The Luckiest Girl

 

Jean and Johnny by Beverly Cleary

                                     Illustrated by Joe and Beth Krush (1959)                                                    

                                                                                                            10 chapters

                                                                                                            284 pages

 

Chapter 1

            Standing in the kitchen of their modest two bedroom, one bath home, Jean Jarrett dreamily muses to her older sister Sue one evening in December what it might be like if something really nice happened: a rich uncle leaving them a small fortune so their father wouldn’t have to support the family paycheck-to-paycheck (he’s a United States Postal Worker) or a magical transformation to make her taller and not having to wear glasses so she might be more interesting. Having enough disposable income to walk into a department store at the shopping center and buy a ready-made dress, just ONCE! Today, fifteen-year-old Jean is wearing a poorly sewn skirt that she forgot to match up so it hangs all wrong while her sister Sue, two years older, is wearing her own creation and looks lovely as always.

Sue declares she knows the VERY NICEST thing that could ever happen-to meet a boy. Not just any boy. Single males have called on Sue before while none will look twice at Jean (YET) but, Jean agrees, it WOULD be nice to meet a boy who was actually attracted to you.

Right now, Jean is more anxious not to miss her TV show. Sue understands this and will finish the dinner dishes so Jean can gawk at the TV and the (fictional) Kip Laddish and his weekly variety show. Young and handsome, Kip winks at his television audience while singing his opening theme song while her father snarks from behind his evening newspaper. In Jean’s defense, Sue and her mother make a comment or two-a teen celebrity never harmed anyone-and the entire family leaves Jean alone to enjoy her show. Jean daydreams of Kip, even during commercial breaks as a girl wriggles her fingers in her hair before the suds lift off her head turning into a dancing bottle of shampoo.

The minute the show is over Jean’s best friend, Elaine Mundy, phones so they can squee over their favorite celebrity. Elaine invites Jean over where Mr. Mundy teases Jean about her short stature while Mrs. Mundy puts Jean to work making Christmas wreath decorations for a future country club party. Jean doesn’t mind, she enjoys spending time with this family and her best friend is very tall and gangly so they make a good pair. Both enjoy writing to pen pals and wonder if any dating opportunities will ever come their way.

Project finished, Mrs. Mundy invites the girls to ride along with her in the car to drop off the decorations at the clubhouse where a fancy dress party is in progress. With several minutes to kill (Mrs. Mundy needs to step out a minute to attend to some office paperwork) the two girls slip into the room to sit and watch the dancing and admire the young ladies, all dressed up. Just then, one tall, handsome young man with curly dark hair asks Jean if he may have this dance? In a dreamlike trance, the short, gawky girl who is hardly dressed for the occasion in her ugly skirt and saddle shoes, stands up and the boy takes her in his arms. While Jean is hyper-aware of the pleasant, clean scent of soap emanating from the boy, it is very awkward since Jean has never danced formally before. They slide/walk more than dance while Jean silently agonizes over her clammy hands, has no idea where to look or what kind of friendly chit-chat to make with a boy who is being very nice about his impulsive choice. Finally, Jean loses her nerve and flees the scene. By now, Mrs. Mundy is back and saw the whole thing. Both are very complimentary to Jean who is too bewildered to even think straight. She is still in a daze after the Mundys drop Jean off at her house and she enters the bedroom she shares with Sue, still working at the sewing machine. Sue comments and Jean announces something nice really DID happen today after all!

Chapter 2

             While Jean is content to muse over this very nice, albeit surreal experience, as if it had occurred in a dream, always enthusiastic Elaine is determined they should find out everything they can about “THE BOY.” Jean has taken to lingering in the bathroom studying her appearance in the mirror, fussing with her shoulder length hair and bangs; removing her glasses and squinting at her reflection to see if she looks more attractive without them. After all, if one boy noticed her, others might also and Jean needs to be prepared. She and Elaine begin practicing formal dance steps. After all, Elaine speculates, he might have a friend!

School at (fictional) Northgate High resumes after the Christmas break and on the very first day back, Jean and Elaine venture upstairs to the Senior Hall to see if they can find THE BOY. They do and rush away giggling. Thus begins their obsession of stalking this upperclassman who is sooo good looking. They learn his name is Johnny Chessler, find out his address, a modern home located in the more upscale neighborhood in the hills, and his phone number is Toyon1-4343.

