****
I ran into Denny later in the cafeteria. In actuality, I saved him from a burnout that was trying to extort lunch money from him. Sonny Webber had Denny pushed into a corner. Sonny had been in high school almost long enough to collect Social Security. He dressed like a tough guy and made kids like Denny nervous. I quickly moved between them, gambling that he wouldn’t hit a girl, at least not in public.
“Hey, Sonny, how’s it going? Listen, I need to borrow Denny for a while so please excuse us.” With that I took Denny’s sweaty hand and pulled him away, not waiting for a comment from Webber. We walked quickly toward the other side of the cafeteria.
“Thanks,” Denny said, removing his thick black-rimmed glasses and wiping away the sweat that had gathered around his myopic eyes. His face was as pale as the belly of a dead fish.
“Do you still want to have that party?”
“Of course,” he said.
“And you’ll hire our band?”
“Sure, but I have to have more people willing to come. It’s got to be an event.”
“I’ve solved that problem for you,” I told him. I explained to him how Karen and Randy would come and would convince the others. Denny was ecstatic. He looked like a feline that had been rolling around in catnip.
“If you invite them; they will come.” I felt godlike for at least a moment.
****
We played the party but I can’t say all had a good time. Denny had a good-sized recreation room in the basement of his house, and some of the kids danced to our music. But there was little mingling. Karen and Randy’s crowd hung out together. They ignored everyone else. Denny’s friends stayed off to one side by themselves. Denny definitely didn’t realize his goal of becoming Mr. Popularity. In fact the party broke up early. Karen shrugged at me as she and Randy left with their friends. At least Denny was reasonably satisfied and best of all we were paid.
We played only one other gig that month but it was still a good one. Actually, it was Karen who got it. She heard from Greg Lawson, Student Council President, that a 1950’s theme Sock Hop was planned for late September. Everything was organized except for getting the band. Karen suggested us. Thanks to her, we got that job as well.
The Sock Hop was held on September 2lst in the Wilson High gym. Since it was stag or drag there was a good turnout. And since the theme was the l950’s, everyone came dressed in costume. It was a lot of fun. We had to practice in advance to get the old rock sounds right, but I enjoyed it. My mother helped me fix up an outfit. I put my hair up in a ponytail, wore bobby sox and sneakers with a long full skirt.
Liz and Jimmy looked great, and Liz picked the perfect outfit for Michael too, a black shirt and tight-fitting black jeans. With his dark shades he fit the bad-boy image. His looks were to die for.
As soon as we were set up, Michael gave us the thumbs up signal. “Ready, let’s rock!”
And we did just that. We started with Let’s Go to the Hop and then broke into Rock Around the Clock; that got everybody dancing. We played Elvis, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, did some slow romantic stuff for the couples, and finished up with Save the Last Dance for Me. Everyone danced, even the chaperones.
Karen and Randy won the best costume contest. Karen had gone all out for this, down to locating a poodle skirt and saddle shoes. Greg Lawson and Cindy Ellis won the dance contest; they were beautiful to watch together. He was tall and handsome and she was so beautiful, a golden-haired prince and princess. They looked like they’d stepped out of a book of fairy tales or as though they ought to be on a billboard advertising some all-American breakfast cereal.
It proved to be an outstanding evening and the best part was we knew that our band provided it. There it was a natural high that the four of us shared.
****
The following Monday, cheerleading tryouts were held after school. I promised Karen I would stay and watch.
“You’ll do more than that,” Karen insisted. “You’re trying out with me.”
“No way!” I told her.
“Listen, Lori Rosen broke her leg. She won’t be able to cheer for a long time. Who knows when she’ll be back? Ms. Gladstone needs two girls, not one. Don’t you see? This is our dream come true. You have to try out with me, Stace.”
“I don’t know,” I hesitated. “I don’t think I’m good enough. I’m definitely not pretty enough.”
“Oh, Stace, you’re always doing that, putting yourself down. Come on, I won’t take no for an answer. Besides you owe me a favor, a big one, for getting Randy and his friends to go to that dork’s party. Remember?”
