Chapter 9:
Shopping for Prom:
(Monday April 24th 2017; 3:15pm)
It was mid-Monday afternoon and, with school now finished up for another day, Jack and Carrie were making light conversation in the back of Rita's car as they headed towards the mall to go shopping for good suits and dresses for the prom. Rita was also tagging along to keep a close eye on Sue and Tommy and Heather and Roy, just in case they had any dishonest motives, as well as to find a suitable prom dress and shoes for herself to wear on the night.
Early the previous day, Sunday morning, before going out to spend a few hours going round the different levels of the mall looking for shops specialising in clothing for special occasions, like proms, Jack phoned Rita to tell her what happened after he asked Carrie to go to the prom with him. He told her everything that had happened from where he asked her to go to prom right to when she said she had to go back home the previous day, as well as telling her how Sue, Tommy, Heather and Roy apologised. However, he didn't mention Carrie admitting her suicidal thoughts, as he felt that was private information which only Carrie had the right to share.
Of course, Rita was ecstatic when she heard the news that her favourite student and adoptive younger brother were gonna be going to the prom together, not that she had doubts they would be going together in the first place. However, when she listened to Jack telling her of how Sue, Tommy, Heather and Roy had apologised outside the front of the apartments the previous day, she was understandably a little sceptical of that piece of news. And when Jack asked her if she wanted to come along prom shopping as well, she agreed, so as to keep a close eye on the four just in case they displayed any sign of dishonesty.
After speaking to Rita, Jack left his apartment at about 10:30am and went straight over to the mall for his little scouting mission. For the next four hours or so, he went round all the different floor levels and, in between looking in the shops that he already liked to visit, looked around for all the shops that specialised in providing good clothing for special events.
Taking notice of a few such stores specialising in providing special clothes for men, Jack went about going round the mall visiting a few stores he hadn't visited before that caught his interest, including two more of the bookshops as well as a few souvenir shops, where he bought a few souvenirs for his family. By 2:35pm, after having had a bite to eat at one of the food courts, he left the mall and returned to his apartment, remembering he needed to make a Skype call to his family back in Dublin.
As they turned round a corner and got closer and closer to the mall, Jack's thoughts went back to when his family reacted to the news of him going to the prom with Carrie.
(Flashback, previous afternoon)
Sitting at the kitchen table, and with his laptop set up before him, Jack called Louise as he knew from an e-mail he received from her the night before that she would be on her laptop at around this time. After a few moments, he saw Louise's face appear on the screen before him, and she was in her bedroom just as Jack had thought.
"Hey, big bro! How are things over where you are?!" She asked, as her face appeared on the screen.
"Hey Lou, everything's fine here where I am. How are things back home? Anything interesting happening?" asked Jack.
"Nothing much to report actually. Everyone else is downstairs, so would you wait until I get Skype connected up to the TV so we can all talk to you at once?" Louise said.
"Sure thing, call back when you're ready." Jack said, and a second later, Louise's face disappeared from the screen. He only had to wait two minutes until the Skype dial-tone started up; pressing the "Accept" icon, Jack saw his parents and three sisters sitting together in the living room.
"Hello everyone!" Jack said, when he saw them on the screen before him.
"Hey son! It's great to see you again! How are things over where you are?" his mother cried out when she saw her son's face on the TV screen.
"Everything's great over here. The weather's been very good here for the last few days, with bright sunshine and light winds. How are things back home?" asked Jack.
"It's been fairly uneventful here, though the weather's been rainy here at times within the last few days. Very heavy rain at times, along with mist and low clouds as well." said Jack's father, sparing a quick glance out the window off to the right of the screen.
"And how are things at school? Are my friends wondering how I'm getting on?" asked Jack, glancing towards his sisters.
"School's boring as it usually is, Jack; the closer we get to summer, the slower the classes just seem to drag on. But at the same time though, all of your classmates are always interested in what you're getting up to over there." Catherine said.
"Oh, are they now?" Jack asked, with just a touch of sarcasm in his voice.