(In the 1950’s a phone number consisted of the exchange name for the operator to know which hub to connect the caller to and the last four numbers are the specific phone line-just like we use today. As cities grew, phone companies upgraded to all-number dialing, much to the dismay of many old-timers!)

They also learn he drives a Chrysler and likes to ski for Elaine saw him coming out of the local sporting goods shop one day and scribbled down the license plate number of the car he was driving. He is already pre-dating the 1990’s “grunge look” preferring plaid flannel/wool shirts and slacks as the girls discreetly observe these rotations in his daily wardrobe, AND he has a sidekick. A short, very ordinary, nerdy-looking boy named Homer Darvey who wears a crew cut, glasses, and follows Johnny everywhere like a faithful dog. Johnny also DJ’s a local radio program produced by the high school’s communication club which plays every Saturday morning and which Jean begins faithfully tuning in to listen while she does her chores.

Thus passes January and then one day, in early February, with the promise of spring (when a girl wants to exchange all her frumpy winter clothes for “gay” and yes that word is used, cotton dresses) the girls happen upon Johnny and his group of friends hanging out on the school lawn during lunch hour showing off how far they can walk on their hands. Johnny beats everyone in the informal contest and while Homer hands him all the loose change that fell out of his pockets, Elaine impulsively decides to march up and ask Johnny how old he is. Red with embarrassment, wanting no part of this, Jean hurries inside the building to her locker but a triumphant Elaine finds her for Johnny HAS noticed them. Johnny is seventeen but, as he told Elaine, “tell her I’m nineteen!” with a lazy, condescending grin. Jean almost wants to die of embarrassment.

Still feeling annoyed by her best friend’s actions, as well as her own-chasing a boy who is so far above her socially-Jean is hurrying to her next class when she nearly runs into Johnny who calls her a “cute girl.” Intrigued by the meaning of such a common word, Jean looks it up in the dictionary and chuckles. She is “pleasingly pretty or dainty.” What a compliment!

 

Chapter 3

Being noticed by a boy can really change a girl’s life, as Jean discovers with each passing day at school for Johnny now smiles and speaks to her every time they happen to pass in the hallways between classes. Then, one day in late February, Jean stays late in her last class (sewing) to finish a project and happens to run into Johnny and Homer exiting the building. She is thrilled as Johnny walks her down the hall, intriguing her with a rather tall-tale of his weekend adventure. He went skiing in the mountains and supposedly encountered a bear, face-to-face, until Homer, in all seriousness, reminds them both that bears hibernate in the winter and they shout with laughter.

After that, Jean begins lingering after her last class in hopes of re-enacting that first wonderful chance encounter. To her delight, Johnny and Homer are actually WAITING for her one day and she and Johnny have their hallway “date” with Homer as chaperone. After learning of her best friend’s chance meetings, Elaine begins walking herself home so Jean can continue to meet Johnny-if he bothers to exit the school that way. Otherwise, Jean must walk home alone, missing the companionship of her best friend.

One day, only Homer is waiting in the hallway for Jean after the last class of the day. Johnny is auditioning for an upcoming school production-a variety/talent show. Jean decides right then and there to join the Costume Club (sponsored by her sewing class as part of the Home Ec deptartment) so she can work backstage. The perfect excuse to see Johnny! Homer will be playing violin in the school orchestra to provide live music for the show.

Then, one terrible day, as Jean is lingering outside the door of the classroom, pretending to read the announcements on the bulletin board as her only excuse to wait for Johnny, he and Homer approach but there’s a GIRL with them! Jean has a rival. As they pass, Johnny winks at her and Jean gives him a carefree smile in return. Peggy Jo, a tall, quiet beauty who reeks of feminine intrigue, is a senior whom Jean recognizes but never thought much about before. She clings to her hope that she is still “Johnny’s girl” and finally, one Friday after being escorted down the hall again by Johnny and Homer, instead of saying goodbye at the bus stop (where Jean has had to pinch her allowance pretending she really does ride public transit when she can save money by walking) he asks her if she’s doing anything tomorrow night? Could he, perhaps, come over and hang out? Jean stammers she would love to have him over and Johnny sets the time for eight o’clock.

A DATE!!! Jean hurries over to Elaine’s house to share her news. Elaine is both happy for Jean but a little disappointed for the two girls often have Saturday night sleep-overs when Elaine’s parents go out. Elaine is an only child, so Jean will come over and they have a very enjoyable evening-shopping for their own dinner and talking about their hopes and dreams. Elaine will ask another girl over instead so Jean can experience a real grown-up date.

