Christy: A Journey Tale Read Online Free PDF Page A

waiting
through that first half hour, but when the appointed time came and
went her nervous energy quickly turned into anxiety that rose in a
crescendo as 15 minutes late turned into half an hour. She called
his mom and she said David had left about 45 minutes ago. Her
anxiety was about to boil over to panic when her dad came up with a
plan. Jack didn’t like the idea of her going out with a senior
anyway, but Jennifer’s nerves were about to drive him crazy. If she
paced that floor wringing her hands one more time he didn’t think
he could take it. He tried to calm her down of course, but that was
clearly not going to cut it. So finally he told her that he would
drive her to the High School instead. The boy may have had car
trouble or something like that and might already be waiting for her
there. It would all be ok. Everything could still be perfect just
like she had planned. This was just a minor inconvenience. Jennifer
bought it hook, line, and sinker even though he knew this was going
to be a long night. The fact that the little ingrate hadn’t picked
up the phone told him all he needed to know.
    Jennifer was all smiles when they arrived at
the gym. The sun was just going down and the few clouds that were
there reflected a blazing pink and orange sunset that tinted the
world in a warm glow. It was a perfect night and Jennifer could
feel it as she jumped out of the truck almost before he could get
it stopped.
    “Thanks dad,” she yelled as she slammed the
door. Her white prom dress billowed behind her as she ran. He could
see the front door from where he was parked, and watched as she
went in through the main doors. She was so beautiful, more
beautiful than he could remember, and it sickened him that she
would have to grow up tonight so quickly.
    Jack didn’t know if it was going to be good
or bad, but he braced himself for the worse. As it turned out he
didn’t have to wait very long. He had turned his head to watch the
sunset and when he turned back toward the door he could see her
standing just inside. There was a look of terror on her face as she
scanned the parking lot, but then when she saw he was still there,
she took off in a sprint with tears and make up streaming down her
face. She flung the truck door open and doubled over in the seat,
burying her head in her hands.
    “He never told you what really happened did
he?” Jennifer asked with a smirk.
    “What do you mean?” Mary Beth said as she sat
up realizing there was more to this story than she was led to
believe.
    “He didn’t just stand me up. He got a better
offer and conveniently forgot to tell me.”
    “What?” Her mother gasped.
    “Yes, when I got to the gym that night, thank
goodness dad had the sense to wait. I think he knew what was going
on, but he knew I wouldn’t believe him if he had tried to tell me.
When I got inside I started looking for the guy. It took a few
minutes, but when I did see him they were off in some corner making
out. I couldn’t believe it. I recognized her immediately and right
then all the pieces began to fall into place. I was so devastated I
just had to get out of there. I don’t know what I would have done
if dad hadn’t been there waiting for me.” Jennifer sniffed and took
a deep breath. She wiped her eyes as her mother hung on every word.
“I found out later they had broken up earlier that year and it had
been their plan up to that point to go to the prom together. The
first girl he asked turned him down and I think the only reason he
asked me was because he knew I would say yes. So…when this girl got
dumped she asked him if he wanted to go and that left me odd man
out. The creep knew how it would hurt me and he was just too
chicken to come clean.”
    “Your father told me he went out to a movie
while you were at the prom.” Mary Beth said as she was still trying
to understand what really happened. Jennifer gave her mom a wry
grin.
    “Did he tell you he went to a movie or did he
say he went to a