"Yeah, and we're keeping them, as well as your teachers for that matter, informed of how things are going for you over in Chamberlain. And we mean every single little bit of news that you're giving us." Grace said.
"Everyone in school, including the teachers, has seen the videos of you standing up to Chris Hargensen and her group. And we're all very impressed by what you've done." Catherine said.
"Thanks for that." Jack said, but wondering deep inside whether his three sisters were telling his class mates the truth of what he was up to here.
"And how's Carrie doing? Is everything going all right with her?" Jack's father asked, with a hint on concern in his voice, as his wife and the triplets all leaned in, intently listening for the answer.
"She's feeling great, and much more confident now than she was before! I'm pleased to report that Chris Hargensen and all the other girls in her group have been taken down! As they know I've all their dirty little secrets in my possession which I can release at any time, it's scared them into leaving Carrie, and others like her, alone. However, I won't drop my guard though as, knowing what she's like, I wouldn't be too surprised if Chris tried anything to get what I have on her and her minions, so I'm gonna stay alert. And if she does try anything, I'll leak everything I have on her and her group up to the internet…and that'll show them a thing or two!" Jack said.
"Indeed, it shall! Maybe that'll teach them for what they did to Carrie and knock some sense into their thick skulls!" said Jack's mother, who was very proud of her son for standing up to bullies. She and her husband, along with Jack's relatives in the family, including aunts, uncles and cousins, had all seen the videos of Jack standing up to the Ultras, and they were all very proud of what Jack had done.
Taking in a deep breath, Jack decided to tell them the reason he was calling.
"Listen…the real reason that I'm calling you is to tell you that…I'm going to be going to the prom, which is being held at Ewen High School in just a little over a month from now…and I've asked Carrie to go with me…and she said yes." Jack said.
There was silence from them all for a few short moments, but then Jack's mother and three sisters squealed with joy.
"Oh, when did this happen?! How did you ask her?! Why didn't you tell us about this sooner?!" Their questions just kept on coming, and Jack wasn't able to answer them all. But luckily his father intervened, by giving a quick short sharp blast on his whistle he used when he was on his local G.A.A. team in his youth.
"Now calm down you lot, and let the boy explain." he said, glaring at his wife and three daughters, who calmed down, gave their apologies and turned back to Jack.
"Sorry son, please tell us everything." his mother said, as the three girls nodded in agreement and listened intently. Smiling and giving a nod, Jack told them everything of how, after standing up to Chris Hargensen and her followers a few days earlier, Rita had managed to obtain two prom tickets for him and a partner, courtesy of Principal Morton. He then told them of how he and Carrie had spent the previous day together and the places they visited within the mall, including the aquarium, before going over to the park across the street where he asked her to the prom. He also told them of how he asked her twice, stating he reassuringly would only choose her over any other girl before she said yes.
"Well son, it looks like you've your own way of sweeping a girl off her feet!" said his father, clearly impressed with how his son conducted himself.
"Well…thanks dad." Jack said, before he then cleared his throat and went on and told them of how two of Carrie's former bullies, Sue Snell and Heather Shyres, had apologised to her directly for their actions not long after he asked Carrie to the prom just before they arrived back to his apartment to get something to eat. On hearing this, Catherine, Grace, and Louise all leaned forward in surprise and asked "Really?" in unison.
"Yes…however Carrie has forgiven them and given both of them a chance to earn her trust, but I think…and Carrie agrees with me on this…that we should both be cautious, just in case they have any…ulterior motives." Jack said.
"I think that may be a good idea, son. Even though, on the one hand they may have apologised for what they've done, which is a good thing don't get me wrong, it's best to err on the side of caution…just to be safe." Jack's father said.
"I will, dad." Jack said. "Anyway, tomorrow afternoon after school we're gonna go to the mall and shop for things to wear at the prom. I was looking round in there a while ago and saw a number of shops specialising in clothes and shoes for special occasions, like weddings and formal evenings as well as proms."
"All right, but I was looking through your closet recently and I noticed that one of your good suits is starting to show its age a bit. If you're buying good clothes for this prom, then please make sure you buy something that can be used for all good occasions." said his mother.
