Will's Birthday Party, part three
Thursday Aug 5th @ 7:30 PM - The King House
The toast was drunk to a chorus of ahh's, and cheers. Will had
blushed bright red, but had lifted his glass to Bart and drank deeply.
This had been followed by another round of Happy Birthday, a cake with
candles, and more presents, Will, while enjoying himself, couldn't get
it out of his head, that Bart had, in front of everybody, even his mom
and dad, said that he 'loved' him. It wasn't just between themselves
anymore. He went through the motions for awhile. But all he could think
about were those three words and Bart.
Grams, again trying to get everyone to pay attention said loudly,
"Hey we need quiet for awhile. Got some other things to talk about and
share. Ted and Gary told me that Angie will be coming home on Monday." A
general round of applause greets the news. "Now this will mean even more
work for Ted, Will, Jenny, Gary. ... So Sandi came up with this idea.
... Sandi would you take over please."
Sandi looks at her two best friends, Ted and Gary, and grins from
ear to ear, "Earlier this week I got an e-mail from Gary, telling me
that he and Ted were going to cancel a trip they had been planning over
the Labor Day weekend. I thought that was Bullshit, " She looks around
hoping she didn't offend anyone, "So I made a couple inquiries and
decided to basically un-cancel their cancellation." Ted and Gary both
start protesting. "I can't leave." "We're not gonna have enough
money."
To which Sandi in her own way again says, "Bullshit! You two ARE GOING
and that's all there is to it. ... Bart, Will, Zack, Shelley and Jenny
along with their parents will take over for you for the five days you'll
be gone. You guys are going to need this time. And I've already made
AND paid for your room reservations." Sandi's voice catches a little,
"And WE all are going to make sure you go, right Grams."
"Well, Betty, and I talked it over with Sheri and Evan and
also
Steve and Mark, and we decided that Ted and Gary aren't the only ones
that will need a break before school starts. So, we've decided to also
give Will and Jenny a little bit of a holiday. Gina has invited Jenny
and Shelley, and of course Zack, to spend the weekend in Topeka. I
talked to CJ's mom, and got permission for Bill to come here for that
weekend. Will, we'll think of some way for a last bit of timeoff before
school."
"This has been a long and hard summer for everyone, with a
longer
and harder fall ahead of you." Grams said looking from Ted, to Will, to
Jenny. "It practically broke my heart when I found out that Ted was
dropping out of school. So like Sandi, we decided to do something." She
looks to Ted who is sitting with Gary's arm over his shoulder, "Ted this
is going to mean a lot of work on your part, but we came up with a
plan." "What are you talking about? I have to be here, it's my ...
responsibility." "As Sandi, so eloquently put it earlier, Bullshit! ...
Ted you have friends here and in KC who are willing to help. Starting in
September, YOU will be spending half of your time at school and the
other half here." "What are you talking about?" "Well, we've all made
arrangements to see that you keep going to school, it's always so much
harder to start again after you drop out. I will be coming over to your
place Mondays and Tuesdays to stay with your mom and Will and Jenny,
Betty is going to stay Sundays, and Sheri and Evan will take care of
Wednesday during the day. You'll be able to got to school for 2 and a
half days a week."
"That's all well and good but it's too late for all that.
I'm not
even registered for the Fall." CJ's turn, "Bullshit! I talked to Drew
down in the registrar's office and everything's been taken care of. Bet
you didn't know I could forge your signature." Ted says, "What about
classes? I don't know what's available that I need. It's a wonderful
th..." Jim interrupts this time "Bullshit!, you know I like the sound of
that, Bullshit!. I went to talk to professor Garrett, your advisor, and
told him what the deal was. He went thru your class requirements, and
came up with a schedule that will work. He's even going to set up it up
so that you can do a research project for part of your grade."
Ted turns to Gary, "Did you have anything to do with
this?" "I
didn't have the faintest idea! ... It's all news to me!" It's now Ted's
turn to cry. He buries his head in his hands and let's it all out.
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back to "stray e-mail, part two"