Rah Rah Sis Boom Bah (Guess Who is a Cheerleader?)
Last Friday of September
There haven't been any more mailbox surprises for Josh since the cross pendant a few
weeks ago. Drake was right. Whoever did sent him those things it wasn't Mindy
Crenshaw. He still didn't call Lucky the Magic Clown. He really didn't know why except
that he liked to play it safe. He had his job at the Premiere and he wanted to stay there
until he figured out what his college plans were. Josh also wanted Helen to give him a
good reference for the next job. He didn't think she'd be all too obliging if he left the
movie theater to be Lucky the Magic Clown's assistant. He was on his break eating the
carrot sticks that his mom cut for him and ignored the chocolate haven that was in the
employee's vending machine.
One thing that had him in dire need of an extra visit to the therapist was the upcoming
Halloween dance. Sure he could go without Mindy and hang with his---oh, he forgot he
really didn't have any friends—sure he could be the third wheel and intrude on Drake
and Torey's date but that wasn't fair to his brother. That was only assuming that they'd
be going to the dance. They had another band scheduled to play, which didn't anger
Drake as much as Josh thought it would. Probably because that meant he could spend
more time with his girlfriend.
Josh wished he could have some sour creamed laced dip for these carrot sticks. But he
stuck it out and ate them plain. It wasn't so bad, you just had to get used to the taste of a
plain raw carrot.
In two hours his shift would be done and he could go home. Hopefully Drake would be in
a musical mood as it was easier to sleep if he was working on a soft acoustic number.
Josh threw the empty plastic sandwich bag into the trash and went to do what Helen told
him to do before his break which was to help Crazy Steve (Josh never questioned how
he got his job back considering that Helen was elated over him quitting in the first
place!) refill the employee the manual binders with the new policies and guidelines
pages.
He was frozen when he saw a bunch of girls come in the theater. They were all from
Garfield High and in their cheerleading uniforms. Garfield was Belleview High's rival
school. There was a girl with a soft yet husky voice in the back. He almost felt like (not
purposeful) throwing up his carrot sticks.
Mindy!
His first thought was 'Mindy is going to Garfield High now' followed by 'She's a
cheerleader'. The urge to phone Drake for advice was overwhelming but he held his
ground as he stood by the break room door watching her and her fellow cheerleaders
buy their snacks at the concession stand.
She almost had a lot of nerve coming here, but at the same time Josh was happy to
see her alive and breathing since their awkward meeting at the pharmacy in the
summer. He watched her go down the corridor where he was interrupted by Helen
wondering how come he wasn't in the back office helping Crazy Steve with the
employee manuals?
"I'm sorry, Helen."
"Josh, I'm not paying you to dilly-dally!"
"Yes, Ma'am."
Drake could have stood there all day and she'd have thrown coins in his open guitar
case.
Josh sighed as he went to get started on his task for the rest of the night.
He found Mindy and couldn't wait to tell his brother about it.
Their senior year curfew was upped to midnight. Drake always did get a pass regarding
any band dates and Josh could work the overnight shift at the Premiere if he wanted to
on Friday and Saturday nights.
Josh was sitting at the kitchen table drinking a diet Mocha Cola and waiting for Drake to
come through the door, then he got nervous and thought what if he entered through the
front door instead?
"Josh, where are you going in such a hurry?"
Josh turned around and sat back down at the table.
"Drake! You're home. I have news for you, you better sit down."
Was that a hickey on his neck? Josh would have to get jealous over it later.
"What's up?"
"I hope you'll be happy for me---now I don't know if I should tell you. You'll only make fun."
"No, I won't. What is it?"
"Okay. I saw Mindy at the Premiere tonight. MINDY! She didn't see me. She goes to
Garfield High now."
"If you didn't talk to her then how do you know she goes to Garfield High?"
"She was wearing a cheerleader uniform."
Miss Science Fair/Cockapoo cloning/Uptight priss who wanted to frame Drake
regarding Mrs. Hafer's car in the classroom was now a cheerleader?
Drake was going to get a great laugh over that one later, but he wouldn't do it in front of
his brother.
"She wasn't with any guys?" Drake got up to pour himself a glass of juice.
"No. I wanted to talk to her. Maybe tomorrow I can go to her house."
"Josh, maybe, you should just let her go. I know you won't though."
"I have to follow my heart, Drake. By the way, nice hickey."
"Shut up."
"How are you going to hide that from Mom and Dad?"
"Don't worry. I took one of mom's concealer sticks. She'll never know."
Walter might have to say something parental but being a guy it'd be all nudge-
nudge/wink-wink.
"Yeah, she will!" Megan snapped a photo on her new digital camera and ran away.
"Megan!" Drake thought of chasing after her but then changed his mind.
"It was worth it, Josh. So take that Megan." Drake put his thumb to his nose and did the
five finger salute if she was watching from her spy station.
"Mindy would do it on the chest. That way no one would know."
"Thanks for that visual image."
"I'm going to bed," Josh yawned, "Are you coming upstairs, Drake?"
"In a minute." He was debating if he should eat a piece of apple pie or eat the last of
Megan's Little Debbie brownies? It would server the little urchin right.
"Tomorrow," he looked at his watch, "Wait it is tomorrow. Later on today, I think I'm
going to Mindy's house and find out exactly what is going on."
This was not a good idea and Drake didn't want to see Josh get hurt by Mindy again.
His self-esteem was improving somewhat and he didn't want to see Josh get his heart
broken.
Drake made sure Josh was upstairs and went to the phone. No one was answering. But
it was after midnight and this time he was going to leave a message.
"Hello Mindy, this is your pal Drake. Josh is going to see you later on today. You
better be nice to him or you'll have to answer to me."
Drake hung up the telephone and went to take Megan's last brownie before
going upstairs to bed.