Stone Ranger

by Bob Blanton

  Brea smiled and poked him in the ribs.

  “Okay, now I want you two over here for pictures,” Mrs. Brandt motioned for them to sit on the antique sofa in the living room. “Matt on the right.”

  The two quietly obliged, as she had them pose for several shots.

  “I’m getting out of here before the mad camera woman turns on me.” Jason made a quick dash to the door.

  “Ha! I’ve already got Jane lined up to get pictures of you and Alex. And Alex has promised to get pictures at the dance for us, so go ahead and run, but you can’t hide.”

  “You do look pretty,” Matthew hollered after Jason.

  “They’re going in matching tuxedos with top hats,” Brianna said. Wait until you see Alex, she’s just adorable.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  “Okay, you two can go now,” Mrs. Winthrop said. “Carl and I expect you back by midnight.”

  “And no side trips,” Mr. Winthrop had just entered the house. “I can’t believe how beautiful you look, Brea. I’m not sure I should let you out of the house looking so good.”

  “Don’t worry, Mr. Winthrop, I’ll protect her,” Matthew puffed up his chest.

  “But who’s going to protect her from you?” Mr. Winthrop retorted. “Just remember, I have friends from Jersey.”

  “Oh, Carl, be nice. Now get, you two.”

  Brianna kissed her father and then she and Matthew hurried out to the limo. The driver held the door open as Brianna got inside with Matthew following.

  “This is nice, much better than riding with Jason,” Matthew said.

  “I’m sure Jason agrees, but I am glad we went with the limo.”

  ◆ ◆ ◆

  The limo drove into the circular drive of the country club. The chauffeur jumped out and opened the door for Matthew and Brianna.

  “This is definitely the way to arrive,” Matthew said, as he helped Brianna out of the limo.

  “You’re such a gentleman,” Brianna said.

  “I’m trying.”

  As they entered the ballroom, the first thing that struck Matthew was the sea of colors. Most of the tuxedos were black, but the gowns were every conceivable color. The band was playing a Vienna Waltz and the colors were quickly swirling around the room to the fast paced music.

  Brianna tossed her purse to a friend, “Come on, Matt, let’s dance.” She dragged Matthew to the floor and they quickly stepped into the line of waltzing dancers circling the room.

  “Nothing like getting settled first,” Matthew said.

  “They’ll only do a couple of Vienna Waltzes,” Brianna said, “and you know they’re my favorite.”

  Once the waltz ended, Brianna retrieved her purse and thanked her friend for holding it. Then they found an empty table at the edge of the dance floor. “Get a couple of extra chairs.”

  “Sure,” Matthew replied. He walked over to the wall and grabbed a pair of chairs so they would have six around the table. “Do you want a glass of punch?”

  “Please, then we can dance again. I think they’re doing a Cha Cha next.”

  “Okay, then I’ll hurry,” Matthew said.

  It was a quarter to nine when Emily and Tyler arrived. As they entered the room, everyone stopped and started clapping. Tyler and the football team had won the 2A state championship the day before, and everyone was beside themselves with a sense of victory that the entire school felt. Tyler gave a small bow then escorted Emily over to the table.

  “Hey, Matt.”

  “Congratulations,” Matthew said. “MVP of the championship game will look good on the resume.”

  “Hope so,” Tyler replied. “What a relief. I think the school would have strung us up if we hadn’t won state.”

  “Nah, I’m sure they’d have settled for a simple flogging,” Matthew replied. “Come on, have a seat. You’re looking great, Emily.”

  “Thanks, you and Brea look pretty good yourselves.”

  Over the next thirty minutes the room broke into applause several more times as the key stars of the football team arrived. Things had just settled down around nine thirty when Jason and Alex arrived. As Brianna had told Matthew, they had on matching white tuxedo jackets with tails, white top hats. Alex had on a black miniskirt with black fishnet stockings to match Jason’s black tuxedo slacks. With her spiked heels, she was almost two inches taller than Jason. As they walked down the stairs the room erupted into another round of applause. The pair spent several minutes bowing and posing as they worked their way to the table.

  “My, my, what an entrance,” Brianna said when they finally arrived. “Even Tyler had more humility than to ham it up so much, and he actually did something to deserve it.”

