Bell Bottom High: Book 3: Junior Jewels

by B. J. Williams

  “But, Mama, why didn’t you say something on my behalf?” I asked, sitting up with tears in my eyes. “I thought you wanted me to go to the party.”

  “Baby, I do, and that’s why I’m telling you to give me some time to work on your father. The party is not until Saturday, so stop crying and just let things simmer down for the rest of the week.”

  “You think Daddy might change his mind and let me go?” I wiped my face and searched through Mama eyes for a tiny spark of hope. I had to trust her words on this one.

  “I’m telling you to be patient, sweetheart, and we’ll see what happens.” Mama stood. She had her hand on the doorknob when the telephone in the living room started ringing. Mama ran to answer the telephone and returned in a couple minutes with news for me.

  “Reecy, there’s a young man on the phone asking to speak with you. He said his name is R.J.”

  I finished drying the rest of my tears with a quickness. I didn’t want any hint of sorrow in my voice while speaking to R.J. Springing from the bed, I conjured up a smile, and said, “Thanks, Mom.”

  The pounding of my heart matched every step I took toward the living room. I checked the hallway, making sure no one else was around before speaking into the telephone receiver. “Hello, this is Reecy.”

  “Hi, peanut butter cup, what’s happening?”

  I almost fainted at the smooth tone of his voice, yet I struggled to maintain my composure. “Oh, I was just hanging out in my room and talking with my Mom, that’s all.”

  “Okay, I’m kind of bored over here, so I thought I’d give you a call like I said I would. But if you’re busy with your moms or whatever, I understand.”

  “No, I’m fine. We’re finished already. I’m glad you called.”

  “Well, I just wanted to hear your voice again after meeting you today. It feels like I’ve known you longer than a day or whatever it’s been.”

  “Yeah, I know what you mean. I feel the same way.”

  “So are you ready for the party this weekend? I was talking with some of the fellas today, and they think it’s going to be a blast.”

  “Ah, I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to make it. You see, my parents are really strict, and they’re not sure about me going to a party with members of the opposite sex.”

  “Okay, I know what you mean, but if you can make it, I’d love to have at least one dance with you. Is that all right?”

  “Yeah, that’s cool. Listen, I hear someone coming down the hall, so I’d better go. See you at school tomorrow.” I slammed the received down and turned around. “Hey, Mom, I was just saying good-bye to R.J.”

  “I heard you, and I’m glad you didn’t talk too long, because it’s a school night. Have you finished your homework already?”

  “Yes, ma’am, it’s been done. Do you need me to do anything else?”

  “Everyone is done eating, so you can go ahead and start on the dishes. I’m going to go talk to your father while you’re working on that.”

  “Thanks, Mom, I really appreciate you.”

  “It’s okay, sweetheart, I understand how it feels to be a teenage girl and want to go out sometime. You’re still a little girl to your father, and he’s being very protective of you. So I can’t blame him for that.”

  I sighed. “Yeah, I know. I just want him to let up a little bit. I thought that once I turned sixteen things would be different.”

  “You just had a birthday two days ago. It takes time to adjust to change. Now go on and clean the kitchen for me, and I’ll check on you before I go to bed.”

  I gave Mom another hug and hoped things would work out in my favor by the end of the week.

  *

  “You’re not going to believe the news I have for you today,” I said the second I sat down next to Joyce on the school bus on Friday morning. The bus was noisy, so we scooted closer to one another in order to chat. “My father has finally seen the light and is letting me go to the party with you this weekend.”

  “Girl, what happened? What finally made him change his mind?” Joyce asked, buttoning up her jacket. The bus was cold and damp this morning.

  “Well, I was extra smart around the house this week. I did an excellent job with all the extra chores I could think of. I even got up early every morning and fixed my parents a hot breakfast and made them sandwiches for lunch. I didn’t ask any more about the party, but every morning Mama gave me a hug before she left the house and told me to keep up the good work. Then, when they were leaving this morning, Daddy pulled me to the side and told me that he’d decided to let me go to the party as long as I promised to stay near you and be home by midnight.”

