The Dragon's Song

by Claire Fogel

  On the way home, Amy asked, “Everyone going to the football game Friday night?”

  It was the big game with Greenville, and we all felt we had to go. Sean would be sitting on the bench with Gabe, and I think we were all wondering if Coach would decide to use his “secret weapon.”

  “Wouldn’t miss it,” Kevin said with a grin. Next to him, Patrick was nodding, also wearing a grin. Our bodyguards had all become football fans.

  “This might be the best game of the season,” Amy said. “For sure it will be the toughest. Greenville has an awesome team. Most of their players are the size of tanks!”

  After a brief argument with Kevin, we decided to take my car to the game this time, mainly because it was the biggest. It looked so much like the Chief’s car, I didn’t think anyone would mess with it.

  I dropped off Amy and Kevin. When we got home, Adam said, “I communicated with your father earlier, and he feels that Ryan and I should both be with you when you’re outside home or school, even on week days.” He smiled with those devastating dark blue eyes and asked, “That won’t be a problem, will it?”

  Naturally, he had let my father know about the drive-by when I was outside school drawing this afternoon. And my father’s solution was to double my bodyguard contingent. But it seemed that he’d done that even before the drive-by.

  I sighed. I glanced at Ryan and Adam. “It’s a good thing I like you guys so much.”

  Ryan laughed and Adam gave me that familiar amused look.

  That night, after we’d finished dinner, I asked my father why he’d sent Adam to school before there appeared to be any threat.

  He looked a little embarrassed. “I occasionally have a premonition. It was just a feeling that you might be in danger this afternoon. I don’t ignore my feelings anymore. I sent Adam to your school immediately. From what he told me, it might have been a good thing you had two bodyguards while you were outside school today.”

  He may have been right. We’d never know.

  The next day was Friday, and everyone at school was stoked about the game with Greenville. I heard someone mention that Thornewood had beat Greenville only once in thirty-five years, and that was because the entire Greenville team had come down with the flu at the same time. They played, but it was a rather feeble attempt. Thornewood had the victory, but not a very proud one.

  I heard several whispers about Coach’s “secret weapon” during the day, and it seemed likely that Gabe would finally come off the bench. I asked Sean if he knew what the plan was.

  He chuckled. “I think it will depend on how well the rest of the team plays during the first half. But I know Gabe’s dying to get on the field and he might get his chance tonight.”

  “If Gabe’s such a good player, why hasn’t Coach been using him?”

  Sean hesitated, then smiled. “Well, even though Gabe is officially registered as a senior at Thornewood High, his records wouldn’t stand up to much scrutiny if someone from another school decided to check him out. Know what I mean?”

  “Oh. Because he didn’t really transfer from another high school, right?”

  “Right. Coach knows that Gabe was only here to act as a bodyguard, the same way he did last spring. The other schools haven’t seen Gabe in action yet. Coach is afraid that Gabe’s size and speed would raise too many questions.”

  That made sense.

  “By the way, I’ll be on the bench with the team, but I’ll see you there. And, if we win, celebration at the Grill, okay?”

  “You got it.”

  Much to my surprise, both my parents had decided to attend the game with us. Mom admitted she had always enjoyed the football games when she was in school. Dad had been hearing about the games from Adam, Gabe, and Ryan and had decided to go see what all the fuss was about. We couldn’t all squeeze into my already full car, so Mom decided to take her own car.

  We had a quick supper of sandwiches and French fries, but when I thought I was ready to go, Mom stopped me and asked me to change my sweatshirt. I was wearing my red Thornewood High sweatshirt in a rare fit of school spirit. Mom shook her head. “You look good in red, but it also makes you stand out too much. Please put on something darker.”

  Another reminder of my screwed up life. In addition to the constant tension in my neck, my spirits dropped a little, but I told myself to snap out of it. I changed into a black sweatshirt and we all left for the game.

  Amy was going with Sean and his dad, and their bodyguards, of course, so she’d promised to save us good seats in the stands. I needed to be close to the top of the stands because I was going to try to sketch the field while the game was being played. My request for the top row in the stands was vetoed immediately. “We’ll all stand out too much up there. One or two rows lower will be better.”

