by Phil Wohl
Nicole rolled her eyes, “The sophomore dance is the last Friday of the month. That only gives me a few weeks to find a dress and a pair of shoes.
Gary regained his composure by taking a drink to clear the pipe, “Who are you going with again?”
“Daniel and Andrew,” she replied. Emily wasn’t pleased, “Brewster?”
The volcano was percolating, “What do you have against Andrew?” Gary, sensing a nasty argument brewing, said, “Did you say that
you’re going with both boys?”
She smiled proudly, “Yes! Mrs. Brewster asked me if I was going to the dance and then I looked at both guys, and… I just didn’t want to pick one and hurt the other one’s feelings.”
Sharon didn’t believe – before that moment – that her daughter’s affection was so split in two. The way she initially read it was that Andrew was Nicole’s friend, but Daniel was always more than a friend.
Pressing her daughter for more information, or trying to steer her towards Daniel, would probably have turned the debate in Andrew’s direction. In their world, dating a Brewster would be totally unacceptable. It would an offense akin to be treason in most countries.
“We’ll go look for a dress this weekend,” she said to her daughter as she gently patted her hand.
Nicole was relentless, “Will you be able to meet everyone?” “We’ll see dear,” Sharon answered.
‘We’ll see’ usually was a softer version of a flat-out ‘no,' but it was just as good as ‘not going to happen.'
The two weeks leading up to the dance were filled with pure joy for
Daniel, Nicole and Andrew. Gone was much of the nervous anticipation
that came with going to such a major semi-formal event. The trio was all a few months from turning 16… every bit of 16.
Since Daniel essentially grew up without a father, Hartwell was feeling some pressure to have “the talk” with him. Losing Daniel at such a young age the first time around robbed Hartwell of relaying such social wisdom to his son. It was sort of a rite of passage for a father to thoroughly embarrass his son, while trying to diligently run through ‘the birds and the bees.'
It had been over a century since Hartwell had been inside of a school, unless you count his various transgressions when he was feeding off academia on his way across the country.
Hartwell liked to keep his visits with Daniel in the corporeal, because there would be plenty of time for actual contact once the boy came of age.
Near the end of one of their tai chi sessions in the vacant all-purpose room after school, Hartwell injected a little real-life advice into his usual calming salutations.
“As we breathe through the transitions and feel the glow of all of the people that love us, we reflect on the new steps we are thinking of taking. These steps are much bigger than the previous ones, because actions will produce real consequences if not careful.”
Daniel continued his fluid movements, unimpeded, with ‘virtual’ Hartwell leading the way next to him.
Hartwell dug deeper as he saw no real impact from his initial attempt. “Aisle four of the CVS on Beach and Elm on the left side, about half-way up the aisle. I hear the items in the blue box on the top left of the display are the most effective.”
Daniel kept moving but broke his intense concentration long enough to look over at Hartwell with a crinkled brow, and a genuine wonder to what he was talking about.
Daniel finally said, “Oh!” when he realized what Hartwell was referring to.
“Our health teacher, Mrs. Proctor, explained everything to us last year. She even gave us a few ‘samples’, just to make sure we were safe. But most of us blew them up and laughed at the sound it made when we let the air out slowly.”
Hartwell breathed a sigh of relief, “So you already know everything?”
not knowing the depth of the actual instruction.
Daniel hesitated, “Factually, yes. Actually, no.”
Hartwell let that information process before he carefully – very carefully – replied. Because just about anything he said could be impactful.
“Women are very interesting creatures that should be treated with the utmost care. If you make the fatal error of looking at them in only one dimension, then you will surely miss the splendor of true pleasure,” Hartwell said, harkening back to the days in the early 1900’s with his wife Maggie.
They continued their fluid movements, as Daniel appeared receptive to the new information.
Hartwell continued, “I think you already know that she is a delicate flower that should be handled with care. Nicole is special, much in the way her mother is. I know you’re anxious to meet Nicole’s mom, but that will come in time when the moons are aligned and the moment is right. Just know that good things are coming, my boy.”
Daniel nodded in understanding as they continued to move like two graceful swans gliding on the surface of a calm pond.
There was no such conversation at the Brewster household. Andrew had no chance with Nicole, so a talk would prove unnecessary.
“They’re both going with the girl?” Thaddeus questioned.
Emily replied, “As friends. Or at least that’s the way she wants it to look.”
“So, it’s not Drew?” Thad asked.
“No,” Emily said as she shook her head in disgust. “You should see the way she looks at Daniel.”
“It’s that obvious?”
“It’s that obvious,” Emily stated.
A similar conversation was taking place in the Phillips’ residence the morning of the dance.
“She’s taking both boys?” Garrison Phillips asked his daughter
Sharon.
“That’s what she said,” Sharon countered. “Notwithstanding my attempts to push her toward Daniel, she seems to care about both boys.”
Gary buried his head in his hands and tried to wipe the stress clean off his face.
“Do you think it’s going to be a problem?” Gary asked.
Sharon searched her brain for an answer, “I don’t think so, but we should know more after tonight.”