Next Jean must tell her family. Sue is surprised a boy like Johnny would even look at her little sister and while she knew there was a mysterious boy out there somewhere who had once danced with Jean and that Jean sometimes talked to Johnny in the halls at school, she had never put the two boys together. Nevertheless, she gives her blessing. At the dinner table, Mom and Daddy are doubtful this boy is good enough for their daughter but with some encouragement from Sue they finally relent to allowing Jean to entertain her young man for the evening. Plans are made so the family can provide some space and privacy for the two lovebirds and Jean can hardly wait for tomorrow.

 

Chapter 4

            On Saturdays, Mrs. Jarrett works in a fabric store downtown. Sue will also spend the afternoon downtown at the library gathering material for a paper she has to write while their father is already out in this miserable, rainy weather, delivering the mail. Some housekeeping money is dug out of the cookie jar so Jean can go to the market later today and pick up the ingredients for a dessert she can serve on the coffee table in the front room. Her parents will move the TV into the small nook after dinner and stay there for the evening. Sue will hide in their room, doing her homework. That’s the plan for tonight.

            Jean spends a very agreeable morning and afternoon, all by herself, dusting and cleaning the front room so it will be presentable for her date. She listens to Johnny’s radio program, wishing they would play less music and more of that dreamy voice. She smiles radiantly at the boy bagging her groceries. He smiles back, boosting her morale even more. When Sue gets home from the library, Jean has hot coffee and peanut butter sandwiches ready to serve and they chat pleasantly for Sue ran into a neighborhood “ugly duckling” boy they used to play with as children. He is all grown up now, almost handsome, attending the university and he and Sue found lots to talk about while at the library. Jean can’t help feeling a little pity for her older sister who must settle for such a boring boy while Johnny obviously likes her and is MUCH better looking. Their father gets home later than expected and proves what a kind man he is for he will often return to the post office to find a special piece of mail for someone on his route and make a special trip to deliver it to that person to brighten their day; which is what he did this afternoon.

            After dinner, rain and wind continue to beat on the small house. Jean changes into a blouse and skirt and brushes her hair. Her father builds a temporary fire in the fireplace and as eight o’clock approaches the front room of this humble dwelling looks cozy and inviting. 

            Except Johnny never comes. By nine o’clock the small fire has burned down to coals, Jean has almost convinced herself she had the wrong day and rain is still drumming on the roof when the phone rings. While Johnny SOUNDS contritely sorry-old family friends popped in at the last minute and his folks wouldn’t let him leave-he promises to make it up to her and he’ll see her on Monday and, by the way-she has a cute nose! Jean laughs obligingly and hangs up. Her family’s sympathy is almost annoying. Jean waves it all off and decides to retire to bed early.

 

Chapter 5

            Johnny DOES make it up to her-by actually entering the sewing classroom before the last bell rings on Monday to escort her out of the room and down the hall, through the doors and out to the bus stop where he waits with her until the bus comes. He does this every day that week, except Thursday when he tapes the radio show. Homer seems to have disappeared and Jean hardly notices his absence. Friday arrives and Johnny does NOT ask her out on a date and Jean is disappointed.

Sue gets home from school with a large parcel full of material to announce in a “gay” voice that the Jarrett sisters have an opportunity to earn some money! Making stoles for the high school’s             a capella choir to wear over their black robes. They need at least a hundred, in all sizes, and the school will pay anyone $1.25 apiece willing to do it. Of course Sue jumped on it (just like one of the March sisters in Little Women would have done-a common theme in this book). Jean and Sue spend the rest of Friday working and Saturday morning they are still at it in their bedroom: cutting out the simple pattern, using the portable sewing machine to stich the two pieces together and basting the edgings. They chat and laugh pleasantly while anticipating all the nice things they can buy with their earnings.

At quarter to ten the doorbell rings and Jean experiences the joy of being able to announce to her sister that Johnny is here, spur-of-the-moment, to see if Jean would like to go with him to the drive-in for a mid-morning snack. This time it’s a REAL DATE. She grabs her sweater and off they go.

