Christmas Special: Being Kevin, Part 3
Written by Jake Collins
Additional material by Rosey Collins
Additional material by Rosey Collins
Oscar was standing outside the school auditorium, under a large poster which proclaimed Enchantment in the Sky dance, 7pm Friday, be there or be square! in enormous bubble letters. Oscar glanced at his watch; a few seconds later, a nearby door burst open and Kevin emerged with a stepladder under one arm.
'There you are, dude!' said Oscar. 'Is this where you've been disappearing to after lunch every day?'
'You caught me red-handed, man,' Kevin grinned at him, setting his stepladder on the ground and shaking out his arm. 'I've been helping with the set-up for the dance; I designed most of the decorations, actually, and now I've stapled most of them to the wall as well!'
'Did you design the poster?' Oscar asked, indicating towards it with his head.
'Yeah, I did,' said Kevin.
'I like the slogan – very retro! But why are you doing all this?'
'I thought it'd be fun. Plus they gave me a free ticket.'
'But I thought your class was too young to go to the dance – mine definitely is!' said Oscar, sounding slightly annoyed.
'Special dispensation,' said Kevin. 'I'm actually looking forward to it. Apparently Martin and Phoebe are coming in specially to be chaperones – they'll have their clipboards with them for sure! I'm gonna ask them how things are going at college.'
'So... you're going by yourself?'
'No; I get to bring a guest, so it won't be just me and the big kids.'
'And you have to go dressed as something you'd find in the sky, right?' said Oscar.
'Right,' said Kevin. 'I'm going as an airline captain.'
'Oh my God, you'll look totally gorgeous!' said Oscar. 'Er... I mean, I bet that'll suit you really well, dude.'
'Thanks, man,' said Kevin, laughing as he slapped Oscar on the arm. 'Now I just have to... oh, there she is now!'
'Who?'
'Lucy,' said Kevin. 'I'm going to ask her to the dance.'
'Oh... you are, huh?' said Oscar. 'Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I'll see you later, dude.'
Oscar sloped off, looking distinctly put out. Kevin stared after him for several seconds, then he picked up his stepladder and ran over to where Lucy had appeared around the corner of the auditorium.
'Hey, Luce!' he called. 'Wait up – I need to ask you something.'
'Hi, Kev,' said Lucy, fixing him with a smile. 'I saw you wobbling around on top of that ladder in the auditorium, stapling fake clouds to the wall. I hope they've given you a free ticket to the dance.'
'Yeah, they have.'
'Have you decided what you're going as yet?'
'An airline captain,' said Kevin.
'Good choice,' said Lucy. 'I bet you'll look really handsome.'
'Yeah, I guess I will,' said Kevin, smiling slightly. 'Listen, Luce, I've been thinking about this a lot and I really need to ask you something.'
'Ask away, Kev,' said Lucy.
'I was wondering if you want to come to the dance with me,' said Kevin. 'Just as friends, I mean.'
'That's really sweet of you,' Lucy smiled at him. 'You know, you're not like other guys, Kev.'
'I am,' said Kevin, looking down at himself, 'in some ways – in all the vital, definitive ways, I mean.'
'Oh, I don't doubt that – I'm sure you've got everything where it should be, and it's all in perfect working order,' Lucy laughed.
'Well,' Kevin grinned, 'it was the last time I checked.'
'I suppose you can dance?' Lucy asked.
'Huh?' said Kevin.
'If you ask someone to a dance, you have to be able to dance with them when you get there.'
'I've never really danced before... but I'm sure I can learn.'
'Yes, you can learn,' Lucy sighed, 'but the problem is, Kev, if we're dancing together, people are gonna assume we're... well, you know... more than friends.'
'What people?' asked Kevin.
'Chaperones... parents... teachers... the other kids...'
'Would that matter to you?'
'It might be a bit awks,' Lucy shrugged.
'But it wouldn't really matter to you, in your heart?' Kevin pressed.
'No,' said Lucy, 'I'm sure it wouldn't. But it might change things between us, Kev – it might muddy the waters and make us feel awkward around each other. It's just like in seventh grade, when you didn't want me to kiss you in the Christmas play. I don't ever want to do anything that might damage our friendship; I don't want to cross a line that might take us somewhere we don't want to go.'
'Neither do I, Luce,' said Kevin. 'You said it yourself – I'm the best friend a girl could have! That's all I want from you, I swear.'
'I know that and you know that,' said Lucy, 'but the rest of them don't, and if we give them fuel for the fire... I just don't want us to end up in a bad place, Kev.'
'That's impossible,' said Kevin. 'I treasure your friendship, Luce, and I don't ever want to do anything to jeopardise it, but I know that whatever people said about us, it wouldn't change how we really feel. I honestly believe that our friendship is strong enough to survive anything!'
'That's easy to say now, Kev,' said Lucy, 'but what if we get voted Sky God and Sky Goddess or something, and we have to get our photo taken and they ask us to kiss and... God, it could just get so awks!'
'I think it'd be worth the hassle,' said Kevin. 'Even if we did have to deal with stuff like that, it wouldn't matter to me... because I really want to go with you... because you're one of my best friends and I love you.'
'Oh, Kev,' Lucy sighed, 'you're something special all right. Okay, if you can promise me – really, truly promise me – that nothing is going to change between us, even on the subatomic level, then I'll go to the dance with you. No, don't promise now – take some time to think about what I've said and then let me know what you decide, okay?'
'Okay,' said Kevin, 'I'll do that. I'll see you soon, Luce – I really need to get this ladder back to the janitor.'
'There you are, dude!' said Oscar. 'Is this where you've been disappearing to after lunch every day?'
'You caught me red-handed, man,' Kevin grinned at him, setting his stepladder on the ground and shaking out his arm. 'I've been helping with the set-up for the dance; I designed most of the decorations, actually, and now I've stapled most of them to the wall as well!'
'Did you design the poster?' Oscar asked, indicating towards it with his head.
'Yeah, I did,' said Kevin.
'I like the slogan – very retro! But why are you doing all this?'
'I thought it'd be fun. Plus they gave me a free ticket.'
'But I thought your class was too young to go to the dance – mine definitely is!' said Oscar, sounding slightly annoyed.
'Special dispensation,' said Kevin. 'I'm actually looking forward to it. Apparently Martin and Phoebe are coming in specially to be chaperones – they'll have their clipboards with them for sure! I'm gonna ask them how things are going at college.'
'So... you're going by yourself?'
'No; I get to bring a guest, so it won't be just me and the big kids.'
'And you have to go dressed as something you'd find in the sky, right?' said Oscar.
'Right,' said Kevin. 'I'm going as an airline captain.'
'Oh my God, you'll look totally gorgeous!' said Oscar. 'Er... I mean, I bet that'll suit you really well, dude.'
'Thanks, man,' said Kevin, laughing as he slapped Oscar on the arm. 'Now I just have to... oh, there she is now!'
'Who?'
'Lucy,' said Kevin. 'I'm going to ask her to the dance.'
'Oh... you are, huh?' said Oscar. 'Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I'll see you later, dude.'
Oscar sloped off, looking distinctly put out. Kevin stared after him for several seconds, then he picked up his stepladder and ran over to where Lucy had appeared around the corner of the auditorium.
'Hey, Luce!' he called. 'Wait up – I need to ask you something.'
'Hi, Kev,' said Lucy, fixing him with a smile. 'I saw you wobbling around on top of that ladder in the auditorium, stapling fake clouds to the wall. I hope they've given you a free ticket to the dance.'
'Yeah, they have.'
'Have you decided what you're going as yet?'
'An airline captain,' said Kevin.
'Good choice,' said Lucy. 'I bet you'll look really handsome.'
'Yeah, I guess I will,' said Kevin, smiling slightly. 'Listen, Luce, I've been thinking about this a lot and I really need to ask you something.'
'Ask away, Kev,' said Lucy.
'I was wondering if you want to come to the dance with me,' said Kevin. 'Just as friends, I mean.'
'That's really sweet of you,' Lucy smiled at him. 'You know, you're not like other guys, Kev.'
'I am,' said Kevin, looking down at himself, 'in some ways – in all the vital, definitive ways, I mean.'
'Oh, I don't doubt that – I'm sure you've got everything where it should be, and it's all in perfect working order,' Lucy laughed.
'Well,' Kevin grinned, 'it was the last time I checked.'
'I suppose you can dance?' Lucy asked.
'Huh?' said Kevin.
'If you ask someone to a dance, you have to be able to dance with them when you get there.'
'I've never really danced before... but I'm sure I can learn.'
'Yes, you can learn,' Lucy sighed, 'but the problem is, Kev, if we're dancing together, people are gonna assume we're... well, you know... more than friends.'
