by: Nick Carter
It happened just the other evening as we made our way home from
school through the sleet and snow. I was doing my usual trick of impersonating
Mr. Wajeski, our geogrphy teacher. Of course the gang were in stitches - I can
impersonate most of the teachers in our grade - but the guys love it when I do
Mr. Wajeski, he's such a bumbling idiot and I've got him down to perfection. The
way he stumbles around dropping his books in the hall, how he stutters and
screws up his eyes when he's trying to explain something. This time I'd been
putting up posters for the Christmas dance Jimmy had accidentally-on-purpose
banged into him scattering his papers everywhere! We left the short - sighted
buffon on the floor scrambling to pick them up. "Sorry Sir!" laughed
Jimmy as he ran off. It was cool, he never dared shout out anyone, especially us.
But then it happened. I mean you hear those dumb, soppy tales about how love
hits you like a bolt from the blue. I never believed it until that moment but
there she was, standing by the grovery store. Even though it was getting dark,
her piercing green eyes sparkled and she looked just like an angel waiting to be
placed on the top of the Christmas tree. Wow! Gorgeous long, blond hair,
beautiful shy, smiling mouth - but those eyes! I'd seen her from a distance at
school but as usual I'd played it cool and had made no attempt to find out. So I
broke away from the guys and made some excuse about needing to go into the
store.
As I approached her, her eyes dropped. I heard a lout Tut! sound and there was
Cherry standing protectively behind the counter, staring at her. The Cherry! The
Cherry who'd been my 12th girlfriend this term, had been a token pretty
girlfriend who I'd mess around and the ditch when I got bored.
Darn, I'd forgotten about Cherry! She was chewing gum and, before I could even
blind, she'd blown a bubble bug enough to swallow me up and send me to the moon.
As it popped she sucked it back into her mouth with the speed of a bullet and
blurted out: "Whaddya want?"
"Probably still bitter about our split", I mused. "Six packets of
Oreo biscuits and a tub of your finest Ben & Jerry's ice cream if you please."
I don't knkow why I said that, it just sorta came out but at least it took
Cherry scuttling into the back of the store for a minute while I struck up the
courage to speak to my angel.
"You're new here, arn't ya?" I blurted.
"Yup," she replied, shyly.
"I'm Zac, what's your name?"
She looked up smiling but, just as she was about to reveal it all, Cherry
stormed past her and threw my grovery bag under my nose and said, "That
will be $8 exactly, thank you!" I was fuming, Cherry had spoilt my moment
of truth. As I delved around deep in my pocket, I realized that I'd spent all of
my money on soda pop in school. My anger quickly subsided into complete
embarassment and I called over to the guys to help me out.
"What are you buying ice cream in this weather for, Zac?" They
challenged.
"Listen, who's the leader of the gang? Just give me the money!" I
stormed. I paid up and scurried off, not daring to look at the total confusion
I'd left my angel in. How was I to ask her on a date while she was in Cherry's
viperous cluthes? She'd probably poisioned her brain with horror stories of the
trouble our gang has caused. All completely untrue of course.
I spent the whole Sunday evening dreaming of my angel and devising plans of how
I'd ask her to the Christmas Dance. Why did I always have to act like the tough
guy all the time? She was never going to trust me with my reputation! Outside I
could hear carol singers from the tree, wrapping presents and fussing about the
state of teh Christmas cookies she'd baked for Aunty Maisie. What is it about
moms and Christmas?
They flap around in such panic. I didn't care if I ate another turkey or had
another present, all I wanted for Christmas was my angel. The Christmas dance
was two days away, I had to pluck up the courage to approach her.
Back at school everyone had gone crazy. Jimmy and the guys were running around
like dumbos with mistletoes trying to kiss every girl in the hall.
"C'mon Zac, what's matter?" grumbled Jimmy, "you're no fun
anymore!"
"Get off my case will you?!" I answered grumpily. I leaned back on my
chair in the diner hall and dreamed of the day I"d be united with my angel.
Suddenly, a rude, shrill scream brought me back down to my senses like a ton of
weights being dropped off the Empire State Building. It was Cherry.
"Nooooo, I don't want meatloaf, you silly women, I'm a vegetarian and I
asked for mushroom medley!"
