28 minutes
432 words
29 days
Charlie Eppes was shuffling toward his locker when the Day-Glo pink poster caught his eye. "Sadie Hawkins Day Dance," he read. He turned to Leonard. "What's Sadie Hawkins Day?"
Leonard pushed his Coke bottle glasses up on his nose and sighed. "Just another chance for the geeks to feel left out. The girls get to invite the boys." He rolled his eyes. "Which means you and I and the rest of the chess club will be staying home Friday night."
Charlie smirked. "Just like every other Friday night." He opened his locker and hung his jacket up. "So who's Sadie Hawkins."
Leonard shrugged. "Every February 29th, the girls get to ask the guys out. I think it's from some comic strip or something."
"Hey, Buddy," Don called as he walked past, checking his watch, "You'd better get a move on. You're going to be late to homeroom."
Charlie shouldered his backpack and hurried after his brother. "Wait up!"
Don turned to one of his buddies. "Go on ahead." He waited impatiently for Charlie to catch up with him. "What's going on, Chuck?"
"Don't call me Chuck," Charlie muttered automatically. "What do you know about the Sadie Hawkins Day dance?"
Don shrugged. "Just that I've gotten three invitations already. Maybe you could do some math thing to help me pick out who I'd be most likely to score with."
Charlie felt his face turning red. "I... uh..."
"Forget it. I was just kidding. All I know is that the girls invite the guys. Have you been invited yet?"
Charlie grinned ruefully. "The probabilities of that happening are not good."
"Oh, man. I'm sorry, Buddy." Don pushed open the door to their homeroom. "I'll talk to you later. Hey, Mikey!" he let Charlie catch the door as he hurried to sit with his friends.
Charlie was used to that. Don was okay as long as none of his friends were around. He really couldn't blame him for not wanting to hang out with his little brother. But sometimes it hurt. Charlie sighed as he took his seat.
Val Eng turned around, smiling. "Hey, Charlie!" She noticed the look on Charlie's face. "What's wrong?"
"Nothin'," Charlie lied.
Behind him, he could hear Don laughing with his friends. "...yeah, I can't decide. Maybe I'll say yes to two of them. Whaddaya think?"
Realization dawned on Val's face as Charlie cringed.
"Hey, Val," Don called. "You ask anybody to the dance yet?"
Val smiled sweetly. "I was just about to." She turned to Charlie. "Charlie, would you go with me to the Sadie Hawkins Day Dance?"