'What people?' asked Kevin.
'Chaperones... parents... teachers... the other kids...'
'Would that matter to you?'
'It might be a bit awks,' Lucy shrugged.
'But it wouldn't really matter to you, in your heart?' Kevin pressed.
'No,' said Lucy, 'I'm sure it wouldn't. But it might change things between us, Kev – it might muddy the waters and make us feel awkward around each other. It's just like in seventh grade, when you didn't want me to kiss you in the Christmas play. I don't ever want to do anything that might damage our friendship; I don't want to cross a line that might take us somewhere we don't want to go.'
'Neither do I, Luce,' said Kevin. 'You said it yourself – I'm the best friend a girl could have! That's all I want from you, I swear.'
'I know that and you know that,' said Lucy, 'but the rest of them don't, and if we give them fuel for the fire... I just don't want us to end up in a bad place, Kev.'
'That's impossible,' said Kevin. 'I treasure your friendship, Luce, and I don't ever want to do anything to jeopardise it, but I know that whatever people said about us, it wouldn't change how we really feel. I honestly believe that our friendship is strong enough to survive anything!'
'That's easy to say now, Kev,' said Lucy, 'but what if we get voted Sky God and Sky Goddess or something, and we have to get our photo taken and they ask us to kiss and... God, it could just get so awks!'
'I think it'd be worth the hassle,' said Kevin. 'Even if we did have to deal with stuff like that, it wouldn't matter to me... because I really want to go with you... because you're one of my best friends and I love you.'
'Oh, Kev,' Lucy sighed, 'you're something special all right. Okay, if you can promise me – really, truly promise me – that nothing is going to change between us, even on the subatomic level, then I'll go to the dance with you. No, don't promise now – take some time to think about what I've said and then let me know what you decide, okay?'
'Okay,' said Kevin, 'I'll do that. I'll see you soon, Luce – I really need to get this ladder back to the janitor.'
Kylie and Beth were in Beth's kitchen, drinking coffee at the breakfast bar.
'Do you want another?' asked Beth, as Kylie drained her mug.
'Better not,' said Kylie. 'I might want some later, and we're only supposed to have two mugs a day.'
'We are?'
'Yes. If you have more, it increases the chance of miscarriage, apparently. But only a little.'
'This had better be my last one today, in that case,' said Beth, getting to her feet and taking the mugs to the sink. 'How about some Sunny Delight instead?'
'Sunny Delight, huh?' Kylie said with a smile. 'What'll Kevin say?'
'Oh, he won't care.' Beth went to the fridge, took out a large bottle of orange liquid and brought it to the breakfast bar. Then she fetched two glasses. 'Anyway, I buy the stuff. You know, when these babies are teenagers, somebody will probably decide Sunny Delight is bad for pregnant women – they always seem to be adding things to the list.'
'Well, it's not bad for us today,' said Kylie. 'I think. Maybe I should find out about that too.'
'Oh, it's fine,' said Beth. 'So is coffee, really – I had more than two mugs a day sometimes when I was pregnant with Kevin. I don't think we worried about this stuff so much in the eighties.'
'I didn't worry about anything much for most of the eighties,' Kylie said wistfully. 'Not until I started puberty right near the end.'
'God,' said Beth, 'you're so young! But I guess by now you're about as old as I was when I had Kevin, aren't you? And about average for a first baby too.'
'They actually just did a study, and the average age is twenty-five point two years. So I'll be a year older than the average when it's born, give or take a few decimals.'
'You've just been reading everything, haven't you?'
'Yeah,' said Kylie, 'that's what I do. The problem is, though, I don't know if it's making me more or less terrified than I already was.'
'Neither,' said Beth, with a reassuring smile. 'Having your first baby is terrifying no matter what you do, or don't do. We've all been there.'
'Were you very terrified when you were pregnant with Kevin?'
'Completely. I was younger than you are now, remember. But then I had him, and I took care of him, and sixteen-and-a-half years later we're all still here so I guess I did okay.'
'Is that when you bought the house?' said Kylie. 'When you were pregnant with Kevin?'
'No,' said Beth, 'but we bought it with having kids in mind.'
'And that went okay too, I guess, since you're all still here.'
'I think Carl and his father got kind of stressed over it, but they insisted I keep out of the paperwork side of things.'
'Typical,' said Kylie. 'Well, I'm not keeping out of any of it, that's for damn sure.'
'What do you mean?' said Beth. 'You're buying a house?'
'Oh yes,' said Kylie. 'We're still in a one-bedroom apartment, if you recall, and I don't want the hassle of moving when the baby's actually here.'
'Very sensible, very sensible. Try not to worry about it, Kylie – you'll be fine. It's true what they say, you know: never underestimate a Rivera.'
'Maybe, but I'm not really a Rivera.'
'Of course you are,' said Beth. 'Whether you and Eduardo get married someday or not, you're one of us.'
'Gooble-gobble,' said Kylie.
Beth laughed, and reached for Kylie's hand. 'That's right. And listen, you know you can always come to me, don't you? I'll be there for you whenever you want, but I won't interfere and try to tell you what to do when you don't want – and believe me, that's rare!'
'But you can't be there whenever I want,' said Kylie. 'You'll have your hands full.'
'Yes, well, I don't think you know how much I love babies. I'm really excited there's going to be two in my life now – I really want to help you.'
'Oh, Beth, that's such a relief! I mean, Eduardo and I have plenty of people who love us and want to help, but... well, if I had to pick just one for this, I'd pick you. So would he, I think.'
'Well,' Beth smiled, 'I think so too, even by my own admission. Maybe I should be saying “Carl and I”, not just “I”, like you are with Eduardo. Modern fathers are more hands-on, aren't they?'
'Do you think Carl will be as modern as all that?' Kylie asked, a little sceptically.
'I think he's determined to do things better this time around,' said Beth, 'but maybe he won't want to be quite as active as Eduardo will. Well, we're older than you are, so we can be a little more traditional. I'm definitely going to give up work and become a full-time mom again.'
'I could do that too,' said Kylie, 'if I wanted. I don't have to not, just because I'm young.'
'But you won't, though, will you?'
'What makes you say that?'
'Well,' said Beth, 'you're so independent, and you have this great career where you have to be so clever and write your articles and everything, and I just can't believe you'd give it up to – no, wait, sorry... I shouldn't make assumptions like that. God, I'm being such an idiot. Sorry.'
'Stop saying sorry,' said Kylie, and laughed. 'I'm not offended. Anyway, you're kind of right – I am thinking along those lines. But then again, I don't know how I'll feel when the baby's really here.'
'You won't believe how much you love it,' said Beth. 'But you might still want to go back to work, at least part-time, and if you did I'd be happy to take care of the baby during the day. If you wanted me to.'
'You've thought about this, haven't you?' said Kylie, grinning. 'Maybe even, dare I say, fantasised about it?'
'Well,' Beth said airily, 'if you want to put it like that...'
'You know, they'll probably let me do some work on the journal from home. It'd be nice to have you around to take care of the baby while I'm busy with that.'
'That does sound nice, but they might not let you work from home, or you might not want to. We'll just have to wait and see, won't we?'
'Beth, listen,' said Kylie, 'no matter what else happens, my baby is going to spend lots and lots and lots of time with its aunt and its cousins. There's no one I want in its life more, and I know Eduardo feels the same way.'
'Oh, stop it!' said Beth, and she suddenly burst into tears.
'Oh no!' Kylie got to her feet and rushed around the breakfast bar to give Beth a hug. 'I didn't mean to make you cry!'
'I'm sorry. I guess I'm just going to be one of those pregnant women who cry all the time.'
'Really?' said Kylie, a little uncomfortably.
Beth sniffled, and said, 'It's beginning to look that way.'
'Do you want another?' asked Beth, as Kylie drained her mug.
'Better not,' said Kylie. 'I might want some later, and we're only supposed to have two mugs a day.'
'We are?'
'Yes. If you have more, it increases the chance of miscarriage, apparently. But only a little.'
'This had better be my last one today, in that case,' said Beth, getting to her feet and taking the mugs to the sink. 'How about some Sunny Delight instead?'
'Sunny Delight, huh?' Kylie said with a smile. 'What'll Kevin say?'
'Oh, he won't care.' Beth went to the fridge, took out a large bottle of orange liquid and brought it to the breakfast bar. Then she fetched two glasses. 'Anyway, I buy the stuff. You know, when these babies are teenagers, somebody will probably decide Sunny Delight is bad for pregnant women – they always seem to be adding things to the list.'
'Well, it's not bad for us today,' said Kylie. 'I think. Maybe I should find out about that too.'
