Downtown Portersburgh
Last Christmas
Most of the students in my online classes are probably spending Christmas break staying up late and playing games. I'm not one of them. Something about the holidays brings out a classier side in me, which is why I'm in line at the Portersburgh Performance Center with Kenzie, protecting her from this old man's wolf cane he keeps swinging around.
Perry Como's "Round and Round" serenades us as we wait to go in. It reminds me of this year's Bullseye holiday ad. I've been memorizing those songs for a decade. Peter hated me mumbling the choruses.
I wish I were back in Evansville. I miss my brothers every Christmas. But, I can't complain. Kenzie's dad's not as scary as he first seemed. And I like how Kenzie laughs at me when I tell her to get behind me, so I can protect her from the cane.
It's just a cane, Stephen.
No. That cane's haunted us for years (that's a story for another night!).
I bet that would make for a great play or graphic novel.
All three of us are eager to see the latest musical adaptation of Annie, featuring child-star Veronica Barnes. That girl's no Lansbury-incarnate, but I don't think anybody will ever be. I look at the ticket in my hand. I'm in D-4. Kenzie's D-6. And her dad...just has to be right between us. I frown. I don't want that. I want to sit next to Kenzie.
I'm sure he'll switch if you ask.
"Why can't they let people in already?" someone whines.
Ask me why I like seeing musicals/plays downtown, and I'll look at the dirty-blonde girl behind me. It's a tradition her mom started, but we've continued with her dad's help. She told me she wished her mom could be here, but her mom had stuff to do in Arbourton (every year), where Kenzie will be going after tonight...early.
No stores. No food. Just this. Then, gone.
The crowd's growing restless around us. The workers aren't helping. The redcoats at the back and all around the lobby keep eyeing me like the smiley Secret Service, with their pinned-on names and taglines that hope we'll "Be Our Guest" for the day.
I don't know what the holdup is. I bet the line's stretching a half-mile out the door by now with how many people have shown up. Kenzie clings to my arm when the cane comes swinging around town. I give it the Bea Arthur eyes, but I don't think it's working. It's no silver bullet.
Bad wolf! Messing with Kenzie.
Kill it with fire!
I wish, but I don't think I'd want to burn the entire place down over one little...big...angry...wolf...problem. I can see why I'm her shield. That silver wolf head could slay all of Portersburgh. I look over at the stairs that lead to the balcony. It's usually been closed off to visitors whenever I've come here. We'd be safer there.
"I've always wanted to sneak up," I whisper to Kenzie.
Judging by her reaction, so has she. I see that lip-biting hint.
You and your ideas.
If she's thinking—
Bad Stephen! Bad boy! That wouldn't be right. They'll catch you, then serve you with a lifetime ban. Do you want that?
The line's starting to move. Now's our chance!
Too late! Line's moving.
We inch along until we're only steps away from the hundred-year-old ticket-scanning Secret Service woman. She smiles. I give her the brow. She's been taking tickets here since the dawn of time.
YOU ARE READING
Earhart & Noonan: An "Us Club" Novel (#1)(NaNoWriMo15)
Teen FictionFor the first twelve years of Stephen Vaughn's life, just trying to get others around him to pronounce his first name the right way ("Stee-vehn Vawn") has felt like the hardest task he's had to try and cope with. That is, until his perfect life with...
