After a few minutes Lori Beth decided to check the bathroom and she found Joanie.
"It's okay, Joanie." Lori put her arm around Joanie who stood near the sink.
"No it's not. Dad's gonna find out that he has a selfish boss, and I went with a friend's brother and Mom is going to be mad, too, since I didn't let her meet my date first. It makes me mad that my dad has to be at a convention when his boss is having a good time with his daughter."
"I know you really wanted your dad here to be here with you," Lori Beth said as Joanie started to calm down. They both left the ladies' room and Richie was outside the door.
"Are you okay, Joanie?"
"Yeah," she said calmly then Kurt approached.
"Glad I found you. Are you alright?" Kurt asked.
"Yeah." Joanie smiled.
"Hey, Kurt," Richie said.
"Hey, Rich."
"You know each other?" Lori Beth asked.
"Yeah. He was on the junior varsity basketball team when I graduated."
"He took my spot, too," Kurt said. They laughed.
At the Cunningham home—
Marion read a book on the couch even though it was hard for her to read. The door opened, she put the book down, and walked to the door.
"Joanie! I'm glad to see you," Marion said.
"Thanks, Mom."
"Mom, this is Joanie's date, Kurt Keller," Richie said when Kurt walked in.
"Oh, hi," Marion said as she felt better about who went out with her.
"Hi. It was nice to meet you. I better get going."
"It was nice meeting you." Marion smiled as Kurt left and Richie closed the door.
"So, how was the dance?"
"You don't want to know, Mom," Joanie and Richie said same time.
"I don't?"
Lori Beth shook her head.
"Dad is going to be so mad when he gets home."
"I gotta get back to the sorority. Richie, I'll see you tomorrow," Lori said, then she gave Richie a kiss and left.
Sunday afternoon—
Joanie was reading her book in Howard's chair; Richie let Marion use his car to go grocery shopping while Richie went with Lori Beth. Howard came home from the convention.
"Hi, Dad."
"Hi, sweetheart."
Joanie noticed Howard was very grouchy. "How was-."
"I don't wanna talk about it. Where are Mom and Richard?"
"Richie is with Lori Beth and Mom is grocery shopping."
Howard went upstairs to unpack. A few minutes later Howard came back down and sat on the couch and Joanie sat on the table.
"So, what have you been doing this weekend?"
"Well, after I told my friends I couldn't go to the dance, they had one of their brothers take me."
"They did?" Howard calmly asked.
"Yeah, and Kurt Keller took me."
"Did you have fun?"
"Sort of but I felt bad. Then—um," Joanie bit her lip nervously.
"What?" Howard wondered nervously.
"I saw your boss, Harry, and his daughter, Karen, when they were accepting an award for best dance."
"What?" Howard sat forward then continued, "You mean he had no family illness or no one died?"
"No."
"Jiminy Crickets!" Howard said then got up as he paced the room.
"I'm sorry, Dad."
"Next time, you let your mother or me meet your date, or you will not be going on that date." Marion came through the door.
"Howard, you're home." Marion walked over to Howard and Joanie went to help with putting the groceries away.
"Hi, dear." Marion and Howard kissed.
"How long have you been home?"
Joanie finished putting the groceries away and went upstairs.
"Twenty minutes. Joanie told me about Friday night." Howard tried to keep his cool and he sat in his chair.
"Howard?" Marion sat on the ottoman then continued, "Please tell me about Friday night, Joanie or Richard won't tell me."
After Howard told Marion, she said, "Oh Howard. I'm sorry."
"So am I."
"How was the convention?"
"Everyone kept asking me, how is Harry's dad? Did he fall ill since he's been sick this year? Why isn't Harry here?"
"I remember you telling me that Harry's dad had fallen ill a few months ago."
"I don't remember hearing him pass on. I am glad to be home sweetheart."
Twenty minutes later, Marion was on the couch reading a book when the doorbell rang and Howard got up and went to get it.
"Hi," Howard said.
"Hi, I'm Deena. Is Joanie home?" Deena asked nicely.
"Yes." Howard looked up the stairs and called, "Joanie, you have a visitor."
"Thanks."
Marion said her greetings then Joanie came downstairs.
"Hi, Deena. Come on up." Joanie and Deena went upstairs.
"This is a nice house, you have."
"Thanks." Joanie closed the door and they pulled up chairs and put them next to the bed.
"I've made a big decision and I'm going to go alone."
"What?" Joanie asked nervously.