ie mother clay. the tiny Christmas tree made “Oh Mari,"” Mama choked. “ It's won- TWO ONCE she heard Daddy talking. Grandma .. ."’ he said has just passed-away.” Karen; that was Mama! like that strange word Did that mean. . .? Mama's little songbird Afraid. Of what, she in our you’ ve maple. gone, started breeze we knew By Kathie Stites walked Then As | look back on it now, though it happened over a year ago, | find | remember it quite clearly. to class. | set my books down on my desk and scanned quickly over the room to his desk. It was empty. | had an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach and my hands were sweating like mad. | went out to get a drink when | saw him. | pretended not to see him and | walked past. He hit me on the butt. | turned around quickly, and saw he was smiling at me. “Ask him! Ask him!’ | kept telling myself. ‘‘Now's your chance.” “Hi, stuck-up!"’ Roger said still grinning lt all started on a Monday afternoon in late October. | remember | was sitting in fourth period listening to the bell ring. | had been waiting impatiently all hour for it to ring, but now that it had, | was dreading the thought of going to fifth period. | gathered up my books and _ started the DATE peo- at ple around me, | was wondering what | was to say to Roger and how | was going to go about asking him to the Halloween dance. | couldn't decide whether to come right out and say “Roger, there's a dance this Wednesday, wanna come?" Or if that sounded a little too formal. | could say something like ‘Would you like to go to the Halloween dance with me? It's Wednesday.'’ No, that really sounded formal. | could always just walk up, hit him in the gut and say: “Hey ol’ Buddy, how ‘bout it?’’ Now, that would really go over good. | crossed the hall to my locker and got out my books for fifth. me. | thought it was kind of romantic the way he had started the conversation. My heart was pounding so loud, | was sure he could hear it. ‘‘Hi, Roger,’’ | answered back. | was getting more flustered by the second. Now's my chance. ‘Goin’ to the dance?" | tried to ask this so casually but the ‘dance’ came out in three syllables! ‘Nope.’ he said. Then | opened my mouth to say something but for the life of me, | couldn't think of what it was. All that came out was “‘Oh.'' Then he just stood there wait- ~ “Uh, asked. denly turned followed and walked into me and | sat as the “No,” “Why boys.” room. down . . . What do you have “Seminary.” Oh." | tried to smile. ‘So goin’ to the dance huh?’ ‘‘No, are you?" he asked. dying a thousand deaths, | think he was rather enjoying the whole thing! | sudwatched him walk across to the side of the room and sit down. know. FIRST mach again by the time the bell rang | waited for Roger to walk across the room and he just passed my desk, when | stood up. “Roger?” Yeah?" | walked up to him and we walked out of class together. on his face. That made me even more embarrassed and a little mad. While | was He crying. didn't noticing the Gaye Thomas ‘‘passed-away” really the hall, not even danced here didn't THE down Leaves since WEE 9s cold. ‘‘Karen Mari you Now ‘Grandma, hoarsely, | cleared my throat to say something but it never came out! This was awful! His six feet were towering over my five feet three inches. And there we stood; each waiting for the other to say something. lt was then that | noticed an amused look Tonight While oe | couldn't ing for me to say something. think of anything to say so | waited for him to say something. He didn't. | felt my cheeks burning and my throat was dry. of | derful!'’ A tear slipped down her cheek. ‘Oh Mama," Mari clung to her mother and buried her head in Mama's arms. ‘| love you Mama.” That night Mari was awakened from her sleep. The room was dark and Mari wiggled down in her covers. She thought ni Serbs Pak RS | other to ‘Well, go.” “Why? next?” you're not 1 said. not? It’s up | don’t know | think to you to anyone who wants like a lot of it sounds ask the The bell and class started. | don't remember what the lesson for that day was. | was too busy thinking about Roger to worry about the lesson. About every five seconds, I'd glance over at him; sometimes he'd catch me looking at him and I'd have to turn away. One time | glanced so long | could close my eyes and still see him. He was wearing his green and white striped shirt and brown ‘Well, | don't know anyone who wants to go,"’ | repeated dumbly. ‘Hell, lots of guys, do."’ ‘Do you?” “Do | what?” “I mean will you?’ | was afraid to look at him. ‘“‘What?"' Oh, Lord, | would have to levis. say And, of course, his cowboy brown eyes, boots. broad chest, | bet WOW. he was un.” wearing Dark brown hair, shoulders, and his it’s 45 inches to the dance so when Mr. around, ‘Sure,’ up asked'’ and said | damn loudly, ‘| near died! kids in the class laughed been of the and | blushed like | never blushed before! | hadn't thought about that! What could | say? | buried my face in my English book and waited for the bell to ring. Butterflies had taken wing in my sto29 28 FORRES RR RE said, then turned and walk- | remember being in seventh heaven for the next two days and by Wednesday night | was on top of the world. | had taken great pains in curling my hair just right, pressing every wrinkle out of my turquoise pant-suit, and getting my makeup on perfectly. At just a few minutes after eight, | saw Roger's car pull up in the drive-way. ‘Now mom, be sure you look at his chest. It’s really gorgeous. If he has his coat on, I'll take it off so you can see it." | was yelling as | ran down the hall to Edwards haven't A few he ed away. left the room, | whispered just barely loud enough for him to hear: ‘‘Hey Roger, why aren't you going to the dance?” He looked it again. “Will you?" | repeated. He smiled. “Will | what?” By this time we were at my locker. “Will you go?” | asked. “With who?" “With me,"' | said impatiently. | kept looking at the floor afraid to look at him. When | did | saw he was smiling. It’s so broad. Suddenly a thought hit me. What if Roger wasn't going to the dance because he couldn't. Maybe he had to go out of town. Maybe he had another date or was goin out with his friends and get drunk. Maybe he hated dances! Oh, I'd simply die if | asked him and he turned me down. I'd just simply have to commit suicide. | had to find out why he wasn't going | ee