“PARK AND SPARK”
JAN. 31—In this so-called “modern age” of the hot rod and snazzy car, the problem of teenagers parking seems to be a big one for parents. But a smart girl will realize that if her popularity hinges on “park and spark” it will be short-lived. There’s a price to be paid for free and easy necking. Girls know what a horrible nightmare a girl with a bad reputation must live through.
18
Christina
Christina wasn’t thrilled about going on a double date with Mason and Miri. But Jack wanted to do this for his brother, so she would do her best to make sure a good time was had by all. It wasn’t that she didn’t like spending time with Mason and she had nothing against Miri, though she knew her only from Dr. O’s office and as Natalie’s friend. It was about not wanting to give up her time alone with Jack. She’d missed her chance last night because she’d had to go with her family to an engagement party for her least favorite of the cousins who worked at Three Brothers.
There would be no time to go to Jack’s room tonight, something she’d been doing lately. Jack wasn’t allowed to have overnight guests, wasn’t allowed to entertain women in his room, so he had to sneak her in, which wasn’t that hard. Mrs. O’Malley knew her now, and understood she wasn’t Jack’s sister. But she also knew Christina was a good girl from a good family and that Jack was not going to take advantage of her so she was willing to look the other way if she caught a glimpse of Christina going up the stairs. It wasn’t as easy with Christina’s mother. If Christina was unable to be home by 11:30 p.m., she had to call and explain why. And it had better be a good excuse, like a snowstorm, something Mama could see for herself. As far as Mama knew, she was going to the movies with a group of friends tonight, which was almost the truth. She didn’t add that the movie was playing in Newark or that it was The Thing, which they’d missed when it first came out last spring.
Miri
“What’s going on?” Rusty asked Miri. “Why are you dressing up?”
“Mom, I told you I’m going on a double date tonight.”
“On a Sunday?”
“Yes, because Mason had to work late last night. We’re going with Christina and Jack.”
“Who are they?”
“Mason’s brother, Jack. And Christina from Dr. O’s office.”
“Christina goes with Mason’s brother?”
“Yes, Jack McKittrick.” Why couldn’t Rusty keep any of this straight?
“How old is Jack?”
“I don’t know. Maybe twenty-one or twenty-two.”
“I don’t want you going out with someone that old!”
“Mom…Christina and Jack are the chaperones. You know Christina from Dr. O’s office.”
“She seems like a responsible girl,” Rusty said, more to herself than to Miri.
“Yes.”
“Daisy says good things about her.”
“See? And she’s going to work for Dr. O full-time next year.”
“Where are you going…that is, if I give you permission to go.”
“To see The Thing.” Here it comes, Miri thought, bracing herself.
“The Thing? I don’t want you to see that movie. It’s a horror movie. You won’t sleep for a week.”
She could have said, It can’t be anywhere near as scary as the real things I’ve seen, but she didn’t. Rusty had the power to send her to her room and keep her there. Instead, she argued, “Mom, please. It’s just a movie. It came out last year. It’s science fiction. Everyone at school has seen it, even the teachers.” This last part was a stretch.
“I’ll bet Christina would choose a different movie.”
“Yeah, some love story, probably. You want me to see that kind of movie with Mason?”
“No, I do not!”
Miri decided to change the subject. “And then we’ll probably stop for burgers.”
“Not at the White Castle. They serve horse meat.”
“That’s just something Nana said to scare you when you were young.”
“No, it’s the truth. During the war they used horse meat.”
“Well, the war is over.” What happened to happy-go-lucky Rusty from last weekend?
“Korea isn’t over.”
“That doesn’t mean they still serve horse meat.” An image of Natalie at summer camp, astride a sleek black horse, popped into her head.
“No burgers at the White Castle,” Rusty said. “Do you understand?”
“Okay. No burgers at the White Castle.”
“How are you getting there?”
“Jack has a truck. He’s a very safe driver.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he uses it to get to work. He’s an electrician. Christina says he’s the best.”
“Ha—she’s no judge if she’s in love. You tell him you’re my only child.”
“He knows.”
“How does he know?”
What was this, the Spanish Inquisition? “Okay, I’ll tell him.”
“And I want you home by ten. It’s a school night, after all. And get all your homework done first.”