But that's when it happened.I mean you hear those dumb, soppy tales about how
love hits you like a bolt from the blue. I never believed it until that moment
but there she was,standing by the grocery store. Even though it was getting dark,
her piercing green eyes sparkled and she looked just like an angel waiting to
be placed on top of the Christmas tree.Wow! Gegeous long, blonde hair,
beautiful shy, smiling mouth - but those eyes! I'd seen her from a distance at
school but as usual I'd played it cool and had made no attempt to be friendly.
She wasn't in my class and I didn't even know her name, but now I had to find
out. So I broke away from the guys and made some excuse about needing to go
into the store.As I approached her, her eyes dropped.I heard a loud "Tut!"
sound and there was Cherry standing protectively behind the counter, staring at
her.THE Cherry! The Cherry who'd been my 12th girlfriend this term, the Cherry
who,like the rest of them,had been a token pretty girlfriend who I'd mess
around and ditch when I got bored.
Darn, I'd forgotten about Cherry! She was chewing gum and, before I could even
blink, she'd blown a bubble big enough to swallow me up and send me to the
moon.As it pooped she sucked it back into her mouth with the speed of a bullet
and blurted out, "Whaddya you want?" "Probably still bitter about uor split',I
mused." "Six packets of Oreo biscuits and a tub og your finest Ben & Jerry's
ice cream if you please."I don't know why I said that, it just sorta came out
but at least it took Cherry scuttling into the back of the store for a minute
while I struck up the courage to speak to my angel. "You're new here,
aren't ya?" I blurted. "Yup," she replied shyly. "I'm Zac, what's your name?"
She looked up smiling but, just as she was about to reveal all, Cherry stormed
past her and threw the grocery bag under my nose and said,"That'll be $8
exactly, thank you!" I was fuming,Cherry had spoilt my moment of truth. As I
delved around deep in my pocket I realised that I'd spent all my money on soda
pop at school. My anger quickly subsided into complete embarrassement and I
called over to the guys to help me out. "What are you buying ice cream in this
weather for, Zac?" they challenged. "Listen, who's the leader of this gang?
Just give me the money!" I stormed. I paid up and scurried off, not daring to
look at the total confusion I'd left my angel in.How was I to ask her for a date
while she was in Cherry's viperous clutches? She'd probably poisoned her brain
with horror stories of the trouble our gang had caused. All completely untrue of
course. I spent the whole of Sunday evening dreaming of my angel and devising
plans of how I'd ask her to the Christmas Dance. Why did I always have to act
like the tough guy all the time? She was never going to trust me with my
reputation! Outside I could hear carol singers from the neighbourhood singing
out of tune, while inside my mom was bustling around putting finishing touches
to the tree, wrapping presents and fussing about the state of the Christmas
cookies she'd baked for Aunt Maisie.What is it about moms and Christmas?
They flap around in such a panic. I didn't care if I ate another turkey or had
another present, all I wanted for Christmas was my angel.The Christmas Dance was
just two days away, I had to pluck up the courage to approach her... Back at
school everyone had gone crazy, Jimmy and the guys were running round like
dumbos with mistletoe trying to kiss every girl in the hall."C'mon Zac, what's
matter?" grumbled Jimmy. "You're no fun anymore!" "Get off my case will you!"
I answered grumpily. I leaned back on my chair in the dinner hall and dreamed
of the day when I'd be united with my angel. Suddenly a rude, shrill scream
brought me back down to my senses like a ton of weights being dropped off the
Empire State Building. It was Cherry."Nooooo, I don't want meatloaf you silly
woman, I'm a vegetarian and I asked for mushroom medley!"