So there I was, standing next to Karen in the gym, getting ready to try-out for varsity cheerleaders. Karen went first and she was so good. I was nervous when my turn came but I did my best. After we finished Ms. Gladstone had us wait fifteen minutes and it felt like forever. There were sixteen girls altogether. We waited in a tense silence. Ms. Gladstone and the two co-captains of the squad retired to the gym office to discuss our performances.
“I think I’m going to be sick!” Karen exclaimed. “I feel like my stomach is the abysmal swamp and baby alligators are gliding around.” Karen always did have a way of overstating things. She probably should have reconsidered and made drama her activity of choice.
When they finally returned, Ms. Gladstone came forward. “Cindy, Dori, and myself want to thank all the girls that tried out today. You were all terrific. It was difficult for us to decide. But we have to make a choice. Therefore, Stacy Nelson will take a permanent place on our varsity squad. Karen Rainey will act as substitute until such time as Lori Rosen can rejoin us.”
Karen jumped up and down in excitement and then did a cartwheel. I think I just stood there staring at Ms. Gladstone. My mouth was gaping so wide I almost swallowed a bug.
Ms. Gladstone shook my hand and then Karen’s. “It’s good to have dedicated enthusiastic girls like you on the squad.”
****
Cheerleading changed a lot of things for me. To start with, I was busier than ever. Sometimes, I fell asleep over my homework after practice. My mother often had to wake me up to eat dinner. She’d give me these little worried looks.
The senior cheerleaders tended to keep to themselves but one afternoon Cindy asked us and the other juniors to join them for pizza at Sal’s. Karen was delighted and so of course we had to go. We were joined by a number of the football players such as Greg Lawson, Randy and their friends. They pulled several tables together and everyone talked about the football season that was already in progress.
“So you think we’ll have a winning season?” Karen asked Greg.
He offered a nonchalant shrug. “You never know but as quarterback and captain I have to think so.”
“Well the defense is ready to kill,” Randy asserted. I didn’t say much because to tell the truth I’ve never been that enthralled by football. However, to say as much around this crowd might get me lynched. So I listened. When everyone had finished eating and the group broke up, I got my books together and started to leave with Karen. Someone tapped me on the shoulder. Greg Lawson smiled at me. At first I thought it was some kind of mistake.
“Noticed you cheering at the last game.”
“Because I’m so much taller than the other girls?”
“No, ‘cause you were so much better.”
I blushed at the unexpected compliment.
“You’re Stacy, aren’t you? Some of us are going out to eat out on Saturday after the game. Think you’d like to come with us?”
I think I just stood there for a full minute gawking at him, practically drowning in the deep blue sea of his eyes. “Sure, that would be fine.” I’m certain I must have stuttered like a moron.
He gave me a wide smile with his dazzling, even teeth. I was practically blinded!
“Great, win or lose we’ve got a date.”
Karen waited until we got outside and then she let out a rebel yell. “Stace, isn’t it great? I told you it would happen. T
he dream is coming true for us!”
“It’s real nice that Greg Lawson noticed me,” I agreed.
“Stace, he didn’t just notice you he asked you out. The most popular boy at Wilson High asked you out. It’s like…amazing.”
Strangely enough, I wasn’t as excited. I was just surprised. “I thought he and Cindy were virtually ready to send out wedding invites.”
“Guess not. He’s entitled to change his mind, isn’t he?”
“She’s a lot better looking than me. Let’s be honest; there’s no comparison.”
Karen gave me an annoyed look as we walked to the bus stop. “Don’t think so much. It’s not healthy. You’ll strain your brain. You might become like Denny.”
“Wouldn’t want to do that. Thanks for the good advice, Karen. It would be a shame to wear out my intelligence. But you have to admit, Cindy has a beautiful face and a great figure and she’s a senior like him. He’s hot and here I am too tall and scarecrow skinny.”
“Didn’t I read somewhere that you can never be too rich or too thin?”
