Allison O'Brian on Her Own, Volume 2

by Melody Carlson

  Andrew scuffed his toe in the dirt. “I suppose I should.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Andrew. I’m sure you will get to go up sooner or later.”

  “I just hope it’s sooner!”

  Allison decided to change the subject. “That was a great game last night, Andrew. As usual, you played really well.”

  “Thanks, it was fun. The whole team seemed to be right on the money last night.”

  “I heard Dad saying that you might be considered for some kind of football scholarships for college.”

  “Yeah, that’s what Coach was telling me. I wouldn’t want to count my chickens before they hatch, but that would sure be swell. I really want to go to college, and a scholarship would take some pressure off Grace. Of course, I plan to work, too. I can pay my own way.”

  Allison thought about what Grace said about Andrew being too serious. “It’s still a long way off, Andrew. I’m sure it will all work out just great. Besides, I hate to think of you going off to college anytime soon.”

  Andrew grinned. “Don’t worry. It’s nearly a year away. Say, Grace was hinting that I should think about going to the Harvest Ball. I hadn’t really given it much thought. I haven’t been one to go for those kinds of things.”

  Allison felt her cheeks glowing and knew it was silly to get her hopes up. Andrew could ask any girl he pleased to the dance. “I think Grace is right, Andrew,” she said seriously. “You know what they say about all work and no play. Besides, I happen to know there are many girls who would love to go to the dance with you—”

  “Oh, go on—” Andrew waved his hand in the air as if to brush her words away.

  “You can’t mean to act like you don’t know, Andrew. All the cheerleaders are just crazy over you. Like Karen Brown, for instance, or Beverly Howard, or Janet Bartley. Not to mention people like Shirley Jenson who practically worship the ground you walk on.”

  Andrew rolled his eyes at her. “Stop, please. You’re embarrassing me. I already decided who I’d like to take to the Harvest Ball. I’m just not sure if it’s an acceptable idea or not. I’d like to hear your opinion.”

  Allison waited for him to continue. He looked up in the sky for a long moment while trying to spot a plane. “Hey, there he is, Allison.” Andrew pointed to the south where she could just barely make out a tiny speck that seemed to be moving closer.

  “I think you’re right, Andrew. He’s just turning back this way. Wow, I wonder how he’s feeling right now.”

  “Probably having the time of his life.” Andrew sighed and slowly shook his head.

  “Anyway,” Allison prodded hopefully. “You were saying . . .”

  “Right. About the dance. Last night when I got home, Grace and Heather were sitting up waiting for me. Had a fire going and everything. They had been talking about the dance, and it seems that Heather was wishing she could go, but of course, she doesn’t think anyone will ask her. She was saying how it was too bad that girls couldn’t go together, then you and she could get all dressed up and go.”

  Allison laughed. “Now, that would be funny!”

  “I know. But then I got to wondering why I couldn’t take Heather. I mean, not as my date but just as my sister. I’m not worried about anyone making fun of me. I can take whatever they can give—”

  “I’m sure no one would bother you a bit, Andrew. I think that’s a very sweet idea.”

  “Well, that’s not all. I thought since Heather is my sister and all, maybe it wouldn’t seem too weird if I took another girl—”

  “Two girls?”

  Andrew laughed. “When you say it like that, it does sound strange, but I thought perhaps I could take her best friend, too.”

  Allison thought for a moment, not wanting to assume anything. “You mean Caroline?”

  Andrew threw back his head and laughed. “Caroline is nice and all, but I didn’t think that Caroline was Heather’s best friend. I’ve never heard Heather say that before.”

  Allison smiled. “Well, I know who Heather’s best friend is, and Heather knows who her best friend is. I just wanted to make sure we were talking about the same person.”

  “So what do you think, Allison? I know it sounds a bit silly, but how would you like to go with Heather and me to the Harvest Ball? We could probably have a lot of fun, the three of us. It wouldn’t be like a date or anything, since I’m pretty sure that your dad doesn’t want you to date yet. I know that’s what Grace has said about Heather, but we could all just go and have a good time.”

