Chapter 37—A Favor Done
April 12th, 2000
4:15 pm
The final dress rehearsal
Charlie's POV
I knew I was in for it when Bella and I talked last Thursday about her getting the lead to play Sandy in musical grease. She had asked me if I could help out with something and now here I am wearing a football jersey, football pads, pants and cleats and carrying around a football helmet. I could not believe Bella talked me into doing this being a background football player. I found my girl wearing her cheerleading outfit waiting for the cue to begin rehearsal. I walked up to her talking to Connie and Julie both were in there costumes for the scene that we were going to do.
"I know right," Bella said as she giggled.
I tapped her on the shoulder, and she turned and faced me, "So do I look the part of a football player or what?"
Bella giggled and said, "You look great number 21."
I smiled at her. "I agree Charlie you look great," Connie said.
"Absolutely," Julie said.
"You make a great looking cheerleader," I said as I grabbed Bella.
"Easy tiger," Bella said.
"I can't believe I am doing this I look so stupid," Adam said as he came through the door to the stage from downstairs wearing the same uniform that I was wearing except that his number was seventeen. I was football player number 2, and he was football player number 3. Like me Bella roped Adam into being a background player for the musical.
"You look great Adam," Bella said.
"I am a hockey player not a football player. I really wanted to sit in the audience and watch you perform. Could you not get a real football player to play this part?" Adam groaned.
"Adam we have been over this the costume would not fit them," Gunnar said who is also dressed as a football player for just a few minutes since his Vince Fontaine scenes were not very close together at all. His number was nineteen.
Then Guy came upstairs in his Kinicki costume and said, "Well if it isn't the dingleberries on parade."
"Oh, shut up Guy," Adam and I said together.
"Hey that is not me, that is 100 percent Kinicki," Guy said.
"Adam and Charlie you are going to be onstage for like a minute, I think you can handle this. Most of the Chorus is the students," Bella said.
"I hope so Angel, I really do," I said as I leaned in to kiss her.
"You will be fine," Bella said.
"Alright let's go kids, we want to walk through this and then we need to do the final rehearsal. The curtain goes up in 26 hours and 45 minutes," Ms. Delaney said.
April 13th, 2000
9:40 pm
Bella's POV
I was so nervous about tonight being the opening night of the musical. I could not sleep at all last night. I wish that I had more time like at least another week. What made it worse was that my parents were coming tonight. Not only Coach and Michele but also Phillip and Seraphina. Plus, Grandma Lebrie, Grandma Bombay and Grandma Banks were going to be there for tonight's play, even the ducks were coming. I suppose even Patricia and Thomas MacKay was coming tonight. I was so screwed.
I didn't start to relax until after "Beauty School Dropout," and wasn't totally relaxed until Brett and I were riding the car through the theatre during "We Go Together."
The Chorus was singing, "WE'RE FOR EACH OTHER LIKE A WOP BABA LU-MOP AND WOP BAM BOOM JUST LIKE MY BROTHER IS SHA-NA NA NA, NA NA NA YIPPITTY DIP DE-DOOM CHANG CHANG AH CHANGITTY CHANG-SHOO-BOP WE'LL ALWAYS BE TOGETHER WHA-OOOH, YEAH! WE'LL ALWAYS BE TOGETHER…."
"You ready Bella, I mean Sandy?" Brett I mean Danny asked.
All I could do was nod, because literally on the third "Always Be Together" We were coming out onto the stage in the car and heading for the audience.
Once we were out into the Atrium we both said "Yes" at the same time. The first show was done, Well with the expectation of taking our bows. Once the Bows was done I heard "Encore, Encore," from my father.
I and the rest of the cast had to go out into the Atrium after the bows were done to thank the audience for coming to tonight's musical. The Musical was sold out tonight, that was the first time that had ever happened at Eden Hall in terms of a musical and or play.
"Hey there is my star," Dad said as he approached me, Charlie, Adam, and Gunnar. We were talking to Annie and Ollie.
"Hi Daddy," I said as I dived into his arms.
"Oh, Adam you did so well. You too Charlie and Gunnar, I can't wait to get the videotape from the school," Mom said.
"Hey Ace, Congratulations and job well done," Coach said.
I got out of the hug that dad had me in and gave the coach a two second hug.
"I agree Sera, Adam you did wonderful son. Mr. Football player number 3. Your Grandpa Banks would have been so proud of you," Dad said.
"Oh yeah now you care about me. Ignore me for three years and now you care about me," Adam said.