The poor cook was so embarrassed and apologised profusely to Cherry."Oh, don't
worry about it, I'd be better off picking my own muscrooms from outside," she
snapped.And with that she turned on her heel and called to her friend to follow
her,"Come on Lucky, let's go." Wow, i couldn't belie my ears, I'd found out my
Christmas wish would come true, that I'd be lucky too and be granted a date with
dream my girl.I spent the whole day repeating Lucky over and over to myself and
devising a plan of how I'd ask her for a date.I'd decided that I'd catch her at
the lockers at the end of the day and if she was still in Cherry's cluthes I'd
have the guys cause a diversion while I dropped a note into her pocket.That damn
Prefect Cherry, why they make someone like her look after all the freshman
(that's newcomers) is beyond me.The day dragged on so slowly and reminded me
of what it was like waiting for Santa Claus to arrive when I was little - an
eternity.
Finally,3.30 came around and the school bell chimed but was immediately drowned
out by everyone thundering down the corridor. Instead I made my way slowly to
the lockers,my heart pounding so hard that I thought if I opened my mouth to
speak it would pop out into the Christmassy night."Thank God," i thought as
I saw Lucky filling her bag with the contents of her locker. I quickened my pace
but before I arrived who should appear but Mr Wajeski. I coulden't hear what
they were talking about but Mr. Waj seemed to have taken a shine to her. Well,
at least it wasn't Cherry, I thought. mr Waj made his way to the water fountain,
so it was now or never. "Erm,um,er,Lucky," I whispered, "How would you like
to..." But before I could blurt it out Cherry's voice took over, hollering down
the corridor as she marched towards us. "Lucky! Lucky! Come over here now!" she
screamed. "No Cherry, YOU go to the hall, now,!" yelled Mr Wajeski. "There are
freshers waiting to be taken to the gym!" Wow! I'd never heard old Waj shout
like that! I composed myself and turned back to Lucky. "Lucky would you go to
the Christmas Dance with me?" Lucky looked up and peered over my head in the
direction of Mr Wajeski.
I turned around and could have sworn I saw Mr Waj nod, but I just dismissed it. "Yes,
I´d love to!" was the sweet answer that rolled off her tongue.
And with that we made arrangements
to meet the next night. I was in heaven, ´Wait till I tell the guys´, I thought
I spent hours and hours the next day pruning and preening myself, much to the
amusement of my mom. I felt soryy for mom. Since dad died she´d been really
lonely and Christmas wasn´t a time to be on your own. Still, she´d been
visiting one of her friend´s a lot lately so perhaps she´d go over there
tonight after she´d dropped me at Lucky´s. I was so excited I could hardly
contain myself. What would we talk about. Would we get on? mom pulled out
of the driveway and we set off on our 10 minute journey through the snow.
Never before had I felt so much Christmas spirit and had to stop myself
from launching into a special rendition of Jingle Bells.
We reached Lucky´s house and I bounded up the path, careful not to slip on
the icy crazy-paving, and pressed the bell. Lucky opened the door and my,
did she look fantastic. "Wow, you look absolutely gorgeous," I said, unable
to stop myself. Her green eyes were smiling as she yelled back into the
warm glow of the house. "See you later, Dad!" And with that she took my
hand and led me back down the path. "Where´s your mom? Oh sorry, I don´t
mean to pry," I said, already wanting to know everything about her.
"Oh, that´s right," she said sweetly, "Mom moved to England and didn´t
want to go so I came to live with Dad." My heart nearly melted and
I was lost for words so I slipped my arm around her shoulder and she
snuggled up close as we made our way to the dance. I could tell already
that I´d be having the best Christmas of my life.
_As they turned the corner, Zac´s mom Davina checked her make-up
in the car mirror, climbed out and made her way up the path of Lucky´s
house and rang the bell. Moments later Mr Wajeski opened the door and
with a generous smile welcomed Davina in. "Well, that´s all worked
out rather well hasn´t it darling?" he exclaimed. "Yes indeed it has, Bob.
Let´s just hope they´re as happy for us as we are for them. " And with that
Mr Wajeski, Lucky´s dad, took Davina´s hand and led her to the door of the
main room over which hung a huge bunch of mistletoe. They both looked up
and laughed.
(Boyfriend)