  “I think it sounds like a swell plan. Are you sure you really want to take us? I mean, like I said, you could take any girl you want.”

  Andrew smiled. “I want to take you two. It would mean a lot to me. Would you like to go?”

  “How can I refuse? Of course I’d love to!”

  When the hour was up, the little yellow plane appeared flying overhead. The wings tipped from side to side, and Andrew and Allison jumped up and down and waved their arms. Before long the plane smoothly touched down and landed on the runway, then taxied over to them. James hopped out and they ran over to congratulate him, but Mac was already there with a certificate and a fat cigar in hand.

  “Well done, Jamie,” Mac said as he slapped James heartily on the back. “Wish I had a good bottle of champagne.”

  “That’s okay,” James said. “I feel pretty lightheaded already just from the excitement of actually soloing. It was great! That little Cub handles so nicely. I wouldn’t mind having a plane like that myself.”

  “You did great, Dad,” Allison said. “How exciting! I bet this is a day you’ll remember for a long, long time.”

  “I feel like a kid. I just can’t believe how wonderful that was to go up and down all on my own.”

  “Congratulations, Pilot O’Brian,” Andrew said as he shook his hand. “That’s quite an achievement. I hope someday I can do the same.”

  “I hope so, too, Andrew. I’ll tell you, there’s nothing quite like it.”

  When Allison and James arrived home, a delivery truck was making its way out of the driveway.

  “You’re just in time,” huffed George as he paused from pulling a large trunk into the house. “This just came for Miss Allison, and it weighs a ton.”

  “Let me help you,” James offered. “What is it?”

  “It’s from Miss Madison,” George grunted as they carried it into the foyer.

  “Oh, that must be the clothes Marsha promised to send me,” Allison said. “It arrived so fast . . . how nice of her.”

  “You will want to write her a thank-you,” James said as they set the trunk at the foot of the stairs.

  “I’ve been keeping lunch for you,” Muriel called. “What in the world is this?”

  “Marsha sent me some things,” Allison explained.

  “How nice, but I have clam chowder and fresh bread waiting. You all go wash up.”

  “Can we eat in the kitchen?” James asked with a boyish grin.

  “I was hoping you’d want to,” Muriel said. “Now, come along.”

  After a cozy and delicious lunch, Allison coaxed her father and George to carry the trunk to her room so she could open it.

  “Need any more help?” George asked after they set it in the middle of her floor.

  “Not unless you like looking at girl clothes and things,” Allison teased, but she could tell by his expression that it wasn’t his cup of tea.

  “I’ll leave you to it, then.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t mind looking at some girl things,” announced Muriel from the hallway.

  “Come on in, Muriel,” Allison called. “I could use some help.”

  Muriel made all sorts of appropriate sounds as she helped Allison unload the trunk. “Oh my, Allison,” she said. “Just look at this . . . isn’t that lovely . . . my, this must have cost a pretty penny. . . .”

  Allison held up a formal gown that Marsha had encouraged her to buy in Beverly Hills but had never worn. It was a buttery-colored satin with a ti
ny waist and sweet little puffs at the sleeves.

  “Oh my.” Muriel clucked her tongue. “That looks just like a princess gown.”

  “I could wear this to the Harvest Ball,” Allison said.

  “The Harvest Ball?” Muriel’s brows raised slightly.

  “Yes, Muriel. Andrew wants to escort Heather and me to the Harvest Ball next Saturday. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?”

  Muriel nodded. “That sounds very nice. I don’t think your daddy will mind a bit. Andrew is such a good boy—and taking both you and Heather.” Muriel chuckled. “He’ll be the envy of the ball.”

  “Oh, Muriel,” said Allison. “Say, there might be something in here that Heather could wear. Let’s keep looking.”

  Soon the trunk was empty. Three more evening gowns were found. One dark green, one pale blue, and the awful orange gown that Allison had worn to the Beverly Hills party with Marsha. Allison held it up and began laughing uncontrollably.

  “What is it?” asked Muriel.

  “It just reminds me of a horrible trick I played on Marsha,” Allison gasped. Then she told Muriel the whole story until poor Muriel was laughing so hard she had tears running down both cheeks.