The families were set to meet that night, but Sharon had other plans. She enlisted the help of a friend to cushion the blow to her excited and emotional daughter.
“Are you ready to go, mom?” a radiant Nicole asked as she walked in the room wearing a satin, dark purple gown cut just below her knee.
“Oh, honey! You look so beautiful!” Sharon gushed, knowing her daughter would not be so pleased by the next statement.
“We’re not going to be able to make it tonight.”
Before Nicole could ‘blow a gasket’ and cry so hard she would ruin her makeup, Hartwell emerged from the shadows. He wasted no time in gaining control of her mind before she could think, “Who is that guy?”
“You are going to the dance to have the time of your life. Your
mother and grandfather love you very much and are going to drive you over to the Brewster’s house in a few minutes. But make sure you don’t let anyone ask questions about them. Their privacy is very important.”
Hartwell had a moment of ‘Daniel pause’ and looked over at Sharon. “You sure you don’t want to help things along?” Sharon asked. Hartwell replied, “I didn’t do it to you.”
She shot him a look of disbelief.
“Okay, but I stopped after the first few times."
You needed a little nudge,” Hartwell conceded. “Let’s let nature take its course, and if that doesn’t work, then we’ll have a little talk with her.”
Hartwell kissed Sharon on the cheek and said, “I’ll see you later.” And before he glided through the doorway, he smirked, “I’ll pick you up the usual time.”
Sharon turned to Nicole and said, “It’s time to go honey.” She stepped toward her daughter, smoothed the dress fabric on her shoulder, and then gave her a kiss on the cheek, “Have a great time, Nicky.”
“I will,” Nicole replied.
“Your grandpa’ and I are waiting in the
car to drive you to the dance,” Sharon said, wishing that she really could be in that car.
Nicole was smiling as she walked out of the front door and to the bland Toyota Camry parked in the driveway. Emily stood on the porch admiring her new car, a red Audi A4 Quattro, which was parked at the curb
- a ‘gift’ from Hartwell.
“How does he always know what I’m thinking?” Sharon mumbled.
Gary walked out and stood next to her, “Nice ride.”
An elderly gentleman stepped out of the driver’s side of the Camry and opened the back door for Nicole.
“You look beautiful,” he said as he held her hand and guided her into the car.
Nicole didn’t skip a beat, “Thanks, Grandpa’.”
As they were backing out of the driveway, a blonde woman who sort of looked like an older version of Nicole, turned around from the front passenger seat and said, “It’s going to be a special night, honey.”
Nicole beamed, “Thanks, mom!” and they drove off to the Brewster’s house.
“Do you think she’ll bring her family?” an anxious Daniel asked a desperately-nervous Andrew as the waited on the front stoop.
Drew could barely speak let alone utilize his powers of analytical thinking. Just then, the tan Camry pulled up and stopped at the curb.
“They’re here,” Daniel said as the woman and the man exited the vehicle, and then the man opened the back door and took Nicole’s hand again, like she was a princess exiting from an elaborate, horse-drawn coach.
Emily Brewster yelled from inside the house, “Boys, are they here yet?”
When she didn’t receive an answer, she assumed that they were either playing around, running in their suits, or most likely both.
“Guys?” Emily shouted as she and Belinda walked toward the front door.
They saw the gorgeous Nicole taking both of their sons’ breath away as she walked from the car to the front door. The stand-in family walked over to Belinda and Emily, who had walked outside, and flawlessly introduced themselves. If Sharon and Gary had really been there, a holy war might have erupted right on the front lawn.
The ride over to the Beach Haven High School gym was peaceful, if not eerily quiet. Emily Brewster was driving, Belinda Thompson was riding shotgun, and the boys book-ended Nicole in the back seat of the Chevy Equinox SUV.
It was a good thing that the school was only a five-minute drive from the Brewster house, because any more time would have made the contained silence unbearable.
The trio had spent most of the past three years inside of that gym, but never dressed up with so much on the line. With their physical gifts
growing so rapidly, the sports side of the equation was relatively easy to handle. But it was their mental capacity to live, to love, to feel, that was in its infancy and would have to be further developed.
Daniel and Andrew remained by Nicole’s side from the time they entered the gym. ‘The Three Slamigo’s’ ate together, drank punch together, but mostly danced in a way that most ‘crews’ would be envious.
The rest of the sophomore class bopped up and down while mostly watching Nicole and her two suitors dance. Daniel and Drew were break- dancing on the shiny, freshly-waxed gymnasium floor, while Nicole spun herself into various aerial positions. She would have been on the floor with the boys if her dress would have given her the opportunity.
The DJ did his best to keep up with the furious trio, but his days of doing cheesy Sweet 16s and Bar-mitzvahs precluded him from kicking it into a gear previously unmatched.
After 12 consecutive fast songs, the 13th song proved unlucky for Andrew. The throbbing beat decelerated and the strobe lights took a break, as the action moved to slow dancing.
Nicole and the boys were over near the punch bowl and it was anyone’s guess who would take the first shot at asking Nicole for a dance.
