Chapter 04 -- Awards Escort
The week passed by with not much happening. Monday evening's card game was still ringing in my head, both the absolute beating I took in the game and how quickly I came being inside Penny in front of everyone else. My groin still twitched every time I thought about it.
I wondered when my next assignment would come as I sat at home Thursday night. I had a beer in one hand and a slice of pizza in the other when the phone rang. Am I ever gonna get to watch a ballgame in peace?
"Hello" I answered the phone, my mouth still half full of a bite of pizza.
"I need you," Leslie said urgently on the other end of the line.
"What's wrong," I asked, hearing the stress in her voice.
"Tonight is Mindy's senior awards dinner," she informed me. "Brad was supposed to take her but he stood her up. She is home, crying. I would take her myself but I am tied up here with this case I am working on. I depended on that fucking kid and he blew her off for concert. I am pissed."
"Calm down," I urged her. "This is a totally fixable situation."
"You are right," she agreed. "Get dressed and go pick Mindy up. I will call and tell her to be ready."
Before I could even say a word, you guessed it, she hung up. Me taking Mindy was not quite what I had in mind, but it was too late now. I had my marching orders so I dressed quickly in a golf shirt and some khaki pants. I hurriedly made my way to Leslie's house to pick up Mindy, though I did stop to get her flowers on the way there. I hated to hear that she was crying on a night that should be very important to her. Poor kid. Brad was officially a douchebag, ballplayer or not.
I parked out in front of Leslie's house and made my way to the door. I rang the bell and waited only a short moment before Mindy answered the door.
"I am here to rescue your evening," I said to her.
"Thank you," she replied softly.
"These are for you," I stated, handing her the flowers.
She smiled at me ever so slightly, still hurt by the early events of her day. The tear stains were still clear on her cheeks and body language was very down.
"I am almost ready, come in," she invited.
I followed her in and waited in the front hall.
"I will be right down and we can go," she informed me as she headed up the stairs.
I waited in the front hall for several minutes as Mindy put the finishing touches on herself for the evening. I looked at some of the pictures on the walls in Leslie's front hall area and took notice of one of Leslie with two other girls that looked a lot like her. I wondered who they were.
My attention turned from the pictures to Mindy as I heard her coming down the stairs. I was shocked to see that she had completely changed her outfit. She now had on a blue tube dress that clung to her body tightly with a thick black belt around her tiny waist. The bottom of the dress was only to her mid thigh and she had on black knee high boots to compliment it. Her cheeks were no longer tear stained, as she had on a provocative layer of make-up. I was taken back by her.
"What do you think," she asked, spinning in front of me to show me all angles.
"You look very nice," I admitted. "But is that outfit appropriate for a school function?"
"I'm a senior, they can't do anything about it," she flaunted. "Plus, if that fucker is gonna stand me up, then he is gonna feel the pain of what he missed."
She locked her arm in mine and we headed out the door. I breathed deep and composed myself as I opened the car door and helped Mindy in, closing the door behind her. I drove safely and calmly, in order to ensure the safety of my passenger.
We arrived at the high school after a short drive. Mindy waited until I opened the door for her and helped her from the car. She was careful and deliberate to ensure she was noticed by as many people as possible, keeping her arm locked with mine the entire time.
We made our way to the auditorium, amongst parents, faculty and students. There was assigned seating at the tables in the auditorium. We were seated to right side, somewhere in the middle. Our timing could not have been better because as we took our seats the festivities began.
Mr. Peters, the school principle, was on the stage introducing certain faculty members and starting the events for the evening. Mindy informed me that we were seated with one of her close friends, Dora, and her parents as well as two teachers from the history department. I tried to keep up.
Surprisingly, Mindy's name was called for the second award of the evening. There was a lot of mixed reaction from the people in attendance when Mindy made her way through the crowd to the stage to accept her award. I guessed the reaction was in response to her attire for the evening, but the buzz was even louder when she sat back down next to me. Mindy continued to rack up awards, collecting 4 prior to Mr. Peters calling for a 15 minute intermission.
"Can you get me a drink," Mindy asked me as the intermission began.
"Certainly," I complied.
I rose from my seat and was headed for the makeshift bar that was setup to get something for Mindy, when a short, balding man with glasses stepped directly in front of me.
"May I have a word with you," the man said, pointing his finger in my face.
"Mr. Peters," I said, finally recognizing him up close. "What's on your mind?"
"I don't think that it is appropriate for a man of your age to be with a young lady of Mindy's age," he chastised me.
"Well sir, I can assure you --"I began but he cut me off promptly.
"No, I can assure you," he interrupted, "that her aunt will want to know about this."
"You're right," I agreed sarcastically. "She's still at the office, why don't you give her a call."
"That's exactly what I am going to do," he threatened.
I walked past him, now completely pissed off. I headed out the door of the auditorium and found the men's room. After a minute or two to compose myself I headed back in and proceeded to get Mindy and myself each a bottle of water. As I headed back to the table, Peters cut me off again.
"I owe you an apology sir," he said, extending his hand.
"So you talked to Leslie," I presumed.
"Yes, and she certainly set the record straight," he admitted.
"Congratulations on your new baby," I offered, finally shaking his hand.
I headed back to my seat next to Mindy, handing her the water I had fetched for her.
"What did Peters say to you," she asked.
"He told me that I am too old for you," I revealed.
