by Ann Herrick
"Hi, Laurel. Hank said to look for you. When you didn't show up here he figured Matt must have thought he was supposed to take you to Shakey's. So he picked up some stragglers and went on over."
"Thanks."
We headed for Shakey's. After three blocks, we heard a kerthunking noise. The car started to wobble.
"Oh, no." Matt steered carefully. "I think we've got a flat."
He pulled over to the side of the road. Sure enough, the right front tire was flat.
Matt tackled the jack and the spare while I held the umbrella and flashlight. The wind blew the rain so that it whipped right under the umbrella. Puddles turned into lakes by the time Matt changed the tire. Soaked and exhausted, we continued on our way to Shakey's.
Of course, the place was packed. It took us forever to find a parking space. I figured Hank was ready to send out a search party by the time we sloshed our way to his table.
"What happened?" Hank exclaimed when he saw me. "You look like a wet puppy."
He looked so sympathetic that I didn't mind being referred to as a wet puppy, especially when he took off his sweater and wrapped it around my shoulders. He pulled out the chair next to him for me. Sheryl Glass was sitting directly across from us. Matt grabbed a chair from another table and sat down next to her.
"Sorry we're late." I explained about Janie's brother and the flat tire.
"Glad you're okay," said Hank. "We were getting worried."
"Yes," said Sheryl. "We were afraid you might not make it."
"We already ordered," said Hank. "Hope you like pepperoni."
Just then the pizza came. I dove in. I was starved. As I savored the sauce and cheese I noticed something ever-so-slightly odd. Perhaps it was my imagination, but it seemed to me as though Hank and Sheryl had eyes only for each other. Oh, every once in a while Hank turned in my direction as he described another tackle. But he wasn't really looking at me.
I glanced over at Matt. I thought he was about to nod off in the middle of a bite of pizza. I was pretty tired myself. Or maybe it was the effect of the magnetic field that seemed to be passing between Hank and Sheryl.
"Excuse me, Hank." I tapped him on the shoulder. "I know it's early, but I'm beat. I don't want to spoil your fun, so I'll just have Matt drive me home."
"Well, if you're sure..." Hank tried his best to look disappointed. But he couldn't quite hide the trace of relief stealing into his face. Sheryl had an even harder time concealing her feelings. She actually gave me a grateful smile.
Confident that I'd done the right thing, I returned Hank's sweater, cleared my throat, and said loudly, "Guess we'll be going." For insurance, I gave Matt a gentle kick under the table.
"What?" Matt shot up. I guess the kick him.
"Yes, we'll be going now," I repeated. I went over to Matt and took his hand. "Thanks for the pizza, Hank. 'Bye, everybody." I led Matt back to the car, explaining the situation as we walked.
"Are you awake enough to drive?" I asked as we got in the car.
"Oh, sure," said Matt. "Nothing like a drenching rain and stiff wind to wake a guy up."
"Maybe we should just sit here for a while," I suggested.
"Oh?" Matt grinned as he leered. "And do what?"
I laughed. I knew he was fully awake now. "Drive home, that's what."
At my house, I refused to let him walk me to the door in the pouring rain. He needed to get home. In my room, as I peeled off my wet clothes, something occurred to me. I was wet and tired, yes. But I wasn't really miserable--which was odd, since being cold and wet usually left me feeling wretched. In addition, I'd essentially been "dumped" by my official date, however unintentional that might have been.
I slipped into my nightgown and robe pondering this when I heard the doorbell. I jumped into my fuzzy slippers and dashed down to answer it.
"Matt! What on earth...?"
"I'm sorry," Matt said sheepishly. "I ran out of gas."
I couldn't help laughing. The evening was getting absolutely ridiculous. "Wait. I'll throw on a coat and drive you to a gas station."
Just then Dad trooped down the stairs. "Nonsense," he said. "I couldn't help overhearing. I'll go pick up some gas. You take Matt into the kitchen and fix him something warm."
"Thanks, Dad." I led Matt to the kitchen table. "How about some hot chocolate?"
"Sounds good." He put his hand over his mouth and coughed.
