Oh, Brother!

by Cochran, Peg

  He was wearing tight jeans and this slouchy black sweatshirt thingie with “Travesty” written on it that looked so hot I thought I would faint. I also noticed the way his dark hair curled just a little in the back at his neck. Sometimes my mind deserts me and does things all by itself. I have no choice but to go along with it. I was suddenly in the midst of this fantasy. Me and Travis at the dance. Slow dancing. His arms around my waist, mine around his neck. His cheek next to mine...

  I was so busy daydreaming I didn’t even hear him.

  “I said, hey there.” He was leaning against the wall with his books balanced on his hip.

  I jumped.

  “You were a million miles away.” He flashed a grin that showed just a hint of gorgeous white teeth.

  “Oh, hey.” Cool, calm and collected that was me. Just so he didn’t notice that I was hyperventilating. Thank goodness I wore my baggiest sweater. On the other hand, it probably made me look completely chestless like Miss Terhune. I tried to stick my boobs out a bit so he wouldn’t think I was as flat as the state of Iowa. At least I think Iowa is flat. Unfortunately it made me look like I was having a back spasm.

  “You okay?” He frowned slightly, and his eyes darkened. They really did.

  “Sure. Just fine.” Brilliant conversationalist, that’s me.

  “What’s your name, by the way?”

  “Mac. Mac Daly.”

  “Funny name for a girl.” He stuck the thumb of his right hand in the waistband of his jeans. The sweatshirt lifted up a bit, and I thought I caught a glimpse of muscled stomach. It made me feel seriously giddy. As if I’d swallowed helium or something.

  “Short for MacKenzie.” My voice came out sounding as if I had swallowed helium. High and squeaky.

  “Travis Cooper.” He held out his hand.

  As if I didn’t know who he was. As if every girl in the school didn’t know who he was. I slid my hand into his hoping that I wouldn’t start to drool or anything disgusting like that.

  The hall was emptying out, and several teachers had already closed their doors. I just prayed the bell wouldn’t ring. Now I knew how Cinderella must have felt at five minutes to midnight.

  “Do you like music?”

  I nodded, dumbly. I would like anything he liked.

  “You should come hear us then.” He pointed to the name on his sweatshirt. “We’re playing at the Fire Escape. Do you know where that is?”

  I shook my head. It sounded like some cool club—dark, smoky, mysterious.

  “It’s on the second floor of the Presbyterian Church.”

  Oh. So it wasn’t some cool club, who cares. Travis would be there. That was cool enough for me. Besides, it was highly unlikely my mother would let me go to a club.

  “You’ll come then?” He smiled, and I nearly lost all muscle control. I could feel my knees sagging.

  “Sure.” I hoped I wouldn’t actually slide to the floor in a puddle of blob-like flesh. At least not until he’d gone.

  “I’ll see you there then. Saturday.” And he walked away.

  Once again I was rooted to the spot. I was going to have to stop doing this. Before I knew it birds would be landing on me, and they’d plant flowers at my feet.

  Math class was at least a million years long. By the time it ended I expected to have gray hair and as many wrinkles as those funny looking Japanese dogs. Or maybe they’re Chinese, I don’t remember. Mr. Simmons can be so sketchy sometimes. He kept calling on me even though it was obvious to anyone with a brain that I didn’t know the answers so what was the point? Couldn’t he tell I had something more important to think about?

  I passed Emily and Celia in the hall on the way to my next class and called an Emergency Summit Meeting in the cafeteria at lunch. I wouldn’t tell them why. Which is a little mean, but on a scale of one to ten, would barely make it to the one mark. I’ve got to have fun somehow since my mother seems determined to turn my life into nothing but work, work, work.

  There was a big commotion in the cafeteria when I got there—a lot of teachers standing around waving their arms and shouting.

  “What’s up?” I asked Bob Waldorf who was standing in the cafeteria line ahead of me.