“Probably propaganda written by a wealthy anorexic.”
Karen sighed deeply. “I think it was the Duchess of Windsor. She lived to ninety, married royalty and was disgustingly rich.”
“I guess she must have known something,” I conceded.
“There isn’t a girl in school who wouldn’t beg to trade places with you right now. I have never seen such sexy eyes on any boy. And he’s so tall! You can even wear high heels if you want when you go out with him. Just be grateful.”
So I followed Karen’s advice, to be grateful, and not overheat my thinking processes. Anyway, my life was too hectic to explore Greg’s motivation closely. My real problem was keeping up with schoolwork in view of all my extracurricular activities. I was swamped with work. After a while, I was almost able to stop thinking of Michael—almost, but not quite.
There were dances, parties and group dates. Becoming the girlfriend of Greg Lawson brought with it all sorts of social commitments, more than I bargained for. But popularity is a sweet thing and it’s always easier to adjust to life becoming better than life getting worse. Other girls now treated me with a mixture of awe, admiration and jealousy. In the hallways, kids I didn’t know said hello to me. I even found myself being nominated for Junior Class Treasurer. Of course, I had to get up on stage in the auditorium and make a stupid speech in front of the entire Junior Class, at which time I felt as if I was ready for the coronary care unit.
November l4th was a Friday. It was my sixteenth birthday. My mother and Karen got together several times. I was certain they were planning a party, but as they didn’t say anything, I knew they were planning it as a surprise.
It happened to be the night we played at Club Paradise. I figured if they were throwing a party, it would probably be Saturday. Anyway, I forgot about it pretty much. Greg took me out for dinner before the gig. He brought me a corsage of pink tea roses and sugar cubes. I was touched by his gesture, even if it did seem a little corny and old-fashioned, like something my dad might do. We went to an elegant restaurant. There was candlelight, cream-colored linen and a table with a view of the lake. It was downright romantic. Greg held my hand, looked into my eyes, and I felt like a character in a movie. I could hardly taste my dinner.
“Like it here?”
“This is so wonderful,” I told him.
“I’m glad. I wanted it to be a special night for you, Stace. I guess you know I like you a lot. We’ve only been seeing each other for a little over a month, but I feel like I know you.” Greg looked uncomfortable and loosened the tie he was wearing for the occasion.
I squeezed his hand. “I feel the same way,” I told him.
That should have broken the ice between us but it turned out to be the high point of our conversation. This was the first time that Greg and I had been alone together. Always we hung out with other kids. We’d never been on an actual grown-up date. It seemed like something was missing as if Greg needed all those other people around him admiring him or he just wasn’t Greg Lawson anymore. Anyway we did very little talking. We just didn’t have much to say to each other. I tried not to feel disappointed; after all Greg was treating me so great, just the opposite of Michael.
During dessert, I asked questions about football, and that at least got him talking. But somehow, the conversation seemed boring and trivial. I tried hard to make myself listen attentively yet I just wasn’t enthralled. In my mind’s eye I kept seeing Michael’s face. If Greg was aware of my distraction he gave no indication.
As Greg drove to the club, I accused myself of stupidity. Any sane girl would have been out of her mind with joy to be out with a gorgeous, popular guy like Greg. So what if conversation with him wasn’t exciting? Why would I prefer to be with Michael? Why would I think of Michael right now? If he were here he’d just be sarcastic and insulting. Yet deep in my heart I still cared about him. I shook my head. I must have been ready for the psycho ward!
****
Jimmy’s van was parked outside the club. This meant our band had arrived. There were a lot of other cars as well, which surprised me because usually the place doesn’t fill up until at least nine o’clock, and it was only seven-thirty.
As we walked into the main room, I saw that Michael, Liz and Jimmy had already set up.
“She’s here,” Liz called out. Then, suddenly they began to play Happy Birthday. Now there were people coming at me from everywhere yelling “Surprise!” And it was a surprise. My mother was the first to hug me, then Dad, and even Andy. Karen and Randy were next and all the new friends that were Greg’s crowd. On stage Michael started playing Sixteen Candles.
