Caroline & Michael & Scott

Chapter 15

Caroline and Sally were eating lunch in the Peshtigo High School cafeteria.

"So Sally, how are you doing after breaking up with Gene?"

"I'll survive… thanks for asking, Care."

"How would you like to go out to dinner and movies with Scott and me Friday?"

A little insulted, Sally replied "Uh… thanks, Care, but I can find my own dates. I'm not pathetic. Besides, two's company, three's a crowd."

"No, no, Sally. That's not it… You know, Scott's really special to me. I think we're really in love. I think he may be the one. And don't smirk, I know you think I always say that."

"I'm not smirking, Care. To tell the truth, I'm a little jealous. I can tell that Scott is different, that this relationship is different from all the rest. He may be the one for you."

"I want you to come with us Friday, 'cause I want Scott to get used to being with you. He's so shy, the only girl he's comfortable being near is me. But he's going off to college next year. If he's gonna live in a coed dorm, he's gonna have to get used to being around other girls. I'm afraid he'll just crawl into a shell, but being around girls all the time, I'm afraid one day he'll just… explode, you know? Be overwhelmed. Go to the other extreme. I want him to get used to the idea that he can have a girlfriend and other girls can be just friends. Otherwise, if we're separated for long stretches and he's surrounded by coeds, he may be tempted to just… just… find somebody else and forget about me."

"Say no more, hun. I'll go out with you guys on Friday. What does Scott think of all this?"

"I haven't told him yet. Or the reason."

"Caroline…!"

"Don't worry, if I ask, he'll let you come along…"

"Okay."

"Uh, Sally… one more thing… I want to ask you a huge, huge favor. Just think about it… Once Scott gets used to you, could you go out with him while I'm away at the summer ballet program?"

"Caroline…!"

"Oh please Sally, please…?! By the time I go away to Milwaukee, he'll be comfortable going out with you as a friend… We'll be apart for six whole weeks! Just keep an eye on him for me. I mean, he'll be so lonely and he'll be feeling insecure. I mean, it'll almost be time for him to cut all his ties, go off to college."

"He'll be feeling insecure? What about you? You think he'll start getting some ideas?"

"No…! I don't know… Please Sally. It would really mean a lot to me" Caroline pleaded again.

"Caroline, you shouldn't worry about Scott, he really loves you."

"Please…?!"

"Oh… Okay, I'll think about it, but I won't promise anything. Let's see how Friday night goes."

"Thanks Sally. You're the best!"

******

Sally did go out with Caroline and Scott that Friday. She and Scott got along better than any of the three would have imagined. If Scott was still somewhat reserved with sweet Caroline after going out with her for more than a year, who would have imagined that shy Scott and Sally "the pistol" would hit it off almost immediately? The fact that Caroline and Sally were best friends and that Scott and Sally saw each other as "safe", with no romantic expectations, made things comfortable between them.

After a few more outings together, they soon became "buddies", feeling safe in sharing intimacies with each other. They became almost, but not quite as close, as Caroline and Scott. These developments eased any misgivings Sally had about "taking care" of Scott for the six weeks of Caroline's summer ballet program, so she agreed to Caroline's request. There was one condition – Sally had just found a new boyfriend, Joey, the month before Caroline left, so much of her time would be taken up with him.

******

Fred Duffy was driving Caroline down US-41 and US-43 in the family Buick for the almost three hour trip to Milwaukee for the six week summer ballet program. Caroline was normally the chatty one, but she was immersed in thoughts about ballet, being away from home (and Scott) for six weeks, and her impending separation from Scott when he went away to Madison for college.

Noticing his daughter's silence, Fred decided to initiate a conversation. "So… Six weeks away from home… My little princess is growing up."

Caroline just smiled at her father.

"So Puddin'… Do you think this ballet thing is what you want to do with your future?"

"I don't know Dad… I think so… This program will help me find out if I'm cut out for more rigorous ballet program than Miss Morgan's class. Not only if I can do it, but whether I'd want to be a part of that 'ballet life'. And if I can and I want to, this program may give me a leg up on getting a dance scholarship."

"You're a determined young lady, Puddin'. I'm sure you can accomplish whatever you really put your mind and heart into."

"Thanks, Dad… Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, Puddin'… What?"

"It's about the other part of my future… Not just a career, but someone to share my life with."

"Got someone in mind…?" teased Fred.

"Daddy…!" Caroline replied in mock outrage. "You know I'm in love with Scott."

"I know Puddin'… I'm just teasin'."

"Anyway, I'm a little worried about Scott. He's going off to college and we'll be separated. I mean, he'll come home from time to time, but meanwhile, he'll be constantly surrounded by all these girls… women… women with more experience than Scott… or me. Dad, you went off to college. Did you… resist temptation?"

"I'm gonna plead the Fifth on that one, Puddin'… But my case was different than Scott's. When I left home, I didn't leave a girlfriend behind… I wouldn't worry about Scott, Puddin'. He's a good boy and he loves you."

"I know… But things have changed since your day."

"My day?"

"Yeah… You know Dad… The sexual revolution."

"Stop it Puddin'…" Fred pleaded in mock anguish. "Your makin' your old man feel old."

"You know what I mean, Dad… Colleges have coed dorms now. They have the Pill now, so you can… uh… do stuff without getting pregnant."

Fred face started turning red. "Are you sure you don't want to be having this discussion with your mother…?"

Caroline shook her head. "She'd clam up. Besides, I think you'd have a better idea about what Scott would be feeling and doing than Mom."