Surprisingly, the tongue-tied Andrew spoke first - more out of necessity than an actual desire to be close to Nicole.
“Nicole!” Andrew blurted out.
“Yes, Andrew,” Nicole said, expecting him to ask her to dance. Daniel was kicking himself for not speaking first, but he was so
locked up in goodwill that he didn’t know what to do.
Andrew thought he could hold out, but a wave of nausea quickly overtook his usually sturdy being.
“I’ll be right back,” Andrew said as he tried to walk casually into the locker room and then sprint to the bathroom.
Andrew hadn’t been ill since the first grade, and this flash of sickness was more of a mind over matter. Or was it? Hartwell stood in the corner of
the gym, tucking a bottle of laxative into his jacket pocket. He looks out at us and says, “It couldn’t hurt to help things along a little.”
Once Drew disappeared into the locker room, Daniel didn’t need any sage words from Hartwell to know that it was his time to seize the moment.
“Nicole, would you like to dance?” he asked without hesitation as
Hartwell beamed and then disappeared.
“I would love to,” she replied as they walked onto the floor.
They squared off and she put her long arms around his neck and he dropped his toned arms around her narrow waist. She looked deeply into his eyes, much the way she had the first day they met. Nicole then comfortably rested her head on his shoulder and moved a couple of baby steps closer so their bodies connected into one cohesive form.
Daniel and Nicole had been so wrapped up in their developing physical abilities that they failed to accomplish a basic task in their nearly
16 years: a first kiss.
The slow song ended a few minutes later and was replaced with fast music and wild, flashing lights. But Nicole and Daniel didn’t hear or see anything going on around them and continued to slow-dance for another minute before a classmate tapped Daniel on the shoulder and yelled over the music, “Dude! The slow jam is over!”
But the ‘slow jam’ really had just begun for Daniel and Nicole. Before they separated, Daniel whispered in Nicole’s ear, “Do you want to go outside?”
She nodded in approval as her left hand dropped and clutched his right hand. He firmly gripped her back to let her know how strongly he was feeling.
Daniel pushed open the back door of the gym, which was being held slightly ajar by a large, black garbage can that was being utilized to let some air circulate through the arid gym.
They walked only a few steps when Daniel said, “I’m glad you decided to take me with you tonight,” as if to note some remaining signs of apprehension to make the next move.
She was going to reply but wasn’t in the mood for any more small talk, so she decided to show him how she felt instead. Daniel saw those lips he dreamt about coming his way, so he gladly met them halfway.
They kissed passionately as Nicole felt as if her feet left the ground. It was everything they thought a real kiss would be, and more, because they had waited so long for the right time.
Meanwhile, Andrew finally disengaged himself from the ‘porcelain altar’ and gingerly made his way back toward the sink to wash his hands and splash some cold water on his face.
Once Drew felt stable enough – before emerging from the locker room – he angrily slammed his head against a metal locker, creating a huge knot on the side of his forehead. He roared from anger and the large bump slowly receded back into his head.
Andrew was so far gone that he didn’t realize he had changed his grizzly bear alter ego. He swiped his huge right paw against the row of lockers and produced a high-pitched screech that would have been easily heard if the loud music wasn’t blaring. His long, sharp claws left a huge gash in the same dented lockers that he banged his head into.
Drew walked toward the door between the locker room and the gym and turned back into his human form as another boy walked in.
“Hey, Drew,” the baby-faced kid said as he high-fived Andrew and happily skipped past him. The guy looked at the row of defaced lockers
and said, “Wow, somebody was real angry.”
Andrew didn’t see Nicole and Daniel at first when he stepped into the gym, so he took a quick lap around and then poked his head in the
adjacent hallway. With his extensive night-vision capabilities, visually
spotting Nicole would be relatively easy, but locating her scent would be a little more difficult amid the sea of bodies.
Still feeling a little queasy, Andrew decided to get a little fresh air to hopefully clear his head. He noticed a door slightly open on the left side of the gym – the girls’ side during normal school hours. Andrew walked into the darkness where couples sought its remote location to get in a little extended ‘face time.'
He opened the heavy steel door, stepped out onto the concrete
stoop, and looked out to the softball field in the distance, all the while taking a deep, cleansing breath. Andrew felt like himself again for the first time in weeks. Incessant thoughts of the dance had clouded his mind and thrown him off his game. The usual aggressive and full-throttle-minded boy had been reduced to nothing more than a timid, quivering pile of skin and bones.
Andrew stood in darkness as the light above his head had burned out a few days earlier. He then swiveled toward his right as he noticed the light above the boys’ gym doorway was blinking and was about to go out, too.
Two people were joined together and obviously kissing, but Andrew couldn’t initially identify the kids. The fresh air helped restore his keen eyesight and extraordinary sense of smell, which told him that Nicole and
Daniel was near. Andrew sensed their elevated body temperatures and racing heartbeats, as he felt a wave of varied emotions invade his body.
Shock, nerves, and self-loathing were interrupted by Drew hearing