"Okay mother, I will. That's why both my larger cases were only about two thirds or so full when I left Ireland, just in case I needed the extra space to bring something like a new suit home." Jack said.
"Well big bro, I gotta hand it to you. You seem to be in a class all your own when it comes to romance, and good luck with getting good clothes for the prom. Make sure you take some photos of the suits you're gonna try on tomorrow and send them to us." Louise said.
"Will do." Jack said, before he took a glance at his watch. "Anyway…it's getting close to quarter past three, and I really need to start work on preparing tonight's dinner. And don't worry, I'll take some photos of the different suits I'm sure I'll try on tomorrow afternoon and then I'll send some of them to you." said Jack.
"And before you go tell me; how's your money situation?" his father asked.
"Grand, I still have well over €75,000 in my account and I'm only spending large amounts WHEN it's necessary to do so." Jack said.
"Very good, son. Make sure to keep by that rule of yours." his father said, as he yawned.
"We'll talk to you soon son, and remember what your sisters said before you left; they're too young to be aunts and your father and I are too young to be grandparents." his mother said. Jack merely rolled his eyes on hearing that.
"Yes, mother, I remember." he said, as his mother and father got up from the couch and walked into the kitchen.
"Oh, and my three sisters, before I go, I wanna thank you all for getting the information about the Ultras. And please could you thank your friend for me? If it weren't for them, I'd have never taken down the Ultras like I did." Jack said.
"No problem, Jack, and we'll pass your thanks onto them, don't worry." Catherine said.
"Yeah, and they were more than happy to dig up some dirt on those bullies, so don't worry big bro.," said Louise.
"Oh, and before you ask bro, we won't tell you who our friend is. You'll just have to find that out for yourself." said Grace.
"That's right…anyway, see you next time, bro. And good luck!" said Catherine, and with that, the call ended. Letting out a deep breath, Jack couldn't help but wonder who his sister's friend was and how they came to know them. After thinking about that for a few moments, he went and began to prepare his Sunday dinner, roast beef with roast potatoes, boiled green peas, mashed carrots and gravy, very like what he'd have at home.
(End of flashback)
After making a quick stop at Jack's apartment, where he dropped off his school bag, so it wouldn't get in the way, and picked up his camera, they arrived in the mall's parking lot and parked very close to the main entrance. Getting out of the car, the trio made their way inside, among the other people either going in or out, where they saw Sue and Tommy, Heather, and Roy as well as Norma and Freddy waiting for them close to the main entrance.
"Well then, everyone…are we all ready to get started?" Jack said, as he, Carrie and Rita approached the others.
"Yes, I'm ready to pick out a good suit." Roy said.
"And I'm eager to find a really good dress for the evening." Norma said, showing her usual peppy smile.
"Well, shall we all head off in two groups? Me and the girls will go together, and the boys can go in another group. And maybe when we're done, we can meet up in one of the coffee shops here." Rita said to her students. Agreeing to the idea, they headed off in two separate groups: the boys in one and girls in another.
(With the boys)
The four boys made their way up one of the escalators to the mall's third level and walked along towards one of the good clothing stores within the western side. They were walking in silence for a while, but then Tommy, taking a deep breath, broke it.
"Listen Jack…I just wanna say how grateful Sue and I are that you've given us the chance to make amends with Carrie."
"Me too. Heather and I, along with Sue and Tommy, both know that you probably don't trust us fully, but you've given us a chance and we promise you we won't waste this chance." Roy said. Jack eyed the two boys a little suspiciously for a moment before he spoke.
"Well…I won't mince words with you two; I still don't trust you or your girlfriends yet. To be honest, if I'd my way we probably wouldn't be speaking right now." he said, as both Tommy and Roy winced.
"However, Carrie believes in all four of you enough to give you a chance to earn our trust and I'll support her all the way." Jack said. Then he stopped and looked at Tommy and Roy with a hard look in his eyes. "But, let me just say this; the moment you break what trust we have, I'll do everything in my power to make you two regret it. There isn't a line I won't cross to protect those I care about, so if you're both serious about earning my trust, don't do anything to ruin your chance. Understood?" Jack said, raising one eyebrow while lowering another.