When the hot chocolate was ready, I poured out a couple of mugs for us.
"I guess I've ruined your evening," said Matt. "I'm sorry."
"Ruined my evening?" I shook my head. "I had a good time. It was fun helping you take pictures, and the flat tire and all the rain was, well, sort of adventurous."
"But what about your date with Hank?"
"Hank and I are friends," I explained, omitting the fact that I'd only gone out with him to discourage Matt's attention. "That's why he asked me to the game. I think in their hearts, he and Sheryl hadn't broken up at all. He wasn't looking for a new relationship. He just needed a friend. It's not as though he left me high and dry. He knew I wouldn't be stranded with you around."
"That's me," said Matt. "Old reliable."
"I didn't mean it like that." I stared into my hot chocolate, trying to hide my embarrassment. "What I meant was, uh,...you were like..."
"...a Knight in Shining Armor." Matt grinned.
"Exactly." I pretended to go along with the joke. "You came to my rescue and swept me off my feet." I lowered my head and sipped my hot chocolate so Matt wouldn't see me blush and guess how close to the truth that was. I realized now that the reason the rain and cold hadn't bothered me much was because I'd been with him.
"Hi!" Dad stuck his head in the door. "I'm back with the gas."
"Thanks. I'll be right out," said Matt. "I'll have to unlock my gas cap."
"Okay," said Dad. "Meet you at your car."
"Before I go," Matt said, "I was wondering..." He hesitated a moment, then went on. "How about driving around town with me tomorrow so we can take some of those candid’s for the yearbook? You're more familiar with Kenilworth than I am."
I thought for a minute. I'd just spent the whole evening with Matt and nothing had happened to damage our working relationship. The Who's Who was never even mentioned. Surely I could gamble on spending a day with him, especially since it would be yearbook related. "I'd like to go with you," I said. "It'll be fun."
"I'll pack some lunch," Matt said. "Pick you up at nine?"
"See you then."
After Matt left, I met Dad coming back in the front door.
"Matt seems like a nice young man," said Dad.
"He is, Dad," I said dreamily. "He is."
CHAPTER 6
By the time Matt picked me up, I'd made up my mind to not worry about any significance of the day. It was a beautiful, crisp fall morning. Matt and I were going out to take pictures. It would probably be fun, and that was that. No worries about the Who's Who, asserting authority, or anything. Just a good time.
"Where to first?" Matt asked as we pulled away from my house.
"How about the town library? That's where we'd probably have the best luck at this time of day."
We'd barely gotten out of the car at the library when Matt started snapping pictures of a cluster of seniors going in the front door. "Think we can take some pictures inside?" he asked.
"Can't hurt to ask."
I knew Mr. Beresen, one of the reference librarians, pretty well, so I talked to him. Once I explained that we'd be quiet and not disrupt anyone, he agreed to let us take a few shots.
I decided to act as a decoy, going up to seniors to talk while Matt sneaked up to take their pictures. That way we got real candid’s.
After the library, we went to the supermarket. Around back we found a few of the guys unloading crates of produce. We got some pictures of them working, and then some of them horsing around once they'd spotted the camera. Then I again did the talking to get permission to take pictures inside.
Matt snapped seniors stocking shelves, wrapping meat, and working the cash register.
Next we drove around town just trying to catch kids on the street or in their front yards. We got some good shots doing that.
"How about Shakey's next?" said Matt.
"I think we'd find more kids there in the afternoon," I said.
"Well, where's this Mill Pond you mentioned once? I haven't seen that yet."
"Head up North High Street," I said. "It's tucked away in the woods."
When he turned on to the narrow woodsy road leading to the pond, Matt said, "This would have been hard to find on my own."
We bumped along for a quarter of a mile until we came to the pond. Maple and oak trees splashed with red, yellow, and orange provided a colorful backdrop.
"You can park over there." I pointed to a turnaround.
We stopped, and Matt gazed out the car window. He seemed to appreciate the beauty of the spot as much as I did. "This is a neat place."
"I love it here."
"There's just one problem."
