Winter Season

Prom

Saturday rolled around and Oscar couldn’t wait to see what Esther was going to wear. He had loved the little Christmas dress. She answered the door in a light green dress, matching shoes and a pale pink shawl.

“You look amazing.” He smiled.

“Thank you sir.”

He trailed his fingers around the chain of the necklace he bought that she was wearing. This pulled his attention to her small pink earrings.

She giggled, “do you recognize the dress?” A slight twirl was added to her position.

“It looks like the dress you wore at Christmas.”

“Bleach baby,” she laughed tossing him her keys. In the jeep she asked, “what does a chaperone do?”

“We just make sure the students don’t have sex, do drugs, fight, get drunk, that sort of thing.”

“Oh, I see.” She seemed nervous to him.

He pulled off to the side of the road, “honey are you okay?”

A big tear rolled down her face. He gently wiped it away. “You’re gonna think I’m being silly.”

“Try me.”

“This is the first time I’ve ever gone to a prom.”

“You didn’t go to your high school prom?”

She just shook her head no.

He leaned over and kissed her. “I know this can’t make up for high school. But I think you will enjoy tonight.”

At the gym, Oscar introduced her to a host of people from the principal to the janitor. There were ten adult chaperones there. Mostly school staff. They had chosen Frozen as their set up and Rewind as their theme song.

“Did the seniors do this?”

“No, the juniors did. Each year the juniors decorate for the senior prom. It’s like their going away gift.”

“They did an amazing job.” It looked like a winter wonderland.

Esther spent a few minutes watching Oscar as he talked with the principal. He really was handsome in his suit. His hair looked like; it hit her in that moment who his hair cut reminded her of, Hugh Jackman; his roll in Kate and Leopold. She loved playing with his hair. He glanced at her and wink. She blushed and winked back.

As the party progressed, she went outside to get some fresh air and walk around the gym. Two guys were outside arguing with each other. They didn’t even see her.

“So guys, is she worth it?”  They just stared at her. “Two nice looking young men getting ready to fight, it must be over a girl.” She smiled.

“I came here with her and this fucker says he’s dating her too.”

“Are you?”

“Yes.” He other teen shouted.

One drew back to hit the other, “gentlemen please. Ask yourselves, is she worth it?”

“What do you care?”

“I care a lot. I don’t want to see either one of you have a criminal record over a girl. I’m assuming you’re both 18. There are lot of girls out there that wouldn’t cheat on either one of you. You,” she pointed at the teen that dropped the F bomb. “Where are you going to be in a month?”

“I’ve joined the Marines.”

“Oh wow! Thank you. Soldiers are valuable assets to this country. So tell me, if you get stationed in France or Germany and a hot foreign lady catches your eye. Suzie is thousands of miles away but Gretta is in your lap. Are you going to be faithful to Suzie or is that guy that you fought with at senior prom gonna creep into your mind?”

“I never really thought about it that way.”

“How long have you known the Sheila you’re ready to get a criminal record over?”

“We’ve dated on and off all throughout high school.” Soldier boy replied.

“What about you?” She asked the other teen.

“I popped her cherry over Christmas break.”

“You’re an abrasive fellow.” Esther smiled.

The teen that was going off to be a Marine, scoffed “you can have her.”

“That’s a good choice Marine. And when you come back from your tour, soldiers make great cops.” Both teens picked up their coats taking different directions around the gym.

Winter Season