By the time they reach the drive-in and Johnny orders two cokes for them, the conversation has run dry. Johnny turns on the radio and they listen to his program. (The Love Bug won’t be released for another nine years or so but the illustration of Johnny’s VW bug may evoke certain images.) Jean praises Johnny on his voice-over talent-he should be an actor or a professional announcer. Johnny just grins down at his fan. He reminds Jean, again, about all her cute features-she has dimples when she smiles. Jean uses this as the perfect Segway or segue to ask him the question that’s been on her mind since Chapter 1-out of all the people in that room, why did he ask HER to dance that night? His answer is vague-she just looked so cute and eager sitting there. And that’s it. The carhop removes the tray; Johnny starts up the Bug and takes her back to her house. The subject appears to be dropped and Johnny does not make any definite plans to see her again as he helps her out of the car and walks her up to her front door. He smiles lazily down at her that he’ll see her around school and takes his leave, declining any invitation to come inside and hang out for awhile. Jean’s date lasted barely an hour.

Surprised to see her sister back so soon, Sue is finishing a stole before leaving for the downtown library-the book she requested is in. Full of restless energy, Jean absentmindedly putters around the house, eating a sandwich she barely tastes, and even leaves the house for a quick walk. Her infatuation with Johnny is like a fever. Returning to the house, Jean desires nothing more than to hear his voice, again, just one more time. She picks up the phone, dials the number and hangs up as soon as a woman answers. Counting out exactly five minutes, Jean dials again and this time asks to speak to Johnny with only a lame excuse as the reason for her call. Johnny humors her, goes to look but, of course, Jean’s sweater is actually lying on her bed. Sue heard the whole thing from the bedroom and she disapproves of Jean chasing a boy like Johnny hoping for crumbs. She’s worth more than that. Kenneth Cory (the ugly duckling boy) was at the library again and gave Sue a ride home. He is taking her out on a date tonight and what’s more, Sue adds, she expects he won’t be standing her up. Full of jealous indignation, Jean tries weakly to defend Johnny but Sue shoots her down. He’s just not into her, can’t she see that? Jean resents Sue’s implications. The two sisters proceed to baste and sew choir stoles in silence.

 

Chapter 6

            Jean stuffs her jealousy deep down as she is forced to watch a glowing Sue prepare for her date with Kenneth and when he arrives, Jean is the one who ends up reluctantly answering the door but Kenneth proves a true gentleman-the kindest young man Jean has ever met. He is genuinely glad to see Jean, remembers her from childhood, shakes hands with her parents and helps Sue on with her coat. He is not handsome, his face is still pockmarked from the childhood acne everyone teased him about but it is obvious he is thrilled to be taking Sue out on a date tonight and for Sue the feeling is mutual. He is nothing like Johnny and for Jean this is painfully obvious. After a short, quiet cry in her pillow, Jean spends the rest of the evening furiously sewing choir stoles.

            Johnny is condescending towards Jean in the hall at school on Monday but, to Jean’s dismay, no DTRing (define the relationship) is done. Jean is quickly caught up in her new extracurricular activity after school, the variety show rehearsals. Elaine got a part as a (whitewashed) Indian maiden. She will be part of the backdrop while the glee club men sing cowboy songs around a fake campfire. Homer reads a book between music cues in the orchestra pit. Up on stage, Johnny reads from his script as the narrator for the show-taking the audience on a journey through time between numbers. With all the different school clubs coming and going in the auditorium and Jean just sitting there observing with not much else to do until the actual dress rehearsals, many of her fellow female students begin asking her to hold their purses and bags and other valuables while they take their turns up on stage going through their dances and songs. Jean doesn’t mind this new unofficial duty at all. For the first time in her life, she feels a part of the school and is enjoying the camaraderie.

            One day, a wallet Jean is guarding slips off her lap and a small snapshot photo falls out. It is obviously some girl’s boyfriend or a really good male friend, someone important, because the boy is smiling at whoever happened to come along and take his picture as he was casually sitting on some steps. Right then and there, Jean decides she needs to have a personal photo of Johnny to carry around too.

            But first, there is the heavy responsibility of finding the perfect opportunity to ask Johnny to an upcoming girl’s choice dance. Jean helps sew and maintain the new costumes as they arrive and enjoys her responsibility of handing out the garments from the small room behind a Dutch door to all the cast members. Because she already told Sue during their argument at the end of the last chapter that she was going to take Johnny to this dance (she told Elaine too, but not in anger) she HAS to ask him. But how?

