by Ann Herrick
At school the next morning the main topic of conversation was not next week's dance, but Saturday's Class Day downtown. It sounded as if every one of the ninety-seven seniors planned to attend.
After school we had a short yearbook meeting scheduled. Just me, Matt and Janie Wright. Matt and Janie were waiting when I arrived.
"Hi," I said as nonchalantly as possible, trying not to stare at Matt's blue eyes. "I think we're about set for tomorrow."
"I can't wait," said Janie. "Totally everyone I talked to is coming!"
"Everybody's agreed to meet in the parking lot in back of the drug store," Matt said. "How about if we all get there a few minutes early? I can drive the three of us."
It was just a practical offer, but it gave me a flicker of hope. Besides, Anna was getting a ride with Jimmy Nelson, and I didn't want to go alone. "Fine with me."
"We're set then," Matt said. "Meeting over?"
I tried to stall, to think of another topic. I wished I could talk to Matt privately. But not a single subject about the yearbook sprang to mind. I sighed. "Meeting over."
Matt helped Janie with her coat, then turned to me as sort of an afterthought. "Need a ride home, Laurel?"
I felt a rush of pink to my cheeks. "Y-yes. Thanks. I'd like one." My pulse quickened. A few minutes alone with Matt wasn't much, but it could be all I'd need.
Unfortunately, it turned out he was giving Janie a ride somewhere--not home. I half hoped he'd ask me along too, wherever they were going. But he stopped in front of my house. As I turned to thank Matt for the ride, a sense of loss passed through me.
I still didn't know Matt's true motives concerning me and the Who's Who. I could have taken the trouble to find out. But, oh no, I had to be stubborn and pull rank, ever fearful of losing my authority. Now it didn't make any difference what Matt's intentions had been.
Saturday morning I woke up to find a slate gray sky. I hoped it wouldn't rain and ruin Senior Class Day.
Then I noticed a big, fat snowflake waft past my bedroom window. Then another and another. I hoped it wouldn't snow too much, or we might have to postpone everything.
As I ate, showered and dressed, I kept peering out windows, hoping the snow would stop. But it came down harder. The flakes were big and wet. They quickly piled up.
Just as I was starting to panic I heard a scraping sound. I ran to the window. A snow plow and sanding truck were going down the street. Yay for the town crew!
The snow let up a bit by the time Matt and Janie picked me up. The only change in plans I had to make was to dress for snow. I dug out boots and a hand-knit red wool stocking cap with matching mittens. They would be a nice touch of color for the yearbook pictures.
"Hope the snow doesn't keep anyone away," Matt said.
"Are you kidding?" I said. "This won't keep anyone away. We're tough!"
Sure enough, shortly after we parked in the back of the drug store, others started arriving. Soon almost the whole senior class was there.
"Total mob scene," Matt said as he snapped pictures of everyone as they arrived. "Do you have any specific plan in mind for this crowd, oh exalted leader?"
For a second I worried that Matt was being sarcastic. But then I saw his grin. Over the mounting clamor I said, "I'd like a shot of everyone in the Post Office Square."
"Post Office Square!" Matt shouted. Janie and I helped pass the word, and in a few minutes everyone was herded into the square. By then the snow had stopped falling.
Janie followed Matt, watching his every move and handing him a different camera whenever he needed it. They worked well together. Even though I felt a stab of jealousy, I couldn't allow myself to work up any real resentment. I'd blown my chance with Matt. I was determined to keep my feelings in check. After all, this was Senior Class Day.
"Laurel," I heard Matt say to me. "What I really need is to take a picture from higher up, so I can get everyone in one shot. Any ideas?"
"Hmmm." I surveyed the Square. "That second story window over the drug store would give you a great viewpoint. Let's ask Mr. Tole if he'd mind if you went up there."
"Good idea," Matt said. He turned to Janie. "Think you can control this mob of seniors for a few minutes?"
"Of course." Janie laughed. "They don't scare me."
I caught a glimpse of Anna and Jimmy holding hands, and Bret and Ruby arm-in-arm. Maybe someday they'd look back at these pictures and remember how they first met. Or maybe they'd look back and hardly remember who they were with. But at least they had someone special to share special moments.
