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"Jesse drove Malinda’s red Oldsmobile. “We get to ride in style,” Jesse said, while Katy was still adjusting her skirts. “We are meeting Cora, Hank and Janice there. All the guys will be jealous because I’ve have the prettiest girl with me.”
“I feel like Cinderella going to the ball,” Katy said, smiling.
“You look like Cinderella, and I am happy to be your prince.”
“You are my prince, Jesse Sullivan,” Katy scooted a little closer and took his hand.
They drove to the school and parked outside the gymnasium. The building was lit up and decorated all the way to the door.
Jesse looked at Katy, “You ready?”
"I'm a little nervous."
He reached over, took her hand and kissed it. “Come on, I want to show you off.”
At the door Jesse handed his tickets to Miss O’Brian, one of the teachers.
“Hello, Jesse, who do you have with you tonight?” she asked.
“Miss O’Brian, this is my girlfriend, Katy Hailey.”
“Hello, Katy. Welcome. I hope you enjoy yourself.”
“Thank you, Miss O’Brian." Her voice cracked. She felt dry and cleared her throat. "It's nice to be here.”
Walking along, Katy asked. “You introduced me as your girlfriend. Am I?”
“Of course you’re my girlfriend, Katy,” Jesse said, and taking her hand, raised it to his lips and kissed it.
“I’m glad,” Katy gave Jesse a quick kiss on the cheek. He smiled and kissed her back.
The room was awash with crape paper, flowers and candles. Off to one side was a fancy arched bridge with columns at each end holding huge white globe lights. A couple stood on the bridge as a photographer took their picture. On another side was a colorful gondolier with a flat glass top that bore all kinds of food and bowls of punch. Several walls had big arches with life size statues painted in them. Big round tables with long white tablecloths topped with clusters of flowers and candles peppered the room. At the back was a stage filled with cardboard Cypress trees and a painted scene of the Italian countryside. Overhead were the words 'Venice, Italy'. Also on the stage a band of four musicians were playing. They were dressed in the black pants, horizontal black and white striped shirts, flat straw hats and a red sashes like gondoliers. Two ornate chairs and a lectern were set off to the side.
“Let’s find the others,” Jesse suggested. She was taking in everything as she looked around. Were all schools like this? Even the doors were decorated. Several had black paper silhouettes of gondolas floating on canals of Venice. On the tables were travel brochures with scenes of Venice, Italy.
“Jesse, this is fabulous!” she gushed.
Cora and Hank waved from one of the tables to join them.
"This is Richard, my date," Janice said. Richard goes to Murdock High. They all greeted one another and took a seat.
“Isn’t this fantastic?” Cora asked, looking around.
"I could never have imagined anything so beautiful. Who did all this?" Katy was still trying to take it all in.
"There was a committee of teachers and students who did it," Janice explained. "The whole senior class voted on a theme last September, and the committee has been working on it ever since."
"Wow, they must have all been studying art." Katy guessed.
"Well, no. But they did a great job." Janice smiled. "I was on the committee."
They all complimented her and gradually the conversation settled into small talk.
"Why don't we get the girls some punch?" Hank asked, and the boys left on the errand.
“Don’t look now, but Brice is here. He’s got a new girl with him." Cora put her open hand to her temple to either prevent him from seeing her or so she wouldn't have to look at him.
"Her name is Cassie Moore," Janice's tone turned sarcastic. "He must be getting desperate."
"None of the cheerleaders will go out with him." Cora said.
"Cassie is on the debate team and in math club.” Janice just rolled her eyes.
“She’s not one of the popular girls, Cora explained to Katy. "But she gets along with everyone."
"I think she’s kind of cute," Katy noted.
"Even with those big cat’s eye glasses!” Janice added sharply. “Still, we should warn her about him.” Janice started to go, but Cora grabbed her arm.
“Wait! ...not until she’s alone. We don’t want to ruin the night for everyone with a big fight.”
Brice was with a group of jocks, raucous and unruly. He noticed the three girls looking his way, and whispered something to his pals. Cassie looked shocked. She glanced over at Janice, then stormed off and sat alone at a different table. Brice followed her. They argued. Suddenly he grabbed her arm and dragged her back to his table.
"What's going on?" Jesse asked, as they handed punch to their dates.
"It's nothing important," Janice said, taking the drink from Richard.
The music changed to a faster beat, and everyone moved to the dance floor. At first Katy was stiff and self-conscious, but she soon relaxed and enjoyed the comfort of being in Jesse’s arms.
The evening went quickly as the three couples talked, danced and snacked. The band played almost constantly until the announcement.