'Oh, it's fine,' said Beth. 'So is coffee, really – I had more than two mugs a day sometimes when I was pregnant with Kevin. I don't think we worried about this stuff so much in the eighties.'
'I didn't worry about anything much for most of the eighties,' Kylie said wistfully. 'Not until I started puberty right near the end.'
'God,' said Beth, 'you're so young! But I guess by now you're about as old as I was when I had Kevin, aren't you? And about average for a first baby too.'
'They actually just did a study, and the average age is twenty-five point two years. So I'll be a year older than the average when it's born, give or take a few decimals.'
'You've just been reading everything, haven't you?'
'Yeah,' said Kylie, 'that's what I do. The problem is, though, I don't know if it's making me more or less terrified than I already was.'
'Neither,' said Beth, with a reassuring smile. 'Having your first baby is terrifying no matter what you do, or don't do. We've all been there.'
'Were you very terrified when you were pregnant with Kevin?'
'Completely. I was younger than you are now, remember. But then I had him, and I took care of him, and sixteen-and-a-half years later we're all still here so I guess I did okay.'
'Is that when you bought the house?' said Kylie. 'When you were pregnant with Kevin?'
'No,' said Beth, 'but we bought it with having kids in mind.'
'And that went okay too, I guess, since you're all still here.'
'I think Carl and his father got kind of stressed over it, but they insisted I keep out of the paperwork side of things.'
'Typical,' said Kylie. 'Well, I'm not keeping out of any of it, that's for damn sure.'
'What do you mean?' said Beth. 'You're buying a house?'
'Oh yes,' said Kylie. 'We're still in a one-bedroom apartment, if you recall, and I don't want the hassle of moving when the baby's actually here.'
'Very sensible, very sensible. Try not to worry about it, Kylie – you'll be fine. It's true what they say, you know: never underestimate a Rivera.'
'Maybe, but I'm not really a Rivera.'
'Of course you are,' said Beth. 'Whether you and Eduardo get married someday or not, you're one of us.'
'Gooble-gobble,' said Kylie.
Beth laughed, and reached for Kylie's hand. 'That's right. And listen, you know you can always come to me, don't you? I'll be there for you whenever you want, but I won't interfere and try to tell you what to do when you don't want – and believe me, that's rare!'
'But you can't be there whenever I want,' said Kylie. 'You'll have your hands full.'
'Yes, well, I don't think you know how much I love babies. I'm really excited there's going to be two in my life now – I really want to help you.'
'Oh, Beth, that's such a relief! I mean, Eduardo and I have plenty of people who love us and want to help, but... well, if I had to pick just one for this, I'd pick you. So would he, I think.'
'Well,' Beth smiled, 'I think so too, even by my own admission. Maybe I should be saying “Carl and I”, not just “I”, like you are with Eduardo. Modern fathers are more hands-on, aren't they?'
'Do you think Carl will be as modern as all that?' Kylie asked, a little sceptically.
'I think he's determined to do things better this time around,' said Beth, 'but maybe he won't want to be quite as active as Eduardo will. Well, we're older than you are, so we can be a little more traditional. I'm definitely going to give up work and become a full-time mom again.'
'I could do that too,' said Kylie, 'if I wanted. I don't have to not, just because I'm young.'
'But you won't, though, will you?'
'What makes you say that?'
'Well,' said Beth, 'you're so independent, and you have this great career where you have to be so clever and write your articles and everything, and I just can't believe you'd give it up to – no, wait, sorry... I shouldn't make assumptions like that. God, I'm being such an idiot. Sorry.'
'Stop saying sorry,' said Kylie, and laughed. 'I'm not offended. Anyway, you're kind of right – I am thinking along those lines. But then again, I don't know how I'll feel when the baby's really here.'
'You won't believe how much you love it,' said Beth. 'But you might still want to go back to work, at least part-time, and if you did I'd be happy to take care of the baby during the day. If you wanted me to.'
'You've thought about this, haven't you?' said Kylie, grinning. 'Maybe even, dare I say, fantasised about it?'
'Well,' Beth said airily, 'if you want to put it like that...'
'You know, they'll probably let me do some work on the journal from home. It'd be nice to have you around to take care of the baby while I'm busy with that.'
'That does sound nice, but they might not let you work from home, or you might not want to. We'll just have to wait and see, won't we?'
'Beth, listen,' said Kylie, 'no matter what else happens, my baby is going to spend lots and lots and lots of time with its aunt and its cousins. There's no one I want in its life more, and I know Eduardo feels the same way.'
'Oh, stop it!' said Beth, and she suddenly burst into tears.
'Oh no!' Kylie got to her feet and rushed around the breakfast bar to give Beth a hug. 'I didn't mean to make you cry!'
'I'm sorry. I guess I'm just going to be one of those pregnant women who cry all the time.'
'Really?' said Kylie, a little uncomfortably.
Beth sniffled, and said, 'It's beginning to look that way.'
Oscar arrived home from school, ran upstairs, flung himself onto his bed and buried his face in the pillow. After lying there for several minutes in a state of complete inertia, he heard the sound of the front door being opened and then his mother's voice wafting up the stairs.
'Oscar,' it called, 'you have a guest!'
Oscar slithered off the bed and mooched into the upstairs hallway; he looked down to see Kevin standing at the bottom of the stairs.
'Where did you disappear to at lunch recess, man?' said Kevin. 'I've been looking for you all afternoon! Well, except when I was in class, obviously.'
'I guess you found me, dude,' said Oscar. 'Why were you looking for me?'
'Because I want to talk to you.'
'You'd better come on up, then.'
Kevin ran up the stairs and followed Oscar into his bedroom. Oscar appeared to be caught in a state of indecision for a few seconds, then he skipped back over to the door and pushed it firmly shut.
'Just in case we want to do anything secret,' he explained, smiling slightly.
'Yeah, good idea,' said Kevin, smiling back.
'Okay,' said Oscar, 'so let's talk.'
Oscar went to the middle of the room and stood there expectantly, so Kevin came to stand opposite him.
'I, er... I asked Lucy to the dance,' said Kevin.
'What did she say?' said Oscar.
'Oh... lots of stuff,' said Kevin. 'One thing she said was that I'll have to learn how to dance.'
'That's easy, bro,' said Oscar. 'It's only a school dance – you don't need to learn the tango or anything.'
'You think so?'
'Yeah, definitely. Here, let me show you.'
Oscar stepped closer to Kevin and looped his arms around his neck.
'First Lucy will put her arms around you like this,' said Oscar, 'and then you'll hold her around the waist.'
'Okay,' said Kevin.
'Do it, then,' said Oscar.
'Um...' said Kevin, 'all right.'
Kevin put his arms around Oscar's waist, and they drew even closer together.
'That's it,' said Oscar. 'Then you just sway, like this.'
Oscar started to sway from side to side and shuffle around the floor. Kevin followed his lead.
'Wow, this is easy,' Kevin remarked.
'Couldn't be simpler, dude,' said Oscar.
'It, er... it feels pretty nice,' said Kevin.
'I know, right?' said Oscar. 'Then maybe, if it feels nice enough, Lucy will move in closer so that her elbows are resting on your shoulders, like this... and then she'll lean her head on your chest, like this...'
Kevin's eyes opened wider and wider as Oscar carried out the motions he was describing.
'How do you know this stuff, man?' Kevin asked.
'I've played four school dances in the past year,' Oscar mumbled into Kevin's chest. 'This is what they do; trust me.'
'And we, er... we just keep swaying around, huh?' said Kevin.
'Yeah,' said Oscar, 'until you decide it's time to go in for the kiss...'
'I don't know about that, man,' said Kevin, breaking away from Oscar very suddenly. 'I asked her to go with me as friends, that's all.'
'Oh,' said Oscar. 'You did, huh?'
'Yeah, I did,' said Kevin. 'You know my relationship with Lucy isn't like that.'
'Yeah, I do know that. It's just that I felt... I mean, I couldn't help thinking...'
'Bro, what I really wanted to say to you... and I don't want you to think I'm upset or weirded out or anything... but when I said I was going to ask her... I mean, when I told you I was going to do it, you seemed... well, you seemed kinda jealous.'
'Yeah, well... I guess I was jealous,' said Oscar.
'You wanted to go to the dance yourself?' Kevin pressed.
'Yeah, I guess I did.'
'And just to be clear, you didn't want to go with Lucy, right? You wanted to go with me.'
'Yes,' said Oscar. 'After all, dude, if you wanted to go with Lucy just as friends, why shouldn't you go with me just as friends?'
'Because Lucy's a girl,' said Kevin. 'I mean... well, I can't take another boy, can I?'
'I didn't realise you were so keen to live inside the boundaries of what's considered normal, bro – John Lennon would be disappointed in you,' said Oscar. 'Besides, what could you do with a girl that you can't do with me?'
