Chapter 7
Last Day of School - Summer 1960
Gordie
"So, do you really like Bird," Charlene Portman asked me the morning of our last day of seventh grade.
"Yeah," I said.
"Then why don't you kiss her or go out with her for real," she pressed.
"I go out with her," I said defensively.
"Walking around town holding hands is not a date," Charlene said.
"Well, what do you expect me to do, take her to DeRossi's," I shot back. "I'm only in seventh grade. I don't exactly have fifty dollars lying around for a fancy dinner."
"As of twelve thirty, you'll be in eighth grade," Charlene snapped. "And you still act like you're in sixth."
I rolled my eyes. "You're thirteen years old, Gordie," Charlene droned on. "Time to give up on comic books, superheroes and silly stories, and start thinking about marriage and cars and the future and your career."
"Says the girl who can't say sex," I muttered. Charlene humphed and flung around her chair. We were sitting in homeroom, waiting for another day of "educational" films, like A Date with Your Family and Young Man's Fancy. Bird came into class and sat next to me.
Charlene kept turning around and glaring, so finally she asked, "Hey, Char, what's your problem?"
"Mr. LaChance's immaturity."
I rolled my eyes. "She wants me to propose to you, get a down payment on a car, and figure out the future, which I'm sure involves a big house on the View, two kids, and a dog named Spot."
"You don't have to go on a tirade," Charlene huffed. "I was just providing you with some much-needed advice."
I rolled my eyes. Bird sighed. "Get real, Char," she murmured.
Just then, Teddy trudged into homeroom, late. He was wearing tight pants, a turtleneck, Chuck Taylors, sunglasses, and a beret, all in black. It was seventy five degrees out that day. I watched Charlene swoon in her seat.
"A real, live beatnik," she moaned.
I rolled my eyes again as Alice rushed over to his desk. "What's happenin', babe," Teddy said slowly. Alice giggled.
Mr. Jameson clapped slowly. "Congratulations, Mister Duchamp," he dead panned. "You're late to the last day of school. Twenty minutes late, to be exact. A new record."
Teddy stood up and bowed, and we all began to applaud as Mr. Jameson rolled his eyes. "You can make up your time writing lines for twenty minutes after school."
"That's not fair," Alice said. "It's the last day of school."
Teddy shrugged. "The Man always wants to bring my kind down."
Vern rolled his eyes. "What's your kind," he asked. "Lower middle-class white guy?"
"I'm someone who stands against the Man. That's my kind."
"Well, your kind is tap dancing on my last nerve," Mr. Jameson said. "Now you've wasted twenty-five minutes. Have fun after school for another five."
Just then, Maggie slunk into the room coolly. "Sorry I'm late," she said. Mr. Jameson sighed. "And just where were you?"
"Sleeping with Ace," Charlene coughed, before stealing a glance towards Teddy.
"I was busy," Maggie said. "I was having...feminine problems."
Mr. Jameson rolled his eyes. "Nice try, Miss Lake," Mr. Jameson said. "I have a wife and two daughters. I know that the period's a monthly, not a weekly. And you used that excuse last week. You can accompany Mr. Duchamp after school today."
"But I have plans," Maggie whined.
"Not anymore," Mr. Jameson replied before turning back to the class. "Let that be a warning to you all. Waste my time, and I'll waste yours. You had all better pray you're not in my homeroom again next year."
Maggie trudged to her chair, and sat down, slouched, and pouted as the AV guys came in to set up the film projector. As Duck and Cover began to play, Bird and me started passing notes.
Are you doing anything after school today? - B
No, why? - G
I might go to the Swanson's Ice Cream Parlor. You wanna come? - B
I thought for a moment, Was this a date? I decided I had better find out.
Ok, who else is gonna be there - G
Just you, me, and whoever else shows up - B
Oh, this was definitely a date, I thought. I had finally reached my year's goal, on the very last day. I could only say one thing.
Sure - G
Bird turned, grinned and gave me a thumbs up. I smiled back.
I should've worn cologne, I thought, as Bird and I walked out of school together.