  After I parked my car and waited for Mom to find a parking space, we walked to the stands on Thornewood’s side of the field and spotted Amy waving at us from one row below the top of the stands. All in black again, she’d obviously gotten the same advice.

  We climbed up and squeezed by the crowd in the stands. There were seven of us, including my parents, so we filled up half the row, much to the annoyance of the other people in that row. But I couldn’t help smiling. With Adam so close to me, I wasn’t complaining. I forced myself to push away the thought that he was more than a close friend. I really didn’t know what to do about my feelings for him. My mother’s feelings about our ten-year age difference kept crowding into my brain.

  I tried to sketch the field before the players ran out, but there were too many people in front of me. Or maybe I was just too short. And balancing my sketch pad in my hand wasn’t working well either. Kevin saw me struggling and called to me, “Hey, short stuff, use your phone and take a picture. You can do the drawing at home.” Brilliant. I tried aiming my phone and found I was still too short to get the picture I wanted.

  Adam chuckled. “Can I help?”

  I handed him my phone and showed him how to take a picture. “Take a few pictures for me, okay? I want one with the field empty, and a few more when the players are on the field.” Adam was about six foot three, so he was at the perfect height. I looked further along our row and saw my parents. Mom was wrapped up in my father’s arms. They both looked so happy, I looked up at Adam and pointed to them. He grinned and took a quick picture of them.

  The team ran on the field and the cheering and whistling began all around us. When the two teams got into position, facing each other, Adam took several pictures. He showed them to me and I knew they’d be perfect for the drawings I wanted to do.

  “Hang on to my phone, Adam. If you see a good action shot later, take more pictures, okay? You’re at the perfect height. I’ll get nothing from down here.”

  Laughing, Kevin called over, “And that’s why we call you short stuff, babe!”

  “Very funny, Kevin.”

  With everyone around us smiling at me, I had to laugh too.

  Mr. McKay stood next to my parents, explaining football to my dad. I hoped he’d pick it up faster than I had. I heard Sean’s dad say, “Greenville’s defense is excellent. Thornewood will have a tough time scoring. It’s really a shame Sean’s not playing. I think he’d have a better chance of getting past their defense.”

  By half-time, the score was 14-6, favor of Greenville. We’d managed one touchdown to two of theirs. The cheerleaders were doing their thing on the sidelines, and everyone in the stands was yelling encouragement for our team. The visitors on the other side of the field were doing the same for their team. The noise was so loud, my head started to pound. Crowds would never be my thing.

  When the second half started, a familiar figure came off the Thornewood bench. I couldn’t see his face through the helmet, but I knew Gabe by the way he moved and by his size. He was as tall as Adam but broader and heavier. And that’s when Thornewood’s game really began. Gabe wasn’t replacing Sean as quarterback. Instead he was the receiver for the bombs Billy Herron threw. Gabe was in t
he right place every time, caught the ball every time and no one on the other team was able to stop him. The yelling from our side of the field was deafening. I would have given anything for a pair of ear plugs.

  Gabe ran two touchdowns in a row, and Thornewood beat Greenville for the first time in thirty-five years, with a score of 20-14. The stands went crazy. I was sure I’d be totally deaf by the time I got home.

  Adam had taken a lot of pictures, several of Gabe running with the ball, with players from Greenville on the ground behind him. And I knew exactly what I was going to draw for the yearbook.

  Suddenly Adam aimed the phone at me and took my picture as I looked up at him. He smiled as he looked at it and I grabbed the phone out of his hand. I had to see what he was smiling at. It was the first picture of myself I’d ever seen that had been taken from a foot above me. I realized this was exactly how Adam usually saw me; he was more than a foot taller. I rolled my eyes. In that picture I was smiling up at him, but I looked like a child.

  “I’d like a copy of that picture if you can print one for me.” I looked up at him and saw that he was perfectly serious.

  “Why?” I asked.

  He looked amused. “Because you have a beautiful smile.”

  “Okay, if you really want one.” Then I pointed my phone at him and took a quick picture. He frowned and said the same thing I had. “Why?”

