MARINER II
by Jason A. Miller (C) 1998
Chapter 6: Everybody Have Fun Tonight
Friday had arrived at last. Friday afternoon. Another
week of school down. It was almost October now. That made how
many more months until June, the end of the school year, and the
sure-to-be explosive Summer of 1993?
Nancy and Sydney walked home from school. It was to
warm to ride the bus. Or, it was too gauche to ride the bus.
These Swans were going to ride in style, even if they weren't
actually riding.
"Y'know, now that Callie and Jimmy actually seem to
be a couple, I'm left wondering exactly what the point of
this party is supposed to be," said Nancy.
Sydney rolled her eyes. "Oh, Nancy dear. You have this
disturbing habit of missing the point."
"Well. I just don't see a good reason. Wasn't the whole idea
behind this party to get them to notice each other? And haven't they
already done that, without our help?"
"Mmmmmm... *some*thing like that," Sydney allowed.
She was grimacing behind her smile, but Nancy either didn't
notice, or pretended not to notice.
"Well, if you ask me, it should be find-your-own-date for this
party. Every gal for herself."
"Yes, Nancy dear. And we know who *you'd* try to take."
"And how about you, Sydney-O?" Nancy said gaily, changing the
subject. "With Mila and Garrett Booth *both* whooping it up in France,
where does that leave you?"
"I already have a date for tonight," said Sydney automatically.
"So you do," said Nancy. "Oops!"
* * * * * * * *
Glory arrived home from school well before 3 o'clock.
Plenty of time to drop off her school books, maybe sneak in
a few pages of the new reading assignment for English class.
Her first Shakespeare assignment ever! It was all very exciting.
J.T. knew all about Shakespeare already, so she felt like she
had an advantage over the rest of the class when it came to reading
"Romeo And Juliet".
The house felt very empty without Garrett around.
Callie had once observed that Glory and Garrett didn't seem
to fight as often as you'd think they would, being sibling rivals.
She was right. Even though the Booth siblings had their difficulties,
just like everyone else, it was the presence of J.T. in Glory's life that
served as a lightning rod, diverting all of Garrett's anger away from
her, and onto her boyfriend. Garrett's overprotectiveness could be
charming, at times, as long as J.T. learned to ignore him. Then they
could all get along.
But Garrett was out of the country now. It had been a
big scene at the airport, when he boarded the plane for France,
off to boarding school for another year. It had been harder than usual,
since he'd only just officially started dating Mila -- free
of the bizarre contract he'd worked out with Sydney all those
months ago.
Indeed, Glory was sure that the more she read from "Romeo
and Juliet", the more parallels she'd be able to draw between Garrett and
Sydney's situation. "My only love, sprung from my only hate." It was the
bitter Booth-Rutledge rivalry that kept them from ever revealing their
affections in public -- and Garrett's starved, wandering eye soon turn
to Mila Rosnovsky. He'd even used Sydney to get to Mila, leaving Sydney
feeling bitter and spent.
And it was only a week after Garrett left for France
that Mila had left too. The French soap opera she'd turned down
earlier that summer had suddenly turned to her a second time,
this time for a smaller supporting role -- and she'd taken it,
to be in the same country -- the same city! -- as Garrett, for
the next six months.
Swans Crossing felt deserted now -- there were only
ten friends left in her core group, down from the magical twelve
from the summer of 1992.
And that brought her back to the subject of tonight's
party. She'd had the idea at first as a way of celebrating
Callie's first school year in Swans Crossing, and as a way of
getting her and Jimmy to (finally!) realize how much they'd
really needed each other all along. Now that Callie and Jimmy had
reconciled -- now that they'd be sharing every dance -- the party
had other business as well. Maybe the date that Nancy had helped her
plan for Sydney would turn out to be The One. Someone else, someone
right for Sydney, after all this time.
* * * * * * * *
Saja and J.T. arrived early at the Swans Club. Both
were tuxedoes, as was customary for *any* Swans Crossing
non-pool party. (The Swans Club outdoor pool closed on Labor
Day, Absolutely No Exceptions! so at this time of year, they'd needed to
reserve the main ballroom for their party). They entered the ballroom
with jackets slung over their shoulders, bow ties undone, and Saja's
bandanna clumsily knotted around his head.
The party decorations were nearly complete. Balloons
hung regally from the centerpiece of each table, and from
the ceiling, and tied to the drapes, and all around the stage
where Owen and Sandy would perform.
"This is truly a time for rejoicing," said Saja. "Tonight
we celebrate the renewed friendship of dear friends. Our
karma is perfect at last."
"James Clayton and Callie Walker holding hands in school,"
said J.T. His face bore its trademark grin, and he pitched his voice to
sound like a television narrator, or a used car salesman. "It's a once
in a lifetime event, and you can catch them both right here, all night
long!"
"And even better, there has been no sign of the Human
Docking Post or Human Elm Tree in quite some time. Swans Crossing is at
long last, serene."
"All night long, live from the Swans Club, there will
be no industrial spies, no disguises, no subterfuge!"
"We have much to celebrate. I must meditate on
this."
J.T. recognized something in Saja's voice. "How do you feel about
Callie choosing Jimmy? Do you feel like you missed her?"
