The Power of Love

May 20, 1978

May 20, 1978

"So, you're sure that I'll still make my plans tonight with Emmett?" Keilah asked a bit unsurely, "I mean, you know I love KJ and Sky, but I've really been looking forward to my date with Emmett."

I nodded. "Don't worry," I tried to reassure, "Just meet me and your brother at that address at six and you'll make it to meet Emmett at seven, I promise."

"Ok- but only cause Eric couldn't watch them and cause I love my niece and nephew so much."

"Ok, and not me. That's cool. Be that way, Keilah." My tone was teasing and she could thankfully tell.

I had been persistent with Keilah for the last five minutes to watch KJ and Sky for a specific reason. Since Emmett had gotten approval from us and his own own family to propose to Keilah, he decided that he was ready to do it. He'd recruited all of us- me, Keilah, Mrs. Mathews, Eric and his girlfriend Annabella, his mother, his two brothers and even his father- to help get everything ready. He'd invited everyone else- Candy, Soda, Darry, Marilyn, Steve, Evie, Cherry, Ponyboy and all the kids- to come to the engagement party as well. They all volunteered to do something to help out, which was great, considering we could use all the help that we could get.

One of my first tasks was to provide a distraction for Keilah throughout the day. Since we were all pressed for time, I figured that I'd just tell her that Keith had something he had to do at the garage and that I had something important to do for the radio station. That way, I'd have to ask her to watch KJ and Sky since they couldn't be with us for those things. I also told her that Eric couldn't watch them either, due to a "work emergency". She- thankfully- believed my stories, and agreed to watch the two of them for the day.

Emmett had planned a whole elaborate plan on how and where he was going to propose to Keilah. Since her birthday was coming up, they'd decided to celebrate on a Saturday night since neither of them could take off a day from work during the week. He told her they'd be going to a nice restaurant in the next town- when in reality, he had all of us helping him to plan a surprise party for her. He'd even invited some people from their past classes to the party, as to make her happy. Then at the end of the night, when they were cutting her birthday cake, he would propose to her then.

He was killing two birds with one stone.

"Thank you so much, Keilah," I smiled, "I gotta run." I quickly said goodbye to KJ and to Sky, kissing each of their foreheads, then ran out the door.

I quickly got into the car and drove off in the direction of where the party would be held. It was be held under a tent that Emmett had rented, in a park that was also a large field used for weddings and parties a lot. When I got there, the tenet and floor were already set out and people were setting up tables, chairs and other types of decorations. Everyone who was helping to set up was running around doing something, and everyone seemed to be in an absolute hurry, which was understandable.

I quickly tried to locate Emmett and ran over to him once I did. He jumped a bit when I approached him, but he calmed down when he saw it was just me. He gave an apologetic smile at me, and I gave a comforting smile, signifying that it was ok. He looked overwhelmed and completely nervous about the upcoming event of the night, which was understandable if you were one of the people who knew exactly what was going to happen.

"Where's Keilah?" Emmett asked for reference.

"In town with KJ and Sky," I answered surely, "She usually takes them to the park, they get something to eat, and then they usually go back to her place. Based off of what she's told me in the past."