  “You’re just jealous,” Jason retorted, poking his sister on the arm. “It’s not easy to look this good.”

  The table of friends broke into laughter.

  After a few dances, Matthew followed Tyler to get drinks. Tyler made a beeline to one of the punch bowls that was surrounded by several of the football team members.

  “Hey, Tyler, how’s that MVP crown feeling?” one of the players asked. Matthew recognized him as Rasheed, the wide receiver who had caught three touchdown passes in the game.

  “Pretty good, you have a spot picked out for your game ball?”

  “Sure do, my parents cleared off a spot right on the mantel.”

  After bumping fists with his friends, Tyler held out a glass to be filled.”

  “You want another glass for your date?” Rasheed asked.

  “No, I’ll get her some from the other, she likes hers sweeter,” Tyler replied as he turned and walked to the other punch bowl.

  Matthew reached for the ladle, “What do you think you’re doing?” Rasheed asked.

  “Be cool and give the man some punch,” Tyler said over his shoulder.

  “No problem,” Rasheed said.

  Matthew filled two glasses and returned to the table. Brianna took one sip of it and turned her nose up, “This is too sour.”

  “Sorry,” Matthew replied, “I’ll go get you another.” He swigged the glass down then went to fetch Brianna a fresh glass.

  The sextet enjoyed the evening. Matthew and Jason traded off dancing with Emily during the ballroom numbers since Tyler didn’t dance anything but Rock & Roll or slow dances. Jason and Alex got another standing ovation after they danced a Tango; Jason had even come up with a rose to clench between his teeth.

  “That was totally hot,” Tyler exclaimed, as they came back to the table. “Maybe I’ll have to take dance lessons after all.”

  “Thanks,” Jason said.

  Alex was beaming as she sat down. “That was really a hoot,” she said. “Did anyone get a picture?”

  “Oh yeah,” Brianna said. “They’ll be posted on everyone’s blog and Facebook page by tomorrow, plus the photographer took a few snaps, too.”

  “Great! Now we’d better go get our pictures taken or we’ll all be dressing up again tomorrow.”

  They had just finished having their pictures taken, when the band announced that it would be taking requests for the last set of the night.

  “Oh, Matt, ask them to play another Vienna Waltz,” Brianna said.

  “I can,” Matthew replied, “but you’ll have a better chance of getting it if you go and bat your eyelashes at them when you ask. Better yet, get Alex to go with you.”

  “Sure thing,” Alex said. “Come on, Brea, let’s go work our feminine charms on them. Any other requests?”

  “I’d be up for a Salsa dance,” Jason said.

  “You got it.”

  After the Salsa dance, Matthew was sweating as he walked Brianna back to the table.

  “Finally, you’re sweating,” Brianna said. “I’ve been drowning for hours and you’ve been dancing more than me.”

  “I’ve been sweating.”

  “Hah, not that one would notice. I was going to pour punch on you so I wouldn’t look like I was out of shape.”

  “You’re in grea
t shape,” Matthew said, as he gave Brianna a hug. “I’m going to get some more punch.”

  Matthew walked over to the punch bowl. Rasheed was standing by it. He handed Matthew a full glass as he walked up. “Man, you’ve been sucking this stuff down like there’s no tomorrow.”

  Matthew drank the glass in one long swallow, “Dancing is thirsty work,” he gasped, as he held his glass out for a refill.

  “Your funeral,” Rasheed said, as he filled Matthew’s glass.

  Matthew picked up a glass of the sweet punch for Brianna and returned to the table. She was off dancing with Alex when he got back.

  “Man, you should pace yourself on that stuff,” Tyler said.

  “What for?” Matthew asked.

  “Whatever,” Tyler replied.

  Emily gave Tyler a harsh look. “Why should he pace himself?”

  “No reason,” Tyler said.

  Emily reached over, took Matthew’s glass, and took a drink.

  “It’s spiked, isn’t it?”

  Tyler just gave her a dumb look.

  “You’ve been drinking and you plan to drive me home?” Emily demanded.

  “I’ve only had a few,” Tyler pled his case. “Matt’s the one drinking it like a pro.”

  “He doesn’t know it’s spiked.”

  “What do you mean?” Matthew asked.

  “The punch is spiked,” Emily said.