I swallowed a lump in my throat. Well, I had the yearbook editorship, I reminded myself. I'd wanted it a lot and it meant a lot to me. Sharing the joy, not to mention the sweat, of it with Matt would have been fun. But it was going to be memorable no matter what. I refused to feel sorry for myself.
Mr. Tole was delighted to let us go upstairs to take pictures from his window. As he led the way he said, "I graduated from Kenilworth High myself, you know. Of course, there were only forty-six in my senior class. Sure wish someone had thought of taking pictures downtown then. The town has changed almost as much as I have." He chuckled as he patted his protruding stomach. "Nothing stays the same. But it's nice to remember how things once were."
Matt clicked away. "I'm getting some great shots from up here. I'll get everyone in one picture in this next shot."
"Could I get a copy?" asked Mr. Tole.
"Sure," said Matt. "Thanks for letting us up here."
"Glad I could be of help." Mr. Tole slapped us both on the back so heartily that I almost lost my balance.
Matt held the door open for me as we left the store. I drank in his enthusiastic smile, committing it to memory, even though I knew it was due to his excitement about taking pictures rather than for me.
"What next?" Matt asked as we stepped outside into the frosty air.
"You're asking me?" I said. "This Senior Class Day was actually your idea, you know."
"I only thought of it after you suggested taking pictures around town," Matt said. "Besides, every idea you've come up with has been a good one."
"You give me totally too much credit." I was glad my cheeks were already pink from the cold, because I could feel myself blush. "But in order to justify your faith in me, let me think a minute." Thinking on my feet was not my specialty, but I came up with something. "Let's have everyone out on the sidewalk of Main Street. You can take pictures of them lined up in groups of nine or ten. They could hook their arms together. You know, 'all for one and one for all.' That kind of thing."
"Yet another good idea." Matt grinned.
We quickly explained the idea. It didn't take long for everyone to form groups and line up. As Matt took the pictures, I noticed that the groups were a real mix. Some of the people had hardly spoken to each other since junior high. Not that they were enemies or anything. They'd just drifted apart over the years. But doing something as a unit, as seniors, seemed to bring out a spirit of solidarity. I guess subconsciously we all realized that this was the last year we'd be together as a class and we might as well make the most of it.
As the pictures were being taken, some of the kids fooled around tossing snowballs and jumping on piles of snow. It gave me another idea. "Why waste all this snow? Let's go down to the Town Green and build a giant snowman!"
I barely had the words out of my mouth when the whole senior class galloped toward Liberty Street and the triangle-shaped park with the statue of a Revolutionary War soldier at its center.
"Disorganized" would probably best describe the scene that followed. There were at least six groups rolling up huge balls of snow. Each group was "assisted" by kibitzers whose main function seemed to be to torment those truly working by throwing snowballs, sticking snow down someone's back and snatching hats and gloves. While the setting may not have been orderly, it certainly gave Matt and Janie some good opportunities for picture taking. Those photos would be nothing if not "candid."
After a while things go
t kind of wild. Everyone went in a different direction. Giant snowballs were on a collision course.
"Hold it!" I yelled.
Everyone skidded to a halt and looked at me.
"We have enough snowballs here for two snowmen. It's time to starting stacking them before they're too heavy to lift." I saw people nodding in agreement. "To be fair, we should have a snowman and a snowwoman. How about some scarves and hats, just long enough for pictures?"
Matt grabbed my hat. "Here's one for the snowwoman!"
There was a yell of approval, followed by a flurry of scarves, gloves and even a pair of suspenders contributed to the cause. The snowpeople went up side by side. It was kind of inspiring to see the ten-foot high figures dominating the Town Green.
"Okay," Matt said. "Since this is your hat, Laurel, you've been selected to officially crown the snowwoman."
Before I knew what was happening, I was hoisted up the side of the snowwoman. I clung precariously with one arm around her neck as I carefully placed my hat on her head. Just as I let go of the hat I lost my grip and started to slide down.