  “Allison Mercury O’Brian, you have more nerve than a fox in a hen house!” Muriel sank into the rocking chair. “Sometimes you remind me of your dear sweet grandmother, God bless her soul.”

  Allison sat down on the footstool and smiled up at Muriel. “I still have so much to learn about her, Muriel. I want you to tell me as much as you can remember about her.”

  “Certainly not all at once.” Muriel dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. “But right now I am remembering a certain time when Mercury—she always had me call her Mercury unless there were guests in the house—anyway, I remember the time she and your grandfather were invited to a Christmas party back when your daddy was a boy. Mercury was always a fine-looking woman, and she had a good sense of style when it came to clothes. Well, your grandpa was off to the city, and Mercury asked him to buy her a new party dress like she’d seen in a magazine. She tore out the picture and wrote down a detailed description along with her measurements.

  “That was back in the twenties when skirts were getting shorter, and the flapper style was all the rage with the kids. Would you believe some crazy salesgirl talked your grandpa into paying a fortune for this flimsy scarlet red dress with dangly beads on it instead of the one that Mercury wanted. Well, your grandmother was just appalled when she saw it—besides, with her auburn hair, she never wore red. He kept begging her and begging her just to wear it to the Christmas party, but poor Mercury felt it wasn’t respectable for a mother to dress in such a fashion. They went round and round for days.

  “Finally, the night of the party came, and I went upstairs to help her get ready, and lo and behold if she didn’t have on that little red flapper dress. At first I was shocked, but then I realized she looked pretty good. In fact, it made her look a lot younger—like a college girl. We did up her hair, then she put on her big fur coat and off they went to the party.” Now Muriel began to chuckle. “They came home early that night, and your grandpa was angry something fierce. He was sputtering and fuming and fit to be tied.”

  “What went wrong?” Allison asked.

  “Seems every man at the party couldn’t take their eyes off of Mercury. She was the life of the party, dancing up a storm, and your grandpa was sitting in the corner in a fit of jealous rage!”

  Allison was laughing now. “Served him right, didn’t it!”

  “Yes, and that was the last time he ever told Mercury O’Brian what to wear!”

  “Thanks for telling me. That was a wonderful story.”

  Muriel picked up a pale blue gown and glanced at her watch. “I need to get some things going for supper, Allison. But if I were you, I’d tell Heather about this blue dress. Grace could probably rework it for her, and it would be beautiful with her blond hair and blue eyes.”

  “It would. Say, would it be okay if I invited Heather over? Maybe she could spend the night.”

  “I don’t know why not,” said Muriel. “Of course, you’ll need to check with your dad.”

  It was quickly settled. Allison called and arranged for Grace to drop Heather by around four, and before Grace left she would take a look at the blue gown to see if it needed to be altered. In the meantime, Allison put everything away. It was nice having all of her own things now. It made it seem like this was truly her room. Allison didn’t think she would ever take having a home of her own for granted.

  “Hello, up there,” called Heather from the bottom of the stairs a little while later.

  “Hi, Heather,” Allison yelled. “Hi, Grace. Come on up.”

  “Isn’t this exciting,” said Heather. “We are going to the ball just like Cinderella.”

  “I can’t wait to see these dresses, Allison,” said Grace. “This is almost as good as going shopping in New York.”

  “Okay,” Allison said. “You two sit down on the bed, and I will show them to you.” After a brief description for Heather’s sake, Allison pulled her own dress out and held it up.

  “Allison,” Grace breathed. “That is gorgeous. You will look like an angel in it.”

  “Thanks, Grace.” Allison laid it in Heather’s lap.

  “It feels as smooth as swimming in a summer lake in the evening,” Heather said as she caressed the satiny fabric. “I’m sure you will look stunning in it.”

  “Okay, now for the one Muriel and I think might work for Heather. First let me describe it. It is the same color as the sky on a clear day and matches Heather’s eyes. It has a fitted bodice with a sophisticated roll-down neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves. The fabric is moiré satin. Maybe you can feel the grain, Heather, but when I look at it, it reminds me of when you drop a pebble in the water and it makes lots of little circles. It’s really beautiful.” She held up the dress for Grace to see.