  I grinned. “Because you’re so handsome, Adam.”

  Seeing that handsome face turn red was gratifying.

  As we all climbed down from the stands, my father said they wouldn’t join us at The Grill. Mom wasn’t crazy about crowds and wanted to go home. He turned to Adam and Ryan and said something I couldn’t hear, probably the usual warning about keeping me safe. I just sighed. I hugged Mom and Dad.

  “So, Dad, are you a football fan now?”

  He smiled but shook his head. “It’s an interesting game, but as a parent, I would worry about possible injuries. I think we’re fortunate that you don’t play football, dear.”

  Mom chuckled. “I agree. Have fun with your friends. Stay close to your bodyguards. We’ll see you later.” She kissed my cheek and left for the parking lot with my father’s arm wrapped firmly around her.

  Amy was still jumping up and down, excited about Thornewood’s victory, and Kevin was discussing the plays from the game with Mr. McKay.

  When we reached the parking lot, Mr. McKay left us to wait for Sean and Gabe. He promised to drop them off at The Grille if I could drive them home later. I was sure we could squeeze them into my car.

  We commandeered the largest table at The Grille. There would be nine of us in total once Sean and Gabe arrived. Gabe would need a little time to clean up so I ordered two burgers each for him and Sean, along with the usual fries and milkshakes.

  Their food was ready and waiting for them when they came through the door, all smiles. Gabe received cheers and fist bumps from the rest of the team as he and Sean walked to the back of the restaurant where we were sitting. I had Ryan on one side and Adam on the other, which seemed to irritate Sean. My bodyguards were taking their duties seriously. But I had to stand up and give Sean and Gabe hugs as I congratulated Gabe on his part in winning the game for us.

  Grinning from ear to ear, Gabe said, “I can’t remember ever having so much fun. Wish I could do this every week, but Coach said he’d only put me in the game when he’s desperate.” He laughed, shaking his head. “Better than nothing, I guess.”

  Kevin laughed. “Gabe, with you receiving and Sean at quarterback, we’d be unbeatable. But I think we can all understand why Coach is keeping you mostly under wraps.”

  Gabe nodded. “Yeah. This is one of the few times I’ve ever wished I was human.”

  Ryan, Patrick and Neal were all shaking their heads. They obviously preferred being Elves.

  Thornewood’s football team was enjoying a winning season, and it was only a week before my parents’ wedding when Mom suddenly realized we needed new dresses.

  I found her frantically tossing clothes out of her closet one Sunday, finally turning to me with a panic-stricken look on her face. “Cara, you and Amy have been handling all the wedding details so efficiently, I completely forgot this one last detail! I need a wedding dress! And you need a new dress too. We only have a week. What’ll I do if we need alterations, or we can’t find anything suitable in town?”

  My mother was usually so much in control, I had to laugh. This was a side of her I hadn’t seen before.

  “Relax, Mom. We’ll go down to Van Horn’s tomorrow. If they don’t have anything you like, we’ll drive over to Greenville the next day. No problem. Everything will be fine.”

  She gave me a narrow-eyed look and muttered, “When did you become the mother?”

  I giggled. “I’m your maid of honor, Mom. It’s my job.”

  Looking panicky again, she said, “I wonder if your father has given any thought to his clothes for the wedding. Please speak to him about it. He only needs a suit, dress shirt and tie for our civil wedding. He can change into his normal tunic and pants for the Elven ceremony if he prefers.”

  “Okay. I’ll take care of Dad. Just relax now. Maybe a glass of wine?”

  When I spoke to my father later about his wedding apparel, he grinned and assured me that Harry Callahan was taking him shopping the next day. “I would never want to embarrass your mother by being inappropriately dressed. Please tell her not to worry.”

  “I’ve been telling her not to worry daily. But I’m not sure she’s been listening.”

  After school the next day, I dropped off Kevin and Patrick, picked up Mom and drove to Van Horn’s. Ryan and Adam were with us, of course. She was a nervous wreck, even though all she had to worry about was her dress. I did my best to calm her, but the saleslady in the Evening Wear department must have had years of experience dealing with stressed-out brides. She was middle-aged and motherly. Her name tag read “Mrs. Hanson,” and she had Mom calmed down in under two minutes. When Mom insisted that she wanted a wedding dress, not a wedding gown, Mrs. Hanson smiled and said, “I think I know exactly what you need, Alicia. Follow me.”