Both Tommy and Roy, swallowing hard, glanced at each other before turning back to look at Jack and replying. "Yes, perfectly."
"Then we're good." Jack said, with a smile while holding out his hand. Hesitantly, Tommy and Roy each took Jack's hand and shook, while exhaling loudly, before carrying on. The walk was no longer filled an awkward silence as they began a conversation with each other about topics that interested them.
(With the girls)
A very similar conversation was taking place between Rita Desjardin and Sue and Heather as they went through one of the clothing stores. Carrie was running her finger through different materials on rollers and Norma was by the different hangers against one wall looking at very nice bright dresses.
"Okay you two, I'm warning you. If I find out that this is just some sort of trick that you're playing on Carrie, who's never done anything bad to you before or even been shown kindness from anyone before, then I'll personally make sure both of you regret hurting her." said Rita, in a hard tone.
Sue and Heather, taking a deep breath each, paused and looked their gym teacher in the eye.
"Miss Desjardin, we gave our word that we would do whatever it takes to earn Carrie's full trust and make up for our previous mistakes." Sue said.
"And look, we both know we've been shitty at times in the last while, and both Sue and I will have to live with that for the rest of our lives. But I reassure you, we won't waste this chance for redemption." Heather said.
For one long moment, Rita studied the faces of both Sue and Heather for even the smallest signs of any dishonesty but could see none.
"We'll see you two…we'll see." Rita said, before they carried on looking through the store looking for dresses to buy.
(With Norma and Carrie)
"Hey Carrie, why are you looking at the materials on those rollers instead of buying a dress that's already been made?" Norma asked, as she looked through a dress made of a fine navy-blue material.
"Well Norma, I really like sewing and I want to try and make my prom dress instead rather than buy one. I think it'll be much more special that way." Carrie said, with a smile as she ran her fingers through some soft pale pink material on one of the rollers.
"I think that sounds like a good idea. Do you have any idea on how you want it to look or what accessories you might want to add onto it?" Norma asked.
"I've some idea of what I want to do and what I want to add, but I'll worry about it as I go along." Carrie said.
"Okay." Norma said, as she looked through some more dresses on another rail.
(With the boys)
Jack gently took hold of the rim of the shiny top hat, twirled it round a few times and then placed it gently on his head. He looked in the full-length mirror and admired how smart he looked in the tuxedo with tails on the dinner jacket, crisp white gloves on his hands and a short cane topped with false gold in his left hand.
"Well…I think I really do look smart in this. But even so, do you think it still looks a bit too excessive for a prom, fellas?" asked Jack, as he turned to look at Freddy, Roy, and Tommy, who were all in their own good suits they were trying on. Even Tommy had a very similar shiny black top hat on his head.
"Well...I think it all depends on your point of view, Jack. But I think there's no harm wearing something like that for a prom." Roy said, as he slipped on a crisp white jacket and admired at how he looked in it in the mirror before him.
"That maybe so Roy, but look we're not going to a black-tie event in the White House down in Washington D.C. and certainly we're not going to one of those big social get-togethers that you might see in a 1950's Bing Crosby movie. We're going to a prom." Jack said.
"I think you've got a point there, Jack; maybe white tie and tails is just a little bit too formal for something like a prom." Freddy said.
"Yeah, let's leave out the really smart items, such as the jackets with the tails and all the accessories like the gloves and walking stick, and go with something you'd expect to see at a prom." Tommy said, as he took the top hat off.
"I think your right boys…now that I think about it." Roy said, as he took off his jacket.
"Hey Jack, could I take a photo of you in that suit?" asked Freddy.
"Sure." Jack said, handing his camera to Freddy while standing against the wall with the top hat still on his head and stick still in his hand. Switching the camera on, Freddy brought the viewfinder to his eye, turned the lens it to get a full shot of Jack in the suit and took a picture, and then another a few seconds later. Jack then posed for a few more photos with the hat under his left arm and cane in his right hand.