Kevin laughed and said, 'I can't think of a thing, dude.'
'Well then,' said Oscar.
Kevin smiled and punched Oscar on the arm. Oscar smiled and punched him back.
'But that's not all, is it?' said Kevin. 'There's more to it, right?'
'Yes, there's more to it,' Oscar sighed. 'I couldn't help thinking about you and Lucy together, and I realised that if I saw you with her, as a couple... y'know, around school and stuff... I'd feel it – I'd feel it here, and I know it would hurt.'
Kevin saw that Oscar was clutching the left side of his chest.
'What exactly are you saying to me, man?'
'You know what I'm saying, dude. All the times we've been together and done all that stuff together and enjoyed ourselves so much together... you know, not just the everyday buddies' stuff, but with the magazines as well... and then later on, without the magazines...'
'Yes, bro, I know what you're talking about,' Kevin assured him. 'I can never hear “Gangsta's Paradise” without thinking of... those times.'
'Yeah, me either,' said Oscar, smiling and looking away for a moment. 'Anyways, it was the fact that we were experiencing that stuff together that made me enjoy it so much. Look me in the eye, dude, and tell me you don't feel the same way.'
'I can't do that,' said Kevin. 'You know I can't do that, because it wouldn't be true.'
'And all those times we've talked, and helped each other out, and just been there for each other,' said Oscar. 'I've needed you, man, and I think you've needed me too.'
'Of course I have,' said Kevin. 'Of course I do.'
'Something happened when we were singing “Imagine” together,' said Oscar. 'There was something between us – I know you felt it too!'
'Sure, I felt it,' said Kevin, 'but I don't know what it was.'
'Yeah, you do.'
'I can't put it into words.'
'What's so great about words?' said Oscar. 'Sometimes they're totally inadequate.'
'What do you want from me?' Kevin found himself asking.
'You know what I really want?' said Oscar. 'I want you to take me to the Enchantment in the Sky dance, and I want us to get out on the floor of that auditorium and dance together in front of everyone – that'd show them!'
'Show them what?' said Kevin. 'That we're a gay couple?'
'Not necessarily,' said Oscar. 'Not principally. But it'd show them that if we want to go to a public function and dance together, we can do it and there's nothing wrong with it!'
'Yeah, I guess it would show them that... but people might make a fuss.'
'What people?'
'Chaperones... parents... teachers... the other kids...'
'Would that matter to you?'
'It might be a bit awks,' said Kevin.
'But it wouldn't really matter to you, in your heart?' Oscar pressed.
'No,' said Kevin, 'I'm sure it wouldn't.'
'If, er... well, if people did think we were a couple,' said Oscar, 'would that really be so bad?'
'I don't guess so,' said Kevin. 'Do you... do you want us to be a couple, then?'
'Do you?'
'I asked you first, man.'
Oscar thought for a second, adopted an earnest expression and said, 'Yes, I do. I... I'm in love with you, dude.'
'Jeez, this is all happening too fast,' Kevin muttered. 'I wanted to take a friend to the dance, but now I've got a definite maybe and a maybe-I-should-go-on-a-date-instead!'
'I'm sorry,' said Oscar. 'I guess I've kinda put you on the spot.'
'No, you haven't – I asked you the question,' Kevin pointed out.
'I asked you it back,' Oscar reminded him.
'Yes, you did,' said Kevin. 'I need some time to think about this, man. Do you mind waiting for my answer?'
'Of course not, dude,' said Oscar. 'Take all the time you need to get your head together... then you can let me know what you decide.'
'Oscar,' it called, 'you have a guest!'
Oscar slithered off the bed and mooched into the upstairs hallway; he looked down to see Kevin standing at the bottom of the stairs.
'Where did you disappear to at lunch recess, man?' said Kevin. 'I've been looking for you all afternoon! Well, except when I was in class, obviously.'
'I guess you found me, dude,' said Oscar. 'Why were you looking for me?'
'Because I want to talk to you.'
'You'd better come on up, then.'
Kevin ran up the stairs and followed Oscar into his bedroom. Oscar appeared to be caught in a state of indecision for a few seconds, then he skipped back over to the door and pushed it firmly shut.
'Just in case we want to do anything secret,' he explained, smiling slightly.
'Yeah, good idea,' said Kevin, smiling back.
'Okay,' said Oscar, 'so let's talk.'
Oscar went to the middle of the room and stood there expectantly, so Kevin came to stand opposite him.
'I, er... I asked Lucy to the dance,' said Kevin.
'What did she say?' said Oscar.
'Oh... lots of stuff,' said Kevin. 'One thing she said was that I'll have to learn how to dance.'
'That's easy, bro,' said Oscar. 'It's only a school dance – you don't need to learn the tango or anything.'
'You think so?'
'Yeah, definitely. Here, let me show you.'
Oscar stepped closer to Kevin and looped his arms around his neck.
'First Lucy will put her arms around you like this,' said Oscar, 'and then you'll hold her around the waist.'
'Okay,' said Kevin.
'Do it, then,' said Oscar.
'Um...' said Kevin, 'all right.'
Kevin put his arms around Oscar's waist, and they drew even closer together.
'That's it,' said Oscar. 'Then you just sway, like this.'
Oscar started to sway from side to side and shuffle around the floor. Kevin followed his lead.
'Wow, this is easy,' Kevin remarked.
'Couldn't be simpler, dude,' said Oscar.
'It, er... it feels pretty nice,' said Kevin.
'I know, right?' said Oscar. 'Then maybe, if it feels nice enough, Lucy will move in closer so that her elbows are resting on your shoulders, like this... and then she'll lean her head on your chest, like this...'
Kevin's eyes opened wider and wider as Oscar carried out the motions he was describing.
'How do you know this stuff, man?' Kevin asked.
'I've played four school dances in the past year,' Oscar mumbled into Kevin's chest. 'This is what they do; trust me.'
'And we, er... we just keep swaying around, huh?' said Kevin.
'Yeah,' said Oscar, 'until you decide it's time to go in for the kiss...'
'I don't know about that, man,' said Kevin, breaking away from Oscar very suddenly. 'I asked her to go with me as friends, that's all.'
'Oh,' said Oscar. 'You did, huh?'
'Yeah, I did,' said Kevin. 'You know my relationship with Lucy isn't like that.'
'Yeah, I do know that. It's just that I felt... I mean, I couldn't help thinking...'
'Bro, what I really wanted to say to you... and I don't want you to think I'm upset or weirded out or anything... but when I said I was going to ask her... I mean, when I told you I was going to do it, you seemed... well, you seemed kinda jealous.'
'Yeah, well... I guess I was jealous,' said Oscar.
'You wanted to go to the dance yourself?' Kevin pressed.
'Yeah, I guess I did.'
'And just to be clear, you didn't want to go with Lucy, right? You wanted to go with me.'
'Yes,' said Oscar. 'After all, dude, if you wanted to go with Lucy just as friends, why shouldn't you go with me just as friends?'
'Because Lucy's a girl,' said Kevin. 'I mean... well, I can't take another boy, can I?'
'I didn't realise you were so keen to live inside the boundaries of what's considered normal, bro – John Lennon would be disappointed in you,' said Oscar. 'Besides, what could you do with a girl that you can't do with me?'
Kevin laughed and said, 'I can't think of a thing, dude.'
'Well then,' said Oscar.
Kevin smiled and punched Oscar on the arm. Oscar smiled and punched him back.
'But that's not all, is it?' said Kevin. 'There's more to it, right?'
'Yes, there's more to it,' Oscar sighed. 'I couldn't help thinking about you and Lucy together, and I realised that if I saw you with her, as a couple... y'know, around school and stuff... I'd feel it – I'd feel it here, and I know it would hurt.'
Kevin saw that Oscar was clutching the left side of his chest.
'What exactly are you saying to me, man?'
'You know what I'm saying, dude. All the times we've been together and done all that stuff together and enjoyed ourselves so much together... you know, not just the everyday buddies' stuff, but with the magazines as well... and then later on, without the magazines...'
'Yes, bro, I know what you're talking about,' Kevin assured him. 'I can never hear “Gangsta's Paradise” without thinking of... those times.'
'Yeah, me either,' said Oscar, smiling and looking away for a moment. 'Anyways, it was the fact that we were experiencing that stuff together that made me enjoy it so much. Look me in the eye, dude, and tell me you don't feel the same way.'
'I can't do that,' said Kevin. 'You know I can't do that, because it wouldn't be true.'
'And all those times we've talked, and helped each other out, and just been there for each other,' said Oscar. 'I've needed you, man, and I think you've needed me too.'
'Of course I have,' said Kevin. 'Of course I do.'