On the day of big dress rehearsal and run through, she frowns and shakes her head at Elaine as she hands over the brown flannel Indian maiden costume. Jean has still not asked Johnny to be her date to the dance yet. Elaine isn’t planning to ask anyone so she must live the dream through her friend. In the dressing room, Jean assists Peggy Jo whose 1860’s civil war ball gown needs a quick basting at the hem. Jean suggests Peggy Jo should wear her long, wavy, sandy blonde hair, loose and flowing for the rehearsal instead of pinned up in the bun at the nape of her neck the way she always wears it around school. The other girls add their encouragement and Jean plays hairdresser arranging the thick, soft mane of hair with a flower over one ear. The effect is enough to catch even Johnny’s attention as a blushing Peggy Jo passes and Johnny whistles. To her silent dismay, Jean realizes Peggy Jo, a fellow senior, LIKES Johnny and after the mini-makeover Jean just gave her, Johnny likes her back!

After the run-through, desperate to ask Johnny NOW, before she loses her nerve, Jean steps out of her comfort zone to announce in a no-nonsense voice that all dancers in the haunted house bat number must return the glittery, eight-inch-long, glamorous fingernails that they are loathe to part with, back into her box, RIGHT NOW. They do and, spurred by this new boost of self-confidence, Jean finds Johnny by the microphone behind the curtain, awaiting his next cue, marches up to him and asks him if he would go with her to the dance.

Johnny grins his lazy grin, tweaks her hair and gives a casual response in the affirmative before turning to the mic to say his last comment that will end the show. For Jean, this is enough. She asked and Johnny accepted. She has her date to the dance!

 

Chapter 7

            Sue shrugs off Jean’s “I told you so” when she announces her triumph that Johnny agreed to go to the dance which proves he DOES like her. Sue has another date with Kenneth tonight with no worries of how they will travel since he has a car AND a driver’s license. Jean, on the other hand, must ask her very strict, old fashioned father if he wouldn’t mind chauffeuring her and Johnny to the dance, since Johnny never said during this whole week while Jean hung out with him during lunch hour and he continued to escort her out the school building every day, if he was going to be a gentleman and provide transportation for their upcoming date. Jean is still too young to drive and she is getting anxious about how to put this date together. Her father frowns that his daughter is chasing boys when it should be the other way around. Sue speaks up from the bedroom (their house is SO SMALL!) to allow Jean the indulgence of the family car. Jean’s mother volunteers to drive them so her father can get to bed on time and Jean promises to be home before midnight.

            The next evening is Saturday and Jean is at Elaine’s to spend the night. They are doing their homework together pausing to talk and comment on different subjects, including their pen pals. One sent a picture of herself and Elaine would like to send one in return but doesn’t have any good ones. Remembering her goal to find a way to get Johnny’s picture, Jean suggests if Elaine can bring her father’s camera they might be able to accomplish both tasks.

            Except Jean forgot the Mundy family camera is hopelessly old fashioned, requiring the photographer to set it up on a tripod and use a light meter. Elaine’s enthusiasm really is too much for Jean who wants to die of embarrassment again as she takes Elaine’s picture outside on the school grounds (she managed to talk Elaine out of using the tripod) during lunch hour with none other than Johnny and his friends as their audience. They comment and hoot at Elaine posing on the steps of the school. Elaine offers tips to Jean on how to take a good picture while Jean agonizes how she will be able to casually snap a photo of her own (unwilling?) subject.

Elaine shoos Jean over to stand as close to Johnny as possible without making it look obvious. Johnny, missing nothing, is already posing while Elaine fumbles with the light meter. So much for casually snapping a picture! Homer calls out that they forgot to advance the film in the camera and that Elaine should move out of the shadow and into the light. Elaine has to pause again, much to the consternation of the growing crowd. Jean silently curses Homer for interfering and mumbles to Johnny that she has arranged their transportation to the dance. She feels exactly like a deer caught in the headlights (narration even describes it that way!) The picture is taken and Johnny and his friends decide to head over to the track field and watch the team get in some practice until lunch hour is over. Firm hand on her shoulder, Johnny guides Jean away with his crowd while Jean, looking over her shoulder at her forlorn friend has no idea what to say. Seeing the look on her best friend’s face, choking on their departing dust, Jean feels terrible for this obvious public snub at Elaine.

 

Chapter 8

            Thanks to their money making opportunity, Jean has twenty dollars in choir-stole money to splurge on anything she likes! She will, of course, be spending it on a brand new, store-bought dress to wear to the dance. She wants to look her best for Johnny who will not regret his agreement to go with her next Saturday. She asks Sue to join her on this outing and Sue is happy to provide her support and advice on picking out the perfect dress.