“Come on,” Greg said, “let’s dance.”
“Did you know about this?”
“Of course.” He shot me big, dazzling smile that betrayed his stunning, white teeth. The guy was a dentist’s dream.
It was a special night for me. The people I cared about the most surrounded me. Even Mr. Kemp was there. He came in carrying a large cake with pink and white frosting and sparklers on the top. His cigar ashes narrowly missed the roses of pink icing.
“I hope you’ll perform here for a long time to come.”
“I hope so, too,” I told him.
I got up on stage and the club enveloped me in its magical atmosphere. The recently redecorated nightclub was cool and almost living up to its name. Mr. Kemp had done it over in a tropical paradise motif. There were potted palms, fishnets with conch and other exotic shells attached, as well as waitresses in grass skirts. Mr. Kemp and his bartender wore brightly colored Hawaiian shirts. I felt as if I’d run off to Tahiti.
Michael didn’t quite fit in. He was the man in black again. We did a duet and then I performed with the group for a while. It was a lot of fun. Afterwards we took a long break. I was talking with Michael, Liz and Jimmy when Greg joined us handing me a glass of punch. Liz and Jimmy said hello to Greg and then walked away to get something to drink too.
“Mike, how you been?” Greg asked in his friendly manner.
“Why, Greg, do you really care?” Same old Michael, hostile and bitter!
“I didn’t know you two knew each other,” I said.
“We used to,” Michael corrected.
Greg looked decidedly uncomfortable shifting his weight from one foot to the other. He pulled at the shirt collar that was suddenly tight around his thick-corded neck.
“That was when I could see. I knew a lot of people then that I don’t know now.”
“Hey, I’ve been real busy. The fact is the only guys I spend time with are involved in sports. But I’ve been meaning to drop by and visit. I’ll give you a call.”
“Yeah, we can do lunch right? Don’t trouble yourself,” Michael said. “I don’t think we’d have anything to say to each other. I guess you noticed I’m not into sports anymore. The only game I play these days is Blind Man’s Bluff.”
At that moment, my father joined us and I let out a sigh of re
lief. I introduced my father to Michael as he already knew Greg.
“I don’t pretend to know much about music,” my father told Michael, “but my daughter does and she tells me you’re very talented.”
“Does she?” Michael spoke in a slightly mocking tone of voice.
My dad may not know much about music, but when it comes to picking up on attitude, he’s got the radar of a bat. “Stacy inherited her musical talent from my wife.”
“I guess you don’t think much of music.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” My father looked uncomfortable. “I just don’t feel that music is terribly important in the overall scheme of things.”
I could tell right away that Michael and my dad weren’t going to hit it off. It made me uneasy.
Dad turned to Greg with a smile. “So how did the two of you enjoy dinner?”
“Great, sir. Stacy is terrific to be with. I’ve never known a girl like her before. Next to Stacy they’re all a bunch of airheads.”
“You make a very handsome couple,” my father said with obvious satisfaction. Why did I get the feeling that if Dad could, he’d have dated Greg himself?
Michael started to walk away. I tried to warn him but before I could say a word he smacked into Randy full force and nearly lost his balance.
“Hey, fella take it easy,” Randy said, steadying him. “You ought to use a cane or something.”
“Get away from me,” Michael said, loud and belligerent.
“Sure thing.”
I started toward Michael, but Liz had already taken his arm to guide him.
“There’s something wrong with that boy,” my father observed.
“He’s blind, Daddy.”
My father furrowed his brow. “It goes beyond that. I don’t see how you work with him. He’s moody and unpleasant, isn’t he?”
“With Michael, you tend to forgive a lot.”
Greg put his arm around me. “You have a good heart, Stace.”
“Yes, Stacy is a special girl.” My father smiled at us. He wasn’t quite as tall as Greg, who was the tallest person present, but he was trim and distinguished-looking with touches of gray invading the dark brown hair at his temples. I decided my dad was the handsomest man in the room and felt proud that he was my father.
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