s shoulder. Chuck turned her to the man behind her and it was Phil Young. Ella almost collapsed.
“Phil, I didn’t think you were here. It’s so good to see you.”
“I couldn’t get off work to get here in time for all the festivities. I drove from Coopersville after work. Chuck and I had this all planned.” Phil told her.
“Coopersville, I just moved from Coopersville. What do you do there?” Ella asked.
“Let’s enjoy the evening and talk about that later.” Phil said.
“I own the flower shop there. How could I have missed you?”
“Did your wife join you tonight?” Ella asked hoping Phil hadn‘t remarried.
“No, Ella my wife died some years ago.”
“I’m sorry Phil.” Ella said with condolences in her voice.
“Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, that was our song. “Did you plan this?” Ella asked.
Phil pulled her close, placed his forefinger over her mouth and they danced. After the dance was over Phil escorted Ella to his table.
Ella spoke up. “My table is over on the other side.”
“Your table setting is with me.” Phil said as he led her to the table with her name on the place setting next to his.
Phil told Ella he was working undercover as Agent Bill Harris with the FBI in Coopersville. He couldn’t let anyone know he was working undercover. Until the case was cracked. She knew exactly what he was talking about.
“I thought I saw you one night in Joe’s Coffee House. Was that you?” Did you see me?” Ella asked.
Phil smiled and nodded yes.
Phil an Ella danced and talked until the master of ceremonies announced, “Last dance.”
‘Save the Last Dance for Me‘ began to play. Phil and Ella held each other as if it would be the last dance.
Phil walked Ella to her car.
“Well, this is a beauty.” Phil said smoothing his hand across the top and opened her door.
“Thanks, I bought it for myself.” She said as he gave her one more kiss.
Phil pulled the door wide and Ella slipped into the low seat. He leaned into the car and gave her one more kiss.
“Good-night.” Phil told Ella as he walked away.
Ella pulled her seat belt over her chest and adjusted her rear view mirror just in time to see Phil Young get into the ‘Blue Sedan‘.
Phil Young is my stalker. He’s been watching over me all this time. She thought.
Would he call, would she see him again? Ella wondered as she poured milk in her first morning cup of coffee. Making a figure eight as her spoon twirled. From the front porch Ella enjoyed the glow
from the morning sun as it cleared the horizon welcoming the new day.
Ella folded the morning paper as she pushed her chair back from the table and stood tall and stretched her body to the sky. The air smelled of lilacs blooming in the yard. A fragrance she recalls from her childhood.
Ella made her way to the bathroom for a nice bubble bath. She turned on the tub water and watched the steam fill the room. As she filled the tub with bubbles she took a look at her reflection in the mirror and today it looked vibrant. The look of someone in love.
“Oh my, she said, “I’m in love with Phil Young again, no not again I never stopped loving him.” She murmured.
The bubble bath was relaxing. Ella dressed and wondered what the day would bring. She put on a straight jean skirt and a nice white scoop neck blouse with a pair of two inch heels and headed out for a Sunday drive in the San Joaquin Valley. Ella walked out the front door and was about to latch it when the phone rang.
Who could that be? Ella wondered making her way to the phone.
“Hello.”
A familiar voice came on the line. “Hi Ella, this is Phil.”
“Phil, how nice to hear from you. How’s your day going?” She asked trying not to sound too excited.
“Good, real good. I know we live about a hundred miles apart but I was wondering if you might like to meet me for a late lunch.” He hoped he wasn’t being too forward.
“That sounds nice. Do you want to meet halfway in Baker?”
“That was my thought. There’s a nice Italian restaurant just off the freeway at the Broadway exit. Would that be okay with you?”
“That sounds wonderful. I was just heading out for a Sunday drive. When will you be leaving?”
“I can leave immediately. That should put us in Baker about the same time.”
“Okay, it’s a date.” Ella said with a smile in her voice.
Ella laid the phone in its cradle. Her heart was doing flip flops. Excitement ran through her veins. Phil, the man she never stopped loving was in her life again.
Six months later… In a little white chapel overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Phil and Ella said their wedding vows with family and friends looking on. They lived happily-ever-after.
THE BLUE STALKER Page 30
