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"Jailbait" renamed for the purpose of my story to "Hook Up for Vic and Charlene"
by
Jackie Cannizzaro
Vic and Charlene were in high school together. But only Charlene knew it. Vic hadn't noticed Charlene. He was a basketball player and dated the cheer leaders. Not to say he was confident but he had a role and played the part. It would be harder to break the type cast. He's smart enough to keep his basketball letter jacket, dumb enough to be cool, tall enough to play a great game of basketball, short in character maybe, perfect for the 'in' crowd.
Charlene was neither bookish (which would have justified her unbecoming glasses). Charlene had neither a models saunter nor poise (which would have gratified her body's shapelessness). Charlene's straight hair had never blown freely in anyone's red convertible. Girls who rode in convertibles wore hair scarves over big hair with thick sprays of Breck.
Charlene didn't throw her head back in laughter and turn heads. Heads never saw her pass. Was she a nice girl, a naughty girl, a funny girl, a shy girl, a smart girl, a beautiful girl? Somehow she totally missed getting any classification at all.
Like a one way mirror she saw Vic but he didn't see her. She could have had a crush on him but was wise to know a one way crush is just that. . . Like getting hit by the big yellow school bus. So she didn't allow herself.
The 8mm camera fast forward, frames, click-click-click-click to college. Vic's hooked up with a gal much like those he dated in high school. But when he didn't qualify to play college ball she drifted away. That's ok with him as he's enjoying playing the field. Charlene's in college too and her bloom is opening.
Vic and Charlene are both going through hazing unaware of the others locality being at the same school. A variety of character roles and challenges were put in the draw at the men's house. A variety of character roles and challenges were put in the draw at the women's house. Initiation involved carrying out the task each drew. Some roles were linked to play together but the drawing of roles is random. Hook Up, the roles: a traveling businessman seeking an hour of pleasure in the arms of a "professional" woman. These two challenges are drawn by Vic and Charlene unknowing of each in their separate houses.
Vic put streaks of white shoe polish in his hair to appear a seasoned
businessman. He wears his high school graduation suit. The directions in his challenge lead him across campus into a dark corridor and towards a slit of light pouring out a doorway. Inside Charlene is dressed the way she always had wanted to dress for her man. If she ever had a man.
Sitting in the cold leather chair by the shaft of light she shifts from hip to hip to strike the perfect pose. Waiting for whom? For Gadot? For how long she does not know.
The door creaks open. Vic's voice creaks too. His shoes don't creak because they are like lead on his feet as he's frozen to the floor. Upon laying eyes on Charlene he is not sure how far this hazing challenge is supposed to go.
Vic is approving of her slender body sitting in the shadows. She has just enough shape to be inviting. He wants to brush her straight hair away from her parted lips. Charlene's eyes without glasses reveal that she recognizes him. She takes a deep slow breath and begins to speak.
"Hello, Vic.""How do you know my name?" he asks.
"You and I went to high school together."
Vic says "you and me? But I don't remember you."
Charlene says "but I remember you".
"Wow" Vic says (he never used the biggest vocabulary). "Wow, how did I miss you?"
Charlene says, "What are we supposed to do now?"
Vic handing her is overcoat says "I have a red convertible, would you like to go get a cup of coffee? We've got lots of catching up to do."
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| Renovated Reputations: A Collaborative Installation
of Paintings, Fiction, Music and Vintage Furniture
by Kenney Mencher, Patrick Nelson and others at: The Art Museum of Los Gatos, California 4 Tait Ave Los Gatos, CA 95030 December 1 - January 6 Price: FREE Phone: (408) 395-7386 The Art Museum of Los Gatos presents Renovated Reputations, an immersive exhibition experience featuring works conceived as a collaboration in painting, creative fiction, and design. At once noir, bohemian and pulp in style, the works invite the viewer to step inside and sit awhile, discover their stories and spark engagement. More info at: http://www.kenney-mencher.com/ |
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