Matt caught me. I held my breath. His arms held me firmly. His gaze searched my eyes. I was sure he could feel my heart pounding. Just as I thought his lips were about to touch mine, the crowd hooted and whistled. I snapped out of my trance and pulled myself out of his embrace. Janie stood a couple feet away, holding the camera.
"Thanks for catching me, Matt," I said quickly. I didn't look him in the eye. I turned away before I could see the embarrassed look he must have had on his face. He got carried away for a second. Kissing a girl who'd sailed into his arms would have been nothing more than a…a spontaneous response. It wouldn't have mattered who she was.
The crowning of the snowpersons seemed to signal an end to Senior Class Day. People drifted away. Matt packed up his cameras. I followed the crowd back to the drug store parking lot wondering if I should try to hitch a ride with Anna and Jimmy.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was Janie. If she was upset about Matt almost kissing me, she didn't show it.
"Hi," she said. "Matt'll be along any minute. He went back to get your hat. I've got the key. Let's wait in the car. I need to thaw out my fingers."
"Uh...sure." I hadn't seen Anna and Jimmy, and my hands were cold too--not to mention my head. Maybe the almost-kiss had been just in my imagination. Maybe being in Matt's arms just made me wish that he'd almost kissed me.
In the car Janie said, "There are going to be some great pictures. Wait until you see the expression on your face when you landed in Matt's arms!"
I was dying to ask exactly what kind of expression was on my face, but at that point Matt hopped in the car and handed me my hat.
"I don't know how you climbed that snowwoman so easily," he said. "I had two guys helping me--football players!--but I kept sliding off before I could reach the top. I finally got smart and knocked off your hat with a well-aimed snowball."
"My hero!" I said it jokingly, but I meant it as a compliment. I wasn't sure Matt took it the right way, so I added, "Thanks a lot."
On the way home, Matt asked me something that surprised me. "Laurel, Janie and I are going to print out pictures at my house this afternoon. Want to help?"
"It'll be fun." Janie's rosy lips curved into a smile. "Matt's taught me a lot about photography."
I pictured the two of them working side by side, hands touching. Maybe Matt wanted me to see how close he and Janie had become. Then I suddenly remembered the pictures he'd taken of me at the Mill Pond! Maybe he planned to use them to embarrass me. Or blackmail me! I knew my imagination was running wild. But I couldn't handle it. "Thanks for the offer," I said carefully. "But I, uh, already promised I'd do something with Iris this afternoon."
"Too bad," Matt said.
"Yes," said Janie. "Matt makes everything about photography exciting. I can't wait until next week when we go to the Homecoming Dance and take pictures."
My heart sank. So Matt was taking Janie to the Homecoming Dance.
"Are you going?" Matt asked.
"Yes," I said quickly. I didn't want him to think I'd been pining away waiting for him. I'd go, date or no date.
"Great," said Matt. "We'll see you there."
"Yes." I tried to sound as matter-of-fact as he did. "See you at Homecoming."
CHAPTER 10
The week leading up to Homecoming I went back and forth over what to do--or not do--about a date. I didn't really want to go by myself. But I didn't really want to go with anyone either. Like it or not, my heart was stuck on Matt. I knew I wouldn't be very good company for anybody else. It wouldn't be fair to ask some guy and then act depressed all evening.
I toyed with the idea of not going at all. In fact, I was standing in front of a poster advertising the dance, contemplating how I'd feel if I stayed home, when Bret Fleet came up to me.
"Hi, Laurel. Going to the dance?"
"Um, well..." Oh, why not the truth. "I don't know yet."
"I was going to take Ruby." Bret sighed. "But she came down with chicken pox!"
"Oh, no. Poor Ruby."
"Yeah, she'll be out of school for two weeks."
"That's terrible." I felt bad for Ruby, but then, on impulse, I made a proposition to Bret . "If you want to go to the dance on a just-friends basis, I'm available."
"Hey!" Bret snapped his fingers. "Good idea. Ruby wouldn't mind. In fact, she said she wanted me to go. It'll be fun. We could mingle, but still have someone to touch base with."