  The dressing room wasn’t big enough for all three of us, so I sat outside while Mom tried on the one dress that Mrs. Hanson had brought in for her. I could hear the rustle of silky fabric as Mom tried on the dress.

  “Ahh. This is perfect.” Mom opened the dressing room door and stepped out. The dress was ivory satin, full-length, skimming over her curves like a slip. It had slim straps and was cut rather low in the back. Mrs. Hanson handed her a thin silk jacket in the same ivory shade to wear over the dress. It was hip-length and open in the front. The overall effect was breathtaking. I’d never seen my mother dressed like this before. She looked like a queen.

  Mrs. Hanson just smiled. “Alicia, I’d suggest one gardenia in your hair. You look beautiful. And make sure your shoes are ivory, not white. We’ll just have to shorten the dress about two inches. When’s the wedding?”

  Mom looked panicky again. “It’s this Saturday. Can you do the alteration before then?”

  Mrs. Hanson nodded. “Of course. You can pick up your dress Thursday.” She turned to look at me. “You’ll need a dress too, won’t you, dear?”

  Mom said, “My daughter will be my maid of honor, so she needs something special too. Cara, I know you’re not a fan of dresses, but I’d really like to see you in a full-length dress for my wedding.”

  I knew this was coming, so I didn’t complain. “Okay, let’s go find me a full-length dress.”

  She smiled. “Follow me.”

  When it came to a dress for me, Mom had an eagle eye. She went straight to a dress on display. “This would look great on you.” Turning to Mrs. Hanson, she asked if it came in my petite size.

  “But it’s pink! I don’t wear pink, Mom. I’ll look like a baby.” Actually, it was pink and cream, but my dislike for dresses had finally broken loose.

  “It’s a dusty rose, not really pink, and I think it
would look perfect on you.”

  Okay, it was Mom’s wedding, and I wasn’t going to argue with her. I’d probably never wear the dress again. Mrs. Hanson brought the dress in my size into a dressing room and I dutifully tried it on.

  As usual, Mom was right. The dress fit perfectly. The top reminded me of a silky gypsy-style blouse, the neckline gathered with a narrow ribbon to adjust the neckline either higher or lower, and full sleeves gathered just below the elbow. The full-length silk skirt was flared and belted at the waist. The top was dusty rose, and the skirt and wide belt were ivory. I thought it had a kind of bohemian look and I actually liked it.

  Mom and Mrs. Hanson beamed. Mom pulled my hair down from its ponytail, spreading my thick hair over my shoulders. “You have to wear your hair down for the wedding, sweetheart.” She chuckled. “Your bodyguards will have their hands full, I’m afraid.”

  Clearly startled, Mrs. Hanson said, “Bodyguards?” Mom had to explain about my kidnapping and the more recent threats. What she didn’t mention was her own abduction.

  “Oh, you’re that little girl I heard about last spring.” I nodded. “Well, I can certainly understand why your parents want you well protected.”

  At that moment, I caught a glimpse of Adam, who’d been as unobtrusive as a handsome, six foot three inch man could be in a women’s dress department. He was staring at me, wide-eyed, as I modeled the pink and ivory dress. I was pleased that I had finally impressed him.

  Grinning at him, I said, “What do you think?”

  Embarrassed that I’d caught him staring, he simply said, “You’re beautiful.” He wasn’t looking the least bit amused, I was glad to see.

  With one eyebrow raised, Mrs. Hanson said, “If that’s one of your bodyguards, you’re a lucky young lady.” Mom just rolled her eyes.

  Once we were both dressed, and my new dress carefully wrapped in plastic, we went downstairs to the shoe department and tried on shoes for a half hour. Mom bought ivory pumps with a very high heel that made her legs look fantastic. Since I still hadn’t mastered walking in high heels, I found low-heeled ivory sandals that were comfortable. My long skirt would cover them up so Mom didn’t complain.