            Saturday arrives and the girls make a day of their shopping adventure taking the bus downtown to Northgate Apparel where Jean is immediately reminded of her naiveté when she stammers to the smartly dressed female clerk that she wears a size twelve pattern. Sue takes over; informing the clerk they are looking for a dress to wear to a school dance. They are seated and the clerk proceeds to show them a few samples which she hangs on a display stand, the tag dangling from the too-short sleeve shows this elegant afternoon dress costs $35 (My, how times have changed!). Sue speaks up asking if they have anything for the amount Jean has. The clerk smiles reassuringly, complimenting Jean on her “trim little figure,” and leaves to scour the store for just the right dress.

She returns with the perfect one, informing Jean with her petite figure and coloring-straight, classy dresses, in unusual colors are what she needs to wear. This dress with its flared skirt of beige with a sash of brown and apricot is only $17. Jean tries it on in the fitting room, Sue zips her up and it looks very becoming. She models it in front of the big mirror out on the floor and everyone agrees it looks great on her. Jean wonders why she ever needed Johnny’s validation-she IS an attractive girl and this dress makes her look like a million bucks. She’ll take it!

            Next stop is a shoe store that advertises free tinting where Jean, with Sue lending her the money, splurges even more on her first pair of high heels (pumps) to match her dress. The cost is $6.99 (as we learned in the first chapter). This perfect day of luxurious spending, they agree, could end no better than sitting at a booth in a soda fountain, blowing the last of their money on two ten-cent cokes and commenting on their good fortune at finding the perfect deals today.

            As Jean and Sue sip their cokes (served on paper doilies!) two fashionably dressed, middle aged women, their hair looking freshly done, take a seat at the booth next to them, order hot fudge sundaes, moan about how much weight their already plump figures are going to gain and proceed to gossip about one of the women's popular high-school age son who is being sadly chased by a girl who is way too far below him, both socially and economically. Why, the poor girl even asked him to a girl’s choice dance and calls the house all the time with made-up excuses to speak to him. She and her friend walk past their house, giggling. He’s not interested in her at ALL and both women feel nothing but pity for this poor, socially awkward girl who will surely grow up to be an old maid for she is nobody special, nobody important.

            Frozen in shock, Jean can only sit there, listening in helpless despair, knowing these two women could only be talking about HER. She asked Johnny to the dance two weeks in advance, was that so far ahead that he had to say yes? And all the other things, well, if the shoe fits. Sue says nothing, because she’s a good sister, but her eyes are full of sympathy. Turns out, the boy is named Roger and the two women weren’t gossiping about Jean after all.

            The girls exit the establishment in relief. To help her little sister feel better, Sue relates her own awkward sophomore infatuation with a senior boy at school that she fell head over heels for-the star football player on the team. She cut his picture out of the paper and followed him around all that semester hoping he might notice her and ask her out, but nothing ever came of it. Jean laughs in disbelief, she remembered that phase when her sister covered her side of the room with clippings of the football team but assumed her sister was just feeling a lot of extra school spirit, she had no idea it was love!

            Back in their bedroom, Elaine’s belated Christmas gift is sitting on Jean’s bed. Elaine and Jean were planning to see Kip Laddish’s personal appearance in their town this weekend but after Johnny singled her out and she began “going” with him, she’d forgotten all about Elaine’s promise to buy them both tickets to the event as Jean’s Christmas present. The developed photo of her and Johnny was the agreed replacement. Now here it is and, just as she suspected, Jean really DOES look like a deer caught in the headlights as she stands stiffly next to a very relaxed, “God’s gift to women,” Johnny smirking for the camera while Jean looks like she’s standing before a firing squad. After the conversation she overheard today, it couldn’t be more obvious. He never really wanted to go with her anyway and Jean must find a way to somehow break her date with Johnny.

 

Chapter 9

            To make up for the way she treated Elaine back in chapter 7, Jean goes over to the Mundy’s house after dinner that very evening to thank her best friend for the Christmas present. Jean has the funniest letter from her Japanese pen pal who wants to know how American coeds make “detes” (yes the foreign writer misspelled it!) with each other.  They chuckle over the “encyclopedia” Jean will have to write in response and Jean takes this opportunity to inform her best friend that, speaking of dates, she has decided to break her date with Johnny. Elaine looks at Jean as if she’s just announced her change in sexual orientation but Jean really is determined to do it.

