Caroline & Michael & Scott

Chapter 2

It was the first day of school, before classes started.

An anxious Caroline asked her best friend "Oh Sally, I'm afraid to look. Will you come with me to the cafeteria bulletin board to check the cheerleader finalists?"

"Sure, Care. I've got my fingers crossed. Though I don't think you need it. You can do tumbling, all lot of girls can't. I mean, any idiot can learn to do the precision movements in synch, all it takes is practice. If they've got any brains, you'll be a finalist."

"I know, I know… I think I impressed the judges… but I don't want to jinx this by saying anything."

As they approached the bulletin board, they saw several girls and some boys crowding around. Some girls were shrieking, others were almost in tears. The boys were more stoic, except for grinning or frowning, they displayed no emotions.

They reached the board, but Caroline turned away. "Oh Sally… look for me, will you? I can't look."

With Caroline's back turned, Sally went up to the board and examined the list. The next few seconds were excruciating for Caroline. Unable to stand it any longer, she turned, and found a downcast Sally standing before her. Sally put her arm on Caroline's shoulder and said "C'mon hun, let's go to class."

"Now I'll never meet Scott" Caroline quietly wailed.

"You don't know anything about the guy."

"I… I just had a feeling… he might be the one."

As they reached the cafeteria exit, they ran into Debby, the head cheerleader.

Caroline quelled her disappointment and with determination tried to hold a normal conversation. "Debby. What are you doing here? Surely there's no doubt that you're on the team."

Debby, sensing Caroline's disappointment, suppressed a chuckle. "No, there isn't. I just wanted to be here, sorta out of the way, checking out the candidates' reactions." Trying to console Caroline, she added "Duffy, if it makes you feel any better, you were a close vote. And don't feel bad, hardly any sophomores make the squad. I think you have a lotta potential. If you watch the squad, you might pick up some pointers if you want to try again next year. A lot of juniors who make it washed out as sophomores, and polished up their tryouts."

Encouraged, Caroline asked "What did I do wrong?"

"You certainly showed you could tumble. And you were smart to tie your hair back. You'd be surprised how many girls leave their hair free, try a tumble, and end up sucking up their own hair."

"I learned that in ballet."

"Ballet…? I thought I recognized you from somewhere. Miss Morgan's demonstration at the end of the year, right?" Caroline nodded, then Debby continued. "You smiled. Your voice projection was average, but we can work on that. We can teach the moves and the cheers, what we're looking for in novices is attitude. Your cheer seemed tentative."

"I felt a little foolish, doing a cheer for five people."

"Duffy… don't you think we feel foolish, when we're wearing shorts and it's forty degrees out and we're losing 35-0? You've gotta be able to turn on the juice, no matter the circumstances. If you hold back, afraid of looking dumb, you will look dumb. Another thing… to be successful, you've gotta connect with the crowd. I noticed you avoided eye contact with the judges the whole time."

"Oh… I hadn't realized that. I guess I learned from ballet to block out the audience, to concentrate on my dancing until my performance is over. I'll have to adjust my whole attitude if I'm ever to become a cheerleader."

"You're a quick learner, I like that. Well, if you try again next year, good luck!"

"Thanks, Debby."

Caroline left the cafeteria with Sally, a springy bounce to her step.

******

A few days later, Caroline and Sally were walking down a school hallway between classes.

"So Caroline, I got the skinny on studly Scott."

"That ship has sailed, Sally. I'm never gonna meet him."

"So, you don't wanna know…?" teased Sally.

 "No…!! Uh… just for future reference, in case I bump into him at school functions, why don't you go ahead and tell me what you found out."

Sally smiled. Her friend Caroline was so transparent. "Okay… His name is Scott Aldrich. He's a junior. His family moved into the district in the middle of the last school year. He used to live on a farm, so he's pretty shy. So Plan B, running up and throwing yourself at him is out. Everyone who's talked to him says he's a nice guy. As for a girlfriend…"

"Yeah…?"

"I thought you weren't interested… I thought 'That ship has sailed'" Sally teased.

"Sally!!!!!"

"No girlfriend."

Caroline smiled as she headed towards class.

******

 "September 13, 1981

Hey Anke,

Well, I bombed out in my try to be a cheerleader. I didn't even qualify to be among the final candidates. But don't worry, I'm not as bummed as I thought I'd be. The head cheerleader's really nice and she explained why it's pretty rare for a sophomore to be a cheerleader, and what I did wrong. Well, so much for my fantasies about meeting the stud football player.

I think I'll join the marching band this year. I already know how to play the saxophone (the basics anyway – I took lessons when I was a kid) and it sounds like fun. Our marching band's pretty good, I heard we may even get to march in a famous parade this year. And who knows… the band practices at the same field and we play at the same games as the football team… Unfortunately, unlike the cheerleaders, the band is in the stands while the team is on the field, and when the band is on the field, the team is in the locker room. But who knows, maybe I'll run into Scott after all. *sighs*

Your American friend,

Caroline"

******

Caroline did join the marching band that year. And though she sometimes gazed from across the field at Scott, Caroline decided she needed a real boyfriend (she had never been without one since third grade), one she could actually meet. A fellow band member, Michael Sheehan, had been eying Caroline and by the third week of school, had asked her out. He seemed nice enough, so Caroline agreed, and soon they were going steady. Still, every once in awhile, Caroline would stay late after band practice to watch Scott practice. Whenever Michael asked her about it, she would just say she wanted to see how the team looked, before the upcoming game. If Michael was suspicious, he never let on.

