Homecoming story pt.3

Last-minute details

It was just a few weeks until the homecoming dance, and I had yet to figure out what I was going to wear.  The biggest reminder that I was running out of time was the last call for homecoming Mums to be ordered.

Part of Texas's unique homecoming tradition was the Mums.  Mums were these very elaborate and decorative arrangements of ribbons, bows, bells, and all kinds of ornaments.  Tacky as hell, but it's part of the tradition.

The best way to describe them is to think of them as a hybrid of a football trophy, a Valentine's Day gift, and a Mardi gras parade float neatly attached to a shield made for a hobbit.

The boys would wear a garter version on their sleeve. Pretty simple. As for the girls, they would get a grand version that would dangle around their neck like a giant medallion from hell.  

And these came in small, medium, gigantic, ginormous, and GARGANTUAN!  

I remember seeing these in my freshman year. The girls who had them looked like a whole parade float.  They would just be strolling down the hallway with all kinds of ringing and jingling.  You could literally hear them from across the damn school.  

This year, the school booster club ladies were selling the Mums.  They had a few premade ones on display at the tables—prices varied by size.  The smallest is $25 each and goes all the way up to $300, depending on what customizations you want.  

DEAR GOD!  $300 FOR A 1 TIME USE MEMORABILIA?

I had saved just enough for a small set for Lilly and me. As grand as some of these mums were, I wanted to keep it simple, just like Victor suggested.  It was overwhelming just by seeing the small ones alone, and I didn't want to push all that onto Lilly.  However, traditions are traditions, so I went ahead and placed my order and reserved it for Alfie and Lilly.

-----

With the clock still ticking, I needed to have a serious discussion with Lilly about the wardrobe situation.  I didn't have any formal attire of any kind in my closet, and it'd be ideal to coordinate. 

Frantically, I flipped through the pages of an old middle school agenda in which I had saved her number.  Once I found it, I gave her a call.  It was the first time I was calling her number—even though I had had it ages ago.  

Now to wrangle the phone away from my sister.

Pebbles, being the teen that she was, was always hogging up the phone, talking with one of her many friends or a boyfriend.  I quit keeping track.  I really hated asking her for anything because I always got attitude. Still, I took a nice deep breath before knocking on her door.

Pebbles opened the door halfway with the phone glued to her ear and gave me a dirty look.  She didn't even have to say anything; her expression said, "What do you want?"

"Hey.  Can I use the phone right away?" I had my hands pressed together, begging and groveling to her. "It'll be quick, I swear."

She rolled her eyes and went back to her call.  "Eyy.  Let me call you back right away." She ended the call and passed me the cordless phone.  

I took the phone back into my bedroom.  Now that I found her number, I dialed it and waited.  

*Ring Ring*

"Hello?" Answered an unfamiliar voice that sounded similar to Lilly. 

"Yeah, uh... hi.  Is Lilly there?" I don't know why I was becoming so bashful all of a sudden.  I've talked to her many times before in person. Why was talking on the phone making a difference now?

"Hold on a sec." The girl said.  She set the phone down, and faint voices could be heard in the background.  

One was definitely Lilly.  That other girl who answered must be her sister.

Lilly: “Who is it?”

Girl: “I don’t know. Some dude.”

Lilly: “Did you ask?”

Girl: “No.”

Lilly: “Seriously?!”

Yup—definitely her sister.

The phone rustled. Then—

Lilly: “Hello?”

Alfie: “Hey. It’s Alfie.”

Lilly: “Holy shit! Hey, Alfie. Thought you lost my number.”

Alfie: “In a way, I kinda did. But I found it.”

(Truth was, I’d been too chicken to call.)

Lilly's Sister (in the background): “Ooh, who’s Aaalfie?”

Lilly (yelling): “None of your damn business!”

Lilly fumbled with the phone.

Lilly: “Alfie, hold on a sec.”

Alfie: “Umm… sure.”

I heard her walking away with the phone and closing a door.

Lilly: “Sorry, I’m back. What’s up?”

Alfie: “Well, I’m trying to figure out what to wear for homecoming. So far, all I've got is a nice FUBU shirt and some jeans.”

Lilly: “Umm… yeah. There’s no way in hell you’re wearing a FUBU shirt to homecoming.”

Alfie (laughing): “I know. Just messing with you.”

“I do need to figure it out, though. What are you wearing?”

Lilly: “Actually, I—”

*CLICK*

Pebbles (on the other line): “Alfie smells like dick!”

Lilly burst into hysterical laughter. My blood started to boil from the sudden embarrassment.

Alfie (growling): “GET OFF THE PHONE!”

*CLICK* My sister finally hung up.

Lilly (still giggling): “You actually do.”

Alfie: “Fuck off!”

That just made her laugh even harder. My face was burning red.

Alfie: “Sorry. That was my bitch of a sister.”

She took a long breath, finishing her laughing fit.

Lilly: “Anyway—before that hilarious interruption—I got a dress last weekend at Dillard’s. It’s a really pretty wine red. Probably pairing it with a black cardigan.”

Alfie(Confused): “WINE RED?!” What?

“I only know the basic colors. What’s the difference between that and regular red?”

Lilly (giggling): “Goofball. It’s a deep red. Like...the color of red wine. Duh.”

Alfie: “I wouldn’t know that. I’m not a wino.”

Lilly: “Mhmm. But you’re Catholic, right? I’m pretty sure you do.”

We both laughed. Same old back-and-forth bantering.

Alfie: “Alright, alright. I’ll look for something in 'wine red". Hopefully, the store people know what the hell I’m talking about.”

Lilly: “I’m sure you’ll figure something out. Just don’t make me regret this.”

Alfie: “Oh—almost forgot to tell you. I already ordered our mums.”

Lilly: Umm....Seriously?(Had a long pause)

Alfie: “Yours is massive. I'm sure it's about as tall as you and looks like only your head will be visible.”

I could feel her giving me the death glare through the phone.

Lilly: “Are you fucking with me again?!”

I couldn't help but mess with her again.

*CLICK*

I was waiting for her to call back immediately.  But that didn't happen.  I'm sure I'll be getting an earful the next time I see her.

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The moment I opened my door, my sister was already on her way to get the phone back from me.

"Eyy.  Was that a girl you were talking to?" Pebbles gave me a questioning look.

"Yes." I scolded her.  "Thanks for embarrassing me."

She sucked her teeth.  "Shit....I thought it was one of your dorky friends.  Sorry."

I tossed her the phone."Yeah, whatever."

"Nah for reals." There were very few moments when you could actually tell if she was messing around, lying, or being sincere. She was being sincere this time. "What was that about?"

I sighed deeply.  I hated being ridiculed by her, but it was always pointless to retaliate.  I might as well tell her.  "I was just trying to figure out what to wear for homecoming."

"Wait wait wait." She crossed her arms and became very interested all of a sudden. "You're going to homecoming?"

"Yeah." It surprised me that she became invested in what I was up to. "With Lilly."

"Shut the fuck up." Pebbles' jaw fell with shock. "Did she, like, ask you or something?"

My sister knew me far too well.  She knew I would always withdraw before initiating anything.  

Such a curse to be so timid.

I got a little defensive and straightened up with confidence. "No.  I actually asked her for once."

"Whaaaat! You?" She really couldn't believe a single word I was saying.  "When?"

This actually made me think back.  "Umm ...Like... a while ago.  When they first announced it."

My sister stiffened her lips and became very interrogative. "Does mom know you're going?"

And just like that—

I froze.

My eyes widened.

There it was.  

The one detail I did not think about. The one thing I needed to do to make all this planning work...

I had to tell Mom.