Chapter 2: What's Wrong with Meg?
"There you have it. This is Dick Clark saying so long and see you next time on American Bandstand."
"Cue theme music…and that's a wrap," said Michael as he opened the door to the booth to make his way down to the set. This is where he usually gave up-coming announcements to the Bandstand dancers and then sent them on their way until the next show. But he wasn't thinking on his post-show talk; he was thinking on what he was going to say to Meg. As he stood in front of the teens he glanced at Meg. I cannot think of what could make her so upset. She still looks down in the dumps. As he thought this his eyebrows furrowed together.
Roxanne felt a surge go through her body as she watched Michael Brooks stand in front of them. Leaning over to Meg she explained her "heat wave." "Just look at him Meg. He's so dreamy! If I could just give him one kiss of mine, he'd be begging me to—"
"Roxanne!" Meg's mouth dropped and her eyes widened.
Roxanne just shrugged and smiled. There's that sparkle, she thought looking at her best friend. The last few days Meg had felt distant. No matter what she had said or done she just could not get Meg out of her slump. She had asked Meg about many topics seeing if anything had triggered something. She asked about Luke, Sam, her dad, even Patty who would have made Meg more annoyed than sad. Meg had only replied that Luke and she were getting along great; they actually weren't arguing about something for once. Sam had realized that Meg wasn't like other white people; she truly was concerned for him and cared about him as any other friend. Other than the occasional unfair "dad thought," Mr. Pryor hadn't given Meg any trouble.
So what is bothering Meg? At least she has her trademark sparkle in her eye again, and I put it there! What timing too. When Meg is finally going to open up to me I'm not available. Roxanne's thoughts were interrupted by everyone getting up and moving down off the bleachers to go home. She hugged Meg and said goodbye, not wanting to wait to call her later.
Meg watched Roxanne bounce her way down the steps and almost run off the set. She was really excited to be spending time with her mom. Meg felt a corner of mouth tug upwards giving her a half smile. She already felt better knowing she would soon be telling Roxanne what was making her so upset. Even though she still didn't want to talk about it, she knew now that Roxanne knew she would make her spill the beans.
"Meg."
Meg turned to see Michael Brooks coming towards her. "Hi, Michael," she turned fully giving him her almost complete attention.
"What was wrong with you today?" Michael bluntly spurted out.
"What do you mean?" Meg answered his question with a question. She really didn't want to talk to Michael about it. She didn't want to talk about it to anyone, but at least with Roxanne she had the time to work up the courage to. It was difficult for her to get out her thoughts and feelings without thinking about what to say first.
Michael noticed how he had caught Meg off guard with his question. So he rephrased and explained in a softer tone. "What's bothering you? You didn't seem yourself today. I was just wondering if you'd like to talk about it."
"I…," she trailed off not knowing how to start.
"You can trust me Meg," Michael consoled her. "Talking about it might help."
Meg looked up off the floor and into Michael's eyes. They were filled with concern and understanding. Meg could understand why Roxanne had exclaimed Michael was dreamy. One could get lost in those eyes.
"It's Jimmy," Meg broke the silence.
"Jimmy?" A quizzical look came onto Michael's face wondering what it was about Jimmy Riley, Meg's former dance partner before he left to join the Marines, that had Meg so upset.
"It's just…I'm worried…about him." Meg took breaths in between her words trying to stay calm. When Michael just stood there obviously not knowing what she meant, she went on. "I usually get a letter from him at least once every two weeks. It's been a month, and I still haven't heard from him. With all of the news about Vietnam at war and my brother J.J. causing my parents to fight about him joining the Marines, I just…," tears began to well up in Meg's eyes as she continued on, "…I just wonder if Jimmy's okay."
Michael looked at Meg as her blue eyes filled and spilled over with the excessive water gathering in them. It only made her eyes sparkle more – but not in a happy way. It was apparent this was really getting to her.
"Meg," he spoke as he placed his hands on her shoulders while she bowed her head and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. He pulled out a hanky from his blazer pocket and handed it to her. She took it, wiped her face, and looked up mouthing "thanks." Michael smiled and continued, "Meg, I'm sure Jimmy's fine. He probably is just busy with training or something and hasn't had time to write. Or he may have run out of stamps and such and can't write. I'm sure you have nothing to be worrying about."
As Meg listened and looked into Michael's caring eyes, she wanted to believe what she was hearing. He almost had her convinced. Yet something continued to nag her in the back of her mind and tug at her stomach. Something wasn't right. She had to hear from Jimmy.