No one likes to go to prom alone. This is the case for 18 year old Jack Lawrence, a senior at Parks High School in rural Iowa. He had gone alone his junior year, but desperately wanted to have a date for his senior year. He had asked several girls, but each one had already secured a date for the dance.
Jack is your typical farm boy. He's a little lanky, but strong as steel. Getting dressed up was not his favorite thing to do, but he made exceptions for certain occasions. However, he had decided he would rather stay home than go solo to prom this year.
About a week before prom he sits down to eat some dinner.
"You know Jackson," started his mom, who always called him by his full name. "I think I know someone you could take to prom."
"Oh yeah?" responded Jack, half listening.
"Yes. I think you could take Julia."
Jack looks up from his food. "Julia? As in... Aunt Julia?"
"Sure, why not? She's only 8 years older than you, but doesn't look it. Besides she lives a couple towns over and I doubt anyone knows her anyway."
"Mom, I hate to break it to you, but no one wants to bring their aunt as a prom date."
"Jackson, I don't want you to miss your senior prom. I'm quite sure that Julia can pull it off and that you will have a good time. Besides, I already asked her."
"You what?!" exclaims Jack, nearly spitting his food out. "Geez, mom, thanks for the heads up."
"It's not that big of a deal Jackson! It isn't like she is a blood relative anyway, she's adopted."
"Oh, yeah, that makes me feel all better," he says, shaking his head.
"She is kinda looking forward to it. She didn't get to go to her senior prom because she was at home with a broken leg, as you might recall."
Jackson recalled that alright. In fact, it was his fault that she had that broken leg back then. A careless ten year old had left the gate unlatched on one of the horse stalls in the barn. Julia had come over to help clean out the barn to earn some extra money. Bad luck struck her that day as the horse in that stall kicked the gate as she was standing just outside it. The gate had flung open and caught her square in the shin, making a clean break. Julia wasn't able to walk on it for a few months.
"Man that was a long time ago. So, I'm supposed to take her to prom because of something I did when I was a little kid?"
"No, but it would be nice."
Jack takes another big bite of food and doesn't say a word as he finishes his dinner. Finally, he sits up in his chair and looks at his mom who hasn't stopped looking at him through the whole meal.
"I guess I don't get a vote in this?"
"Sure, but I will sweeten the deal."
"Ok. Let's hear it."
"You take Julia and I'll let you take the Mustang."
Jack got a big grin on his face. His father had died when Jack was very young, and had left behind a 1969 Mustang Mach 1. His mother had never sold the car, but kept it covered in the barn.
"... and I'll even pay for dinner."
"You'll let me drive the Mustang?"
"No, I'll let you have it. It is about time I get that old car out of the barn anyway."
"Holy shit!" Jack yells. He mother scowls. "Oh, I mean, wow!"
"I'll take that as a yes, now go call Julia and tell her."
Jack jumps up and runs to his room, grabbing the cordless phone along the way. He hits speed dial number 2 and closes the door behind him. The phone begins to ring.
"Hello"
"Hey, Aunt Julia, its Jack."
"Oh, hi Jack. How are things?"
"Great! I mean, really good."
"So what's up?"
"I just wanted to see if you are free next Friday night."
"Maybe. What do you have in mind?"
"Oh, come on, Mom told me she already talked to you."
"Yeah, well, I want to hear you say it."
"Aunt Julia, will you go prom with me?" he says in a goofy voice.
"Uh, no."
"Aw, come on!"
"I don't go on dates with silly boys. I only like men."
"A date?!" thinks Jack. Then he remembers the car.
"Alright," he says, with his normal voice. "Aunt Julia, will you go to prom with me?"
"No."
"You're killing me here."
"I will only go if you start calling me Julia, not 'Aunt Julia.'"
"Fine, fine," he says, no exaggerating his words. "Julia, will you go to prom with me?"
"Yes! I'd love to."
"Ok, well, it is next Friday at the Golden Estates Country Club."
"Oh, fancy."
"Yeah, whatever. Anyway, I guess I need to know what color dress you are wearing."
"I'll have to let you know when I get one. What time are you picking me up?"
"Well, what time do you get off work?"
"I took the day off so I have plenty of time to get ready," she answers.
"Let's see, how about 5:30, that way I have time to get us back over here for dinner at 6."
"Sounds good to me."
"Ok," he responds. "I guess you can just let me know about the dress and I'll see you next Friday.
"Sounds good, Jack. Bye."
"Later," he says as he clicks the phone off.
He immediately runs out to the barn and slides the cover off the car. The dark blue paint looks really good, although he already is planning on a full detail and waxing before next week. He grins for a while at the car and then throws the cover back on it, knowing this is his car now.