'Something happened when we were singing “Imagine” together,' said Oscar. 'There was something between us – I know you felt it too!'
'Sure, I felt it,' said Kevin, 'but I don't know what it was.'
'Yeah, you do.'
'I can't put it into words.'
'What's so great about words?' said Oscar. 'Sometimes they're totally inadequate.'
'What do you want from me?' Kevin found himself asking.
'You know what I really want?' said Oscar. 'I want you to take me to the Enchantment in the Sky dance, and I want us to get out on the floor of that auditorium and dance together in front of everyone – that'd show them!'
'Show them what?' said Kevin. 'That we're a gay couple?'
'Not necessarily,' said Oscar. 'Not principally. But it'd show them that if we want to go to a public function and dance together, we can do it and there's nothing wrong with it!'
'Yeah, I guess it would show them that... but people might make a fuss.'
'What people?'
'Chaperones... parents... teachers... the other kids...'
'Would that matter to you?'
'It might be a bit awks,' said Kevin.
'But it wouldn't really matter to you, in your heart?' Oscar pressed.
'No,' said Kevin, 'I'm sure it wouldn't.'
'If, er... well, if people did think we were a couple,' said Oscar, 'would that really be so bad?'
'I don't guess so,' said Kevin. 'Do you... do you want us to be a couple, then?'
'Do you?'
'I asked you first, man.'
Oscar thought for a second, adopted an earnest expression and said, 'Yes, I do. I... I'm in love with you, dude.'
'Jeez, this is all happening too fast,' Kevin muttered. 'I wanted to take a friend to the dance, but now I've got a definite maybe and a maybe-I-should-go-on-a-date-instead!'
'I'm sorry,' said Oscar. 'I guess I've kinda put you on the spot.'
'No, you haven't – I asked you the question,' Kevin pointed out.
'I asked you it back,' Oscar reminded him.
'Yes, you did,' said Kevin. 'I need some time to think about this, man. Do you mind waiting for my answer?'
'Of course not, dude,' said Oscar. 'Take all the time you need to get your head together... then you can let me know what you decide.'
Jessica crept down the stairs and tapped Oscar on the shoulder just as he was closing the front door. He jumped visibly and let out a squeak of alarm.
'Jesus, Jess, you scared the hell out of me!' he snapped, whirling around to face her.
'You probably didn't hear me because your mind's on other things,' said Jessica. 'I always knew you and Kevin would end up together.'
'Were you listening at my bedroom door? Jess, that was very wrong of you!'
'Yeah, I guess it was. But why aren't you jumping up and down in paroxysms of joy? You've got what you always wanted, right?'
'No, not quite,' Oscar sighed. 'We haven't ended up together yet.'
'You really are in love with him, aren't you?' said Jessica.
'Yes, I am.'
'Why aren't you in love with a girl?' Jessica giggled. 'You're supposed to fall in love with a girl.'
'There's no “supposed to” about it, Jess,' said Oscar. 'Don't be homophobic.'
'Was I being homophobic?' Jessica asked, sounding genuinely concerned.
'I thought so,' said Oscar, 'but maybe I was being oversensitive.'
'I guess I shouldn't be laughing about this stuff, huh?'
'Don't worry about it, Jess.'
'I'm sorry I've been making fun of your most sensitive feelings,' said Jessica, 'and I'm sorry I embarrassed you by talking about boy-on-boy action. I guess I just wasn't taking the situation seriously.'
'It's okay, Jess. I just... I hadn't really thought about stuff like that before... you know, the physical stuff... and you took me by surprise.'
'How do you think Mom and Dad will react when they find out you're gay?'
'I don't really know what I am,' said Oscar. 'I just know how I feel. Anyway, I'm sure they'll be fine with it.'
'I hope so,' said Jessica. 'And I hope Kevin chooses you.'
'Thanks, Jess,' said Oscar.
'Jesus, Jess, you scared the hell out of me!' he snapped, whirling around to face her.
'You probably didn't hear me because your mind's on other things,' said Jessica. 'I always knew you and Kevin would end up together.'
'Were you listening at my bedroom door? Jess, that was very wrong of you!'
'Yeah, I guess it was. But why aren't you jumping up and down in paroxysms of joy? You've got what you always wanted, right?'
'No, not quite,' Oscar sighed. 'We haven't ended up together yet.'
'You really are in love with him, aren't you?' said Jessica.
'Yes, I am.'
'Why aren't you in love with a girl?' Jessica giggled. 'You're supposed to fall in love with a girl.'
'There's no “supposed to” about it, Jess,' said Oscar. 'Don't be homophobic.'
'Was I being homophobic?' Jessica asked, sounding genuinely concerned.
'I thought so,' said Oscar, 'but maybe I was being oversensitive.'
'I guess I shouldn't be laughing about this stuff, huh?'
'Don't worry about it, Jess.'
'I'm sorry I've been making fun of your most sensitive feelings,' said Jessica, 'and I'm sorry I embarrassed you by talking about boy-on-boy action. I guess I just wasn't taking the situation seriously.'
'It's okay, Jess. I just... I hadn't really thought about stuff like that before... you know, the physical stuff... and you took me by surprise.'
'How do you think Mom and Dad will react when they find out you're gay?'
'I don't really know what I am,' said Oscar. 'I just know how I feel. Anyway, I'm sure they'll be fine with it.'
'I hope so,' said Jessica. 'And I hope Kevin chooses you.'
'Thanks, Jess,' said Oscar.
Jandro was sitting at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, caressing a small piece of card. He jumped visibly and shoved it into his pocket when Ana came into the room.
'What've you got there, Jandro?' she asked, opening the fridge.
'Nothing,' he replied quickly. 'I mean, nothing important.'
'Yeah, right,' Ana laughed disbelievingly. 'Okay, so don't tell me if you don't want to. Do you want some Sunny D?'
'Um... yeah, thanks,' said Jandro. 'Ana, have you ever really wanted to ask someone something, but then every time you plucked up the courage to do it, you suddenly realised you couldn't do it after all?'
'You mean you want to ask someone out on a date?'
'Well... kinda, yeah.'
'Just go ahead and do it, Jandro – don't be a sissy!' Ana grinned at him, passing him a tumbler of Sunny Delight. 'The worst that can happen is she turns you down, and that's not the end of the world. It is a she, right?'
'Yes, Ana, it's a she,' said Jandro.
'Okay,' said Ana, sitting opposite him, 'then go ahead and ask her out.'
'But it might ruin everything,' said Jandro. 'Things could change drastically and there'll be no going back.'
'Everything has to change eventually,' Ana shrugged. 'You can't tell me you don't know that, Jandro. I saw those prospectuses you left on the dining room table. Are you really gonna apply to go to college in England?'
'Oh, well... I might do that, yeah. It kinda depends... on a lot of things...'
'I can't believe you'd leave me here alone with those two!'
'It wouldn't be like that. We'd stay in touch; you could even come visit me and stay for a couple of nights. And without me hanging around here, think of all the neat stuff you could do! You could have the spare TV in your room. Better yet, you could have my whole bedroom!'
'What if Mom and Dad want to put a tenant in your room, or turn it into a gym or something?'
'We'll just do it without asking them,' Jandro grinned. 'Sometime over the summer before I go, we'll move your stuff in there and put most of mine in the attic – you and me together.'
'Okay, let's do it,' Ana laughed. 'I guess having your room would make up for not having you around. Kinda.'
'We don't need to worry about any of this yet, Ana,' said Jandro. 'I'm only thinking about it – nothing's gonna be decided for a while!'
'Still, you'd better get in there and ask this girl out while you have the chance. You're gonna do it tomorrow, right?'
'Yeah... yeah, that's exactly what I'm gonna do.'
'Good.'
'What've you got there, Jandro?' she asked, opening the fridge.
'Nothing,' he replied quickly. 'I mean, nothing important.'
'Yeah, right,' Ana laughed disbelievingly. 'Okay, so don't tell me if you don't want to. Do you want some Sunny D?'
'Um... yeah, thanks,' said Jandro. 'Ana, have you ever really wanted to ask someone something, but then every time you plucked up the courage to do it, you suddenly realised you couldn't do it after all?'
'You mean you want to ask someone out on a date?'
'Well... kinda, yeah.'
'Just go ahead and do it, Jandro – don't be a sissy!' Ana grinned at him, passing him a tumbler of Sunny Delight. 'The worst that can happen is she turns you down, and that's not the end of the world. It is a she, right?'
'Yes, Ana, it's a she,' said Jandro.
'Okay,' said Ana, sitting opposite him, 'then go ahead and ask her out.'
'But it might ruin everything,' said Jandro. 'Things could change drastically and there'll be no going back.'