"There we are, Jack. That'll look nice along with the others." Freddy said, as handed Jack back his camera. Jack looked at the photos of him in the suit he was currently wearing along with the other photos of the other three suits he had already tried on.
"Certainly, and well done on the quality of these photos, Freddy. My parents and sisters will be pleased to see these." Jack said, as Freddy smiled and gave Jack his thanks.
"Well sir…which one of the suits you tried on would you like to buy?" the female shop attendant asked. Jack looked at the suit he was wearing, and the other three suits sitting over to the side and thought for a moment.
"I'll pick…this suit." he said, picking up the suit in the middle of the other three suits he'd already put aside so he could try on a few others.
"Very good, sir. And will you be buying the shoes too?" she asked.
"Yes, ma'am. I'll change back into my clothes and then I'll pay for the suit and shoes." Jack said, as he turned and headed to the changing rooms.
"Okay, sir. Take your time." said the shop attendant.
(A little while later)
The boys, having bought their suits and shoes they needed for the prom, had left the clothing store, and were heading to meet with the girls and Rita in one of the larger coffee shops down on the second floor. They were all satisfied with the suits and shoes they'd bought and were really looking forward to wearing them to the prom. After stepping off the escalator, they turned right and headed down the mezzanine towards the coffee shop.
"And here it is, fellas." Tommy said, as they arrived at the entrance to the coffee shop, The Steaming Froth. At the other end of it, there were large windows looking over the park on the other side of the street.
"Now this looks quite a nice place. I've never been in here before." Jack said.
"It's a good place with a very friendly atmosphere, Jack. And it has really nice cakes too." Freddy said. They went inside and quickly noticed the girls and Rita sitting together in one of the large booths near to the serving counter.
"Hey boys!" said Norma in her usually peppy tone, as she saw the boys approach the table.
"Did you fellas get what you need?" Rita asked.
"Yes, we did. It took a bit longer than we anticipated but we got what we needed." Tommy said, as he sat down next to Sue.
"And some of us also bought smart new shoes to go with our suits as well." Jack said, as he sat down next to Carrie.
"What did you all get?" Roy asked.
"You'll just have to wait and see until prom night, honey. There's not long to wait until then." Heather said, with a smile and a wink.
"And no peeking in our bags please!" Norma said with a smile, as she pulled her bag under the table so no one could peek into it.
"All right." Freddy said, as he sat down next to Norma.
When one of the waitresses came round, they ordered refreshments, including coffee or hot chocolate, and Jack ordered tea, as well as slices of cake or pastries and as they waited for their food to arrive, they settled down and chatted.
"So how long have you been interested in the Titanic, Jack?" Sue asked.
"Since I was eight years old going on nine, so for ten years this year. It all started when I saw the 1997 movie, which I'm sure most of us here have seen and it led me to seeing other movies about the subject, as well as reading about her sisters, Olympic and Britannic, and it's something that's just grown on me ever since then." Jack said.
"For what reason does the world have so much interest in that particular shipwreck and not any others? Why not the Mary Celeste? Why not the Empress of Ireland or even more recent shipwrecks like the Andrea Doria or the Edmund Fitzgerald?" Tommy asked.
"Well, they're all good…" Jack began.
"Oh, I've no doubt they're all good in their own right, but what is it about the Titanic and her two sister ships that has the world so interested in the subject?" asked Sue.
"Well, look at all the stuff that comes with it; you've got the newest and biggest ocean liner in the world, she's on her maiden voyage and you've got the president of the company aboard who owns it, you've got the chief designer on board. There's the best, most experienced captain of the White Star Line in command who's making his last round trip before he retires after an uneventful career at sea. The passenger list of those aboard is a microcosm of what society in 1912 was like, from the wealthy millionaires in First Class going home to America all the way to immigrants in Third Class from all over Europe going to America to start new lives. And the ship hits an iceberg and it sinks so slowly that you've got all these hours for this drama to be acted out on the decks of the ship while it's sinking and that's something that you very rarely, if ever, get with other shipwrecks. In fact, it's really a Greek tragedy for real." said Jack.
