A Good Year at Linwood High, Chapter 8
Griffin hoped he hadn't hurt Ashton's and Rhett's feelings by not inviting them to his sleepover too. There was a third bedroom upstairs after all. He apologized on Monday when he saw them. They told him that they understood how he wanted to christen his bed without too many others around and that they'd had their fun in the antique tub by themselves. It made Griffin realize that his friends might have missed some playtime when he was around. They'd never let on that it was an imposition, so he didn't feel guilty, but he was glad they weren't upset about not being invited. He would have to plan a big sleepover in the future. He could combine it with the pizza party his dad and stepdad were planning to throw.
The men were still in awe of what the boys had done and felt that feeding them pizza wasn't enough of a reward. They began casting about for a way to pay them back that didn't involve cash.
Luis had never appreciated his October birthday because it was often overshadowed by Halloween. This year, he could hardly wait for it to occur. Turning 18 would mean he was an adult and in charge of his own life. For all practical purposes, he'd made his own way ever since his parents had been deported.
Being in the temporary custody of his boyfriend's mother, Sabrina, wasn't a hardship but it had been a tenuous situation. "Uncle" Geraldo and "Aunt" Dolores had been his guardians for several years before he'd moved in with Raymo. However, their position had been on shaky ground in the legal sense. In the absence of any close relatives, they had simply assumed the role without any formal papers and in the small town where they lived, no one had questioned it.
Sabrina had sought to be his guardian because Linwood High needed someone to contact in case of emergency. When she filed, the quasi-illegal condition of his previous situation came to light. It had taken until last week for the mess to be straightened out. Thus, he was officially her ward for only about six days.
"Happy Birthday, Stud," Raymo said as he gave Luis a good-morning kiss.
"Thanks. I'm excited about being an adult, but it makes me sad that I can't make love with you for another month."
"What?"
"Well, you're still a minor and I'm an adult, so it won't be legal!"
"You're teasing me, right? We're close enough in age that it doesn't matter."
"Yup," Luis chuckled.
"Just for that, I'm not gonna give you a birthday blowjob," Raymo attempted to pout.
"We don't have time now anyway. Then we have to go to work right after school ends."
"Officially, you're still a minor until 6:29 tonight. There's always 4th period study hall...."
Luis had insisted that he didn't need a party to mark his special day, but Sabrina thought he should have at least a family celebration. She'd found out that German Chocolate Cake was his favorite, with coconut and pecans in the frosting between the layers and spread on top. She decided to make one from scratch using real butter and decorating it with pecan halves. For whatever reason, those nuts were quite expensive. However, she wasn't deterred by the cost. In the absence of his own mother, Sabrina wouldn't let a little thing like money keep her from making this young man's 18th birthday memorable.
It turned out to be the most beautiful cake he'd had in recent years and he was moved by what she'd done for him. Raymo had been right about how she would treat him.
The four of them, Sabrina, Gavin, Raymond, and Luis had a little gathering after the older teens got home from work. There were several gifts for him to open, as well as a sizeable check from Sabrina.
Before he blew out the candles, he made the same wish he'd been making since his parents, Franco and Angelica, were picked up by ICE -- that they would be returned to him soon.
Their afternoon tryst having been thwarted by too much traffic in the remote restroom at school during their study hall, Raymo gave Luis his promised reward before they went to sleep. Luis was very satisfied with how his birthday had turned out. It was the best one in a long time!
The next big activity on the agenda of several of the boys was the marching band contest in Ankeny, Iowa. The Linwood band had always placed in the top three but had missed the number-one spot by a mere fraction of a point the past year. Mr. D was determined to take it with the talented kids he had this season. Ashton's addition to the trumpet section had fired up Griffin to work harder because of the competition. Unless the other bands made a lot more progress, this year's victory was in the bag.
The band-parents organization had raised extra money to provide charter coaches instead of school buses to transport the kids to the venue which was about two hours away. Those comfortable vehicles would be especially welcome on the return trip whether the kids won or not. Their instruments and uniforms would fit in the luggage compartment instead of requiring the pickup and trailer to haul them. That would save some gas money, so it wouldn't end up costing a great deal more than the stiff-riding school buses most districts would be using.
A few parents would travel with them as chaperones, but several more would make the trip in private vehicles to show their support.
Terry and Joaquin invited the Havel's and the Butler's to go with them. They felt it was important to begin paying back the kindnesses which had been done for them. Their SUV seated everyone easily. They were glad they'd opted for the larger model when they'd purchased it.
Some of the kids siblings were riding with Carson and Brianna, so everyone in the family would be there to support the band.
The weather was a bit iffy, so the parents all brought along rain jackets. It wasn't bad in Marion, but conditions deteriorated the farther west they drove.
The luck of the draw placed Linwood as the last group in the competition. By the time the first band hit the field, it was sprinkling. Things didn't improve for the next several entries either. The people in charge of the event gave Linwood the option of using last year's score and not competing. Mr. Dixon asked his students what they wanted to do. Everyone wanted to do their show no matter what. They had worked long and hard for this and they weren't about to miss the opportunity!