  He shrugged. “Kevin Austin put his tray on the conveyor belt and then jumped on top of it and rode it into the kitchen. It scared the cooks, and they’re threatening to quit again. The Veep is having a spazz over it.”

  The Veep is Mr. Geldorf, our vice-principal. He takes his job very seriously. He stands out in front of the school in the morning to greet everyone and prides himself on knowing everyone’s name. Even mine. Which is amazing when you think about it since I’ve never been sent down to the Veep’s office. Kevin Austin is down there almost every day so I can understand the Veep knowing who he is. The Veep always has this sad look which my mother said is probably because he is so disappointed in all of us. I think it’s because he would like to be the principal himself and not have to take orders from Mrs. Schimelhof.

  “Can you get me some fries?” Celia came up in back of me. She has this way of just appearing out of nowhere, and it’s creepy.

  I pointed to the paper bag in her hand. “Don’t you have your lunch.”

  “Yes, but I have to have some fries. I’ll go save us some seats.”

  Celia and Emily were at the table when I got there. Their mouths were practically hanging open. Well maybe not Celia’s—she was busy eating as usual.

  Chapter 5

  Dear Lucy Love,

  I have no luck with boys. What should I do?

  Sincerely,

  Lonely Teen

  Dear Lonely,

  Give up and join a convent or something.

  Yours,

  Lucy Love

  My mother really doesn’t understand. I told her I needed a new outfit for Saturday night, and she just laughed and told me to look in my closet. How can she be so cruel? I can’t possibly wear any of that stuff. What if Travis has already seen me in it at school? I’d end up looking like one of those poor people from the Depression my grandmother always talks about—the ones who only have one dress and have to share a pair of shoes with their sister.

  I did some critical thinking. Fortunately I hadn’t wasted all my brain power on dumb, useless stuff like schoolwork. What is the most important thing to my mother right now? Marrying Mr. What’s-his-face. So...I had the brilliant idea of telling her I needed a new outfit for our dinner with Mr. What’s-his-face and his son.

  “I do want to make a good impression.” We were standing in the kitchen, and I took an apple from the bowl and began to polish it. It felt a little spongy, but that’s okay. I wasn’t actually going to eat it.

  “Well, okay then. But get something nice, please.”

  We got to the mall by ten-thirty. Emily was complaining about having to get up early, but we just ignored her. There’s a certain routine that needs to be followed once you get there. First, we all three have to walk together. The grown-ups sometimes grumble about having to go around us, but if they’re going to be that grouchy they should just stay home and maybe get some more sleep. Next, we have to do a circuit of the whole mall and look in each window. It’s kind of like the circuits we do in gym class where you go to each station and do a different exercise. Only not so boring or tiring.

  Then we have to hit the food court and share an order of fries and one of those giant chocolate chip cookies since we’ve just burned a gazillion calories walking around. We might faint if we didn’t have something to eat.

  Then it’s time to shop.

  “Do you think your mother will let you get that?” Celia asked.

  We were standing in the dressing room in Abercrombie. They have nice, big dressing rooms so we can all fit although they don’t really like it when we go in together.

  I examined myself in the mirror. “I like it.” The jeans fit just the way I like—low and tight. And the top was short enough to show some skin. “I’m going to get it.”

  My mother had given
me her charge card which I handed over to the girl behind the counter. There’s something about charging things that makes you feel powerful. I can’t wait to get my own card.

  The girl wrapped everything in tissue and put it in one of those bags they have with a gorgeous guy on it. I thought I might cut the picture out and hang it on my wall when I got home—next to my Life Cycle poster. Although the guy in the picture wasn’t half as hot as Travis.

  Celia pointed at my bag. “Your mother’s not going to let you wear that out to dinner with her boyfriend,” she announced like some kind of self-appointed voice of doom.