  “No way,” Matthew replied, looking at Tyler.

  “Sorry, I thought you knew.”

  “It can’t be, watch,” Matthew said. He picked up Jason’s cane and balanced on the tip of his right index finger. Then he stood up keeping it balanced, tossed it into the air and caught it on the tip of his left index finger.

  “See,” he said.

  “Wow, I couldn’t do that stone-cold sober,” Tyler said. “Look, his eyes aren’t even dilated.”

  “It doesn’t make any difference,” Emily said. “I’ll find myself another ride home. Matt quit drinking that stuff, who knows what it’ll do to you.”

  “Okay,” Matthew said. “We can give you a ride if you want.”

  “No thanks,” Emily said. She stood up, grabbed her purse and started for the door. Tyler tried to follow her, but she slapped him and stormed out of the room.

  “What happened?” Alex asked, as she and Brianna returned to the table.

  “Emily found out the punch is spiked,” Matthew said.

  “Oh no,” Alex said. “Her cousin was killed by a drunk driver a couple of years ago. I’d better go to her. Tell Jason I’ll see him tomorrow.” Alex hurried out to find Emily.

  “Crap,” Tyler said.

  “Sorry,” Matthew added. “I didn’t . . .”

  “Not your fault,” Tyler interrupted. “I thought I was doing good pacing myself, but I guess she’s got a zero-tolerance policy.”

  “I’m going to find Jason,” Brianna said, “then we should go.”

  “Sorry, Matt,” Tyler said, “I guess I ruined a perfectly good evening.”

  Matthew couldn’t think of anything to say. He’d never seen Emily so mad, and felt that somehow it was his fault. He focused on Emily; he wanted to make sure she would be okay. She came into view through his portal. Alex and she were holding each other beside the Country Club’s guard shack. “Good, Alex will take care of her,” he thought.

  Home for Christmas

  “Are you okay?” Matthew asked Emily when he saw her in French class.

  “I’m fine, don’t worry about me.”

  “Tyler was really sorry.”

  “Don’t defend him,” Emily hissed.

  “Sorry.”

  “It’s my problem, I’ll deal with it,” Emily said.

  “Okay.”

  “I’m sorry I snapped at you,” Emily said. “Anyway, what are you doing for Christmas?”

  “We’re staying here.”

  “Daddy’s letting me go to London with Alex,” Emily said.

  “That’s nice.”

  “I was going to go skiing with Tyler, but I’m not talking to him now.”

  “Well, Christmas in London with Alex should be fun.”

  “We’re taking the jet, so if you guys want, we’ll give you a ride to New York. We’re already going to give the Winthrops a ride.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Why not, the jet holds sixteen, so we’ve got room. We’re going to fly out Wednesday and we’ll pick the Winthrops up on the 28th on our way back.”

  “I’ll have to ask my mom.”

  “We’re stopping at Jackson Hole for five days of skiing. Does your mom ski?”

  “She used to,” Matthew said.

  “We’ll be home on Saturday before school starts. You guys could catch a train to Connecticut.”

  “I’ll call my mom right after class,” Matthew said.

  ◆ ◆ ◆

  “Mom, do you need any help packing?” Matthew called out.

  “I’m fine. Just get the ski boots & skis and I’ll take care of Jessie and me.”

  “Okay!”

  “Matt, do you know what the Stevensons are doing?”

  “Oh, they were going to Australia and New Zealand for a golf tour next month, so they’re going to leave early and do Christmas in Singapore since it’s on the way. I hear there’s some great shopping there.”

  “That’s nice. What about Sonja?”

  “They’re dropping her off in San Francisco to stay with Mrs. Stevenson’s mother.”

  “That’s good, they’ll really be able to have a nice vacation then. It’s so nice of them to let us have a ride on their plane.”

  “They are nice. It’ll be great to see Grandma Brandt,” Matthew said.

  “Yes, Granny will make me cookies,” Jessica yelled.

  “Uncle George and Aunt Lynn will be coming for Christmas day,” Mrs. Brandt said.

  ◆ ◆ ◆

  The flight to New York was amazingly easy. Mrs. Brandt couldn’t have imagined the luxury of flying direct from Palomar Airport to Republic Airport in Farmingdale on Long Island. No security to pass through, no waiting or delays, it was just heaven. Jason’s grandparents had a couple of vehicles delivered to the airport for them.

