It worked out that the prom was actually held “Beneath the Stars,” which seemed fitting. Maggie couldn't help but notice the similarity of the prom themes in 1958 and 2011, but was grateful she would be dancing with Johnny in the fresh air, where she would be safe from the pull of the past. Hundreds of silk trees lined the perimeter of the parking lot, and each had been densely strung with white twinkle lights, creating an enclosed dance floor. A popular band from Galveston had volunteered to play at the ravaged high school free of charge. Huge generators were brought in to power the band and the lighting, and several local businesses had donated tables and chairs, refreshments, and flowers to the senior class.
There is something very sexy about a guy who can dance, and apparently Johnny had been practicing some modern moves in the three days since Maggie had popped the question. It's amazing what someone can learn from satellite TV. Maggie was stunned and thrilled in equal measure. But the slow songs were the best, and Johnny held her like there wasn't another girl in the vicinity, which of course, there was. And the girls were all aware of him. Maggie caught several of them gawking and pointing and practically drooling when Johnny let loose on the dance floor. The boys seemed to be increasingly angry over the attention he was getting from their dates; there was even a bit of a dust up at one of the tables. Derek and Dara were arguing quite publicly about the looks she was giving Johnny, and Derek ended up pushing away from the table, knocking over his chair, and storming out of the circle of lit trees to where all the cars were parked. Several of his friends seemed unsure of what to do, and Trevor ended up being the only one who followed him out. Maggie shrugged. She really didn’t care about Derek or Dara.
Unlike most of the couples who made an appearance at the dance to see and be seen, get their pictures taken, and quickly leave, Johnny and Maggie lapped up every song and every second. Nobody else existed, and nobody else mattered for one night. If Maggie could stay in a moment forever, this one would have been a contender; purgatory had become paradise, and Maggie happily lost herself in it. Even the blackened remains of the high school, foreboding in the velvet moonlight, cast little shadow over her bliss.
Unfortunately, it appeared that Derek's jealousy got the best of him, and when the last song ended and Maggie and Johnny left the prom hand in hand, they discovered all of the tires on Irene's car had been slashed. The car sat in an embarrassed slump, and Maggie cried out and Johnny swore, closing the distance at a run, squatting down beside the right front tire, which was completely flat, the gash puckered and gaping.
Maggie bit her lip to keep from screaming out in vexation. She wished suddenly and fervently that she and Johnny could just run away together. She was so done with Honeyville and high school. But just as quickly, she stopped herself, quelling the thought. On this night especially, she was mindful of her blessings and grateful that for the first time, maybe even since her parents died, that she had hope for a future with someone she loved.
“I’m guessing you’ve got a spare in the trunk, but one spare isn’t gonna do us much good,” Johnny sighed. “Who would do something like this?”
“Did you notice all the looks you were getting from the ladies?”
“Absolutely.” Johnny smiled deviously, his eyebrows waggling.
“Yeah, well so did all the other guys. I’m guessing one of them - and his name starts with ‘D’ and end with ‘erek,’ was a little jealous of your hot moves and decided to take it out on our cool ride.”
Maggie hunched down beside him and sighed. “How many blondes does it take to change a tire?”
“Only one, sweetheart, but this blonde can’t work a miracle.”
Gus’s portentous words echoed in Maggie’s mind. Don’t forget your miracle so quickly. “This blonde IS a miracle,” Maggie said quietly, sliding her hand into his.
Johnny’s eyes softened, and he leaned in and kissed her slowly and then stood, pulling her up beside him.
“We aren’t taking this old girl home tonight. You got any friends who could give us a lift?”
Maggie looked around at the mostly deserted car lot and then back toward the tree-lined dance floor. The band was disassembling and moving gear into the back of an old Ford pick-up overflowing with speakers and equipment. They weren’t going to be able to squish in there, and Maggie didn’t know any of the band members. Her eyes roved past the few remaining couples all walking out to their cars. One car pulled away as she watched, and another couple she knew only vaguely climbed onto a Harley Davidson Motorcyle, the girl hiking up her skirt and pulling on a helmet. The hog rumbled and belched, and they pulled away without a backward glance at the marooned Cadillac.
“Maggie! Do you guys need some help?”
Maggie swung around to see Jody Evans turn off the twinkle lights at the perimeter of the dance floor and head towards them. Jody was on her dance team, and she had always been nice to Maggie, helping her out with her make-up the night of the fateful winter formal, and never letting Dara’s opinions sway her.
“Jody!” Maggie called, relieved that someone she knew still remained at the dance. The place was now almost deserted. “We’ve got a little car trouble here. We need a lift. Could we catch one with you?”
“Sure! My boyfriend manages the band. We’re just helping them load up, and then we’ll drive back to the lead singer’s place to unload. The committee will come back tomorrow to take down all this other stuff. It’s way too late tonight to mess with it, and I don’t think anyone’s gonna run off with silk trees or twinkle lights. ‘Course, judging by your car tires, there are some definite jerks out there. Geez! Who did that?” Jody’s eyes widened at the damage done to the Caddie’s tires.
Maggie let the question slide by, not wanting to point fingers when she wasn’t absolutely sure of the offender. “Are you sure we could squeeze in? The truck looks pretty full.”
“Oh sure. We’ll figure it out.”
But Jody’s optimism was short lived. The lead singer, the drummer, Jody, and her band manager boyfriend were all going to cram into the front seat of the truck. There was no way Johnny and Maggie were going to fit.
“We might be able to get one of you in the back if you hold one of those speakers in your lap, but it ain’t gonna be comfortable man,” the drummer volunteered hesitantly, addressing Johnny.