This looked like the best time, so I started my pitch. "What I wanted to ask you — and I know this is very last-minute — was if Lori and Sara could sleep over. My party kind of changed into a girl-thing toward the last minute, otherwise I would have called."
"Your party? I thought..."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Communications get so messed up when you let boys handle it. I thought you knew. Well, it's no wonder. They were probably embarrassed to talk about it and it is kind of personal. You see, my mother is having a very hard time after the separation. I'm sure you heard about that?" She nodded. It would be common knowledge and making her privy to some personal detail would make her more sympathetic. "Well, Mrs. Reynolds was kind enough to take me in while Mom is, ah, well you know how devastating these things can be?" Another nod and a look of pity. "I'm moving in with the Reynolds for the time-being. This was supposed to be a way for me to let my friends know what's going on and everything. I just need to be with people right now and the sleep-over thing just seemed so perfect an idea. I hope you don't mind?" Neeka stepped to my side and put her arm around me, supportively. This girl was in the wrong line of business, I thought. She should be an actress, the way she picked up cues.
"Of course not, dear," she said sympathetically. "They can stay with you as long as they like. I know how traumatic these things can be and how having your friends with you can really help you through it. I wish I had done this after my first husband and I went through our split. I think it's a wonderful idea."
I had no idea that Mrs. Henderson had been through a divorce. I felt guilty for playing on that, but she seemed positively enthusiastic about lending her support. I said, "Thank you, really. I knew you would understand." I stepped closer and gave her a friendly hug. She hugged back, just a little more friendly than was strictly required. I wrote that off as a vicarious breast-enlargement experience.
"I'm afraid the girls didn't bring any night-things. I could run back and..." She started.
I interrupted, "No, don't worry about that. Mrs. Reynolds," I said, referring to the well-known local clotheshorse, "can provide pajamas for everyone." The actual fact was that Mrs. Reynolds could provide lingerie for a platoon of exotic dancers, but pajamas would be in very short supply. Still, I was trying to hew as close to the truth as possible. "And we have more than enough rooms." I waved casually to the four-story front façade of the house. Mrs. Henderson glanced up with the envious eyes of a woman living in a 40-year-old split-level with a noisy central air-conditioner. I could see she was regretting her decision not to come inside for a visit.
"Well, if the girls are OK with it," she looked at Lori and Sara, who nodded vigorously, "you call me tomorrow when you are ready to come home."
"I'm sure it will be no trouble for us to take them home." I said. "Don't worry about a thing. And thank you so much for understanding."
"Well, I've got to go. You kids have a good time." She said, getting back into the car.
"Yes, ma'am." Jim and Bud chimed, together. Not great timing, but at least they didn't blow their line.
We all waved as Mrs. Henderson drove off. When the car was a block away, Lori turned to me and said, "Do I know you?"
I laughed. "I'm getting that a lot, lately. You really don't remember me? Sam Kramer? I'm on the cheerleading squad, but that would have been after you graduated. Do you remember Kim Blevins introduced us last year at the Drama Club's play?"
"Well, I thought it was you, but..." She looked down pointedly.
"Oh, I get it. Like I told your mother — growth spurt."
"Growth spurt, my ass. Those can't be real!"
"Oh, they're very real," Neeka, the voice of authority, piped in. "Take my word for it."
At that moment, Bud made a choking sound. The look on his face told me that he had just identified the funny taste in his mouth. The look on his face was priceless.
Jim stepped up and put his arm around Lori. "She is The Master," he said. "Lori, I'd like you to meet my new little sister."
"What?" Sara said. "Somebody tell me what's going on here. And like right now!"
"Hey," I said, "You get to stay out all night and party. Can I get a 'thank you' on that?"
"Uh. Thanks," she said, doubtfully. "Yeah, thanks! Gosh. I just thought I was going on a date, you know? This is so..." She trailed off, still doubtful, but more enthusiastic.
"Let's go inside for the long version," I said. "The pizza is waiting." Everyone headed back into the house at the suggestion of food. Neeka stayed back and walked on the other side of Lori as we walked back.
"Lori, I hate bring up an indelicate subject, but since I am responsible for what happens tonight I need to know — are you... protected?"
She laughed at the deeply personal question coming from a stranger. "Yeah," she said, "little miss hot-pants over there got caught with a boy in her bedroom. Now, we're both on the pill. That's why the double-date business. I'm supposed to be her chaperone."
"Well, there is likely to be a lot of sex at this party. I just wanted to be sure you were down with that."
"Oh, yeah!" she said, warming to the news. "I am definitely down with that. But if Jim is my date, and Sara's with Bud, aren't we a few cocks short of a coop? Who's your date?"
"You are." I said, squeezing her hand. She jumped like I had hit her with a joy-buzzer. "She is." I said, nodding to Neeka. Neeka reached out and squeezed Lori's behind. Lori jumped six inches in the air. "Jim and Bud are Neeka's dates, and mine, and yours, and Sara's. Sara is my date and Neeka's. You are... am I confusing you?"