"Well, there must be some sorta revolution thing goin' on, if my little girl is talking to her old man about… uh… S – E – X… Well Puddin', they had things to prevent pregnancy in my day, too."

"I know about condoms, Dad." Fred's face got even redder. "But they're not as foolproof as the Pill. Besides, with the Pill, the girl doesn't have to depend on the guy to prevent herself from getting knocked up… I'm worried that Scott, with so little experience with women, will be overwhelmed. Give in to temptation."

"He'd better not… If he hurts you Puddin', I'll go over there myself and knock his block off. I don't care that he has 60 pounds on me."

Caroline giggled. "Thanks Dad… I've done everything I can think of. I've arranged for Sally to go out with Scott while I'm gone, so he can get used to being around other women… Still I'm worried that… Seeing how available sex is on campus… That he might be tempted… Oh Daddy, I really think Scott is the one… Do you think to keep him, I should… I should…"

"What…?"

"You know…"

If possible, Fred's face got an even deeper shade of red. "Puddin', I've always tried to be a modern parent, but I think I've hit my limit… There are some things I don't wanna know about… Let's change the subject, huh?"

"I guess I'll have to figure this one out myself" thought Caroline.

"Okay, Dad… Did I mention how much I appreciate you and Mom paying 1,500 dollars plus room and board for this summer ballet program?"

"Only about a million times… You're welcome, Puddin'. Nothing's too good for our little princess."

******

"July 31, 1983

Hey Anke,

I'm halfway done! Yep, three weeks through the ballet summer program. In some ways I'll be glad when it ends, but in others, I wish it could last forever. I'm really tired all the time. When I get home, I think I'm gonna sleep for three straight days! But I'm learning so much, I wish I didn't have to leave.

The first thing I learned is, I'm not in as good a shape as I thought I was. The only part of me that doesn't ache when we're done for the day is my head. If (no, make that 'when' - I gotta stay positive!) I get a dance scholarship, I'm sure it'll be just as tough, if not tougher. I'll talk to Miss Morgan about the best way to get into better shape next year and how much ballet practice I should be taking.

The second thing I learned is, I'm not so bad! You might think it unusual, hearing me say that after telling you how scared I was that everyone here was gonna be miles ahead of me. Some are, others aren't. Everyone, not just me, is pooped at the end of the day. And you'd be surprised that some very talented students still do some of the basic stuff incorrectly. Miss Morgan really taught us the basics well.

I'm learning not only new steps, jumps, and dances, but other important things, like how to warm up more efficiently. And just as important, I'm learning something about "the competition", the type of students I'll be up against next year, no matter where I apply for a dance scholarship. Some of these kids are really hungry, spending their last dime on ballet shoes, so that they can dance. Until this last year, I've always just sorta played at ballet, for fun.

During breaks from dancing, the teachers talk to us about their experiences. The most important thing they talk about is what universities and ballet companies are looking for when they award scholarships. They consider body type (which I can't do anything about), what shape you're in, you're knowledge of ballet, your "expression". To separate equally talented dancers, they also consider what little "extras" you've done. Something that shows how dedicated you are, something that shows you can bring something unique to the company. I have some ideas on that score, I'm gonna do some research when I get home. My first idea is to study theater. That way, maybe I can learn to express my emotions better while I dance. But that's the stereotypical "extra", almost everyone does that. My second idea - don't laugh now - is something I just thought of while I was here. I thought "What can I study that might be unique, that might add some flavor to my dance?" So I came up with - African dance! It'll certainly be unique anyway, when I put it on my dance scholarship application.

I'm going on and on about my ballet program. I guess that's natural, since I'm here. I should tell you a little bit about what's going on with the people back home. Scott drove all the way down here in his GTO to visit me last weekend. We had a great time, but I think I cheated him, 'cause my mind was on ballet half the time. Before I left Peshtigo, he wanted to come every weekend, but I told him not to come the first weekend, 'cause I wasn't sure how busy I'd be. I told him last week to come only one more time (next week). I'm pretty busy, besides I'm tired all the time. I do miss him a lot, but we talk every night, albeit only briefly, 'cause it's pretty expensive (since it's a long distance collect call to Scott's house). He misses me too, but says that since I arranged for Sally to go out with him, it's not so bad. I'm so glad (and relieved) that Sally is looking out for Scott for me. Scott says that Sally feels comfortable enough with him that she confides in him - you know, stuff like how her dates are going, etc. I'm just so happy that my two best friends are getting along so well.

Well, that's all for now.

Your American friend,

Caroline"

******

As Fred stopped the car, he told Caroline "Go ahead and see you friends, Puddin'. I know you're dyin' to. I'll get the stuff out of the trunk."

"Thanks Dad" Caroline replied as she rushed out of the car to the front door. It opened before she got there, her friends had seen the car pull up through the window. Before they uttered a word, Caroline and Scott hugged and shared a long, lingering kiss.

"Mmm… Welcome home, honey."

"It's great to be back." She broke their hug and gave a quick hug to Sally. Caroline whispered "Thanks for taking care of Scott for me."

"Oh… I… uh…"

Caroline chuckled. "What's the matter? I've never know you to be at a loss for words." Caroline then turned to her mom and hugged her. "Hi, Mom."

"Welcome home, dear."

Smiling her smile that could light up a room, Caroline then gathered a friend in each arm and headed towards the living room. "It's so great to be home. I have the best boyfriend and the best best friend in the whole world!"