On Monday, Corny called everyone to attention. Tracy guessed that her mother had told him about going on tour, and that he was about to tell all the other council members about it.

"Okay, gang, gather 'round," he said, tapping his mic. "I have a very exciting, but, uh, rather unexpected announcement."

Tracy shivered with anticipation.

Seaweed, who was standing next to her, gave Tracy a strange look and left.

Corny called Maybelle up to the stage with him, and they both leaned into the mic, all smiles. "We're getting married!" they said, in unison.

Huh?

Tracy had never seen that one coming. She turned, looking at the facial expressions of the other council members. Apparently, they hadn't either.

Looking for Seaweed, Tracy made her way through the other council members. He was standing alone at the outside of the circle, a blank stare on his face as he stared at the ground.

"Wow," Tracy managed.

"It's big," Seaweed said, in agreement.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, reaching up to give him a reassuring hug.

"It's weird," he said. "My mom wrote me a note and left it on the table when she left. She was working on it all last night." He shook his head, still in shock. "Corny's a great guy, and it's obvious Mom likes him. I saw them talking all the time. It's just… surreal."

"You've never really had a dad, huh?" Tracy said softly.

"No," Seaweed replied. "And, Lord, he's only thirteen years older than me."

"Let's talk," Tracy told him, pulling him to a bench where they sat. She had never seen smooth, sweet Seaweed looking so forlorn. "It looks like we have the day off," she added, watching the ensuing celebration.

"You've never heard my story, have you?"

"No. Penny's told me some," Tracy admitted. "I hope that's okay with you."

Seaweed nodded and sat down to begin.

"Well, my mom grew up poor. She was only fifteen when I was born," he said, sadly. "Fortunately, my dad was a good guy and stayed with her. Lil' Inez was born when I was three. My dad got my mom a job with a record company after Inez was born, but he had to move away when I was really little. Got a job in California," Seaweed explained.

"Do you remember him at all?" Tracy asked gently. She pictured her dad, and sadness filled her when she imagined not having him.

"A little," Seaweed sighed. "But Mom did a good job with us, and I was the man of the house – took care of everybody and everything, y'know?" He smiled at the memory. "We were doing fine. This… this changes everything."

"Does it bother you that he's white?" Tracy blurted.

Seaweed laughed.

"Girl, color sure don't matter to me," he said, thinking of Penny. "Wouldn't expect my mama to think any differently. Besides, he's a groovy dude," he added. "And he sure loves her…"

Tracy nodded.

"Well, I'd better go," Seaweed decided, getting up when he saw Penny, alone, in the middle of the set. Link was also wandering around, alone. "And, uh, you should go too."

Smiling, she agreed and went to go get her boyfriend. They shared a light kiss before Link hopped up onto the stage.

"This is a classic everybody loves," he began, introducing a song he was about to sing. "But I'm putting a new twist on it. C'mere, Trace; let's do a duet." Scanning the crowds for his girlfriend, he noticed Seaweed with Penny, who had stayed the night with him and gone to school and the studio with him.

As he pulled Tracy up onto the stage, Link launched into "It Takes Two."

Crooning to her, he felt more in love than ever before. He had intended on singing the song for Corny and Maybelle, but could only look at Tracy when saying those words. By the end of the song, when all the other couples in the room were kissing, they did the same.

"Congratulations, Corny and Maybelle!" everyone cried in unison.

It had been a great day.