            Johnny makes it easy for her as he is waiting in the hall on Tuesday afternoon (Jean didn’t bother to wait for him after class on Monday-let him find HER for once!) leaning casually against the lockers. He has some news; a sick grandmother will sadly prevent him from joining Jean this weekend at the dance. His dad insists he cancel the date so the whole family can go (and keep vigil at her deathbed, apparently!). Jean actually feels her temper flare. Of all the made-up excuses! With as calm a composure she can muster, Jean, in turn, informs Johnny that she had meant to break the date all along anyway. She thought it over and realized they don’t really want to go with each other-do they! Running a finger down her nose, Johnny grins and tells her she’s cute when she’s mad. Jean turns and walks away, head held high. Goodbye, Johnny.

            But Elaine isn’t so happy for her friend. She too is furious with Johnny for treating her best friend this way. Jean HAS to go to that dance now. She has her new dress and shoes to wear and, most important of all, she HAS to save face by showing Johnny she’s over him. Word will certainly get back to him if Jean shows up at the dance with her own date. There must be somebody she could ask! Today is Wednesday, the dance is this Friday, who could be left around school to ask?

            Elaine suggests Homer. He’s a boy Jean knows and he used to hang around Johnny except lately Jean realizes Homer hasn’t really been seen with Johnny and his crowd these days. Jean considers Homer. He’s certainly respectable and nice enough; he wears glasses and is slightly taller than her, not to mention older. Yes, Homer might just be the best choice-if someone else hasn’t already asked him.

As Elaine and Jean walk down the school’s main hallway, they see Homer exiting the library with another book (he’s always reading). Elaine makes herself scarce leaving Jean free to ask him to the dance. She explains she had asked Johnny first but he broke the date which was okay because she had meant to break it anyway. Homer understands and is blushing crimson with the pleasure of being singled out by a GIRL to be asked to what is obviously HIS very first school dance as well. And Jean needn’t worry about having her mother drive them; he has a driver’s license and can get the family car-if he ever aspired to take a girl out on a Friday night! Grinning, Homer practically skips down the hallway and exits the school-so different from Johnny’s response when she asked him. Jean is filled with satisfaction. Homer may not be the handsomest or most popular boy in school but he is genuinely GLAD to be going out with Jean and that makes up for a lot.

 

Chapter 10

            The night of the dance, Sue has another-what is this, her THIRD date with Kenneth now? They are driving across the bay to the city to see a free showing of classic, silent movies playing at a museum. The doorbell rings and Sue dances off into the night with her new boyfriend with whom she is madly in love with. Alone in the bathroom, Jean combs her brown hair one last time, arranges her bangs and applies her lipstick feeling a little sad that Johnny doesn’t appreciate what a catch she is and that she won’t have the satisfaction of seeing him at the dance tonight-what with his prior engagement and all-and he in turn will never see Jean in her ball gown and regret not having kept the date. The doorbell rings again and Homer is invited in to meet mom and dad who remind Homer to take good care of their daughter tonight. Jean is embarrassed but the very mature Homer, in all seriousness, replies to her parents that he is up to the responsibility. Out in the car, Homer hands her a plastic box with a fresh and fragrant corsage for Jean to wear to the dance. Jean experiences a wonderful feeling of being cherished. She never expected a boy to give her a flower to wear tonight (and she didn’t even make a boutonniere for him!)

            They are unfashionably early. Jean is apprehensive about stepping onto the nearly empty dance floor, for REAL this time, but there’s nothing else to do and Homer cheerfully admits he’s not a good dancer either. As they stumble and apologize, Homer declares they won’t do any more apologizing for the rest of the evening and just do the best they can and, by the way, Jean can relax. He’s not going to try anything fancy while they dance. Jean tries and Homer notices. We learn he’s a senior, at least seventeen (just like Johnny) and, to Jean’s surprise, he’s old enough to shave! She stifles a giggle wondering how many laps around the gymnasium made a mile. Jean has never been so bored. Homer’s dancing is as reliable as a metronome.

