The sound of laughter outside brings Donnie out of his daydream. Christine, Jimmy, and Johnny play some made-up game in the Cul-de-Sac when he peers out the window. Being freshmen this year, they still had to attend school. “School must be out for the day, only a few more hours to go,” he thinks to himself, still clad in only his boxers and settling back across the bed. “What was I thinking about again? Oh, yea, The Holiday Weekend.” and a pleasant smile returns to his face as he remembers it all. Friday afternoons seem to have a ritual all their own. Playing games with the others, picking on the Dorks, sometimes helping Renato, Always a late dinner with the folks, family time in front of the TV, my time after 9 pm. Fairly standard Friday, other than THAT Friday. ‘sniff’ No will not think about that now and get my eyes all red. This night should be a happy time for us, we hope.

Saturdays are mine, all mine unless there is a chore to do, like mow the yard or something. I’m out riding my bike, trying to impress Nazz or whoever will watch. As I swing by the playground just outside of the Cul-de-Sac, I notice the dorks, all three of them, are up to something. “Oh well, here goes nothing,” I think. “Ruben, come over here for just a minute.” All three of them look up from what they are doing, and Andrew shouts, “What you want, Donnie?” Ignoring Andrew, Ruben walks up to the fence that I am parked outside of, and even though he is scared of me, I can see it in his eyes. He still has that cheery voice. “What can I do for you, Donnie?” he asks. Always so polite.

“Ahh, listen, I know you were supposed to help me study and bring my grades up, so what say we meet at my house tomorrow around 2 to start my tutoring. Would that be okay?” “O-O-Of course D-D-Donnie, that would be fine to start then.” “Listen, Ruben; you say you can help me study. I need this or no sports. What say we call a truce between us, just us, while you are helping me.” And I am scratching my neck again. When did I start that? “Sure, Donnie, that would be fantastic,” he giggles. I arch an eyebrow in an unspoken question to him, and he whispers, “I won’t tell the others about our truce, especially Andrew. It will drive him mad.” I can’t help but chuckle at that, and Ruben then laughs out loud. I can see that both Chase and Andrew are wondering what is going on over his shoulder. “Okay then, Dude, I will see later” I poke him with my finger, and looking at Andrew, I yell, “SPAZZ!”

Off I speed on my bike, turning down the alleyway that leads behind all the houses of the Cul-de-Sac. Building speed as I peddle faster and faster, looking for something to jump over. I can’t believe I invited Ruben to my house. Boy, I must have been desperate to play sports. I mean, who would ever think of asking one of the Dorks into their home. Well, maybe Renato. He survived; no one said a thing. I guess I did too. I’m I here, ain’t I? Sunday came, and I started at the front door and walked through the house, checking for things of my personal life I didn’t want Ruben to see. Baby pictures of me that Mom would let me hide, we had a big argument over the one of me naked on the rug. I won that one. I finished downstairs and looked to the second floor, and dread overtook me. What if I had to take him upstairs? TO MY ROOM!? Nononono, I trip over myself, getting upstairs to try and hide everything in my room. My room was MY space and not for Dorks to see. I carry my books downstairs and await the dreaded doorbell. And thus goes the weekend that changed my life forever.

Thinking back, I sure miss that old bike, and it should still be in the garage. Maybe after this whole thing with Prom and everything else, I can pull it out and fix it up. Donate it to some child who doesn’t have a bike. “Did I just say I would donate my bike?” Damn, I have grown up in the last several years. If I have grown up so much, why am I so nervous about a simple High School dance. That’s all it is, a fancy dance for the Juniors and Seniors. I look over to my door and see my Tux hanging neatly on the door, and my shoes are laid beside the door. Even my undergarments and socks are on a hanger to keep everything together. I used not to be this organized, another habit I have picked up from my date.

I can’t stand it any longer and pick my cell and hit the Speed Dial for Nazz. “Hello?” “Uhhmm, Hi Nazz, it’s Donnie. I just wanted to see how you are doing this afternoon.” “Oh, Hi Donnie, I’m just getting my hair and nails done for tonight.” “Okay, so you’re good for tonight then?” “Well, yes, why wouldn’t I be?” “I don’t know. I just thought I would check and see.” “Donnie, you are a bit nervous, right?” “Yea” “Don’t be, it will all be okay. Go rest, play a game, watch TV. You have plenty of time to relax before you have to start getting ready like us girls.” The giggling in the background makes me wonder who she is with, but it’s just one of those colossal, mysterious ways of being a girl.

