A Little Orange in the Big Apple

  * * * * *

  28: “Spring Prom, Graduation, and a Visit from Father”

  Ali had been invited to the Spring Prom at St. Andrews by one of Reynolds’ friends, Scott Von Osterlitz. He had met Ali when Reynolds brought him home during the holidays and Scott thought Ali was smart and cute. Ali was in the 6th grade now and reading more books than ever, including one that Scott had also read, “The Old Man of the Sea”. Scott and Ali liked talking about the old fisherman in the book and the great fish he had caught and later lost. Reynolds found it hard to believe anyone might think his sister was either smart or cute.

  “You want to invite my sister? She’s just eleven, a 6th grader for heavens sake! She doesn’t even know how to dance. Are you sure?” Reynolds asked Scott. Scott liked to read, like Ali, and enjoyed talking to her about books.

  “Yes, I’d like to go to the prom with Ali,” said Scott firmly. When Ali’s mother told her about the prom, Ali was not at all sure that she wanted to go.

  “I don’t have anything to wear. I don’t know how to dance, Mother,” protested Ali who had never gone to anything like a prom before. Ali felt very good about her abilities to read, climb rocks and trees, and throw a dodge ball in the play yard, but the idea of dancing with a boy made her very unsure of herself.

  “You know Scott, he’s a very nice young man. I’ll teach you a few simple steps, it’s easy. I don’t know what they dance to at a prom nowadays, but let’s try dancing to a little Frank Sinatra music,” said Caroline encouragingly to her reluctant daughter. Within a few days, Caroline taught Ali where to put her arms, and how to step from side to side as if making a square.

  “Don’t be nervous, just relax and have a good time. You know how much I like to dance. I’m sure you’ll take right to it.”

  Caroline took Ali to Macy’s where they found a pretty white dress with a special short-sleeved black velveteen jacket. There were delicate flowers on the collar and the whole outfit was set off with a lovely black velvet necklace with a little heart hanging in the front. Ali would wear her patent leather shoes that just needed to be shined up a little.

  The night of the prom, Ali and her mother took a taxi to St. Andrews school. Many of the parents were seated up on a raised platform, chatting among themselves when Caroline and Ali arrived. Scott came up right away with a small corsage and tried to pin it to Ali’s dress.

  “I’m a little nervous” he confided to Ali.

  “Me, too” said Ali with a smile.

  “Hey, squirt. Long time no see,” said Reynolds from a few feet away. Ali gave him a quick wave. The girl he was with was very pretty and probably about the same age as Reynolds. She looked far more grown up than Ali.

  “Jennifer Brewster, this is my sister, Ali. You know Scott, ” said Reynolds in a very grown-up way.

  “Hi,” was all Ali could think to say.

  “Charmed, I’m sure,” said Jennifer Brewster. Ali wondered if she was related to the rich man who ate bean soup at The Drug Store. She seemed like a rich girl, in fact almost everybody there seemed like they were rich. Many of the women were wearing furs; their husbands were wearing handsome suits and ties, with perfectly shined shoes. Ali looked over at her mother who was talking to Mr. Peterson, the Headmaster of the school.

  “Reynolds is doing fabulously at St. Andrews,” said Mr. Peterson. “He was a little rough around the edges upon his arrival, but he’s taken to St. Andrews very well. We are pleased with his progress. I’m even considering him for the Headmaster’s award that is given to our very best and brightest graduating student in June.” Caroline was so proud. Her son Reynolds who had been such a handful and had become so moody the last couple years was doing well. She felt guilty about the fact she and George were no longer together and that he didn’t have a father figure around as a role model.

  “That is so wonderful to hear, Mr. Peterson. I can’t tell you how happy that makes me,” said Caroline to the Headmaster.

  “Very good, then. I hope you and Reynolds and your little girl enjoy the little soiree we’re having this evening.” Mr. Peterson moved along to talk to another parent. The music was playing and the boys of St. Andrews and their dates were tentatively taking their first steps on the floor. Ali’s palms were sweating, but she was enjoying herself. Dancing wasn’t easy, but her mother had taught her just enough for her to move around the floor with Scott. One of the dances required that the girls put one of their shoes in the middle of the floor; each boy would then have to try to find his date’s shoe. Scott took a long time, but finally brought Ali’s shoe back to her.

  “I didn’t realize what a big shoe you had,” he said, not realizing how it sounded. Ali’s cheeks flushed a bit thinking about the big shoe remark, but she didn’t say anything to Scott. The prom came to a close and Caroline and Ali started walking back to the Osgood a few blocks away.

  “Mother, do I have big feet?” Ali suddenly asked her mother.

  “What?” Caroline said with a puzzled look on her face.

  “Never mind. Can we stop at the delicatessen for some rice pudding?”

  Ali, pulled her new black velveteen jacket around her shoulders.

  “Sounds good to me, Angel,” responded her mother.

