Calling Home. Janna McMahan

okay. Look, I’ve got to help Pop this weekend. We’re pulling plants, so I won’t be able to take you to Will’s ballgame.”

      “That’s okay,” Shannon said. “Hey, my grandpa used to pay us grandkids to do that. He said we were closer to the ground.”

      “We’re gonna set on Sunday. We could sure use some help. If you come over, you can ride the setter.”

      “I’d rather drive the tractor.”

      “You always want to drive.”

      “Don’t worry about the ballgame. I’ll ride with Momma.”

      “And her new boyfriend,” Pam said.

      “Oh, God,” Shannon said. “How weird is that?”

      “Is she sleeping with that guy yet?” Pam asked.

      “You’re grossing me out. Stop talking about it.”

      The fire alarm abruptly stopped and voices dropped an octave. The gym teacher shouted through a bullhorn for students to file inside. “Everybody back to class. Pep rally in fifteen minutes. Go back to class and check in.”

      Kerry grasped Shannon’s hand and their fingers intertwined as they approached the front doors of the school. The gym teacher stopped with the bullhorn long enough to say, “No public display of affection, Miss Lemmons. Mr. Rucker, keep your hands to yourself! Mr. Rucker, don’t you have somewhere else to be?”

      “Catch you later.” Kerry sprinted away to his class as they entered the school at another door.

      “He’s so whipped,” Pam said. “Has he asked you to prom yet?”

      “No. But he will.”

      “You know he will. I can’t stand not knowing who I’m going with.”

      “Go stag.”

      “Right. Volunteer to hand out lemonade and take tickets with the rejects. No thank you.”

      Shannon laughed.

      “I heard Eddie Horn might ask me. I’d go with him. He’s wild and he’s got a nice car.”

      The Pep Club clustered at the bottom of the bleachers, nervously talking and handing out red-and-white pompoms. Shannon and Pam each took one and found a seat away from the most enthusiastic students. The cheerleaders postured, a couple fiddled with the paper arch the team would break through as they entered the court. The arch was scrawled with giant, colorful letters—REGION 5 CHAMPS/SWEET SIXTEEN here we come! A small group of band members tooted their instruments and the drummer occasionally let go with a spate of rhythm. Less interested students gathered at the top of the bleachers. They slumped against the gray block wall below the scarlet, eight-foot cardinal. Shannon searched the crowd for Kerry but saw only Will and Liz. Liz waved, Will’s thick gold ring flashing in the gymnasium lights.

      Kerry materialized from a throng of black-sleeved concert T-shirts featuring snarling rock stars and lightning bolts. He sandwiched in beside Shannon and shook her hand that held the pompom.

      “Yay, rah, go, team,” he said.

      Pam grimaced.

      “What’s with Miss Negative?” Kerry asked.

      “She doesn’t have a prom date yet.”

      “You’re one to talk,” Pam said. “You don’t have a date for prom either.”

      Both girls looked at Kerry. He froze. “What? I swear. I was going to ask you.”

      “So we’re going?”

      “Of course. What’s the big deal?”

      “We have to plan what we’re going to wear and it’s only two weeks away now.”

      “So?”

      “So, we have to match. Your tux has to match my dress. We have to pick out flowers. Stuff like that.”

      “Good grief.”

      “Didn’t you go last year?”

      “No.”

      “Why not?”

      “It just seems dumb. Dressing up like some penguin. Wearing flowers and stuff. I can’t dance.”

      “I can teach you. Will and I dance in the basement sometimes.”

      “I can move around in a slow circle. That’s it. No disco.”

      “Aw, come on.”

      “Nope. No disco.”

      The band started the school fight song and the student body rose to its feet in a jostling, singing mass.

      Oh when those dear old boys fall in line,

      We’re gonna win this game another time,

      And for the dear old school we love so well,

      We’re gonna fight, fight, fight,

      And yell and yell and yell…

      We’re gonna fight, fight, fight forever more,

      We’re gonna win this game and win some more,

      We’re gonna roll those Dragons off the floor, out the door,

      Rah! Rah! Rah! Ay! Ay!

      Kerry clapped half-heartedly and leaned over to shout in Shannon’s ear.

      “Sarah asked me if you wanted to work at the boat dock this summer.”

      “Really?” Shannon stopped clapping. “What would I do?”

      “Run the store. Rent out boats. Sell gas, oil. Stuff like that.”

      When the band finished the school song, the cheerleaders flipped and plunged across the floor. “All right!” they barked at the crowd. “Let’s go!” They began to sing and Pep Club followed. The song moved up the bleachers, loosing gusto as it climbed. We are the Cardinals! The mighty, mighty Cardinals! The stands groaned as students stomped. Everywhere we go! People wanna know! Who we are. So we tell them. We are the Cardinals. The mighty, mighty Cardinals…

      “You’d have to run the grill. Can you cook?” Kerry yelled.

      “I can cook a stupid hamburger.”

      “We’ll go after school and see if Sarah’s there. She wants somebody she can trust. Last girl stole from the drawer.”

      “How would I get to work? I can’t drive yet.”

      “I’ll take you.”

      “Oh.” Shannon flung her arms around his neck. “Thank you! That’s so cool!” She kissed him hard on the mouth and a teacher yelled, “Hey! No PDA or I’ll separate you two!”

      “Sorry,” Kerry mouthed.

      The student body of Baylor County High School came to their feet and roared as their undefeated basketball team ripped through the paper arch and spilled out onto the worn gymnasium floor.