The moment that passed between Kristen and me seemed to last an hour. Somehow, our thoughts were shared in that brief moment without a word being spoken. I was feeling a sense of loss. Although I was happy that Patty and Camille finally found a real focus to their lives, I felt a sadness that I wasn’t a part of it.
I didn’t know it then, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Chapter 14—Rehearsals
Kristen and I decided to spend the weekend with my parents for a change. This ate into the time I hoped that I’d have to finish doing music arrangements, especially now that I was planning the entertainment for Kristen’s party.
Fortunately for me, Merry was delighted to have Kristen around, the big sister that she always wanted and never had. Merry dragged Kristen to her room to talk girl talk, and I took the opportunity to go downstairs and make a telephone call from the den.
“Hello?” Wendy’s mother answered.
“Hello, Mrs. Jones,” I said. “My name is Jim Crittenhouse. I was wondering if Wendy was home, and if so, may I please talk with her?”
Wendy’s mom seemed a bit surprised at my rather polite delivery, something my mother instilled in me at an early age: Politeness didn’t cost you very much, and was often rewarded. “I’ll see if I can get her, Mr. Crittenhouse.”
I smiled and waited and soon Wendy was on the line. “Hey, Jim! Long time no see!”
“Yeah, Wendy,” I said, a bit sorry. “I’ve got my hands full at school, you know.”
“I can imagine,” Wendy said with a laugh. “What’s up?”
“I was wondering if you are still seeing Gerry,” I said. “I had an idea, but I don’t have his last name or phone number.”
“Of course, we’re still seeing each other, although we’re not dating… well, we’re not seeing other people, but we know that we won’t be seeing each other after this summer…”
I waited. “Could you give me the information, then?” I finally asked.
“Oh, yeah,” Wendy answered. “Gerry Pembroke.” She also gave me his phone number. “What’s up?”
“I’m planning a birthday party for Kris,” I explained. “I want to invite you and Gerry, but I also wanted to know if Gerry could get his band together for the Saturday after next.”
Wendy thought a moment. “He doesn’t have a gig then. What time?”
“Starts at noon, and we don’t have an end time.”
“Sounds like quite a gig.”
“Oh, he won’t be playing all the time. It’s Kristen’s birthday party—having a band will surprise her! We’ll also have a deejay and I’m thinking of getting the jazz band to play a few songs as well.”
“Sounds way cool, Oogie!”
I grinned at the nickname. “Thanks, Wendy. I’ll give Gerry a call.”
“He’s right here and raring to talk to you.”
Wendy put Gerry on the phone and we talked. It seemed that he came up with the same idea, and was thinking of calling me to do the gig for free. I told him that he’d be paid—Kristen’s parents were footing most of the bills.
After a bit of haggling, I pointed out that most of the other members of his band weren’t necessarily Kristen’s friends, and might not be as willing to forgo getting paid. I could see that Gerry was doomed to live the life of the poor musician.
Finally, Gerry insisted, “Jim, that arrangement you put together for ‘Hooked on a Feeling’ has been a big hit for us and has made us a very popular band in this area. The boys have already insisted on doing your party for free once I found out about the party yesterday. We even canceled a paying gig… that’s how interested they are!”
I wasn’t to be convinced. “Gerry, you don’t know Kristen’s parents. Her father will insist. Take the money and buy her a present, but you won’t win against her father.”
“If you say so,” Gerry finally conceded.
“Thanks, Gerry. Give my love to Wendy, and be sure to bring her to the party! Same to the band… invite their girlfriends.”
“And boyfriends,” Gerry laughed. He had a female who played bass. “No problem, maestro!”
I hung the phone up, satisfied. I walked out of the den and passed my mother.
“How long were you on the phone?” my mother asked.
“Ten minutes tops,” I said, knowing that using the phone was a privilege that you didn’t abuse in our house. I looked upstairs and didn’t see Kristen around. “I am planning some surprises for Kristen’s party. Can you guys come and bring Merry?”
“Is it just going to be kids?” my mother asked.
“No, Kristen’s parents are inviting their friends, and asked me to invite some of the kids from school as well, so there will be lots of people of all ages. You guys will fit in fine.”
“OK. Do you have any idea what we should get her?”
“Nothing expensive, mom,” I said, grinning. All of a sudden, I got an interesting idea. “I know Kris likes chocolate covered peanuts. Do you know that place in the mall near the food court?”
“Candy?” my mother asked, a bit astonished.
“It’s one of her favorites, Mom,” I assured her. “I promise you, she’ll love it.”
Our conversation was cut short when we heard Merry bounding down the stairs.
“Mommy!” Merry shouted.
“What’s up, dear?”
“Kristen invited our family over to her birthday party the weekend after next! Her parents are inviting some friends, and wanted you to come.”
“Huh?” my mother asked, completely surprised.
Kristen descended the stairs a bit more gracefully than Merry’s attempt a moment earlier. “My dad always throws a party for my birthday. It’s not a surprise. He asked me to invite your entire family. I know that Jim will be there, and I’d love the rest of you to come as well.”
My mother looked at me as if the world suddenly turned upside down. I just shrugged. “Kristen’s mom likes ’Moon River,’” I said. “The deejay will probably have Andy Williams.”
It was Kristen’s turn to be surprised. “Um… yes she does. How did you know that, Oogie?”
“I played it for her at your house once, remember?” I asked, having prepared for the question and wisely not directly answering it.
Merry didn’t like the fact that the conversation shifted subject slightly. “So, how about it, Mom?”
My mother said, “I’ll have to ask your dad…”
That was Merry’s cue to take off and go into the garage to pester her father. The three of us laughed at her.
“We don’t have anything else planned,” Mom said. “I don’t see any reason why we can’t attend.”
“It will be on Saturday at the American Legion Hall on Main Street, and it starts at noon,” Kristen informed my mother.
My mother was about to say something when Merry stormed back into the living room. “Daddy said ‘yes!’”
“I guess we’re going,” my mother said, grinning.
“Yeah!” Merry shouted, all full of exuberance.
“Hey, Merry,” Kristen said. “Would you like to go to the mall?”