  June had arrived, and Reynolds’ graduation from St. Andrews was just a few days away. Caroline had written to George about Reynolds being selected for the pretigious Headmaster’s award. Although finances were a little tight, George said he would fly to New York City for the graduation. Reynolds had a class picture taken showing he and eleven other boys standing proudly in their St. Andrews’ suits with the school insignia on their breast pockets. Reynolds was the tallest boy in the class.

  The highlight of the graduation ceremony came when Reynolds was called to receive the Headmaster’s Award. Even Ali felt a certain pride in the fact that her brother was receiving such a special honor. Mr. Peterson talked about Reynolds and how well he had done in his music classes, his Latin and French classes, as well as his excellence on the baseball field and basketball court.

  Clearly, Reynolds appeared happy with the trophy that he held up for all to see.

  Later the family all went to dinner at the Pizza Giant and congratulated Reynolds for his achievements and discussed plans for him to go to a prep school in upstate New York.

  “That’s my boy,” said George putting his arm around Reynolds.

  “It’s not that big of a deal, Dad,” replied Reynolds slowly moving away from his father’s embrace.

  “Well, I think it is,” said his mother.

  “With the scholarship you’re getting and the summer work program, I think we’ll be able to swing the prep school,” said George. Ali looked at Reynolds. He seemed so much older than when they first came to New York a few years ago, but he still seemed unhappy. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but Reynolds never seemed satisfied, even with all the attention he was getting tonight.

  “And you, young lady. I hear you were dancing at St. Andrew’s recently with some handsome young man,” said her father turning to her.

  “Yes, Dad. Scott was very nice even if he did think I had big feet,” said Ali. Everyone laughed at that.

  “I don’t know if I like my little girl growing up so much, going to dances with boys and not calling me Daddy anymore,” responded her father.

  “Ali did very well in school this year. All A’s in her 6th grade class,” added her mother.

  “Another scholar in the family” said George proudly. They talked and ate and in celebration of Reynolds graduation, George had purchased tickets to “West Side Story”, a new Broadway show.

  “You know I love good music. Leonard Bernstein wrote the music-----”

  “He lives in our building. I’ve seen him in the lobby a lot of times, ” added Ali, proud that a famous person lived in her apartment building.

  “Yes, a very talented man,” said her father. “The show’s story is set right here in New York City. Well, we better get going or we’ll be late.
” George put some money on the table and ushered his family out to the street to hail a taxi.

  After the show, George began singing one of the songs from the show: “Maria, Maria, I’ve just met a girl named Maria.” Ali remembered how her father sang everywhere, including in the middle of a crowded street. Reynolds looked at his father and thought that the name “Maria” sounded a lot like “Marsha”, but didn’t say anything.

  “I loved the music and the show, George. Thank you so much for everything, especially coming here for Reynolds’ graduation,” said Caroline who always said the right thing.

  “How about a little late night dessert?” asked George.

  “Can we go to The Drug Store, Dad. I’d like you to meet my friends,” implored Ali.

  “Well, it’s a little out of the way, but if that’s what you want Pumpkin, lead the way,” said George. Ali happily led the way to The Drug Store and introduced Iris and Joe to her father.

  “Howdy, Mr. Spain, nice to meet you finally,” said Iris. “Your little girl keeps me company here in the afternoon and helps me with the counter. One day she hulahooped so long over there, we finally had to stop her before she passed out,” added Iris, smiling at Ali.

  “That’s my little girl,” said George. Caroline and Reynolds already knew Iris and took seats over at the fountain.

  “Is Joe here?” Ali asked Iris.

  “In the back somewhere, should be out in a moment,” Iris said as she turned to a customer. Ali loved sharing her special place with her family. Joe and Iris felt almost like family to her since she first met them a few years ago.

  Ali spotted Joe bringing in some drums of ice cream for the fountain.

  “Hi Joe, we’re here for some dessert,” said Ali, smiling at Joe.

  “Well, hello, hello to Ali’s family,” said Joe. Introductions were made and Joe asked them what they wanted for the special occasion.

  “Let’s make it easy, four hot fudge sundaes. Does that work for everyone?” George inquired. They all agreed. Joe quickly started preparing his expertly crafted ice cream creations for Ali and her family.

  “You know Ali, the show we saw tonight had a serious side,” began her father. “Your mother tells me that the school you’re suppose to go to next year is in a pretty tough neighborhood. I want you to think about coming back to California with me and going to junior high school in the Valley.”

  “And leave mother?” said Ali with a frown.

  “Honey, I’m thinking of going back to California real soon. As soon as Reynolds in situated at his new school and I can get a transfer back to my old job in California,” said Ali’s mother. Ali’s mind was racing. Leave New York? Leave her mother? She loved her father, but she hadn’t been around him for so long, it seemed foreign to her, the idea of going to live with him in California.

  “All I want you to do is think about it,” said George, placing his hand on top of her hair softly.

  “Four hot fudge sundaes coming up,” said Joe as he set them in front of Ali, Reynolds, Caroline and George.

  “No charge,” said Joe as he winked at Ali. Ali sat eating her not fudge sundae thinking very hard about what he father had just said.