Chapter Seven



I sat outside the principle's office for what seemed like forever. Ashley walked out and mouthed the two words "eat shit." So anyways I got called into the principle's office, and Mr. Berg was sitting at his desk. I knew I had it in for me, because it wasn't the first time I got in trouble here at school. After being lecture for three hours about my violent behavior, I was sentenced with being suspended for the rest of the week, and being banned from all after school activities for this semester; meaning the dance. I found out the Ashley had to get eight stitches above her left eye, and had a broken nose. School was over when I left the principle's office, so I got all of my assignments from my teachers, and started walking home. I saw Chris running towards me, so I stopped and waited for him to catch up with me. Before he was able to say anything I said, "I can't go to the dance with you," and started walking again.

"I heard," he said, "what the hell were you doing fighting Ashley?"

"She was talking shit about you," I barely managed to get out; he was speechless. It was silent all the way to my house. We said our goodbyes and that was it for the day. I got home, and got lectured by my parents for what seemed like eternity, but I didn't get grounded, which was a big surprise to me. Over the course of the week I spent a lot of time in my room, writing short stories and drawing pictures to go along with them. Jeremy and I even made up. He apologized and I accepted his apology, and things were back to normal between us.

The night of the dance came, it was also the night of my birthday, and I was left at home, alone. My parents were out of town again, they were always out of town, they never had time for me, and when they did they spent it on Jeremy. Speaking of Jeremy, he went to the dance with his new girlfriend. The guys and the girls came over for a short while.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!" they all shouted when I opened the door, balloons and confetti were thrown in my face.

Gordie and Teddy walked in carrying a long box and Patricia put one of those plastic crowns on my head.

"It's from all of us," Michelle said with her now blue hair.

I opened the box, it seemed like it was completely filled with tissue paper, IT WAS A GUITAR!!! "AAHH!!!" I screamed, I could hardly control my excitement. "THANK YOU!!!" I hugged everyone, and then looked around, Chris wasn't with them. "Where's Chris?" I asked.

"I didn't see him all day," Gordie said. The smile on my face faded away.

"You guys should go to the dance now," I told them, with out expression and walked them to the door. "See you guys later"

I plopped down on the couch and began to play my new guitar. The doorbell rang, wonder who it is . . . . I thought to myself. I opened the door to see Chris standing in front of me, holding a record player.

"What are you doing here?"

"I hear it's your birthday, "he said with a grin and walked in. the guys and girls followed him in.

"I though you went to the dance" I was confused now.

"It's not a dance with out you." Jo-Anne said, Teddy's arm was around her.

"You couldn't go to the dance so . . . we brought the dance to you!" Patricia said. "Sit here, " she sat me in the middle of couch. Chris was plugging in the record player, he looked at me and grinned one of those 'I- know-something-you-don't-know' grins. Sixteen Candles by The Crests began to play.

Chris, with a microphone is his hand, began to sing, "Happy birthday, happy birthday baby oh, I love you so," Michelle, Gordie, Vern, Patricia, Teddy, and Jo-Anne were his back up dancers and singers.

"Sixteen candles make a lovely night, But not as bright as your eyes tonight, Blow out the candles; make your wish come true For I'll be wishing that you love me too. You're only sixteen

But you're my teenage queen

Oh, you're the prettiest, the loveliest girl I've ever seen

Sixteen candles in my heart will glow

Forever and ever, for I love you so

You're only sixteen

But you're my teenage queen

Oh, you're the prettiest, the loveliest girl I've ever seen

Sixteen candles in my heart will glow

Forever and ever, for I love you so"

They finished singing and Michelle came out with a cake.

"Make a wish," Chris said. I closed my eyes and blew out the candles.

"What'd ya wish for?" Vern asked.

"If I told you, it wouldn't come true" I was smiling. "You guys . . . I love you so much!" I pulled them all into a hug.

Chris put on another record and we began dancing. This was the best dance I would ever go to. We ended up setting up a large tent in my backfield and we all stayed over. I wasn't going to have four boys in the house and get in even more trouble.















Ok, I had no idea what I was going to do with this story. So hope you like it. This story came to me from an episode of 'The Cosby Show'. You know the one. Where Clair and Cliff's parents come over and it's their anniversary and the sing to them.