'Everything has to change eventually,' Ana shrugged. 'You can't tell me you don't know that, Jandro. I saw those prospectuses you left on the dining room table. Are you really gonna apply to go to college in England?'
'Oh, well... I might do that, yeah. It kinda depends... on a lot of things...'
'I can't believe you'd leave me here alone with those two!'
'It wouldn't be like that. We'd stay in touch; you could even come visit me and stay for a couple of nights. And without me hanging around here, think of all the neat stuff you could do! You could have the spare TV in your room. Better yet, you could have my whole bedroom!'
'What if Mom and Dad want to put a tenant in your room, or turn it into a gym or something?'
'We'll just do it without asking them,' Jandro grinned. 'Sometime over the summer before I go, we'll move your stuff in there and put most of mine in the attic – you and me together.'
'Okay, let's do it,' Ana laughed. 'I guess having your room would make up for not having you around. Kinda.'
'We don't need to worry about any of this yet, Ana,' said Jandro. 'I'm only thinking about it – nothing's gonna be decided for a while!'
'Still, you'd better get in there and ask this girl out while you have the chance. You're gonna do it tomorrow, right?'
'Yeah... yeah, that's exactly what I'm gonna do.'
'Good.'
Kevin was sitting at a picnic table, staring over to where Oscar was struggling to manoeuvre his guitar through the half-open door of the music block. Kevin suddenly became aware of a large figure standing nearby, before the table rocked and buckled as the figure seated itself opposite him.
'Hi, Kev,' Michael grinned. 'Arm-wrestle?'
'Um... yeah, sure Mike,' said Kevin.
He went through the motions of carrying out Michael's proposal, but his attention was still focused on the music block. Oscar had now divested himself of his guitar and moved on to sticky-tacking several notices onto the glass section of the door. Kevin smiled as Oscar accidentally hung two notices upside down.
'I've got you now, Kev,' Michael's voice cut into his brain. 'Finally, after all these years!'
Kevin turned his gaze to the picnic table and noticed that he had almost lost the contest. Letting out a roar of exertion, he forced Michael's arm through one hundred and sixty degrees and slammed it down onto the table.
'Damn,' Michael laughed, shaking out his arm. 'I'll get you someday, Kev. I nearly had you there... but I don't think I have your undivided attention, do I?'
'Um... no,' said Kevin. 'Sorry, Mike. It's just that I have to make a choice that I didn't think I was ready to make. No... no, that's not quite it. I have to come to terms with something that I didn't think I'd be coming to terms with yet. Yeah, that's what it is.'
'Well, you should do whatever makes you happy, man,' said Michael, clapping Kevin on the shoulder. 'You deserve it. Ah, there's Ella. See you later, Kev.'
Michael ran off towards the music block, where Ella was now standing in the doorway, exchanging a few words with Oscar. Michael came up to them, then he and Ella wandered off together.
As Kevin watched Oscar rehanging his notices the right way up, a smile spread across his face. The picnic table then rocked and buckled for a second time, although not nearly so violently as the first, as another figure sat down opposite Kevin.
'Hey, Kev,' said Jandro. 'Is something on your mind? You look muy pensativo, amigo.'
'That's because I am,' said Kevin. 'Jandro, do you want to come back to my place after school and hear all about it?'
'Um... will your dad be there?'
'No, he won't be home for hours – the IAB dropped the case against his squad.'
'In that case, yes,' Jandro grinned, 'I definitely do!'
'Hi, Kev,' Michael grinned. 'Arm-wrestle?'
'Um... yeah, sure Mike,' said Kevin.
He went through the motions of carrying out Michael's proposal, but his attention was still focused on the music block. Oscar had now divested himself of his guitar and moved on to sticky-tacking several notices onto the glass section of the door. Kevin smiled as Oscar accidentally hung two notices upside down.
'I've got you now, Kev,' Michael's voice cut into his brain. 'Finally, after all these years!'
Kevin turned his gaze to the picnic table and noticed that he had almost lost the contest. Letting out a roar of exertion, he forced Michael's arm through one hundred and sixty degrees and slammed it down onto the table.
'Damn,' Michael laughed, shaking out his arm. 'I'll get you someday, Kev. I nearly had you there... but I don't think I have your undivided attention, do I?'
'Um... no,' said Kevin. 'Sorry, Mike. It's just that I have to make a choice that I didn't think I was ready to make. No... no, that's not quite it. I have to come to terms with something that I didn't think I'd be coming to terms with yet. Yeah, that's what it is.'
'Well, you should do whatever makes you happy, man,' said Michael, clapping Kevin on the shoulder. 'You deserve it. Ah, there's Ella. See you later, Kev.'
Michael ran off towards the music block, where Ella was now standing in the doorway, exchanging a few words with Oscar. Michael came up to them, then he and Ella wandered off together.
As Kevin watched Oscar rehanging his notices the right way up, a smile spread across his face. The picnic table then rocked and buckled for a second time, although not nearly so violently as the first, as another figure sat down opposite Kevin.
'Hey, Kev,' said Jandro. 'Is something on your mind? You look muy pensativo, amigo.'
'That's because I am,' said Kevin. 'Jandro, do you want to come back to my place after school and hear all about it?'
'Um... will your dad be there?'
'No, he won't be home for hours – the IAB dropped the case against his squad.'
'In that case, yes,' Jandro grinned, 'I definitely do!'
Kylie and Eduardo were standing in a cemetery, gazing solemnly at a gravestone that bore the following inscription:
ROSE LOCKYER
1907 – 1996
Remembered with love
Kylie removed a small, stick-shaped object from her pocket. Breaking away from Eduardo's embrace for a moment, she bent down and leant the object against the bottom of the gravestone.
'Is that what I think it is?' said Eduardo.
'If you think it's the pregnancy test,' said Kylie, 'then yes, it is.'
'Are you sure you want to leave it on there?'
'Of course I'm sure. You see the significance of it, don't you? You get what I'm trying to say?'
'Sure, I get it,' said Eduardo. 'I just wonder if you'll get a letter from one of the caretakers telling you that the grave's been vandalised or something.'
'That would be an overreaction,' said Kylie, smiling as she snaked an arm around Eduardo's waist. 'Besides, I wouldn't care – I know what it means, you know what it means... and so does Grandma Rose.'
A few seconds of silence followed, during which Eduardo and Kylie drew even closer together.
'Do you mind if we swing by the optician's on the way home?' Kylie said at length. 'I need to make an appointment.'
ROSE LOCKYER
1907 – 1996
Remembered with love
Kylie removed a small, stick-shaped object from her pocket. Breaking away from Eduardo's embrace for a moment, she bent down and leant the object against the bottom of the gravestone.
'Is that what I think it is?' said Eduardo.
'If you think it's the pregnancy test,' said Kylie, 'then yes, it is.'
'Are you sure you want to leave it on there?'
'Of course I'm sure. You see the significance of it, don't you? You get what I'm trying to say?'
'Sure, I get it,' said Eduardo. 'I just wonder if you'll get a letter from one of the caretakers telling you that the grave's been vandalised or something.'
'That would be an overreaction,' said Kylie, smiling as she snaked an arm around Eduardo's waist. 'Besides, I wouldn't care – I know what it means, you know what it means... and so does Grandma Rose.'
A few seconds of silence followed, during which Eduardo and Kylie drew even closer together.
'Do you mind if we swing by the optician's on the way home?' Kylie said at length. 'I need to make an appointment.'
Kevin and Jandro were sitting on the couch in the Riveras' living room, facing each other and with their feet tucked under them. While Kevin was wearing a pensive expression, Jandro's eyes were wide with excitement.
'And... yeah, that's the whole story,' said Kevin.
'Wow, dude,' said Jandro. 'What are you gonna do?'
'I... I don't know.'
'You have to do something! Who're you gonna take?'
'Jandro, do you want to come to the dance with me?' Kevin asked hopefully. 'Just as friends, obviously – uncomplicated, same-sex friends.'
'I'd love to, Kev,' said Jandro, 'but I'm not going to. If you take another boy then it has to be Oscar, otherwise he'll be devastated!'
'Yeah, I guess you're right,' Kevin sighed. 'Jeez, what am I gonna do? I love Lucy, and I know our friendship can survive anything, even if people do get the wrong idea about us. I mean, it's not like it's never happened before. And I love Oscar; of course I do... but do I love him the same way he loves me? That's not a question I thought I'd be coming to terms with today, Jandro.'
'But you knew you'd be coming to terms with it someday, right?' said Jandro. 'Yeah, you knew – I know you did, Kev. So, of all the possible days, which day could be better than today?'