"So," Bird asked. "Do you think you'll go out for track again next spring?" I nodded, and stared at her hands. I wondered if maybe I should offer to carry her books, or grab her free hand. Bird had two hardcover books in her arms. I only brought The Catcher in the Rye, and that fit in my pants pocket.
I gestured my chin toward her books. "You want me to carry those," I asked.
"Sure," Bird replied. She tucked some of her chin-length light brown hair behind her ear as I took her books.
"Thanks," she said with a grin. "So, about track-"
I nodded. "I'll probably join up again," I said. "Are you going to be a cheerleader again?"
Bird shook her head. "I didn't like it that much. I only did it because Maggie begged me to."
I nodded. "Are you still friends with her," I asked.
Bird bit her lip. "I don't know," she said. "She's been distant."
"Yeah," I said. "Ever since Ace showed up, it's like she's lost her mind."
"I know," Bird said. "I miss her."
"So," I said. "What else is new?"
"I was thinking of seeing that new movie Psycho on Saturday," Bird said.
"The Hitchcock," I asked. Bird nodded.
"Cool," I said. "Maybe we could go together."
Bird smiled. "I'd like that," she replied.
"So, do you like Hitchcock a lot," I asked.
Bird grinned. "Yeah," she said. "I really like the television show too."
"Yeah," I agreed. "The latest episode was really good. You know, the one with the party line?"
"I really liked that one," Bird said. "Do you ever watch The Twilight Zone?"
"I love The Twilight Zone," I said. "Who doesn't?"
"My mother," Bird replied. "She doesn't like anything fun, though."
"Wow," I said, perplexed. "Even my dad likes The Twilight Zone."
"Yeah, she's a real buzzkill," Bird said. We continued to talk about our favorite episodes until we reached Swanson's and went inside. We sat in a corner booth across from each other.
Bird smiled again. "I really like you, Gordie," she said. I grinned, perfectly content. This is going to be a great summer, I thought.
Maggie
I will not be late to class, I will not be late to class, I will not be late to class. My hand is beginning to hurt from writing over and over, but at last, I write my twenty fifth line. If I write at the speed of a line per minute, we'll be out of here in mere seconds.
"I'm going to the office," Mr. Jameson announces. "Your time is up, but if there's any funny business, both of you will stay another fifteen minutes and clean off the bottom of the desks. Now stay here, until I can properly dismiss you."
After Mr. Jameson leaves, I turn to Teddy and roll my eyes. "What's with the getup," I ask.
"I'm making a statement," Teddy says. "A stand against the man. Nothing you would understand, Miss Priss."
"What about the Army," I ask.
Teddy furrows his brow. "What are you talking about?"
I smirk. "There aren't any beatniks in the Army, Teddy," I taunt. "The military's a part of the man."
Teddy frowns and turns away from me, looking out the window. "Shut up, Jugs," Teddy snaps.
"It's Maggie," I remind him.
He shrugs. "Whatever," he murmurs. I can tell that I've upset him about his new image.
"I'm sorry," I say quietly.
"For what," he replies. "The whole year? You ruin everything, Margaret Lake."
I gasp. "Excuse me," I hiss.
"I was supposed to be the first guy with a girlfriend in junior high. You broke up with me, ruining that. Then, when I got Alice to like me, you made me look a wimp and ruined my chances with her. Then you started dating Ace, the worst person in town, and now you're acting like you don't even know me when he's around, ruining any chance of us being friends. You ruin everything, Maggie. Everything."
I frown and slouch in my chair. Maybe he's right. Maybe I do ruin everything. But he's not exactly innocent. He snapped my bra strap. Mr. Jameson comes back and dismisses us, and we both go into the hallway. I can't help it. As I walk out of the school, I start to cry. I lost more than I gained this year. Sure, I have Ace, but now I don't really have any friends at school. Not even Bird. And Teddy hates me. I walk to the Blue Point Diner from school to meet Ace. I walk through the door and back to the corner booth. When I look for Ace, I see an awful sight. He has Janie Veruccio in his lap. He looks up and sees me, and his eyes grow wide. I run out before he can even touch me. My life is over.
