Gum on the Sidewalk

Chapter Nine: The Prom

I nervously inched into the dress, even though it was now uncursed, I was still antsy about the whole used-to-be-cursed, killed a whole family thing.  I was in the living room at my best friend's house on Sunday night and I was glowing, even if I do say so myself.  We were going to the prom, it was warm outside, so we didn't even need to wear jackets, and we were going to stop for ice cream afterwards, and my date was going to be there in five minutes.  It couldn't have been better.  Unless, of course, we rode to the prom on a magic carpet.  Or Daniel magically showed up instead of Ryan.  But I didn't think either of those things were going to happen.

Just then, her mother came out with a little box.  She was smiling and waving at me to go to her.  I was a bit suspicious, even though her parents loved me now, that there could be a tiny bomb or something in that box.  But they were good Christian people, so I couldn't be too suspicious.  As she opened the box to reveal a pair of dazzling red earrings, I was both surprised and speechless.  I just couldn't think of what to say.  By her reaction, I guess my expression said it all.

"I don't know what to say, they're beautiful!" I breathed.

 "You don't have to say anything.  They belonged to my mother and I want you to have them.  I just wanted to make it up to you that we haven't had you over, and these seemed perfect for the job," she explained.

"But what about Samantha, why don't you give them to her?" I asked.

"Oh, she doesn't have her ears pierced and I thought it would be better to give them to you," she informed.  Plus, Samantha always loses everything, I mentally added.

I hugged her as I said, "Thank you."

"Oh, your dates are here, ladies.  Who are you going with, Elise?  You never told us," she smiled.

"Yeah, who are you going with?" Samantha inquired.

"Glenda and Lucinda's little cousin.  He's seventeen," I assured.

"Uh, dear, are you sure that you want to go with someone you've never met?" Samantha's mother asked.

"Yeah, we'll be in a public place.  What could happen?" I smiled.

I walked out of the house after Samantha and looked for a moment at the car.  It was a Thunderbird.  How many people had that kind of car?  And why did Ryan have to have that kind of car?  I almost cried, thinking about Daniel.  I hadn't seen him in what seemed like forever.  What was I thinking?  I had seen him just a couple of days ago.  Actually, just the day before yesterday.  I wondered if he was going to prom, and if he was, who with?  I also wondered about his car.  I sure did miss that car.

I groaned as Samantha tried her hardest to squeeze in between the edge of the door and the front seat.  She finally managed to slide into the back seat as I sat in the front with my date, Ryan.  He seemed nice enough, he was cute, but not nearly as cute as Daniel.  No, I needed badly to get Daniel off of my mind.  I wasn't going with him, I was going with Ryan.

"Hiya, how are you doing this evening, ladies?  I hope your ready, 'cause I sure am," he laughed.  I felt almost sure now that this was going to be long night.  Maybe I had better go back.  Nope, too late now; he had me in his hold.  In his unbreakable trap.

"I feel a little nervous, Ryan.  Maybe we shouldn't go, after all," I moaned, patting my blue hair down.  That was another reason to be nervous, I looked like an idiot with a red dress and bright blue hair.

"You sure?  I actually wanted to go to the dance.  I thought it might be fun, but if you want to go back, we will," he offered.

I thought for a moment about it and realized that this would be the perfect time to make Daniel notice me, even make him a little jealous.  Then again, I'm not really the kind of girl to do that to a guy.  He probably won't even go, or if he does, he'll have a great-looking date.  A lot better looking than me, huh.  Then again, an old wrinkly troll would be better looking than me.  Even in the dress I was wearing.