"What are you talking about Son? I have always cared about you," Dad said.
"No, you didn't. You never have, you disowned me. What kind of father does that to his kid?" Adam said.
"Adam Darling are you okay?" Grandma Lebrie asked as she approached our group.
"Hello Mother," Mom asked.
"Seraphina," Grandma Lebrie said.
"I see that you are doing well," Mom said.
"Of course you can't keep a woman like me down. But right now, I am more concerned about my Grandson. Adam are you okay?" Grandma Lebrie asked.
"No Grandma I am not okay," Adam said.
"Adam I have always cared about you, about both of you," Dad said.
"No, you haven't and don't you even try to make it up to me. You pathetic asshole," Adam said.
"Adam language," Michele and Coach said together.
"So um, Graduation is in a month," I said.
"Yes I know, and I want to have a party for you two," Mom said.
"Um, actually Seraphina, the party has already been planned to be at our house for all of the ducks. Since we have so many ducks from out of state with Portman, Julie, Ken, Luis, Dwayne, Gunnar, and Russ all graduating," Coach said.
"At your rinky dinky little house? You have got to be shitting me?" Dad asked.
"No, I am not," Coach said.
"I suppose that we won't be invited," Dad said with his nose stuck up in the air.
My mouth dropped open; I could not imagine my parents not being there for my graduation.
"Of course you are invited to come. The more the merrier," Michele said.
"Really? I thought that because of Adam and Phillip that we…." Mom said.
"No, no, no, no I could use more help. Putting together a party for one is busy putting together a party for seventeen is nuts. Luckily, Goldberg's Deli is handling the sandwiches, some of the other parents are helping with Decorations, and the plates and stuff. I need help with the drinks," Michele said.
"Oh, I know the staff just about went crazy when Ollie graduated," Mom said.
"That's because you insisted on a sit-down dinner, Sera. We should have just gone with sandwiches and stuff," Dad said.
"Oh of course you did," Coach said under his breath.
"So can we invite more people?" Mom asked. I knew where this was heading. She was going to invite the entire law office that Dad works at plus her charities that she works with.
"Unfortunately, no, Graduation is just for the Graduates immediate family since Eden Hall only allows 10 tickets per graduate in the bowl," Coach said.
"When in the hell did they start doing that?" Dad asked.
"A few years ago," Michele said.
"Adam and Bella got twenty-two tickets between them. I and my mother were placed on Adam's list first, since Michele has to be part of the ceremony followed by your mother Seraphina. Then Berry and Gertrude, Les and Billy, Samantha, Steve and their son Jerome, and Jan took the last ticket," Coach said.
"Jan that slow idiot from the hockey shop? What was the name of that place, Seraphina?" Dad asked.
My mouth dropped open; I could not believe that they would talk about Jan.
"What was it Hands? I don't remember," Mom said.
"It's Hans, Seraphina," Coach said.
"Who?" Mom asked.
"The guy that owned the skate shop, his name was Hans. He was like another father to me. That is the same with Jan. They have meant a lot to me. Jan has meant a lot to Adam over the last few years," Coach said.
"Anyway, I left my tickets for both you mom and dad. As well as Grandma Banks, Aunt Hadessa, Uncle Dan and Cousin Carl, Ollie, and Annie. Then I invited Coach Orion, His wife Stephanie, and their Daughter Rachel," I said.
"Good I can't wait to see my little girl graduate," Dad said.
"The only one who could not come was your brother Thaddeus, Seraphina," Grandma said.
"That figures. Where the hell is he in China, Korea?" Mom asked.
"Nepal," Grandma said.
"Wait a second if there is a 10-ticket limit per graduate why did Adam and Bella get 22 tickets?" Dad said.
"Because of Gunnar. He is going to be the only one who wouldn't have anyone there, because his family lives in Iceland," Michele said.
"Who?" Dad asked.
"Uh my boyfriend," Adam said as he wrapped his arm around Gunnars waist.
"He is also a teammate with Bella and Adam last year," Coach said.
"Oh," Dad said.
"Anyway, he gave two of his tickets to Adam and Bella and three to Russ to invite more family. Since Russ's immediate family exceeded the limit," Michele said.
"Like I said, you don't give a shit about me," Adam said unwrapping himself from Gunnar.
"No Adam, that was never true. I have cared about you from the moment I found out about you," Mom said.
"Yeah RIGHT," Adam said as he walked away.
"Adam," Gunnar said as he tried to approach him.
"No don't, I am taking a walk, " Adam said as he stormed out of the theatre.
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