41

 

The week leading up to the prom at Patrick’s school was a happy time.

I busied myself with appointments for hair, nails (manicure and pedicure), and makeup. Of course I did it all with Callie, Melanie, and Stacie. After school they accompanied me to my appointments even though they weren’t going to Patrick’s prom. They made sure I had everything together. I think they were just glad I had found somebody to go to our prom with other than Jay. I was pretty glad of that myself. My friends felt they had a stake in my happiness, besides they had seen Patrick first and introduced us at the restaurant. They wanted to make sure I would be looking my best.

Even though I talked to Patrick on the phone every night, his prom would actually be our first date. Coming home every evening was a happy time, too, at least until the middle of the week when Mom stopped me.

Wednesday night I breezed past her in the dining room where she was going over one of her many moving lists. I was anxious to get to my room and finish homework so I could talk to Patrick when he called.

“Dinner is on the stove,” Mom said.

“I ate with Callie, Melanie, and Stacie. We picked up a bite to eat after getting our makeup done at Nordstrom’s.” I carried bags of newly purchased cosmetics and perfume.

“You’ve been late getting home every night. You’ve gotten your nails done and a pedicure. Today makeup. What’s next?”

“Tomorrow I have a hair appointment.”

“Good! I’m glad your life is getting back to normal. You used to do all these things with your friends before the situation with your Dad. You look really happy.”

“I am, Mom. I’ve met the greatest guy! He’s taking me to his prom Friday night.”

Mom immediately put down her list. “What new guy? Do I know the family?”

“No, he lives in Olathe.”

“Where did you meet him?”

“It’s a long story.”

“I have time,” she said.

I took a deep breath and explained how we’d first met when I was out eating with my friends. Then how we’d later met when Maybelle introduced me to him as the grandson of one of her friends.

Mom almost had a heart attack. She could barely speak. I thought she was going to choke. After a while she found her voice. “You mean to tell me that Maybelle from the park found you a prom date? The people in the park know all our business.”

“Mom, it’s not like that. She was just trying to help. I didn’t want her to do it at first. But when I met him I realized I’d already met him before.”

“Still, it’s embarrassing. Who are his people?”

“You can ask him yourself when he arrives Friday night to pick me up.”

“I don’t know about you going out with him. Your father and I have never met him.”

“He’s not a complete stranger. Maybelle and Rose know him.”

“Is that supposed to be comforting?” Mom could be a real pain sometimes.

“I thought Maybelle and Rose were your friends.”

“Park friends. I don’t know them outside the park. What were you doing talking to them about your problems anyway?”

“They saw that I was real sad one day and wanted to make sure I went to my prom. Patrick asked me to his prom before I asked him to mine.”

Mom shrugged and shook her head as if I had committed a mortal sin.

“You’ll like him. He knows what he wants to be and everything. He has his future all planned.”

“But who is his family? What do they do?”

“Mom. Ask him. I have to finish my homework.” I ran up the stairs.

I knew she would be on the phone to Dad complaining about my date and how we’d met.