  “Hot dog, girl, we’re going to the party,” Joyce said, giggling like a three-year-old. “I was hoping you’d be able to make it. I sure didn’t plan on going without you, even if it meant I’d get to dance with Chubby.”

  “Yeah, right,” I said, teasing her. “I bet you would have gone without me.”

  “Now, you know better than that. So tell me what you’re planning to wear.”

  “Well, I’ve been so excited this morning, I hadn’t even thought about that. What about you?”

  “I think I’m going to wear me a plaid dress and my black go-go boots.”

  “Wow! That sounds like a winner. I’ll have to see what’s in my closet since I don’t have time to buy a new outfit. But I might wear my miniskirt, a sweater, and boots, too.”

  “That sounds fabulous. We’ll be the hottest two chicks at the party with the best looking men in the house.” Joyce raised her hand in the air to give me a high-five.

  “And what are you two ladies chatting about this morning?” R.J. asked, interrupting us from the seat behind. He was leaning over with his head between the two of us, grinning like he’d won the lottery last night and nobody knew about it except for him.

  “Oh, we were just talking about what we’re wearing to the party tomorrow night,” Joyce answered, cheesing at me.

  R.J. looked excited to hear this breaking news. “So you’re coming to the party after all, peanut butter cup?”

  I simply nodded at him. I couldn’t believe my good fortune.

  “Cool, then. Everything is going to be all right. I honestly can’t wait. I mean, I’ve been bored all week, man,” R.J. stated, looking out the window. “I’ve never seen so many tall trees in my life.”

  “I’m sorry that our small town is boring you, Cuz. Maybe one day we can come visit you in Chicago and see what the big city life is all about.”

  “Y’all should. I could take y’all to all the happening places in Chi-town and get us some real pizza, because that’s what I miss. Man, it ain’t nothing in the world like that Chicago-style pizza when you’re real hungry. And we got buildings taller than those trees out there,” he said, pointing out the window.

  My eyes widened at the mention of that. I had never even been outside the state of Arkansas, and I surely wanted to visit someplace different. Now R.J. had me thinking about another lifestyle and how it would feel to live somewhere else, especially in a contemporary place like Chicago. I enjoyed listening to him talk about the cities he’d visited and the people he’d known from his old neighborhood. They were a far cry from our easy-going southern life.

  Minutes later, the bus stopped in front of the school’s unloading area, and we stepped off of it one by one. As soon as my feet touched the school ground, I saw students in front of the gym gathered in a large circle, chanting, “Fight! Fight!”

  Through the thickening crowd, there appeared to be two angry male students in the center throwing punches at one another like two grown professional boxers. If I hadn’t known any better, I would have titled the event the “Thriller in Manila,” just like the recent heavyweight battle between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in the Philippines. Both guys were bleeding from the nose and mouth as they continued passing licks to each other’s head in between exchanging insults. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, the students started chanting
even louder for the disgusting brawl to continue.

  I was about to turn my head when I saw someone rapidly approaching from the corner of my eye. Chubby dropped his books to the ground, burst through the gathering, and maneuvered himself between the two boys. In seconds, he was pushing one of them to the ground with his incredible strength. Pinning one guy down by using one of his famous wrestling moves, Chubby didn’t release him until he stopped moving.

  Coach Bobby, a short, stocky-built man, suddenly appeared on the scene, yelling for people to get out of the way. He grabbed the other young man from behind, restraining both of his long arms. The dude struggled to get out of the coach’s grasp, but settled down once he realized the older man was much stronger than him.

  One boy ran past them laughing. R.J. stopped him, and asked, “What’s going on, man?”

  The fella’ stopped just long enough to reply. “Those two fools are fighting like bloodhounds over some chick who don’t want either one of them.”

  I was scared for my cousin, Chubby. Although he had been on the wrestling team since middle school and was larger than both of the fighters, I felt he was endangering himself by trying to break up a boxing match like that. Last semester after a fight broke out like this, another male student had tried to break it up and had gotten knocked out in the process and had to be rushed to the hospital. Luckily, he recovered okay, but students had been cautioned not to interfere in situations like this but to contact the nearest teacher in the vicinity.

