The next morning arrived. Bob was early and waiting for Howard to come into the car so they could go to school that morning.
"Howard, Bob's here!" Howard Cunningham heard his mother call that Thursday morning.
"Thanks, Mom! I saw him!" Howard called back from his upstairs bedroom.
He grabbed his backpack and ran downstairs and out to the waiting car. Ann Cunningham couldn't believe on how fast her only child could run these days as a teenager.
"Hi, Howie," Bob said.
"How many times do I have to tell you that I hate being called that?" Howard asked his best friend without saying hello or good morning that day.
Bob loved annoying his best friend of ten years. He knew he wouldn't stop, so he would continue calling his best friend by nickname even if he hated it.
"How would you like it if I called you Bobby?" Howard asked his best friend.
"I wouldn't seem to care," was Bob's answer.
Howard knew some Bobs out there liked to be called Bobby but he didn't know if this one liked it or not so he never tried it himself and never thought of doing so. They arrived at Preston High School. Bob parked in his assigned parking space at the high school and then the two got out of the car and Bob locked the car for the day and the two of them headed for their first morning class. None of them had any classes together in the morning but had German class together right when lunch was over.
"Bob, my mother thought Bella was beautiful," Howard said.
"Bella would love to hear what your mother said about her," Bob said, knowing what his best friend had just said.
They had noticed how fast the school day went that day. Howard didn't see Marion that day. He wondered where she was at lunch, so he ate with Bella and Bob since he didn't see Marion.
"Where's Marion today, Bella?" Howard asked Bella.
"I'm not sure. I think she got sick. I haven't seen her either," Bella said, wondering the same thing Howard was.
"I wanted to eat alone with her today," Howard said in disappointment.
"I'm sure you do, Howie," Bob said, taking a bite from his lunch he bought that day.
Howard gave him that look that told Bob he didn't like to be called Howie. Bob ignored the look as always.
"Looks like Shirley will miss today's afternoon classes too," Bella said.
"Guess so," Howard agreed.
"Bella, before I forget, my mother thinks you're a beautiful girl. I told my mother I'd give you her compliments," Howard Cunningham said.
"Tell her thank you," Bella said.
"I will," he said.
"When did she see me?" Bella asked in curiosity.
"Yesterday when you were in the car with Bob, Marion and myself when you were going to drop me off at my house," Howard answered.
"Oh. Just wondering," Bella said.
"That's okay. You'll have to come into the house one of these days to meet my mother. She's a sweet lady," Howard said to Bella.
"Guess I'll have to. What about Marion? Has she met her yet?" Bella asked.
"Not yet, but she'll get her chance," Howard said.
"Okay. Maybe we can meet your mother together," Bella said.
"That can work," Howard said, liking the idea.
"Guess it can," Bella agreed.
Bob Fluke didn't say anything because he had food in his mouth. He just let his girlfriend and best friend do all the talking since he was chewing food at the moment. Bob was quiet the whole time Howard Cunningham and Bella were trying to figure out when would the perfect time be for her and Marion Kelp to meet his mother. The bell finally rang for their afternoon classes at the high school.
"This day sure is flying fast," Bob said.
"Don't you know it," Howard Cunningham agreed.
Even Bella couldn't believe it herself.
"It sure is," Bella agreed with the guys.
The last few hours of school flew by fast. Howard drove home with Bob again as usual. Bob drove Howard Cunningham home and then was gone for the rest of the day. That night after dinner, Howard Cunningham went straight to the telephone and called Marion up.
"Who is this?" Howard heard a woman's voice say when he asked for Marion.
"Howard Cunningham," he answered.
"One minute," the woman answered.
Howard could guess it was Marion's mother who answered the telephone but he would ask once Marion was on the phone to see if he was right.
"Marion, there's a man for you on the telephone," the woman said.
"All right, Mom. Who is it?" Marion asked.
"Somebody by the name of Cunningham," she said.
"You must mean Howard. I'll take it. Thanks," Marion said.
Marion took the call privately.
"Hello?"
Howard heard Marion's voice say on the other end of the line.
"Hi, Marion," Howard said.
"Hi," she said.
"Where were you in school today?" Howard asked.
"I had a feeling you'd ask that," she said.
"You did?" he asked.
"Yeah. I had to pass on going today because of family relative was sick in the hospital and my mother thought I shouldn't be in school today. I'm sorry I didn't tell Bella," Marion said.
"She was wondering where you were," Howard said.
"I'm sorry. I'll try to tell either you or her next time something like this comes up again," Marion said.
"That's all right. If it was an emergency and you couldn't get to the phone, I'm sure we'll understand next time," Howard said.
"I'm sure you will," Marion said.