"We have come to that part of the evening in which we will choose this year's Prom King and Queen. Principal Miller, will you come up and do the honors?"
The whole room clapped as the principal waved to the crowd, climbed the steps and moved to the lectern.
“This is the good part,” Cora whispered to Katy. “It’s usually the most popular boy and girl in school.”
"It's a very guarded secret," said Janice. Even those of us on the committee don't know who was chosen."
“Students, teachers and chaperones, as you know, the entire senior class chooses one girl and one boy in December. Those ballots are put in the safe and not seen again until just before the prom. At that time, we count the ballots. Miss O’Brian, Mr. Jarvis and I did the counting behind closed - and locked! - doors. The winner's names are in these sealed envelopes."
He held them up - one pink and one blue envelope - for everyone to see. A cacophony of cheers, shouts, foot stomping and whistles rocked the room. Mr. Miller was shouting into the microphone just to be heard.
"I have the honor of introducing last year's prom king, Clyde Henderson, who will read the names of the winners.” Clyde took the stairs two at a time and swaggered dramatically to the lectern as the cheering continued.
The drummer gave a big drum roll, hoping to be heard over the din.
Miss Toliver, the English teacher, held up a cardboard crown, decorated with silver paper, imitation jewels and a feminine cross in the front. Mr. Manuel, the football coach, held up the King's crown. It was decorated like the Queen's crown except with a manlier cross.
Mr. Miller held his hands up for silence. It took several minutes, but the crowd finally got quiet.
Miller made a great show of handing the envelopes to Clyde. Then he stepped back and all eyes were on Clyde. He held the girl's envelope to his ear. When the crowd didn't respond he shook it. There were a few titters from the audience before they realized he was teasing them.
"Open it!" someone shouted.
Clyde pointed to himself in a 'who me?' gesture.
"Yes! Open it!" the crowd shouted.
Clyde shrugged his shoulders and opened the envelope. He took the card out and read it silently and put it in his back pocket.
"Who is it!" the crowd shouted.
Clyde grinned and held it up. In the microphone he said, "Emily Hargrave is this year's Prom Queen!"
Cheers and shouts filled the room as Emily Hargrave walked to the stage. She shook hands with Clyde. Mr. Miller brought her a bouquet of roses and Miss Toliver handed the crown to Clyde.
"It is my honor to crown our new Prom Queen," and he set the crown on her head.
More cheers followed. There were tears in Emily's eyes, but she smiled and straightened the crown more securely. Clyde held the mic up to her.
"I just want to thank all the kids who honored me with this." She put her hand up in what might have been a wave or a signal that she was too emotional to say any more. She turned and took one of the thrones behind her.
Clyde held the blue envelope. He held it to his ear as before. There was no reaction. He shook it as if listening to what might be inside; still no reaction. He sighed visibly and opened it. Everyone was quiet. “This year's Prom King is - another drum roll - Clyde Henderson! Clyde clasped his hands and shook them over his head in a winning gesture. The crowd booed! Clyde dropped his hands, his expression - one of huge disappointment - as he schlepped to the lectern. Into the microphone, he said in a deep dramatic voice and each word growing louder...
"This year's Prom King is Jesse Sullivan!"
The crowd went crazy! Their reaction was deafening!
Those at his table cheered and laughed, clapping him on the back. Katy motioned him to leave, the crowd was waiting. He stumbled to his feet and hurried toward the stage. Kids congratulated him as he passed their tables. He got to the steps and hurried up. Clyde, the clown, had turned his back, was tapped his foot and checking his watch. Jesse had to tap him on the shoulder to let him know he'd arrived. Clyde grabbed Jesse's hand and raised it to signal his winning. The crowd reacted.
Mr. Manuel, brought the King's crown, and Clyde, with theatrical drama, placed it on Jesse's head.
There were shouts of congratulations, but it was too loud for anyone to hear anything. Clyde took Emily's hand and brought her to the forefront. He said something in the mic, but no one could hear it. The band played, but no one could hear that either. It's fair to say, the whole room was jubilant, well, almost the whole room. Clyde said something else into the mic, but his words were lost.
Emily and Jesse left the stage and rejoined their group. Jesse got to his table and took Katy's hand. He said something but she couldn't make it out. He walked her to the dance floor, were only Emily and her date and the two of them stood alone. The crowd gradually quieted and the music could now be heard.
"I asked for a prince and I got a king," said Katy, as he laid her head on his shoulder. They swayed to the romantic cords of My Happiness.
The room quieted completely. The crowd partnered and joined the couples on the dance floor, but Jesse and Katy could have been alone on a deserted island; they were only aware of each other.
