An Exchange

Chapter Forty-Nine - End of Year Concert

April 2005

Ryan

Ray had his earphones in, scribbling something down on what look like music paper. As Spencer was preoccupied with a couple of girls, I slipped over and sat next to him. He glanced at me and kept writing.

"That's not Chem," I said.

"Your powers of deduction are astounding," he responded sarcastically.

"You've been hanging out with Penny too much."

He paused his music, popping out the earbud. "Sorry."

"What is it?"

"I'm composing an arrangement for Penny and Zoe. Penny's singing in church two Sundays from now, and she asked me to spruce up this hymn for her."

"What are you listening to then?"

"Penny singing."

"Let me listen." I grabbed for the earphone, but he snatched it away.

"No. She'd be embarrassed."

"I'm her boyfriend. She'd be fine with it."

"If you want to hear it, come and listen when it's done."

I sat back, understanding what he meant. "Me, go to church? You're kidding, right?"

"That's the only way you'll hear it." He wound his earphones around the mp3 player and slipped it in his bag.

I pursed my lips, annoyed. "You can't be serious."

"I'm completely serious."

"I can't go into their church. First off, my dad would lose his mind, and secondly, in their eyes I'm scum, a man whore. As soon as I walk through that door, they'll all be looking down their noses at me. And the Hamilton's will all be there, ugh..." I sat back, folding my arms. "I don't think so."

"Penny will be there. I'll be there."

"And so will Giles."

Ray sighed. "Whatever. You know it would make her happier than anything. But it's your choice."

"Yeah, it is," I said defiantly. But what he said caught my attention; it would make Penny happy. Very happy. Maybe, if I went to church, she would finally give me an answer about going with me to college. She'd see that I could set aside my dislike for Mormons enough to support her, and she'd make her decision. Yes, I would go and surprise her.

*

As I grabbed the keys to my truck to head to the end of year choir concert, Dad stopped me by the door. "Where are you off to?"

"Choir concert," I answered simply.

"Why don't we all go?"

My jaw dropped. "Seriously? It won't be very good."

He wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "Let's consider it a family outing."

"Why are you doing this?"

"You wanted me to get to know Penny, so here I am, getting to know Penny."

"Fine." I rolled my eyes, shaking him off.

We all climbed into the SUV and drove to the school. There weren't many people there, just parents and some friends, so the choirs sat in the auditorium to boost the audience. When we entered, I saw Ray first. He greeted me with a handshake, then Dad shook his hand. "Good to see you, Mr. Goodman. I didn't know you did choir."

"Ray's a very good musician," I said. "He sings, writes music. You name it, he does it."

"A well rounded young man then, hey?"