It was finally decided that the show would go on, but they wouldn't wear the plumes in their hats. Those were expensive and would be ruined for sure. Their uniforms were made of polyester and would dry out okay.
Linwood took the field and did their very best. The drumline didn't miss a beat. No one messed up a step in their complicated routine despite the sloppy ground.
In the stands, the parents and siblings were beginning to shiver from the chill which accompanied the cold front that had brought the showers, but they hung tough too and cheered the kids along. Just before the very last part of their performance, the sky opened up and drenched the marchers. They bravely went on to the finale.
While the judges were comparing notes, the kids scrambled into the buses to change out of their sodden uniforms. The drivers started the engines so they could run the heat to help take off the chill. Most of the students waited inside to hear the news.
Linwood had won, hands down! Their scores were several points higher than their nearest competitor. A cheer went up that was almost enough to stop the rain.
On the way home, the bus stopped at the closest McDonalds so everyone could have a snack to warm them up. The parents, and others, who had driven privately joined them. There was a lot of high-fiving and hugging before they got underway for home. The place was packed and the manager's smile grew wider as the orders poured in.
Several kids spread their jackets over themselves like blankets and went to sleep. Some held hands and cuddled in the darkness.
There was just enough time before Halloween to squeeze in the sleepover for the kids who'd helped Griffin paint the house. There were a few pieces of furniture which Terry and Joaquin wanted to have redone before entertaining but those would have to wait. The kids wouldn't care about details like that as long as there were fun things to do and good food to eat.
The guest list was limited to the boys who had actively participated. That included, Ashton, Rhett, Levi, Eli, and Jason along with Terry's two sons. There wasn't a problem in having places to sleep because the three tweens said they were all skinny enough to fit into a queen-sized bed. If that didn't work out comfortably, Nolan said he would use a sleeping bag on the floor. The other two pairs were boyfriends and would have slept together anyway.
The evening began with pizzas from Zoey's accompanied by a big salad and fruit for dessert. The men had ordered plenty and there were leftovers after everyone had eaten his fill.
Next, there were a number of games to play. With two video game consoles in the parlor, (one borrowed from the Havel's) the boys took turns competing. The Monopoly game on the dining room table went untouched.
At 10:00, the men brought out snacks which included a big chocolate cake. The bakery had decorated it to say, "THANKS GUYS" in bold letters. Each kid received an envelope with his name on it. When they boys opened them, they were surprised.
Inside the thank-you card was a gift certificate to Amazon. The ones for the four older guys were worth $300 each while the middle schoolers received $200.
"Hey, we said we wouldn't take any money for helping!" Levi exclaimed. "This is way too much."
"Maybe it's a technicality," Joaquin grinned, "but that isn't cash."
"But it adds up to a lot!" Ashton insisted. "You could have hired professionals."
"The job looks professional," Terry said. "And it would have cost us a lot more to have hired a company to do it."
"But you could have saved the money by doing it yourselves," Rhett pointed out.
"And it would have taken weeks to do around our jobs," Joaquin countered. "As it is, I can book a lot of clients around the holidays without having to worry about coming home and painting after being on my feet all day. Terry can devote more time to his work too. And, if we have some spare minutes, we can refinish some of the furniture that needs it. So, it means a lot to us!"
"I'm not complaining, but us younger kid didn't do half as much as the others," Jace said. "So, we shouldn't get two-thirds of what they got."
"Griffin told us about all the yard work you did and how you stripped the wallpaper in the dining room. While it might not require the same amount of precision that painting does, it was all necessary!"
"Thanks! I'm gonna have a lot of fun choosing what I want to get with it!"
After helping to clear the table, the boys went upstairs. How they entertained themselves and how much sleep they actually got on Saturday night was never discussed.
The kids in the gay/straight alliance had wanted to sponsor a Halloween dance. However, someone had dropped the ball and it didn't get put on the activities calendar. No one else from school had filled the slot, so it looked like nothing would happen because another group had booked the small gym where it could have been held. A couple of churches had planned activities for their youth groups, but those weren't appealing to some of the gay kids who felt they might not be welcomed.
To fill the gap, Ashton asked his parents if they could invite the kids from the club to Havel House. The third-floor ballroom was big enough to accommodate a crowd of that size and he'd be willing to spend the $300 he'd received from the Orman's if Kathryn would buy his certificate from him.
Kathryn thought it was a great idea. It would be a good excuse for her to decorate the old mansion in a properly spooky fashion. She could picture jack-o-lanterns with flickering battery-powered lights in all the windows facing the street and paper bats hanging from the ceiling of the ballroom.
She gave him the money but promised to help fund the party so he wouldn't be spending all of his. Rhett made a similar deal with Coleen. Thus, the teens got to keep most of their earnings and Rhett applied his toward his car fund.