"What's that?"
"We're the only ones here."
For a second, I didn't know what he meant. "Oh! That's right. I guess this isn't the best time of year at the pond. In the summer everyone swims here, and in the winter everyone ice skates. I like to see the leaves in the fall. But that's not going to draw a lot of kids all at the same time. Maybe we should go to Shakey's."
"Not so fast," said Matt. "I don't know about you, but I'm getting hungry. This looks like a great place for a picnic."
Hmm. Just the two of us. "Um, okay."
We got the picnic basket out of the trunk. Matt grabbed the blanket from the back seat.
"Let's sit in that grassy area by the big maple tree," I suggested.
We unloaded sandwiches, apples, cheese, nuts, cookies, and a thermos of hot chocolate. I sat cross-legged and started out nibbling delicately. But the fresh air and great food spurred my appetite. Soon I was practically wolfing down everything.
"This is great," I said as I crunched an apple.
"I'm glad it didn't rain today," said Matt.
"Me, too." I noticed that the sun emphasized the shine of Matt's dark brown hair. "We wouldn't have been able to find many seniors outside if it rained like it did last night."
"And we wouldn't have been able to sit and enjoy the scenery." Matt polished off what must have been his seventh cookie.
"Glad you like it here," I said. It pleased me that he liked the Mill Pond, since I thought it was a special place. "By the way," I teased, considering my own healthy appetite, "where'd you learn to pack it in like that and not get fat?"
"Ah." Matt sat up and threw open his jacket, and joked, "Muscles rippled under his shirt. He was lean, tough, powerful."
I giggled. "That doesn't answer my question."
"I moved here from Iowa. My dad's a chemist, and my mom's an accountant. But my grandparents are farmers. Work a few summers on a farm, and you too can have the physique of a Greek god."
"I'm sorry I asked!" I laughed.
Matt stretched out on the blanket. "What about you? Have you always lived here?"
"Yes. Kenilworth has been my home all my life," I said. "I'd like to see more of the world, but I think even if I move away this will always be home in my heart."
"I know what you mean," said Matt. "I like it here. But I miss Iowa." He looked wistful.
I felt a stab of jealousy. What if there was a girl back in Iowa he missed? Or maybe lots of girls. I didn't want to think about that. I gestured toward the colorful leaves. "Fall is my favorite season."
"It is beautiful," said Matt. "In fact, there are a lot of things about the area that I find attractive..." He was staring right at me.
I was beginning to wonder why I'd ever thought I couldn't date Matt. The reasons seemed totally ridiculous now. Still, a kernel of uncertainty nagged at me. I chewed my lip. "I-I suppose we should get going and take some more pictures."
"Excellent idea." Matt hopped up. "I'll get my camera. You wait here."
I started packing things away in the picnic basket.
Matt returned with all his camera equipment. "We can really make the most of this light." He made a frame with his hands and held them in front of my face.
"What are you talking about?" I picked up the picnic basket and started for the car
"Hold it," Matt said. "The basket will make a good prop."
"What are you talking about?"
"For the pictures I'm going to take of you."
"Of me? Don't be silly. We're supposed to be taking pictures of seniors for the yearbook."
"You're a senior."
"Well, yes, but..."
"And as editor, there should be a picture of you."
"But here? At the pond?"
"Why not?" said Matt. "You said it's your favorite place. Besides, it'll make a nice backdrop. Now, sit down and rest your elbow on the picnic basket."
"But..."
"No 'buts.' Just sit."
"Oh, all right." We needed to kill some time anyway.
"Now look over that way and smile."
I looked. I smiled.
"Now. Over there. Lean against that log. Look down. As if you're in deep thought."
"That's easy. I do that in class all the time!"
"Ha, ha."
I posed next to the pond, standing against a tree, sitting in the grass with my hands around my knees. "You're going to waste the afternoon taking so many pictures of me," I warned.
"I've got plenty of time," said Matt. "And no picture of you would be a waste. Except maybe this one."
The next thing I knew, Matt set the camera on a rock and then ran over and sat on the grass next to me. He put his arm around me and pressed his face close to mine. "Look at the camera and smile!"
