A Secret Affair Part 2--Chapter 4

It was now early April and everything at school was going normally again. No more weird stares in the halls or around campus and no more condemning teachers. I was beginning to worry if the teachers made my low grades or if it was just because of what was going on in my mind.

It was a Saturday afternoon and I was cleaning up the mess I had made that week…and the week before. I guess you could call it Spring cleaning. There were papers and books lying around the floor and tables, some clothes scattered around in my room, and old food wrappers in the kitchen. I wasn’t even close to being done, but I estimated that the whole place would be clean before the day was through. As I was in my room vacuuming, I thought I had heard the sound of my front door closing. I turned off the vacuum and head for the bedroom door. As I was about to reach for the doorknob, it swung open and Tony walked in.

“I don’t know why, to tell you the truth.” Exactly why DID I have the door shut? Oh well. I noticed that Tony was carrying an envelope with him.

“What’s the envelope for?” I asked as I unplugged the vacuum cleaner. “I’ve been invited to a party,” Tony said as he sat at the edge of my bed. “It says I can bring along whomever I want to, so can you guess who I am going to invite?” he said, looking at me slyly and with a lock of hair gracefully hanging down on his forehead.

“Gee I wonder, Tony. How on earth are you going to find anybody to take with you?” I said sarcastically as I sat down next to him.

“Oh, well there’s this certain person that I wanted to bring along, but I’m not so sure anymore,” said Tony playfully.

“Greetings to all! You have received this because you are invited for a night to help me celebrate the past ten years of filmmaking! Join us and bring as many guests as your heart desires. The more the merrier! Yours truly, Kenneth Branagh.”

Then there was the usual stuff: the date, time, location, and phone numbers. Basically, Kenneth’s inviting everybody he’s worked with in the past ten years, so of course Tony would be invited for being in "Peter’s Friends." There was one week until the party. Wow, I’m going to be surrounded by all these famous actors and actresses!

It was Friday afternoon of the next week, the day of Kenneth’s party. At the bottom of the invitation there was a phone number to call for transportation. We called the number and a cab came over to take us to the party. I had no idea where we were going, but Tony was looking out the window and smiling to himself throughout most of the cab ride.

“What are you smiling about?” I asked. Smiling at me, he shook his head and continued to look out the window. I looked out the window and noticed the countryside we were driving by. It looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, until I saw the glimpse of a building in the distance. We drove closer and closer until I figured out where we were. Oh wow! The party was going to be held in the mansion where “Peter’s Friends” was filmed! Seems appropriate for the occasion, coincidentally. I guess that’s exactly what he intended. The cab driver parked the cab at the front stairs and Tony and I got out.

It sure did! I didn’t even answer him because I was too busy admiring the house. The front door was open and we walked in. There were people all around in their little conversations. Some of them I recognized from movies and others I didn’t. We walked around until we got to the living room, where there weren’t any people, strangely enough. Most of the people were hanging around outside in the backyard or around the house.

“Look dahling. It’s a room all to ourselves. I remember this place,” said Tony as he walked around the room. “Shouldn’t you be mingling with the other guests or something?” I asked and sat on the couch while Tony was walking along the fireplace.

“Tony Slattery! Is that you?” Came a familiar voice from the living room doorway. Tony and I both turned our attention to the door and there was Kenneth Branagh, leaning on the doorway and with his hands tucked into his pockets. His hair was as short as it was in “Hamlet” and his face wasn’t totally shaven, with just a little stubble, but it looked good on him.

“Kenneth! Good to see you again old chap!” said Tony as he and Kenneth joined each other in the middle of the room for a hug.

“Of course I have, you silly donkey!” Tony gives me a weird look here. I let go of Kenneth’s hand. “I’ve seen ‘Peter’s Friends’ quite a few times!”

“Yes I did, after I realized what Tony was smiling about in the cab! I think it was a good idea, having some old friends come to this place for a party. Just like in the movie.”

“Well, I must get on now and greet the other guests! Great to see you again Tony, and it was a pleasure, Jennifer,” he said as we shook hands once again. “Enjoy the party!”

“It was a pleasure meeting you as well!” He gave Tony and I a smile and left the room. And what a smile it was! I certainly would enjoy this party if I saw that the whole night!