'But... but if I do decide I want to take Oscar... you know, as a date... it'd be awful of me just to ditch Lucy 'cause I've had a better offer,' said Kevin, 'especially after I was the one trying to persuade her we could go together as friends and everything would be wonderful!'
'Lucy wouldn't mind,' said Jandro. 'She'd never want to do anything to get in the way of your happiness – you know that.'
'In many ways I really do want to take her, just as a friend, and have loads of friendly fun with her,' said Kevin, 'but then in other ways, I do... I mean, I really want to... oh, I just don't know what to do, Jandro!'
'Come on, Kev, you're not a coward – emotional or otherwise,' said Jandro. 'Just be honest with yourself, dude. You know what you want to do – I know you know what you want to do!'
'I do know what I want to do,' said Kevin. 'At least, I think I do.'
'You think you do?'
'I know I do.'
'Great,' Jandro grinned. 'So, what're you gonna actually do?'
Kevin rose from the couch and went straight to the cordless phone extension. Jandro looked on in awe as he picked it up.
'Who are you going to call?' he asked.
'Both of them,' said Kevin.
'To say what?' Jandro pressed.
'Shh, it's ringing,' said Kevin. 'Oh, darn it – answering machine.'
'Whose answering machine?'
'Hi, it's Kevin. Listen, I'm sorry but I can't go to the Enchantment in the Sky dance with you. Please, please, please don't take this as some kind of a rejection, 'cause that's not what it is. Our friendship means so much to me and I really do love you but... well, like I said, I just can't take you to the dance. Believe me, I do have perfectly good reasons, but they may not be exactly what you think. We'll talk about it tomorrow, I promise. See you at school. Bye.'
'Whose machine were you talking to, Kev?' Jandro asked eagerly.
Kevin finished dialling the second phone number and waved his hand at Jandro to be quiet. A few tense seconds passed.
'Er, hi,' said Kevin. 'It's me.'
'Answering machine?' asked Jandro.
Kevin shook his head. Jandro almost fell off the chair with excitement and anticipation.
'I just called to say... well, that I want to go to the Enchantment in the Sky dance with you,' said Kevin. 'It doesn't matter what people say – it doesn't matter what people think! I honestly believe that the way things are between us, none of that stuff can ever touch us. We love each other – we know what that means to us, and that's all that matters. Yeah, I'm finished. Yes, you can come over right now if you want to. What? Well... yeah, okay, I'll put the costume on. Sure, see you then.'
Kevin put down the phone. Jandro gave him an expectant look.
'Sorry, Jandro, but would you mind leaving now?' Kevin asked, somewhat distractedly. 'My dance partner's coming over and we need some time alone together.'
'Who?' Jandro asked eagerly. 'Who's coming over?'
'I'll see you at school tomorrow,' said Kevin. 'Thanks for your help, buddy.'
Kevin ushered Jandro into the hallway and opened the front door. Just as he was about to leave, Jandro changed his mind and hung back for a second.
'Er, Kev,' he said. 'You know how you said you love Lucy in a certain way, and you love Oscar in a certain way...'
'Yeah,' said Kevin.
'I was just wondering,' said Jandro, 'do you love me in a certain way as well?'
Kevin smiled, and put his arms around Jandro. Jandro smiled too, and returned the embrace.
'Yes, dude,' said Kevin. 'I'm so grateful to you for being here for me – I couldn't have done this without you, and of course I love you.'
'Like you love Lucy or like you love Oscar, or like something else?' Jandro asked.
'I'll have to think about that one,' Kevin laughed. 'We'll talk tomorrow, okay?'
'Okay,' Jandro grinned at him. 'See ya, dude.'
'And... yeah, that's the whole story,' said Kevin.
'Wow, dude,' said Jandro. 'What are you gonna do?'
'I... I don't know.'
'You have to do something! Who're you gonna take?'
'Jandro, do you want to come to the dance with me?' Kevin asked hopefully. 'Just as friends, obviously – uncomplicated, same-sex friends.'
'I'd love to, Kev,' said Jandro, 'but I'm not going to. If you take another boy then it has to be Oscar, otherwise he'll be devastated!'
'Yeah, I guess you're right,' Kevin sighed. 'Jeez, what am I gonna do? I love Lucy, and I know our friendship can survive anything, even if people do get the wrong idea about us. I mean, it's not like it's never happened before. And I love Oscar; of course I do... but do I love him the same way he loves me? That's not a question I thought I'd be coming to terms with today, Jandro.'
'But you knew you'd be coming to terms with it someday, right?' said Jandro. 'Yeah, you knew – I know you did, Kev. So, of all the possible days, which day could be better than today?'
'But... but if I do decide I want to take Oscar... you know, as a date... it'd be awful of me just to ditch Lucy 'cause I've had a better offer,' said Kevin, 'especially after I was the one trying to persuade her we could go together as friends and everything would be wonderful!'
'Lucy wouldn't mind,' said Jandro. 'She'd never want to do anything to get in the way of your happiness – you know that.'
'In many ways I really do want to take her, just as a friend, and have loads of friendly fun with her,' said Kevin, 'but then in other ways, I do... I mean, I really want to... oh, I just don't know what to do, Jandro!'
'Come on, Kev, you're not a coward – emotional or otherwise,' said Jandro. 'Just be honest with yourself, dude. You know what you want to do – I know you know what you want to do!'
'I do know what I want to do,' said Kevin. 'At least, I think I do.'
'You think you do?'
'I know I do.'
'Great,' Jandro grinned. 'So, what're you gonna actually do?'
Kevin rose from the couch and went straight to the cordless phone extension. Jandro looked on in awe as he picked it up.
'Who are you going to call?' he asked.
'Both of them,' said Kevin.
'To say what?' Jandro pressed.
'Shh, it's ringing,' said Kevin. 'Oh, darn it – answering machine.'
'Whose answering machine?'
'Hi, it's Kevin. Listen, I'm sorry but I can't go to the Enchantment in the Sky dance with you. Please, please, please don't take this as some kind of a rejection, 'cause that's not what it is. Our friendship means so much to me and I really do love you but... well, like I said, I just can't take you to the dance. Believe me, I do have perfectly good reasons, but they may not be exactly what you think. We'll talk about it tomorrow, I promise. See you at school. Bye.'
'Whose machine were you talking to, Kev?' Jandro asked eagerly.
Kevin finished dialling the second phone number and waved his hand at Jandro to be quiet. A few tense seconds passed.
'Er, hi,' said Kevin. 'It's me.'
'Answering machine?' asked Jandro.
Kevin shook his head. Jandro almost fell off the chair with excitement and anticipation.
'I just called to say... well, that I want to go to the Enchantment in the Sky dance with you,' said Kevin. 'It doesn't matter what people say – it doesn't matter what people think! I honestly believe that the way things are between us, none of that stuff can ever touch us. We love each other – we know what that means to us, and that's all that matters. Yeah, I'm finished. Yes, you can come over right now if you want to. What? Well... yeah, okay, I'll put the costume on. Sure, see you then.'
Kevin put down the phone. Jandro gave him an expectant look.
'Sorry, Jandro, but would you mind leaving now?' Kevin asked, somewhat distractedly. 'My dance partner's coming over and we need some time alone together.'
'Who?' Jandro asked eagerly. 'Who's coming over?'
'I'll see you at school tomorrow,' said Kevin. 'Thanks for your help, buddy.'
Kevin ushered Jandro into the hallway and opened the front door. Just as he was about to leave, Jandro changed his mind and hung back for a second.
'Er, Kev,' he said. 'You know how you said you love Lucy in a certain way, and you love Oscar in a certain way...'
'Yeah,' said Kevin.
'I was just wondering,' said Jandro, 'do you love me in a certain way as well?'
Kevin smiled, and put his arms around Jandro. Jandro smiled too, and returned the embrace.
'Yes, dude,' said Kevin. 'I'm so grateful to you for being here for me – I couldn't have done this without you, and of course I love you.'
'Like you love Lucy or like you love Oscar, or like something else?' Jandro asked.
'I'll have to think about that one,' Kevin laughed. 'We'll talk tomorrow, okay?'
'Okay,' Jandro grinned at him. 'See ya, dude.'
Jandro stood in his own kitchen with a telephone pressed to his ear, looking extremely nervous. A few seconds of tense silence passed, then he spoke into the mouthpiece.