  “Oh, Allison. I think it would look lovely on Heather. The color is amazing, and the fabric is perfect in that style. So classic and stylish. Heather, you will look like a movie starlet in this.”

  Allison laid it on Heather’s lap, and Heather gently fingered the fabric. Suddenly, tears began to fill Heather’s eyes.

  “Heather, what’s wrong?” asked Allison with concern. She had rarely seen Heather cry.

  “It’s nothing,” Heather said. “I’m sure it is a beautiful dress.”

  “Oh, Heather, it is,” Grace assured. “We never could have found anything like this in Oregon. Both you girls are going to look like princesses.”

  “I know,” Heather said. “I’m sorry I’m crying.”

  “What is it?” Allison asked. “What’s the matter? Did I say something wrong?”

  “No, no,” Heather said as Grace handed her a handkerchief. “It’s just sometimes . . . sometimes I so badly want to see. I know it’s silly. Most of the time I’m fine, but sometimes it’s so hard to imagine what things look like to the rest of you.”

  Allison sat down and put her arm around Heather’s shoulders. “I kind of understand, Heather.”

  “You do?”

  “Maybe.” Allison leaned over to look at Grace, hoping for direction, but Grace just smiled sadly and nodded at her to go ahead. “All the time I was a little girl and growing up, it felt like I never belonged anywhere. I was shipped back and forth like a piece of luggage, from Grandmother Madison’s house to boarding school. I never really had a place of my own—a real home or family who loved me, and I used to imagine that I was the only one in the world who felt like that. So all alone. Almost as if everyone else was able to see and I was blind. I know that it’s not really the same. . . .”

  “Oh, Allison, it is similar. Only I think what you went through was much, much worse. I shouldn’t feel sorry for myself—”

  “Nonsense, Heather,” Grace said. “What you feel is perfectly natural. The way you keep your sunny disposition is a challenge for many, and if you need to feel blue now and then,
it’s perfectly fine, isn’t it, Allison?”

  “Of course!” Allison exclaimed. “You should be you, Heather. That’s all anyone expects. We don’t want you to be anyone but Heather.”

  “That’s right, and if you want to pout or feel sad, that’s perfectly fine,” Grace said. “We will never stop loving you.”

  “Thanks, but I really don’t like to feel blue.” Heather touched the dress again. “It does feel very pretty. Do you think it will look nice on me?”

  “Why not try it right now,” Grace suggested. “Then I could mark where it needs adjusting and take it home. If that’s really okay with you, Allison.”

  “Of course. That’s just what I wanted you to do.”

  Soon Heather was standing in the middle of the room draped in sky-blue moiré.

  “Heather,” Allison said, “you are truly a vision. Very chic. And I have an excellent idea.”

  “What’s that?” asked Heather.

  “On the night of the ball, we will have Dad take photos, and when we get the pictures we can send one to John.”

  A big smile spread across Heather’s face. “Do you really think he’d want one?”

  “Of course he would,” Grace said. She reached over and gave Allison’s arm a little thank-you squeeze, then began pulling and tucking here and there on the gown. “There’s really not too much to alter, Heather,” she said. “It’s a little long—”

  “Oh, I almost forgot,” Allison said as she dove back into her closet. “There are shoes to go with all the dresses. This one has some pretty little blue satin pumps. I know that Heather and I wear the same size, and Marsha’s feet are just a half-size bigger.” She guided Heather’s feet into the high-heeled shoes.

  “Now I do feel like Cinderella,” giggled Heather. “These are pretty tall high heels. I hope I can walk all right in them.”

  “Well, you can hold on to Andrew’s arm,” said Grace. “And with that extra height I will only have to take the dress up about an inch. I might even be able to take it up in the bodice instead of the hem.” Grace stepped back and looked at Heather for a long moment. Then she let out a sob and threw her arms around her. “Oh, sweetheart, you look so glamorous! It makes me think you’re all grown-up and that you won’t need me anymore.”