  Finally, the scene was clearing up as the first bell rang out. Chubby had dusted himself off as he walked toward us. Joyce had picked up his books and had them waiting on Chubby. She said, “You were awful brave to do what you just did.”

  “Ah, it was nothing but two freshmen going at each other. I didn’t want nobody to get hurt, so my instincts told me to bust it up.”

  “Man,” R.J. began, grinning as he spoke, “I hope I don’t ever have to get in the ring with you, because you looked like a gorilla in there between them two dudes.”

  “That was nothing. You should come to one of my wrestling matches if you want to see some real action.”

  “Nah, I’m good.” R.J. replied, walking in the opposite direction. “I’m going to stay far away from you, dude.”

  We all laughed. Chubby was a mild-mannered guy, but he was a beast in the wrestling ring.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “You have got to help me wash this press and curl out of my head,” I said, entering Joyce’s small, bright yellow-painted bedroom. Staring into the face of Aretha Franklin’s poster on the wall, I admired the natural-looking woman. “I’m ready to get my afro back before the party tonight, because I want to look just like the Queen of Soul.” Spinning around, I snapped my fingers.

  Joyce laughed at my funky move. “I know it was killing you to keep your hair like that for a whole week; did you tell your mom you were going to wash your hair over here?”

  “Now, why would I do that?” I place both hands on my narrow hips to emphasize my point. “She never would have dropped me off if I had told her that.”

  “You’re right, you’re right. Let’s get moving and get to the bathroom sink.” Joyce led the way across the hall. We almost bumped right into R.J. exiting the bathroom. He was about to start fussing at his cousin until his eyes landed on me.

  “Hello, there, pretty lady. It’s nice to see you again.”

  “Hi, R.J.” I couldn’t help myself as I gave him a dreamy-eyed look. I was hoping to run into him before the party this evening.

  “I guess you ladies are about to get changed or something?” He eyed me from head to toe.

  “Well, I have to wash my hair first,” I said, running my fingers through my curly tresses. “I’m ready to get my natural back.”

  “And I can’t wait to see it.” R.J. smiled down at me. “So I’ll see you ladies in a little bit. I’m going to hang out at the diner for a while. Chubby and I will be back through here to pick you ladies up later.”

  About an hour later, we knew we were looking fly in the latest fashion as we left the house. “I never thought I’d see you in a plaid dress, but I love the way it falls way above your knees and the long, white, pointed collar just sets it off. And those black go-go boots are to die for,” I said, pointing at Joyce’s feet.

  “Girl, please, I’m just glad you decided to wear that miniskirt with your new knit sweater. And I love your black, patent leather boots, too. Now, we both look like the hippest chicks in Clifton.”

  “Yeah, and thanks for blowing out my hair with the blow dryer. If it wasn’t for you, my head would still be looking greasy.” My hair looked like I had stuck a finger in an electrical socket, but I loved having the extra length.

  “Look at us,” Joyce said, stepping down the driveway beside me. “We’re all dressed well enough to head out to Los Angeles, California, and tape an episode of Soul Train.”

  “I wish I could be on that program,” Chubby said, popping his fingers as he busted a move. “I’d show them Soul Train dancers how we get down in the south.”

  We all laughed at Chubby’s antics. He was one funny dude. Chubby was destined to be the life of the party wherever he went. And for his large size, he really could dance better than Rerun from The Lockers dance troupe.

  Joyce was in seventh heaven from the time she entered the front passenger’s seat of Chubby’s black Pontiac Grand Prix. Sliding onto the leather seat, she crossed her legs, smiled at him, and started jabbering right away to hide her nervousness.

  With the sound of Jean Knight singing the Stax Records hit single, “Mr. Big Stuff,” on the eight-track tape player in his ride, Chubby pulled away from Joyce’s house grinning from ear to ear. He pumped up the volume just a little bit more.

