I smiled again as I saw Roy’s reaction. “I thought you’d appreciate the idea. Can you pass this along to the other chorus members and any of the jazz band that you see? I’d like to have a special jazz band practice tomorrow afternoon to go over some ideas. It’s all voluntary, and it won’t be an official jazz band event, since I don’t want the band to eclipse the real stars of the event… the people actually performing.”
Roy nodded, his mind far away.
I glanced at my sister. “I’ll leave the two of you guys alone. Don’t be late for first period!”
June and Sherry accompanied me toward the school.
“That’s a real cool idea!” June said.
“Maybe the cheerleaders could help,” I said, smiling.
“The cheerleaders?” Sherry asked.
“Sherry, you have one of the best dancers that I’ve ever seen offering to help you train the cheerleaders. I’m sure Lynette would be thrilled to help you guys help out the chorus.”
“Ooh, Lynette,” June said, gushing a bit.
“So you’re saying that you want to provide a back up band and have the cheerleaders as back up go-go dancers?” Sherry asked, a bit suspiciously.
“Not at all,” I said. “You guys are used to performing on the football field. I’d imagine you would love to help out people who might be afraid that all the attention would be on them.”
Sherry looked at me warily for a bit, but then softened. “You have a heart of gold, Oogie.”
I gave both June and a surprised Sherry a quick kiss on their cheeks and headed off to my calculus class.
As I hoped, thanks to Roy, word quickly spread about my ideas for the talent show. I had a few people come up to me—people I didn’t really know—and offer me some ideas.
One boy told me that he knew a few magic tricks but was a bit shy about doing the talent show.
Since this wasn’t a musical performance, I was intrigued. I smiled and asked, “What kind of tricks do you know?”
The boy was surprised that I took an interest. “You know, card tricks. I have the three balls trick, and the one with the interlocking rings.”
“Could you use an assistant?”
“Huh?”
“Most magicians have a beautiful assistant to help take the attention off the magician as he does his misdirection.”
“Yeah,” the boy said glumly. “I wish.”
“Do you know Sherry Jordan?”
“The cheerleader?”
“Why don’t you ask her if one of the cheerleaders would be willing to help you out?”
“Sherry would never talk to me!”
Oh, lord. This kid reminded me of myself not so long ago.
I smiled, and said, “I’ll be with June Rodgers and Sherry during lunch. That’s fifth period for me.”
“I know,” the kid said. “I have lunch the same period.”
“Cool,” I said, a bit ashamed that I still didn’t even know the kid’s name. “I’ll introduce you and make the suggestion myself. You’re name is…” I paused, hoping the boy would help me out.
“Doug. Doug Dooley.”
Well, that was an easy name to remember. “Well, Doug, I’ll see you in fifth period, then!”
I left an amazed Doug behind me as I wandered late into band class.
As I entered the lunchroom during fifth period, I spotted Doug and went over to him. “Come sit with me.” I nodded toward the table where I usually sat.
“That’s the cheerleader table,” Doug whispered.
I shrugged. “They love performers. What can I say?”
Doug didn’t seem sure of himself as I led him to the table. I introduced him to Sherry, June, and the other cheerleaders at the table and explained my idea. Sherry and June tried to think of somebody that would be perfect to be an assistant to Doug.
A cheerleader named Becky softly said, “I’d love to help Doug. I’ve always been fascinated by magic.”
Doug was a bit tongue-tied.
I was about to speak for Doug, but Becky turned to Doug and asked, “Do you think you could teach me magic as I learn to be your assistant?”
Doug stammered. “Um… sure… I guess…”
It took a few minutes, but before long, Becky had invited Doug to sit across from her, and the two of them were soon in their own little world within the lunch room. Both Sherry’s and June’s eyes sparkled as they looked at me.
I changed the subject slightly and asked about other ideas for the talent show.
When the period was over, Sherry came over to me. “I think it was nice what you did for Doug.”
“Huh?” I asked. I just helped him get an assistant, after all.
“I’ve never seen you play matchmaker before.”
I laughed. “Me? A matchmaker?”
“You’re cute when you’re embarrassed,” Sherry noted. “Heck, you’re cute all of the time.”
“Aw, shucks, ma’am!” I said with my best Southern accent. I noticed that damned similarity with Mac Davis’ voice once again. Quickly, I switched to my real voice and continued. “Actually, I think Becky did more than I did to get the two of them together.”
“Becky is almost the shyest girl on the squad,” Sherry said. “I thought I was bad! It was unlike her to offer like that.”
“Well, I hope the two of them hit it off.”
I left the lunch room and headed toward Mr. Proilet’s music theory course.
My teacher caught me as I entered the room. “I see you’ve got the rumor mill working full speed. A number of students have already contacted Ms. Kendall about performing.”
I couldn’t help but be pleased. “That’s great. I have some ideas for some surprises, too.”
“Like what?”
“Heck, if I tell people, they won’t be surprises!”
The two of us laughed and Mr. Proilet went to the task of teaching his class.
After June dropped me off at the apartment, I found Kristen sitting alone in the living room.
“Hi, lover boy!”
“What’s up, Kris? Where’s Lynette?”
“Lynette is gossiping with Cammy and Will. I wanted to talk to you alone about your birthday present.”
“I thought you already made plans. This weekend in Chicago, right? Wrigley Field?”
Kristen didn’t immediately answer, but simply looked at me.
I knew something was up. “What’s wrong?”
“Um… nothing is wrong… I… uh…”
I waited for Kristen to find her voice.
Finally, Kristen said, “I’ve decided what to get you for your birthday. I’m going to give you Sherry.”
“What?” I was incredulous! “Whether you’re talking about a cheerleader or a drink, I don’t think that’s very funny, Kris. You know how I feel about both!”
“Come on, Jim. I mean… I know what she wants to do, and I’ve been thinking about it…”
“Kristen, you can’t give me Sherry. You don’t own her!”
“You know what I mean! I’m giving you free rein. I’ll even let you take her to Chicago.”
“No.”
My immediate and negative answer took Kristen by surprise. “No?”
“No. No fucking way, no how. You’re not giving me Sherry. You are not even going to permit me to be with Sherry.”
Kristen wrinkled her brow. “What happened to you? Something about you has changed!”
I thought back on my tantrum in my music studio the previous day and nodded. “I’ve decided to take charge of my life. I’ll deal with the problems that the tickets caused, but I’m no longer going to feel guilty about them, nor will I allow myself to be forced to do something that I don’t want to do.”
Kristen narrowed her eyes. “What does that mean?”