Part 27 (2/2)

”Cool,” I say.

From Das Boot, Chad says, ”If you come in right now, it's going to ruin the surprises.”

”Surprises-plural?” I ask.

”Come on, Amber,” Jared says. ”Just trust us.”

”Am I still emceeing?” I ask.

”All's you have to do is show up at the auditorium at six forty-five,” Ty says.

”What time does the show start?”

”Eight,” Franks says. ”See you then.”

”Okay,” I say, feeling quite weird and a little embarra.s.sed by how little I have had to do with the preparation.

I chill outside for a bit, and then finish up my school day.

Ty drives Ricky and me to Donna's, and after I take BBB out-I actually take a nap. I'm always tired lately. Naps are becoming my favorite. Word.

I wake up to Donna yelling, ”We have to get you to the auditorium in less than an hour!”

So I get up and shower.

Makeup is applied.

Hair is blown dry.

Silver prom dress is put on my pre-woman body.

Red pumps are put on my nasty feet.

Prayer is said to JC-with much conviction and hope. ”Please help everyone to be who they need to be tonight! Amen!”

Ricky is wearing a tuxedo.

”You look dapper, Ricky!”

”Amber Appleton is wearing a silver dress!”

”Are you ready for this?” Donna asks, and I nod once.

Amber Appleton, Bobby Big Boy, and Ricky Roberts are driven to the CPHS auditorium in Donna's Mercedes with the heated seats on.

When we arrive, there is this huge line to get into the auditorium. There are no seat numbers, so if you want a good seat, you have to line up early.

We have to walk past this line to get to the stage.

When the crowd sees me, they actually start cheering-as if I were a rock star.

No bull.

There are hundreds of people lined up-all looking at me with these really sympathetic eyes.

We pa.s.s a section of Korean people-maybe forty of them.

We pa.s.s a group of women who look a lot like Door Woman Lucy.

And we pa.s.s a lot of Childress citizens.

Halfway up the line, some reject starts chanting, ”Amber! Amber! Amber!”

All of the morons in line start doing the chant, and I start to blush.

When I notice that Donna is also chanting, I elbow her and say, ”Stop.”

She laughs at me and keeps on chanting-like a complete dork.

When we get to the front of the line, Ricky heads into the auditorium, and I start to cry.

The first person in line is Private Jackson.

He's in a yellow b.u.t.ton-down s.h.i.+rt, like always.

He has his ticket in his hand-as if he's some excited kid waiting to get into a ball game.

He's smiling at me all proud of himself.

I know this is the first time he's been out in public-besides walking Ms. Jenny and getting groceries-probably since he came home from 'Nam.

”What are you doing here?” I ask.

BBB licks PJ's hand.

PJ pets BBB's head, and says, ”I wanted a front row seat, so I came early.”

”How did you even know about this?” I ask, because I never told him about The Save Bobby Big Boy Variety Show.

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