'Hi, Luce,' he said, 'it's Jandro here. I know you've either just listened to a message from Kev telling you he can't take you to the dance after all, or you've just actually spoken to Kev about how he is taking you to the dance and you're on your way over to his place right now, and what I'm about to say only applies if the first scenario is what actually happened, so if it isn't then I guess you can stop listening and delete this message right now. But if you're not going with Kev, Luce... well, what you and Kev don't know is that I've been staying after school to help dress the stage for the Enchantment in the Sky dance, and I've been given a ticket too, and I was wondering if you'd like to be my plus-one... I mean, I'd really like to take you to the dance, if you want to go with me. I know you and Kev have been making a big deal about whether people are going as friends or as a couple, and you're probably wondering if I want to go with you as friends or as a couple, but actually, to be honest with you, I think it'd be best if we just go as... well, as Lucy and Jandro... and we can see where things go from there. I, er... I'll hope to hear back from you soon. Bye.'
Jandro replaced the receiver and exhaled deeply. He then turned to see that Ana was sitting at the breakfast bar, grinning at him.
'Well done!' she said. 'I hope Lucy chooses you, even if Kevin did choose her!'
'I don't think she'd blow him off just so she could go out with me,' said Jandro.
'You never know,' said Ana.
'Hi, Luce,' he said, 'it's Jandro here. I know you've either just listened to a message from Kev telling you he can't take you to the dance after all, or you've just actually spoken to Kev about how he is taking you to the dance and you're on your way over to his place right now, and what I'm about to say only applies if the first scenario is what actually happened, so if it isn't then I guess you can stop listening and delete this message right now. But if you're not going with Kev, Luce... well, what you and Kev don't know is that I've been staying after school to help dress the stage for the Enchantment in the Sky dance, and I've been given a ticket too, and I was wondering if you'd like to be my plus-one... I mean, I'd really like to take you to the dance, if you want to go with me. I know you and Kev have been making a big deal about whether people are going as friends or as a couple, and you're probably wondering if I want to go with you as friends or as a couple, but actually, to be honest with you, I think it'd be best if we just go as... well, as Lucy and Jandro... and we can see where things go from there. I, er... I'll hope to hear back from you soon. Bye.'
Jandro replaced the receiver and exhaled deeply. He then turned to see that Ana was sitting at the breakfast bar, grinning at him.
'Well done!' she said. 'I hope Lucy chooses you, even if Kevin did choose her!'
'I don't think she'd blow him off just so she could go out with me,' said Jandro.
'You never know,' said Ana.
Kevin emerged from his bedroom dressed as an airline captain. He ran downstairs into the hallway and looked at himself in the mirror. As he was straightening his captain's hat, the doorbell rang. Kevin smoothed down his captain's jacket, took a deep breath, and opened the door.
EPILOGUE: TWENTY-NINE YEARS LATER
Eduardo and Kylie were sitting on a beach on the Mexican island of Cozumel, staring at the breaking waves.
'I don't think they're gonna show,' said Eduardo. 'Maybe they don't lay here anymore.'
'Yeah, maybe not,' Kylie sighed. 'I guess everything changes eventually, even stuff that seemed like it'd be the same forever.'
'Yeah, like when we went back to Whitby and they'd replaced Mina's bench,' said Eduardo. 'Just because it was old and falling apart...'
'Not unlike us,' said Kylie.
'We're not old,' Eduardo laughed. 'Not yet. Although my back is starting to seize up.'
'Let's give it ten more minutes, then head back to the hotel,' said Kylie. 'I guess a lot of stuff had changed more than we were expecting when we took that third trip to Whitby... but at least the Co-Op ready-meals had improved!'
'Kylie!' Eduardo hissed, clutching her arm in excitement. 'I can see a turtle!'
Sure enough, a large sea turtle was dragging itself up the beach. When it reached a secluded spot not far away from Kylie and Eduardo, it dug a hole in the sand and started laying its eggs.
'Awesome,' Kylie whispered to Eduardo. 'Hey, look – she has a scar on her front flipper!'
'Um... oh yeah, I think I can see it,' said Eduardo. 'But I don't have my glasses so I can't be sure.'
'It's Donatella!' Kylie declared. 'She's come back here to lay her eggs, just like Adela said she would... and I knew we'd see her again when she did!'
'I don't know so much, Ky,' said Eduardo. 'It's a big ocean out there – anything could've caused that scar, even assuming it's really there.'
'Of course it's really there!' said Kylie. 'That turtle is Donatella, come to show us her children.'
'Well... I guess it could be,' Eduardo smiled. 'We'll have to let Kevin know that we've seen his first ever saved life, and she's still going strong.'
'He would've liked to see this,' said Kylie. 'I know he and Oscar came here when they backpacked around Mexico together, but I don't think it was the right time of year for pregnant sea turtles... and of course Donatella wouldn't have been sexually mature back then, so even if they did see a turtle laying, it wouldn't have been her.'
'We'll invite him to come along next year,' said Eduardo. 'Him and the whole family. Those turtles always come back to nest in the same place, don't they?'
'I don't know,' said Kylie. 'I guess there's no reason to think she won't.'
'I'm gonna have to stand up in a minute,' Eduardo said apologetically. 'Do you think she's nearly done?'
'Yeah, I'm sure she is,' said Kylie. 'Of course, we don't have to go back to the hotel right away – we could stay here for a while and... do the same thing we did the first time we were here together.'
'Wouldn't you rather do that back at the hotel?' Eduardo demurred. 'We're not twenty-one anymore, Ky.'
'Yeah, I guess you're right,' Kylie sighed. 'We don't want to overexert ourselves and be in bed with stiff joints for the rest of the vacation.'
'Doesn't mean we can't have fun in our hotel room,' Eduardo pointed out. 'I brought the Blue Box in my hand luggage.'
'Ooh,' said Kylie, 'well done!'
'Donatella's making a move,' said Eduardo.
'Then we'll make one too,' said Kylie.
They hauled themselves to their feet and left the beach, hand in hand all the way.
Eduardo and Kylie were sitting on a beach on the Mexican island of Cozumel, staring at the breaking waves.
'I don't think they're gonna show,' said Eduardo. 'Maybe they don't lay here anymore.'
'Yeah, maybe not,' Kylie sighed. 'I guess everything changes eventually, even stuff that seemed like it'd be the same forever.'
'Yeah, like when we went back to Whitby and they'd replaced Mina's bench,' said Eduardo. 'Just because it was old and falling apart...'
'Not unlike us,' said Kylie.
'We're not old,' Eduardo laughed. 'Not yet. Although my back is starting to seize up.'
'Let's give it ten more minutes, then head back to the hotel,' said Kylie. 'I guess a lot of stuff had changed more than we were expecting when we took that third trip to Whitby... but at least the Co-Op ready-meals had improved!'
'Kylie!' Eduardo hissed, clutching her arm in excitement. 'I can see a turtle!'
Sure enough, a large sea turtle was dragging itself up the beach. When it reached a secluded spot not far away from Kylie and Eduardo, it dug a hole in the sand and started laying its eggs.
'Awesome,' Kylie whispered to Eduardo. 'Hey, look – she has a scar on her front flipper!'
'Um... oh yeah, I think I can see it,' said Eduardo. 'But I don't have my glasses so I can't be sure.'
'It's Donatella!' Kylie declared. 'She's come back here to lay her eggs, just like Adela said she would... and I knew we'd see her again when she did!'
'I don't know so much, Ky,' said Eduardo. 'It's a big ocean out there – anything could've caused that scar, even assuming it's really there.'
'Of course it's really there!' said Kylie. 'That turtle is Donatella, come to show us her children.'
'Well... I guess it could be,' Eduardo smiled. 'We'll have to let Kevin know that we've seen his first ever saved life, and she's still going strong.'
'He would've liked to see this,' said Kylie. 'I know he and Oscar came here when they backpacked around Mexico together, but I don't think it was the right time of year for pregnant sea turtles... and of course Donatella wouldn't have been sexually mature back then, so even if they did see a turtle laying, it wouldn't have been her.'
'We'll invite him to come along next year,' said Eduardo. 'Him and the whole family. Those turtles always come back to nest in the same place, don't they?'
'I don't know,' said Kylie. 'I guess there's no reason to think she won't.'
'I'm gonna have to stand up in a minute,' Eduardo said apologetically. 'Do you think she's nearly done?'
'Yeah, I'm sure she is,' said Kylie. 'Of course, we don't have to go back to the hotel right away – we could stay here for a while and... do the same thing we did the first time we were here together.'
'Wouldn't you rather do that back at the hotel?' Eduardo demurred. 'We're not twenty-one anymore, Ky.'
'Yeah, I guess you're right,' Kylie sighed. 'We don't want to overexert ourselves and be in bed with stiff joints for the rest of the vacation.'
'Doesn't mean we can't have fun in our hotel room,' Eduardo pointed out. 'I brought the Blue Box in my hand luggage.'
'Ooh,' said Kylie, 'well done!'
'Donatella's making a move,' said Eduardo.
'Then we'll make one too,' said Kylie.
They hauled themselves to their feet and left the beach, hand in hand all the way.