The poor cook was so embarassed and apologized profusely to Cherry.
"Oh don't worry about it, I'd be better off picking my own mushrooms from
outside", she snapped. And with that she turned to ehr back and called her
friend to follow her, "Come on Lucky, let's go."
Wow, I couldn't believe my ears, I'd found out my angel's name: it was Lucky. If
only my Christmas wish would come true, that I'd be lucky too and be granted a
date with my dream girl.
I spent the whole day repeating Lucky over and over to myself and devising a
plan of how I'd ask her for a date. I'd decided that I'd catch her at the
lockers at the end of the day and if she was still in Cherry's clutches I'd have
the guy cause a diversion while I dropped a note into her pocket. That damn
perfect Cherry, why they make someone like her look after all the freshmen is
beyond me. The day dragged on so slowly it reminded me of what it was like
waiting for Santa Claus to arrive when I was little-an eternity. Finally, 3:30
came around and the school bell chimed but it was immediately drowned out by
everyone thunderingdown the corridor. Instead, I made my way slowly to lockers,
my heart pounding so hard that I thought if I opened my mouth to speak it would
pop out and dance down the corridor and out into the Chirstmassy night.
"Thank God," I thought as I saw Lucky filling her bag with the
contents of her locker. I quickened my pace but before I arrived who should
appear but Mr. Wajeski. I couldn't hera what they were talking about but Mr.
Wajeski seemed to have take a shine to her.
"Erm, um, erm, Lucky," I whispered, "How would you like to
..." But before I could blurt out Cherry's voice took over, hollering down
the corridor as she marched toward us.
"Lucky! Lucky! Come over here, now!" she screamed.
"No, Cherry, you go down the hall, now!" yelled Mr. Wajeski. "There
are freshmen waiting to be taken to the gym!" Wow! I'd never heard old
Wajeski shout like that! I composed myself and turned out to Lucky.
"Luckym would you go to the Christmas dance with me?" Lucky looked up
and peered over my head in the direction of Mr. Wajeski. I turned around and I
could have sworn I saw Mr. Wajeski, but I just dismissed it.
"Yes, I've love to!" was the sweet answer that rolled off her tongue!
And with that we made arrangements to meet the next night. I was in heaven.
"Wait till I tell the guys," I thought.
I spent hours and hours the next day pruning and preenign myself, much to the
amusement of my mom. I felt sorry for mom. Since dad died she'd been really
lonely and Christmas wasn't a time to be on your own. Still, she'd been visiting
one of her friends a lot lately so perhaps she'd go over there tonight after
she'd dropped me at Lucky's. I was so excited, I could hardly head myself. What
would we talk about? Would we get on? Mom pulled out of the driveway and we set
off our 10 minutes journey through the snow. Never before have I felt so much
Christmas spirit and I had to stop myself from launching into a special
rendition of Jingle Bells.
We reached Lucky's house and I bounded up the path, careful not to slip the icy,
crazy paving and pressed the bell. Lucky opened the door and my, did she look
fantastic.
"Wow, you look absolutely gorgeous," I said, unable to stop myself.
Her green eyes were smiling as she yelled back into the warm glow of the house.
"See you later, Dad!" And with that she took my hand and led me back
down the path.
Where's your mom? Oh, sorry, I don't mean to pry," I said, already wanting
to know everything about her.
"Oh, that's alright," she said sweetly, "Mom moved to England and
I didn't want to go so I came to live with Dad."
My heart nearly melted and I was lost for words so I slipped my arms around her
shoulders and she snuggled up close as we made our way to teh dance. I could
tell already that I'd be having the best Christmas of my life.
*As they turned the corner, Zac's mom Davina checked her make-up in the car
mirror, climbed up and made her way up the path of Lucky's house and rang the
bell. Moments later, Mr. Wajeski opened the door and with a generous smile
welcomed Davina in.
"Well, that's all worked out rather well, hasn't it, Darlin'?" he
exclaimed.
"Yes indeed it has, Bob. Let's just hope they're as happy for us as we are
for them."
And with that Mr. Wajeski, Lucky's dad, took Davina's hand and led her to the
door of the main room over which hung a huge branch of mistletoe. They both
looked up and laughed.*
I would like to thank Nancy for sending me this story!