I had no trouble smiling.
The camera whirred and clicked. Matt leapt up. "Now," he said, "over to the blanket."
Feeling giddy, I hurried over to the blanket. "Now what?"
"Lie down on your side. Bring your top leg forward so your knee is on the blanket. Bend your right arm. Rest your head on your hand. Place your left hand in front. Perfect."
"Isn't this kind of racy for the yearbook?" I giggled. I was beginning to feel like a fashion model.
"Look sexy in an exaggerated way," said Matt. "A mock pose ought to be cleared by the censors."
I tossed my head back and flashed a toothpaste-commercial smile. "How's this?"
"Perfect! Hold it." Matt snapped the picture. "Okay, you can relax."
I sat up. "That was fun. But I assume none of these poses will actually show up anywhere."
"Are you kidding?" Matt wriggled his eyebrows. "These pictures are going in my portfolio."
I laughed. "Well, don't hold your breath waiting for The New York Times to give you an assignment based on pictures of me."
"Uh-uh." Matt shook his finger at me. "These pictures could be valuable some day when we're both famous."
"What we'll be is infamous," I said, "if we don't have enough candid’s for the yearbook. Just imagine all the blank pages."
"I can take a hint." Matt stood up and offered me his hand. "Let's go."
We wound up spending an hour taking pictures at Shakey's. They started out as genuine candid’s, but it didn't take long for everyone to catch on to what was happening. Everyone began posing, but the poses could hardly be considered formal. Kids made faces, stuck straws in their ears, and posed like body-builders in a contest.
When we started packing up to leave, everyone clamored, "More."
"Yeah, don't stop."
"More, more."
"That's it," I said.
"Boo!"
"Really, we have plenty for now," Matt said.
"We're going to schedule a senior class day downtown, and we'd like all the seniors to show up for it," I said. "We'll take pictures all over the downtown area."
A cheer went up.
"When?" Someone called
out.
"Soon," I said. "We'll put up announcements at school as soon as we've set a date."
There was another cheer.
Matt and I loaded up the car with his gear, and he drove me home.
"That was a good day," said Matt. "I'm glad I had you for my tour guide."
"It was fun." I didn't want the day to end. "Um, how about...how about staying for supper. You deserve a reward for all your hard work."
"I don't consider it work." Matt smiled. "But I accept your invitation."
As we passed by the living room on our way to the kitchen, there was Iris practicing her ballet. For a moment, I panicked. I'd completely forgotten one small detail--how weird my family had been acting lately! But as Iris pirouetted around the room, she looked rather graceful. Maybe her clumsy phase was over.
In the kitchen Dad was already cooking dinner, so it was too late for me to suggest the menu or cook the meal myself. Now I had to worry about what weird dietetic concoction Dad was making and how I could explain it.
"Mom ran out to a garage sale at the old Parker house at the last minute," said Dad. "She thought she might find an antique or two. She'll be back soon, but it's my turn to fix dinner anyway."
I glanced into the skillet. Chicken, mushrooms, and peas. It smelled delicious. "I asked Matt to stay for dinner. Is that okay?"
"Sure," said Dad. "There's plenty. You two can set the table."
Dinner went remarkably well. I managed to steer the conversation away from the subjects of diets and exercise, and Iris dropped her fork only once, not enough to make Matt suspicious. After dinner, Mom and Dad and Iris disappeared to various parts of the house, leaving the living room free for Matt and me.
Matt sat next to me on the sofa. As we talked, I felt as if he was photographing me with his eyes. I wanted to memorize his every feature, from the cleft in his chin to his dark brown hair. I thought I'd found the sort of special guy that Anna'd always hoped I'd find, and I realized then why she'd always been so eager for me to find him.
Every time Matt looked into my eyes, my heart turned over. I was sure I could sense the same kind of feelings coming from him. Then, much too soon, it was time for him to go. We lingered at the front door. I'd been waiting for this moment. Matt pulled me close. I slipped my arms around him. We kissed, slowly, tenderly.