Caroline was maturing physically and her (and needless to say, Michael's) hormones were starting to kick in. Michael, a junior, was already 16 and had his probationary driver's license. He could usually wheedle permission from his parents to use the family car on weekends, to take Caroline out on dates. After the stereotypical dinner and a movie, Michael would find an out of the way place to park. Caroline and Michael would kiss, sometimes passionately, and grope each other – but that's as far as Caroline ever let it go. Her strict upbringing kept her from going any further. At these times, Michael was disappointed and frustrated… sometimes very frustrated, and kept on pushing Caroline, but in the end, he always respected Caroline, and she appreciated this.

Between classes, studying, ballet, band practice and games, and going out with Michael, Caroline's days were filled.

******

 "October 13, 1981

Hey Anke,

BIG NEWS!!!! Our band got selected to march in Macy's parade this Thanksgiving!!! This is a big deal in America, it's probably the second biggest parade in the country, after the Tournament of Roses parade. Millions of people line the streets to watch it and millions watch it on nationwide TV! And I get to go to New York! Maybe I can find time to do some sightseeing… and shopping! I'm so excited, the furthest I've ever gone from Peshtigo is to neighboring states, and that was with my parents, on vacation. Now I get to go a lot further – and no parents! Just Michael and other classmates (and some teachers, of course). We have a lot of practicing to do and since it's a seven mile march, people have to get in shape. Plus, we have to raise a lot of money for the trip. We'll hit up our parents, of course, but we'll also have car washes, bake sales, whatever it takes. The good news is, all of Peshtigo is getting behind us, so I don't think money will be a problem.

And another good reason that this is so great: Chris can't outshine me again! I know, I know, you're saying how can I possibly be worried about my nine year old brother? Well, he just has rotten timing. Every time something good happens for me, he does something better and shows me up. Well, he can't possibly top this. He'll be eating turkey at home with my parents, watching me on national television! Ha, ha, ha!

Your American friend,

Caroline"

******

"November 24, 1981

Hey Anke,

This is the worst day of my life! :-( I was feeling just awful, so I went to the doctor and he just told me I have mono. I must have gotten it from Michael, he's the only one I've been kissing. This really sucks! So – No trip to New York, no millions of people cheering for me, no tens of millions seeing me march on TV, no sightseeing, no shopping. Everyone I know in band will be having a great time and I'll be home, feeling lousy. Well, I take that back, I'll probably be with Michael, and we'll both feel lousy together, that's some consolation.

Worst of all, I still have nothing I can crow about over my brother.

Your American friend,

Caroline"

******

It was early December, the first marching band practice after the trip to New York. Caroline was still a little weak, but endured classes and practice. Everyone was still excited about the trip, swapping stories, comparing souvenirs – everyone except Caroline and Michael.

After practice was over, Michael urged Caroline "C'mon, Caroline. Don't mope around. Let's go do something."

"Nah… I just want to rest a little, be alone, then go home."

"Suit yourself, dear." He put his arms around her and almost kissed Caroline, but she stopped him before their lips touched.

"Michael! We still might be contagious for a few days. Sorry… But we don't wanna go through a whole cycle of mono again."

"Uh… oh yeah. You know, did I ever tell you how happy I was that we at least had each other over Thanksgiving? Without you I would've been really miserable, watching everybody else on TV marching in the parade."

"Yeah… at least there was a silver lining to you getting me sick."

"Uh… Oh yeah, I'm sorry about that."

"That's okay. It's not your fault. You didn't know."

"See you later." Michael turned and left, waving as he did so.

Caroline sat in the first row of the bleachers for several minutes, watching the football team, and Scott in particular, practice. Michael was nice, she liked him. Still, even though she had yet to meet him, Caroline continued to secretly fantasize about Scott.

When the practice was over, Scott started walking towards Caroline. "Oh my god… Is he walking towards me…? Nah… couldn't be." But he continued to walk in her direction. "Oh my god…! Maybe he is walking towards me. What could he want? What should I do?"

Her heart racing, Caroline panicked and got up to leave, but Scott called out "Don't go!" His words froze Caroline.

When he reached her, Scott said "Hi. I'm Scott Aldrich."

Caroline was trembling, she was so nervous. She forced herself to smile, but could only blurt out "I know" in response.

"Uhh… I heard about you missing the trip to the Macy's parade. I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

"Thanks" Caroline replied. Relaxing a little, she asked "You know who I am?"

"Sure. You're Caroline Duffy, prettiest sax player in the marching band."

Caroline smiled. "I'm the only girl sax player."

"Oh…" It took a few seconds for normally shy Scott to recover. "You're Caroline Duffy, prettiest girl in the marching band."

"So… how do you know me?"

"Everyone in school knows about you. You and Michael missed the trip to New York."

"Oh" an embarrassed Caroline responded.

Caroline's face brightened when Scott said "But I noticed you before." But it turned beet red when he added "You sit here watching me practice sometimes. I just didn't know your name."

Caroline stammered "I wasn't watching you practice, Mr. Big Head. I was watching the whole team."

"Oh" said Scott, disappointed. "Anyway, I just wanted to say I'm sorry" Scott repeated, as he turned to go.

"Thanks, Scott. I'll see you around"

"Sure."

Caroline was walking on air. "That was so sweet."