Javier Miranda and Susan Brown were pleased to chaperone the event. They had to get permission from Dr. Manson to hold the club meeting in a private home. He granted it after being assured the no-alcohol rule would be strictly enforced.
The party was held on October 30th so it didn't conflict with trick-or-treaters who would be out that night. To prevent having the event crashed by young adults in the area, William rented an electronic sign which flashed the words, "PRIVATE PARTY" in bright orange letters. Linwood's resident police officer was enlisted to stand by the front door to discourage outsiders from ignoring the sign. As a result, the party was a fun event with no gate-crashers and no problems.
A few of the kids had heard rumors that the house was haunted, so they were thrilled to be able to see inside. Their sponsors had cautioned them ahead of time not to take food into any part of the house outside of the ballroom. They were concerned about causing damage to the furnishings.
Everyone attending came in costume. Some were homemade and thrown together while others were elaborate. As the hosts, Ashton and Rhett were dresses as superheroes. William looked like an old wizard and Kathryn was all in black with her face powdered to look like she was one of the dead.
Carson and Brianna were zombies. Luis and Raymo were dressed like old west caballeros. They thought it was a fun play on their heritage. Other kids came as pirates, witches, ghosts, and comic book characters.
When she had the wiring updated, Miss Andela had opted for dimmer switches to control the lighting in various parts of the house. The ballroom looked quite appropriate with the chandeliers no brighter than they'd have been with candles. Bats hanging by transparent nylon thread added to the eeriness. The boys had used fake spiderwebs on some of the light fixtures and the windows.
In one corner, there were three folding privacy screens to hide the food and drink until it was time to partake. They might have set up the refreshments elsewhere but felt it was best to keep the mess confined to one area.
To begin the dancing, Javier had brought a selection of music including, "Monster Mash" which the kids all loved. Susan and he taught the kids some steps to go with it.
That was followed by "Thriller," "The Ghostbuster's" theme and other Halloween classics.
Just before it was time to serve refreshments, Mr. Miranda created a diversion near the fireplace which allowed Ashton and Rhett to open the panel across the room which concealed Anton's secret library. They quickly donned the ghost costumes Coleen had fashioned for them out of old sheets. There were details painted on which would show up under black light.
When they were ready, Rhett texted Brianna who let out a scream and pointed across the room just before Levi turned the lights off. At the same time, Griffin switched on a black-light floodlamp and the two apparitions seemed to float in through the paneling.
For a brief moment, the kids who weren't privy to the prank felt the hair stand up on the backs of their necks. Then, the lead ghost said, "Hi Y'all. We come in peace. Levi turned the lights back on and everyone laughed in relief.
The resident witch, Kathryn, snagged a couple of boys to help remove the folding screens which had hidden the tables loaded with good things to eat and drink.
At this point in the evening, Carson led a tour of the widows watch while William opened the panel to Anton's laboratory. Rhett's father, Brant, took his post in the secret library across the room. While they didn't assume anyone would steal something, they wanted to discourage the teens from touching things that might be damaged in the process.
Ashton allowed kids to enter his bedroom to view the ceiling and Rhett showed off the antique bathroom across the hall. (They had taken down the makeshift shower so it looked like it had for nearly a century.) Each room was dimly lit to make them look mysterious.
The refreshment tables were kept open when the dancing took up again. The rest of the evening's entertainment moved away from the scary music, featuring several line-dances which everyone could do, and a bit of salsa.
Raymo and Luis looked especially good doing the latter. Carson and Brianna showed off their skills, as did Dave and Megan. They'd all been practicing. Mr. Miranda and Ms. Brown joined the kids in some of those.
The final piece of music was quieter and more romantic. Several couple held each other closely for that.
As the partiers began to disperse, they remembered to thank their hosts for an awesome evening. The girl who had forgotten to get the event on the school calendar felt it might have been a stroke of luck that she had!
After the leftover food was seen to, Kathryn declared that the rest of the cleanup could wait until later since no one would be using the ballroom for weeks or months. The teens were happy that she did.
Levi's dad, Larry, picked Griffin and him up to go to their house. Ashton and Rhett decided to bathe in the antique tub before going to bed. As one might guess, it produced a happy ending.
Author's notes: I heard from JLF, Charles G, Ray M, James M, Allen B, Jim M, Paul R, Walter S, David C, Ott H, John L, Tim T, Mendy D, Peter S, Tony C, Tom K, Gordon, Johnny R, Bill T, Marty H, Ken B, Wayne S, Frank K, Jamie S, Vinnie D, Roger L, Brad, Jim W, Skip M, and Paul F. Hope I haven't missed anyone!
Thanks to David (Boxerdude) for editing this chapter.
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I'm still doing well and my house is secure. The damage was very minor. It will take months for the city to clear all our parkways of tree parts from the derecho nearly six weeks ago.
I heard from Paul R who tells me he is improving rapidly from the stroke and is nearly 100%! I'm so pleased.
David