As I lay my phone on my bed, I start pacing my room, from door to window. No one is outside, now, gone off on some adventure, I guess. Back to the door, yep, my suit is spotless. I can never check it too many times, I guess. Why am I so nervous? It’s not anybody’s business but mine. It’s just a dance, and I can dance. I know everyone there, been here my entire life.

~~~~~

With a light snack of fruit salad to hold me over until dinner and a quick clean-up of the kitchen, I’m ready for the task of getting prepared. On the way to the stairs, I stand in the living room looking out the window wearing only my Boxer Briefs. No one is outside, the younger group was earlier, but they have moved on somewhere else. Somewhere my date is getting ready, I hope. Well, time to do the deed. I turn to head up the stairs to my room and catch my reflection in the mirror. My tall, lanky frame is sure different from that 12-year-old boy that started all this. Standing at 6 foot zero, I am all legs and arms. A target at a shooting range has more body mass than I do. Oh well, I am who I am. I eye my beanie, a hat identical to the one I have worn most of my life. Tonight I swore I would go without it—another surprise to the student body of Peachland High. I head up the stairs and turn to my bedroom, thinking that Donnie’s house is the same floor plan as my house. You got to love these pre-planned neighborhoods.

My first trip into Donnie’s house was that Holiday Weekend. With him needing help with his studies, tutoring him was his best choice for his continued education. I walked over to Donnie’s house with my school bag held tightly to me. Andrew was glaring daggers as I was crossing the street. I finally convinced him that I couldn’t spend all my time with him and Chase. Shortly after ringing the doorbell, Donnie answers the door, pulls me in, and quickly looks outside to see if anyone has noticed me coming over. I meet his mother, “Good Afternoon, Miss Murphy. It is a pleasure to meet you.” “You too, Ruben. Thank you for helping Kelvin with his homework this evening.” I shoot Donnie a look, knowing that he has not explained the entire situation to his mother.

He started dragging me to the kitchen where his books were and appeared ready to be used, another “look” at Donnie, but he is busy elsewhere. He puts a drink on each side of the table and sits in one chair. I know this is something his mother must have told him to do. I move a chair over closer so I can sit beside him. I start to pull my things out of my bag, and I can see him glare at me, giving me a dirty look. Again I seem to notice the expression on his face.

We settle in and start on his test for History and his studies. “I usually find the answers to the questions at the back of the Chapter and go from there,” he tells me. I shake my head in disbelief at this information. “Donnie, you actually need to read the Chapters, not once but three times. One of them being out loud to yourself.” “READ!? The entire chapter, and even out loud?” “Yes, Donnie, By the third time you know you have been through the “What it is?” and “What of it?” and the third, then, becomes the true reminder,” I tell him.

I watch as he looks at his textbook and furrows his brow as in serious thought. Again I see his expressions change through his face. “But three times, Ruben?” he finally asks. “Yes, Donnie, three times, and out loud one of those times. Donnie, you can read, can’t you?” “YES!” he answers, turning toward me so fast that his hat falls off his head and his eyes as big as saucers. “I can read,” he shouts. “Well, sometimes I have trouble, but I do okay.” His head bows as he says this like he has admitted something that no one knew. I place my hand on his shoulder, the first time I have ever touched him, and he gives me a blank stare. “Whatever we talk about while I am helping you will not go to the kids in the Cul-de-Sac. If you have troubles, please let me know, and I can help you pass and become the smartest jock in Peachland.” Giving me a weak smile, he mumbles, “thank you,” neither of us realizing that my hand is still on his shoulder.

We turn back to the books, and I have him start reading the chapter while I go over his practice test. I noticed that most of his answers were close but not correct. His dates were only off by a couple of years. So I know he just needs to learn to retain the specifics. When he sets his book down, we go over the test together, discussing his answers and rather or not he guessed, which he did on over half of them and was still close in answer.

I had him start reading the chapter out loud to me so I could judge his reading and hopefully give him some pointers that will carry over into his Language class. I look up to see his mom come to the kitchen doorway to check on everything or something, and I quietly give my head a quick shake to let her know it’s best not to interrupt. She smiles and heads back into the front room without Donnie being none the wiser. I wonder if I should tell him his mom was listening to him read back then. Naaa, I think I will keep that one to myself. I asked him to retake the practice test, with me asking the questions out loud to him. When we were done, and I informed him that he had only had one answer wrong, he was delighted. I saw a genuine smile on his face for the first time since I arrived. I couldn’t help thinking he sure was cute, with that bright smile and red hair of his.