Links to the previous chapters are HERE
Chapter Fifteen
By Sunday afternoon,
Akio and I both decided prom was actually a form of torture adults visited on
graduating classes as a sort of final revenge.
Mom woke us early and started preparations. The first wasn't so bad: A personal massage, pedicure and manicure at
a wonderful place in Thousand Oaks. We
left there to get our hair done, despite my misgivings. They trimmed a little of Akio's beautiful
long black hair, followed by a shampoo.
I knew the stylist looked at mine with hidden despair.
"What do you
suppose would look best?" mom asked, leafing through the magazines.
"I think we should
start with a color. I don't think the
blue stripe is going to cut it for prom."
"True," she
said, nodding. "I think a stripe or
two with a bit of silver and gold, to match the dress would be better."
I love my mom.
They trimmed, dyed and
plucked. I wasn't sure I looked like me
in the mirror, but I didn't mind for one night.
They also provided makeup and showed how I could cover most of the bruises.
We stopped and had
salads for a late lunch, and got home with enough time to dress. Mrs. Calabria came over to help Akio. She had no older daughters and she seemed to
take delight in everything. She made
Akio laugh. I loved her for it.
At six Mr. Avison's limo
arrived, having already picked up Gian.
He came to the door, looking incredibly nice in a tux. He had corsages for us both and he didn't
make Akio feel as though she intruded on our first date. I loved him all the more for the way he treated
her.
We held the Deervale
prom at a fancy club by the beach, which meant a long ride in the limo. We joked about the people we passed, and the
faces turning our way. I knew how lucky
we were, on so many different levels that the feeling nearly brought me to
tears. I held back my emotions,
determined not to let anything spoil this night.
Mr. Avison had rented
the place for the prom, arranged for the food and the music -- which turned out
to be a group who had their first top ten record on the charts. There were reporters, which I thought odd,
until I saw how they turned their attention on Akio, Gian, and me. But they stayed back, taking pictures and not
intruding as Akio and I flanked Gian's wheelchair on our way in.
I had a night out of a
dream. We laughed and talked with
everyone, marveling at how well most of us cleaned up. How adult we looked, though to be honest, we
didn't act it much most of the night.
Some of Missy's friends
were there, including Mary, but the fight had gone from them. Mary even came and apologized to me. I forgave her. I forgave them all tonight -- at least the
ones who attended the prom.
Akio spent time with
Gian and me, but sometimes others whisked her away and she even danced with
both George and John Forest. She had
acted shy and awkward at first. The
others drove the shyness out of her and by the end of the night she was our Akio once more.
The party went until 1am
and the call for the last dance. I
didn't want the night to end. Friday
afternoon was graduation and afterwards b we would scatter to the winds. I might not see some of these people for a
long, long time.
The band played a slow
dance, just a guitar and the drums. I
saw Akio dancing with the lead singer.
My. She had lost her shyness.
Gian pulled his
wheelchair over in front of me. Time to
go, I thought and sighed as I stood. I
didn't want this night to end.
He leaned forward and
took both my hands.
And then he stood.
My breath caught as he
wrapped his arms around me and leaned close. "One dance," he
whispered. "If you hold me tight,
we can do this."
And finally . . .
Finally, I danced with Gian.
The End
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