"It's just an incredible story." Rita said.
"Yeah but…surely by now, more than a hundred years later, there should be nothing more to learn about Titanic…shouldn't there?" Tommy said.
"Not necessarily, Tommy; every now and then, some information, that's been forgotten for many years will resurface or new documents or testimony uncovered which reveals certain aspects about the tragedy that had never before been known or understood. And each new exploration of the wreck every few years goes to different places to try find out what happened." Jack said.
"Really?" asked Heather.
"Yes, really. And new theories about certain things that happen during the sinking come out occasionally as well…usually people look at what happened from a different angle to try and determine exactly what happened that night." Jack said.
Then their conversation was suddenly interrupted by the arrival of the waitress from the counter with their hot drinks and slices of cake or pastries.
Around an hour later, with their drinks and food consumed, they felt it was time to finish up in the mall and head on back home. Carrie was especially eager to get home, as she knew her mother would be finishing up at work at 6:00pm and would expect her to be home by around or before then. Carrie knew full well that if she wasn't, she would be put into the prayer closet for hours again, and she didn't want that to happen, particularly as she hadn't been put in there for the last few weeks.
Heather and Roy had already left and headed off home in Roy's jeep, while everyone else gathered by Tommy's jeep not too far from the mall's main entrance.
"Well, shall we see you all at school tomorrow morning?" Tommy said.
"Sure, and maybe you and Sue can sit with the four of us at lunch tomorrow, considering how well this little shopping trip went." Jack said.
"Yeah, I think we'll be up for that." Sue said, as she placed her bag with her prom dress into the back of Tommy's car.
"Well, you two…I'm convinced that you've both shown yourselves to be trustworthy today. But…I'm gonna keep a close eye on you, as well as on Heather and Roy, just to be absolutely certain that you're being full honest." Rita said, as she looked from Sue to Tommy.
"Yes ma'am. We'll do all we can to be sure we don't waste the chance we've been given." Tommy said. Rita studied Tommy for a moment before nodding; then she turned to Carrie.
"Okay Carrie, now that you've gotten the things you needed to get to make your prom dress…I'll give you a lift back home." Rita said.
"Okay, Ms Desjardin." Carrie said, as she put her bag of dress materials into the back of Rita's car. Then Rita then turned her attention to Jack.
"So, I guess you can make your way home from here?" she asked, with a smile.
"Yes ma'am, I can." Jack said, as he smiled too.
"And I'll see you in the morning, Jack." Carrie said, as she and Jack gave each other a hug before Carrie got into the front passenger seat of Rita's car. After giving Jack a goodbye, Rita climbed into the driver's seat, started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. As they drove off, Carrie rolled down her window, looked out and waved to Jack, Sue and Tommy, Norma and Freddy. And they waved back, as Rita pulled away before turning out of the main exit to the parking lot and vanishing from sight.
"Well, we'd best head off home too. See you all in the morning!" Norma said, as she and Freddy headed off together towards the exit from the parking lot.
"Good night!" Freddy said, as he and Norma left, leaving Jack standing alone with Sue and Tommy. He turned to look at them and paused for a moment before he spoke.
"Good night, you two!" Jack said, before he turned his attentions to Sue and Tommy. "And I'll see you both in the morning too." Jack said, as the beginnings of a small smile began to appear on his face.
"Good night, Jack. And thanks for giving us this chance." Sue said, as she gave Jack a quick hug in appreciation for giving them a chance.
"Ah…no problem there, Sue." Jack said, as he slowly returned the hug.
"And once again Jack…thanks for giving us this chance to redeem ourselves." said Tommy, as he and Sue climbed aboard Tommy's jeep.
"You're welcome. I'll see you in the morning." Jack said as, with a last wave, Tommy and Sue headed off. Now alone, and eager to get back to his apartment and get to work on his homework, Jack made his way back to his apartment with his new suit and shoes, feeling very pleased with what he had bought.