  “Margaret,” Mr. Winthrop said, “we’re going to loan you the Expedition. I’ve programmed the navigation system for Port Jefferson. You can catch the ferry from there to Bridgeport. If you’re lucky you’ll catch the 4:00 ferry, otherwise you’ll have to wait for the 5:00.”

  “I can’t thank you enough,” Mrs. Brandt said. “We’ll make it in time for dinner either way.”

  “Don’t mention it; Jack has your bags loaded, so anytime you’re ready.”

  “Girls, have a good flight to London,” Mrs. Brandt said, giving Emily and Alex a wave. “We’ll see you all in a week.”

  “See you guys,” Matthew said, waving at Emily and Alex. He gave Brianna a last hug and a kiss, and then got into the Expedition with his mother and Jessica.

  “Oh boy, we get to see Grandma!”

  They just caught the 4:00 ferry, the traffic four days before Christmas was still light in the early afternoon. An uneventful ferry ride and by 6:00 they were pulling into the Brandts’ home outside Bridgeport.

  “Granny,” Jessica yelled, as she saw her grandmother come out the front door. She immediately struggled her way out of her seatbelt and booster seat.

  “Jessie,” Grandma Brandt cried, as she stooped down to allow Jessica to jump into her arms.

  “Hi, Mom,” Mrs. Brandt said as she gave her mother-in-law a hug. “I’m so glad you could take us in on such short notice.”

  “I got my Christmas wish. All I wanted for Christmas was to see my grandchildren, and now I have.”

  ◆ ◆ ◆

  “Matty,” Jessica whispered urgently, “Matty!”

  “What, what’s the matter?” Matthew muttered as he tried to wake himself up.

  “It snowed and Santa Clause came.”

  “Of course Santa Clause came,” Matthew said
, sitting up in his bed and pulling Jessica to him; the clock beside his bed showed 4:30 A.M. “What are you doing here?”

  “Mommy told me to go back to sleep,” Jessica said, “but I can’t.”

  Matthew felt sorry for his mother having to sleep with Jessica. The five year old was just a horrible bunkmate. She would nest like a cat, pulling all the covers to herself and kicking and flailing her arms. Any attempt to keep the distribution of covers equitable or to get her to settle quietly would result in grouchy moaning and incessant whining. And she would repeat that process every few hours. He’d heard that most young children would sleep like the dead when they finally slept, but not Jessica. He was happy that he had his own room at Grandma Brandt’s, so he thought the least he could do was entertain Jessica for a few hours until everyone else finally got up.

  “Want me to tell you a story?”

  “Yes,” Jessica said with a yawn.

  “Okay, Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,” Matthew recited from memory. By the time he had finished it, Jessica had fallen back to sleep.

  ◆ ◆ ◆

  “Oh, there she is,” Mrs. Brandt said as she peaked into Matthew’s room.

  “Hi, Mom,” Matthew said. “She sneaked in around 4:30. Said you kicked her out of bed.”

  “I did not!”

  “Told her to go back to sleep, same difference to her,” Matthew smiled. “I recited ‘The Night Before Christmas’ for her and she went back to sleep.”

  “Well, thank you,” Mrs. Brandt said. “I was so tired; she was waking up every two hours wanting to know if Santa Clause had come.”

  “Well she informed me that he has and that it has snowed, too.”

  “Yes, it did snow. It is 7:30, so come on down any time you want, and let her wake up on her own.”

  Matthew eased himself out of the bed and left Jessica sleeping. Pulling on some sweats he left the room. After a short stop in the bathroom, he headed downstairs to join his mom and grandmother for some OJ.

  “Hi, Granny,” he gave his grandmother a kiss on the cheek. “I love your outfit.”

  She was wearing pajamas with a candy cane pattern.

  “Why thank you. As you recall, Jessie gave these to me two years ago.”

  “Yes I do.”

  Matthew remembered. It was a bittersweet memory. It was the last Christmas with his father. They had been resigned to the reality that he would die within months and had come home for that last Christmas. His father had made light of his bald head and sickness, keeping everyone focused on the Christmas season. It’d been a fun time despite that reality. His father had died five weeks later.