"Exactly." Bret and I sorted out the details. I went to my next class feeling optimistic for the first time all week. As Bret said, we could mix. And I knew just with whom I wanted to circulate. What harm could there be, after all, in one little dance with Matt? I could...could get him out of my system. Sure. We'd dance, he'd hold me stiffly and act formal and it'd confirm that we were nothing more than co-workers on the yearbook.
After school I told Anna about going to the dance with Bret . The first thing she did was suggest going downtown to look at dresses.
"I figured I'd just wear my yellow--"
"Oh, come on," Anna said. "It'll be fun to look. Besides, you're a senior, you should wear something special, and, well, Matt will be there.
"Oh, I know," I said matter-of-factly. "He's taking Janie Wright."
"So? That doesn't mean you can't dance with him."
I'd thought after her breakup with Stuart, Anna wouldn't be urging me to get involved. But the light in her eyes told me she was either a hopeless romantic or was developing feelings for Jimmy that made her want to fan even the tiniest spark she thought she saw still existing in me. Casually I said, "I guess there'd be no harm in one dance."
"I knew you'd see it my way." Anna grinned. "Now let's go shopping."
She didn't have to twist my arm. We headed straight for the Camelot Shoppe, located in the front rooms of a two hundred year old brick house on Main Street. I loved the historical atmosphere. The store carried only one dress of any style because in the small towns it served the owner felt it was important not to have a bunch of duplicates running around.
The only drawback was finding a great dress--but in the wrong size, especially when you waited until only a couple days before you needed to wear it. I crossed my fingers as we stepped inside the shop. We were greeted with the fragrance of branches of witch-hazel sitting in a pitcher on the mantel of the working fireplace.
We bypassed the hand-knit sweaters and wool slacks and headed for the dresses. There were plenty of floor-length formals, but the pickings were slim for semi-formals. I started to search through the rack, when I spotted a peach satin dress with satin appliqués bordering a scalloped hem. Not only was it in my size, it was on sale.
I rushed into a dressing room to try it on. When I stepped out to see it in the three-way mirror, Anna gushed, "Ooooh, it's perfect for you!"
Modesty kept me from agreeing, out loud anyway. "I do like it. And it is half-price."
"That's a sign," said
Anna. "The dress is meant for you."
I'd already made up my mind to get it. But I let Anna spend a few more minutes convincing me. She was having such a good time doing it.
That night in my bedroom I tried on the dress again. Though I kept reminding myself that I was going to the dance with Bret , I pictured myself dancing with Matt and imagining what a, well, adorable couple we'd make. But Matt was going with Janie. If I did dance with Matt it would be totally platonic.
The night of the dance I was as nervous as if it was the first time I'd ever been on a date. I couldn't even pick at the pizza that Iris had ordered because Mom and Dad had gone out to dinner.
But I calmed down when Bret picked me up. He looked nice in his dark suit, and, amazingly enough, his father had lent him his Mercedes. So we were going in grand style.
Bret kept up a running commentary on everything from his latest bird-watching adventure to the number of pox covering poor Ruby's face. By the time we got to the dance he had me in a good enough mood to look forward to enjoying my last Homecoming Dance as a student at Kenilworth.
We danced a couple dances. Bret was a smooth dancer and it was fun to check out the other girls' dresses and hair. Anna looked gorgeous in a red dress with ruffled neckline, her dark hair sparkling with a few strategically place sequins.
Bret and I had some punch and cookies and then he suggested we circulate. "I'm going to dance with every senior girl tonight," Bret vowed. "Or collapse trying."
"Good idea," I said, trying to share his positive attitude. "Except I'll concentrate on the guys!"
We parted with a promise to touch base now and then during the evening. I took a deep breath and scanned the room for a potential partner. Anna and Jimmy drifted into view. I tapped Anna's shoulder. "Hi. Mind if I cut in?"
"Be my guest." Anna did an exaggerated curtsy.
"I really ought to thank you," Jimmy said as we whirled around.
"Thank me? For what?"
"Anna says it was your idea to walk back and forth in front of my house all the time back in junior high."