  While he was driving, I noticed Chubby looking down at Joyce’s thick thighs every chance he got. I knew Chubby liked my best friend, whether he’d ever admit it or not.

  Wouldn’t it be great if my best friend dated my cousin while I’m dating her cousin? I pondered this from the comfortable backseat, where I was sitting with R.J. That would just be too cool to imagine. We’ll be the two most popular girls at the school for sure.

  R.J. hadn’t asked me to be his girl yet, but I felt it was coming soon. After all, he’d been at school a full week, talked with me on the telephone every night, and hadn’t looked at any other girl besides me. Yes, my wildest teenage dream was about to come true. I thought the only thing better than having R.J. for a boyfriend would be Michael Jackson in the flesh, and that wasn’t about to happen. I never thought someone this fine from the big city would be interested in a small town girl like me. He could have any girl in the whole school, and he chose me right away. Man, I’m the luckiest girl ever.

  Arriving at Jason’s house slightly before nine o’clock on a warm and clear Saturday night, I could smell the excitement in the air from attending my first real party. There were a few kids outside on the lawn and standing on the carport, talking while holding red, plastic drinking cups in their hands. Jason Parks greeted us at the front door sporting a blown-out, styled afro bigger than the one Don Cornelius, host of Soul Train, wore every Saturday morning. Wearing a black suede, fringed vest over a blue shirt and jeans, he smiled at us. “Y’all come on in and get with the get down,” he said, bobbing his head to the music of the mighty O’Jays singing, “For the Love of Money.” Holding a beer can in one hand, he closed the door with the other one.

  Once we made it through the front door, the smell of excitement quickly turned into smoke, alcohol, and sweaty bodies getting down on the living room floor. Couples were swinging their booties back and forth, doing the double bump to the beat of Rufus Thomas’s rough voice on “Do the Double Bump.” The music was blasting so loud that I could barely hear myself think. I wanted to place both hands over my ears, but figured that would be impossible to do without looking like an amateur party girl and tonight was my chance to prove that I’d turned into a mature young lady, one with a date, a sl
amming body, and a fierce attitude.

  Maneuvering through the crowded room holding R.J.’s hand, I wanted to make sure everyone saw that we’d come together. I loved being the envy of every chick at the party, especially Leslie Harper since she was the main person always teasing me about being skinny. As we passed Leslie standing in a corner with her prized friends, I saw the jealousy in their eyes. They didn’t speak to us, and we didn’t bother speaking to them. For once, I was the most popular girl in the room, and it felt so empowering. They can talk all they want, but I’m not letting R.J.’s hand go. This is my night to enjoy.

  “Would you like something to drink?” R.J. asked, offering me an unopened can of beer. We were standing in the dining room next to the long wooden table set up with drinks and finger sandwiches.

  Frowning at him, I pushed his hand away, and replied, “No, thanks, I don’t drink alcohol.”

  R.J. laughed. “Ah, come on, this is a party.”

  “I know it’s a party, but I’ll pass. Thank you.”

  “Okay, then let me get you a cup of punch.” R.J. picked up a red cup filled with pink juice and handed it to me.

  Nodding my head, I took the cup and sipped. Although it tasted a little bitter, I took another sip anyway.

  “How do you like the punch?” R.J. asked, grinning at me.

  “It’s good,” I lied.

  As soon as I finished my drink, R.J. led me to the dance floor for a slow drag to a Marvin Gaye tuned titled, “Let’s Get it On.” With our bodies pressed against each other in the packed room, I felt the hardness of R.J.’s manliness pressing against my thighs as Marvin cooed. It was the oddest feeling I’d ever felt in my life, because I had never been this close to a dude’s thing before. My heart was beating a mile a minute. Thoughts raced through my brain like never before. Wow, this feels kinda nice.

  While trying to maintain some degree of normalcy, I buried my face in R.J.’s chest so that no one could see how I was tripping out on what was occurring between us. I felt a little light headed, but assumed it was due to the excitement of the party and being so close to an aroused man for the first time. R.J. smoothed his cheek against mine and whispered in my ear how much he wanted to get it on like Marvin.