  “I’m not going to.” We walked back into the mall which seemed awfully bright after Abercrombie. “I’m going to wear something I already have. I’ll tell her it’s new, and she won’t know the difference. Maybe one of the outfits my grandmother gave me. After all, the only people at this dinner are going to be my mother, Mark what’s-his-face and his dorky son.” I ticked them off on my fingers.

  We circled the mall a few more times, trying on some earrings in one store and shoes from the sales rack at another. They had an awesome pair of backless mules in hot pink, but I figured my mother would go ballistic if I charged them.

  We didn’t know what else to do so we went and sat down on the sofas in the middle of the mall. Emily jumped up and began practicing some of her dance steps. Two old ladies stopped and smiled at her.

  “You should do something in the talent show, Mac.” Emily did a shuffling sort of step to the right and then back again to the left. The old ladies smiled even more.

  “You could tell jokes or something.” Celia was slunk down on the sofa unwrapping a piece of gum that looked like it had been in her purse for years. Bits of lint were sticking to it, but she put it in her mouth anyway.

  “Not me. I break out in hives if I have to stand up in front of the class. Remember that time in eighth grade when Mr. Regis didn’t believe me and made me read my paper in front of everyone, and I fainted and had to go to the nurse?”

  “I have to play in front of people all the time,” Celia made this motion like she was pretending to play the violin. “I hate it. But my mother won’t let me stop. Just because she always wanted to play the violin.”

  “But you’re really good,” I said. “You’re going to be auditioning for Julliard and everything.”

  “I know,” Celia said glumly. “I think I’d rather die.”

  Celia’s parents are always making her do stuff she doesn’t want to like be in the orchestra and on the math team which is probably the nerdiest thing in the world. I think it’s because they came here from some other country.

  Celia always does what they say because they keep telling her how much they have given up to give her a better life here. I’m sure glad I don’t have to do stuff like that.

  “Come on, let me show you some steps.” Emily pulled me out into the area in the middle of the sofas. I tried to follow along a bit. I thought it might make Celia laugh and cheer her up. It was kind of fun actually.

  Finally we went to call my mother to come pick us up. Honestly, I wouldn’t have had to waste the thirty-five cents if she would just get me my own cell phone.

  As soon as I got home I gathered together all my supplies—body scrub, manicure and pedicure implements, moisturizing mask, deep hair conditioner and essential creams and lotions. My mother kept banging on the bathroom door asking me when I was going to be done, but these things can’t be rushed. I absolutely, positively had to look my best.

  I had this horrible feeling that the teeny, tiny red spot on my chin would blossom into a pimple the size of Mount Everest by the time of the dance. I flicked through a stack of old magazines until I found what I wanted—a recipe for a sure-fire cure for the blemish blues: “yolk of one egg mixed with a tablespoon of mayonnaise and a squirt of lemon juice. Apply hourly until redness disappears.”

  Unfortunately my mother went ballistic because I took the last egg. How was I supposed to know she was going to need it? Besides, what’s the big deal about a stupid birthday cake for Mark what’s-his-face. I had more important things on my mind.

  By the time my mother dropped me off in front of the Presbyterian Church, my heart was doing that funny thumping thing again. Emily and Celia said they would meet me by the door. Celia was going to ride her bike even though my mother offered to pick her up. She goes everywhere on that thing and even has this special light that lets her ride at night. It has got to be the geekiest thing on the face of the earth. I imagine it’s why she stays so skinny even though she eats so much.

  Emily’s mother had taken her shopping, and she was wearing some cool new jeans and this neat top. Celia was just herself as usual. Honestly, that girl has no pride or she would put on some make-up and comb her hair a bit. And maybe get her mother to buy her some new clothes. Although I don’t think they have a lot of money even though her mother works. But she could save her babysitting money or something and not spend it all at the bookstore the way she usually does.

  We had to go up these really rickety stairs to get to the Fire Escape. It was pretty dark inside, not like the school dances. The band was warming up. I didn’t see Travis at first, but then he hoisted himself onto the stage and picked up his guitar. He didn’t see me, but of course it was pretty crowded.