            Just then, something (or someone) catches her eye. There, at the entrance to the gym, checking in their coats, is Johnny. He is with Peggy Jo-who looks ravishing. They dance like Fred Astaire and Ginger while Jean stumbles on Homer’s foot again and wants to die. She never expected Johnny to lie to her like this. Of course he already had a date to the dance. Homer noticed Jean’s sharp intake of breath and understands her reluctance to see or speak to her “sort of ex-boyfriend” this evening except, he reminds her kindly, it is Johnny who should be embarrassed to see Jean at the dance, not her. And when the next dance comes to an end and the music stops, Jean and Homer find themselves facing Johnny and Peggy Jo. Johnny actually DOES look uncomfortable as Jean and Homer greet them both in a friendly, but cool manner. Jean can’t help but comment to Johnny how glad she is that his grandmother is feeling better. Johnny practically turns red as he mumbles a response. Homer chivalrously asks Jean if she would like to step over to the refreshment stand (a grass hut-it’s a Hawaiian themed dance) for a glass of punch, un-spiked of course! Jean would love to and as Jean shares the joke with Homer who throws his head back and laughs, Jean notices Johnny looking at them in surprise, even consternation. As if he couldn’t understand how two social rejects could actually be enjoying themselves outside of HIS company.

But Homer proves just how cool he is, unafraid to be his own unique person. Face it; he tells Jean, they aren’t having a good time at this dance which is supposed to go from 9 to midnight. They don’t have to follow the poplar crowd. It may be only 9:30 but let’s ditch this Popsicle stand and find something more interesting to do. Jean’s father gave her money in case they wanted to go get something to eat but Homer has a better idea, he’ll take her back to his house (don’t worry, his parents are home) and make her a milkshake-no charge. Jean is agreeable. Besides, her feet are killing her.

Homer is a regular Thomas S. Monson. His hobby is pigeons and he would love to show them to Jean who is intrigued. After a quick hello to Homer’s parents (who are surprised to see the kids back so soon) Homer grabs a flashlight from the kitchen and they troop across the backyard, overlooking the bay, to a pigeon coop he and his dad designed and built themselves. They take the birds out into the country on Saturdays, release them, and they always find their way home. Jean is delighted by the entire operation and Homer lets her cuddle one of the birds.

He leads her back to the house, into the kitchen, to deftly whip up two tall, frothy glasses, of banana-strawberry-pineapple milkshakes made with vanilla ice cream. Jean has never tasted anything more delicious. She is enjoying her date very much. Homer is good company.

Until Jean brings up the subject of Johnny, asking Homer why he stopped hanging out with that crowd? It was because of the night Johnny was supposed to come over and see Jean. Johnny lost his car privileges after getting pulled over for doing 90 on the freeway. Without a driver’s license or car of his own, he wanted Homer to drive him over to Jean’s that night and be the third wheel on their date. Homer refused and that was the end of that already rocky friendship. He grins at Jean, assuming Johnny was probably sopping wet when he arrived, eh? Jean quietly tells him he stood her up and Homer frowns. Peggy Jo has a driver’s license AND her own car which explains a lot. That makes Jean feel better. Homer declares they drop the unpleasant subject of Johnny, who is nobody’s friend. They are better off without him anyway. Once Homer realized he was just acting like a fan boy, hoping some of that popularity would rub off on him, he stopped associating with Johnny and his crowd.

Jean didn’t realize it was getting so late and her father made her promise to be home by midnight. Homer has her back on time, but before he lets her out of the car and walks her to the front door, he asks, in all seriousness, if she would consider kissing him-the way two people might consider the idea of which restaurant to go to. Caught between horror and hilarity, Jean briefly considers bolting from the car and running for the safety of the house before getting a grip on herself. She doesn’t kiss on first dates. Homer respects that and walks her to her front door, shyly suggesting they take the pigeons out next Saturday for a second date. Jean would love to.

She enters the house to collapse on her bed and rub one of her aching feet. What a first date! Full of ups and downs. Sue gets in just a few minutes later and is glowing with the rapture of her first kiss from Kenneth. So much more mature than the silly boys at their high school. Jean knows this is true. Even two years ago, Sue would never have dated Kenneth, he wasn’t ready yet. Girls like Jean and Elaine will just have to wait for the boys to grow up (keep waiting girls!) Jean lets Sue have first turn at the bathroom tonight so she can snip herself out of the picture with Johnny. Opening a lacquered box where she keeps odds and ends she doesn’t know what to do with, Jean places Johnny’s picture inside where she will hold the memory of the first boy she ever loved (crushed on) in her heart, always.

 

THE END