"It's fine, you look cute!"
Francis' Mom looked at her son dressed in his rented tux. Black coat and pants, white shirt, cummerbund, and a matching black bow tie, he even had his hair done up in a tight little bun at the back of his head. She could say that he cleaned up well. Her handsome smart little man.
Francis however was fidgeting uncomfortably. This was basically the first time he was dressing up so formally. Nothing seemed to fit just right, too tight if he had to put it into words. He was feeling quite constrained.
Tugging at his neck. "I don't know, this seems a bit much?" The starched white collar was stiff and rubbing against his skin every time he moved his head.
"Come on now, it's prom!" Debra fussed over Francis' clothing. "You really only get to do this the one time. I remember how dashing your father looked in his tuxedo. It was quite the magical time." Her own eyes glossed over in memory back many years to her own time standing in a gym under soft lighting.
"Yeah yeah." Francis really couldn't stop itching and tugging on the suit. "I get it, I'll do my best. Not step on too many toes.
Brought back to the present slightly more forcefully than she would have liked, Debra gave his shoulders one last final dusting. "Yes you will. So, what's your plan for the evening?"
"Drive over, greet her parents, promise to get her home safe, drive to school, dance, come home safe." He recited the outline of his plan for the evening for perhaps the tenth time. Already itching and antsy, he rocked his feet side to side.
"Forgot one thing." She put her hands on Francis' shoulders. Staring into his face and then into his eyes. When they locked onto each other. "Have fun. That's the important part, have fun."
"I will mom." Francis let his face break into a smile.
"Good!" Debra pulled her son into a hug. "Good. Now get out there."
Returning the hug for a beat, Francis picked up his winter coat and slung his arms through the sleeves. It's thick fabric giving the teenager a bit of bulk against the winter chill.
He stepped towards the door and put a hand on the knob but stopped. "Keys?"
"Right right right right." Debra snapped her fingers a couple times and walked back into her room where her purse currently was. She came back quickly with the car keys but paused before handing them over. "Madeline doesn't touch these, right?"
"Absolutely not."
"Good. Have fun, get home safe."
Keys in hand and with a final wave of thanks, Francis stepped out into the deep snow. The light of day was almost done, he had to go pick up Maddie, and then it was time for a party.
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"It's fine, you look beautiful!"
Maddie's mom was hovering around her daughter like a humming bird drinking from a flower. "Tell her she looks beautiful."
"You look beautiful." Came the dutiful response from Mr. Callahan as he sat nearby. His own role in the preparations having long been relegated to short sentences of encouragement. That and his other bit of prepared comedy with a foam dart launcher resting on the nearby table, tradition would not be denied.
"See? He says you're beautiful." Mrs. Callahan fluffed up a particular piece of shawl that was draped over Maddie's shoulders.
Maddie herself was also feeling a bit stuffed right then. Stuffed into a dress, stuffed into her role, and generally stuffed with a snack from earlier to calm her nerves. Snap peas, not candy.
She was wearing a very shiny sequined one piece dress. It's dark green base colour matched well against her pale skin and red hair. It's floor length skirt covered up some high heels that were adding no less than three inches to her height and were already attempting to murder her ankles.
The matching shawl and clutch style purse rounded everything out well. The shawl covered her bare shoulders and was providing a small amount of warmth from the rest of her more exposed ensemble. The clutch had it's own sequins and glittered just as much as Maddie's torso did in the light of her kitchen.
"Thanks Mom, thanks Dad." Maddie fidgeted in place, her face somewhat strained from the effort to squeeze herself into the dress. Her legs moving back and forth, filled with a weird kind of energy. Not nervous energy though, more like excitement.
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Francis' large coat bunched up around his neck when he sat down in his mothers car. The keys still in hand made their way under the wheel and inserted into the ignition.
Giving those keys a twist caused the vehicle to start up with a mild roar. The kind of roar that only a cheap reliable commuter car that was in need of some maintenance could provide.
Francis adjusted the mirrors for his increased height over his mother, put the car into reverse, then pulled back into the street and turned to face Maddie's home. Already he could see the light of her door as it was illuminated in the fading light of day. A target to approach cautiously.
The car now in drive, he pressed down on the accelerator and crunched through the snow at a sedate pace. There was plenty of time to go before the prom started, and he wanted to give himself a minute to settle his sensitive nerves.
Deep breaths now. He pulled the car all the way up the Callahan's driveway as he could. This was the moment of truth.
Stepping back out into the snow, Francis left the car running to build up a bit more heat.
Snow crunched under foot as he approached their front door. He almost slipped on hidden ice with the first step, catching himself with a miniature heart attack. That accident avoided, he regained his balance with the next step and all too soon he stood at the door.
No going back now, Francis rang the doorbell.
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