  Celia headed for the refreshment table where they had chips and stuff. Some guy came up and asked Emily to dance. His hair was kind of funny with these blond streaks in front, but other than that he wasn’t too bad. Emily looked kind of stiff at first, but then she started to get into it. After the song ended, she and the guy went to get something to drink. What good are friends if they desert you at the first opportunity?

  This kid from my English class, Dave-something-or-other, finally asked me to dance. I had a better view of Travis from the dance floor. I tried to look cool just in case he was watching.

  The song ended and Dave bolted for the refreshment table. Which was fine since the band was taking a break, and I didn’t want Travis to think I was with someone or anything. He jumped down from the stage, and these girls swarmed all over him. It was disgusting. One girl ran up with a bottle of water for him, and another asked him to sign her t-shirt. I spotted Amber, Tory and Laurel edging their way to the front of the crowd although Travis didn’t seem to notice them.

  I didn’t know what to do. He had asked me to come hear him play, it would be rude not to say hello or something. But every time I thought about going over to where he was standing, my heart began that annoying thumping and my stomach did some flip-flops that made me wish I hadn’t eaten chili for dinner.

  “So?” Celia came up behind me. She had a bunch of chips in her hand. “Aren’t you going to go up and say hi or something.” She gave me this kind of jokey poke in the back. I wish she wouldn’t do stuff like that.

  “Maybe when they take their next break.”

  Celia made this smirky face. “Sure.”

  “I will too!” I looked around for Emily, but she was still talking to that guy who had asked her to dance.

  “I thought you had some kind of date or something.” Celia coughed and bits of chips flew out of her mouth.

  I stepped back. “Well not a date exactly. But he did ask me to come.” I could see there would be some drawbacks to dating a famous musician. Like whenever they’re playing, you’re like, all on your own. And what kind of a date is that?

  Travis pulled himself back up on the stage, and the band started their next song. Dave something-or-other asked me to dance again, and Emily was still hanging out with the guy with the freaky blond streaks. This whole thing wasn’t turning out as planned.

  The band played their last number and began to pack up their instruments. A bunch of kids had already left. Emily was saying good-bye to that guy she spent practically the whole evening with, and Celia was scrounging the last of the chips from the bowls on the refreshment table.

  Sigh. This whole thing sucks. A waste of a new outfit. I was about to head t
o the phone to call my mother to pick me up when someone tapped me on the shoulder.

  It was Travis! I had to make a conscious effort to close my mouth. Now if I could just keep from drooling.

  “Hey, you did come.”

  At first I thought that maybe I had been struck mute, but I eventually managed to make a strangled sound that Travis took for a “hi”.

  “What did you think? That last song is new, we haven’t played it before. I think it went a little flat towards the end.”

  I shook my head. “No, you sounded great.” Relief! I still had the power of speech!

  “Really? You liked it? It’s always a bit dicey the first time we try something new.”

  We were standing in the middle of the room, and kids were pushing past us on both sides, but I hardly noticed them. The world had gone hazy again, the way it had that other time. And there was just me and Travis in this kind of bubble.

  “Who’s this?”

  The bubble burst. A tall blonde came up to Travis and leaned an elbow on his shoulder.

  “This is Mac. It’s Mac, isn’t it?” Travis raised an eyebrow, and I nodded.

  “Mac, this is my girlfriend, Kristen.”

  Chapter 6

  Dear Lucy Love,

  My parents are complaining that my dating is interfering with my studies. What should I do?

  Sincerely,

  Party Girl

  Dear Party Girl,

  Tell your parents you’re only young once and live it up while you can.

  Yours,

  Lucy Love

  “Of course her name would be Kristen,” I said, browsing through a rack of discounted CDs. “Not something stupid like Mac.”

  “I don’t know, I didn’t think she was so hot.” Celia pushed her glasses back up her nose and flipped through the CDs filed under “A”. Emily was off checking out Celtic music.