"It is hard to miss that which is right under your nose."
"O.K., you can cut the Zen. Let's be serious for 45
seconds."
"I'm timing you," said Saja, glancing at his wristwatch
"I mean. I know you, man. Are you O.K. with Callie and
Jimmy getting so serious all of a sudden? We all know you'd been waiting
your turn."
Saja's face fell. Abruptly, he walked out of the room.
"I'll be back later," he yelled over his shoulder.
* * * * * * * *
Sonar bleeped in the background of the submarine's bridge.
Captain Walker found the noise soothing, and he programmed
the sonar set to bleep periodically, even when the ship was docked at
harbor, and there were no other ships to register. The bleeping was good
for the soul, as were extended voyages at sea, or extended trips abroad.
On the other side of the hatch, in the living quarters,
Callie was getting ready for her party.
"How are you doing, my daughter?" asked the Captain. His
voice sounded happy again. Not only was Callie content with her
Swans Crossing life again, but the Captain was a happy man too.
Thanks to the Doctor, he'd be leaving Swans Crossing soon, heading back
to the open spaces where he belonged.
"I'm fine, dad," Callie called from the other side of the
hatch.
The Captain pulled the illustrated _Rime of the Ancient
Mariner_ -- the one he'd given Callie for a long-ago birthday - off of his
bookshelf, and opened the volume to his favorite passage. He held the
book up to his nostrils and savored the aroma. Sometimes, the aroma was
a more evocative part of the book than the words or pictures.
"The ship was cheered, the harbor cleared,
Merrily did we drop
Below the kirk, below the hill
Below the lighthouse top"
The poem held so many contrasting moods. This was
happier verse. It conveyed motion, speed. For both him and
his daughter.
* * * * * * * *
On the other side of the hatch, Callie slipped into her
party dress. She'd gone shopping with Glory and Sydney the night
before, and even though Callie had insisted on paying her own way, she'd
let her two friends pick out the clothes for her, and she was very happy
with the choice. She wore a dark brown crushed velvet dress, with
matching shoes. Sydney had suggested something simple, in black or red,
and Glory had wanted Callie to wear a flowered print, but Callie liked
this cut and color. It reminded her of her favorite jacket. And brown
was a vibrant color, almost a masculine one. That reminded her of Jimmy.
She reached for the telephone. Charmingly, the phone was
shaped like an old-fashioned ship's communicator, and its ring
sounded more like a bosons whistle. She dialed Jimmy's number,
and he answered before the first ring was complete.
"Clayton Summer Home. Some 'er home and some 'er not."
She giggled, giving herself away.
"Walker Woman? That you?"
She covered the receiver, as if afraid of someone else
overhearing. "Well. Hello, Jimmy."
"Cal-lay!" he returned. Loud and happy. Definitely
happy.
"Are you ready for the party yet?" she said, stifling
a giggle.
"Party? What's this?"
"Didn't you hear?"
"No, I didn't!"
"Shall I tell you?
"Tell me!"
"Well," she dropped her voice conspiratorially. "Nancy
Robbins is throwing a party for you tonight."
"Is she really?"
"It's `Get-A-Jimmy Day' at the Swans Club."
"Wow!" he said. "Do you have a date?"
"As a matter of fact, I do!"
"What's he like?"
Now, she had two options. She could continue with
the joke -- the obvious joke answers would be Old Man Perkins,
the curmudgeon from the bait shop who both sounded and acted
like a "Scooby Doo" villain, or the Bald Docking Post Man
who's-now-taken-on-the-characteristics-of-an-elm-tree. Or, she
could enjoy the moment alone with her boyfriend -- boyfriend! --
and get mushy.
She turned around to look at the hatch. It was sealed
shut, and her dad was on the other side, so he couldn't listen
in. So she chose the second option, still being careful to lower
her voice. After all, she was new at this, and anything said too loudly,
might tempt fate and jinx her happiness.
"Let's see. He's tall, dark, and handsome, he thinks he's James
Bond on a covert mission to the Eastern Seaboard, he loves motorbikes,
and he's never been able to beat me at arm-wrestling."
There was a moment of silence on the other end.
"Honey?" she asked -- pulse speeding up as she used
the unfamiliar word. "You still there."
"I'm here," he said. "Just blushing too hard. It cut off the
blood supply to my voicebox and I couldn't say anything."
"That means you're either happy, or you're talking like J.T."
"Happy. Believe it or not!"
"I'd better alert the media."
"And I'll tell Nancy." They both giggled.
"I'll see you in a few hours, O.K.?" she asked.
"Better believe it, Walker Woman. Front and center!"
"Miss you!" she said, shyly.
"Miss you too!" They both hung up.
Even in her dream, getting together with Jimmy hadn't gone this
well.
* * * * * * * *
Glory stood outside the ballroom doors, greeting guests as they
arrived. Ralph was with her, announcing arrivals in his crisp British
accent.
Owen and Sandy were inside, setting up onstage. Several early
arrivals were already milling around, finding their seating cards or
grabbing items off the hors d'oeuvres trays. In other words, Neil was
milling around nervously and J.T. was grabbing items off the hors
d'oeuvres tray.
Saja's sister Sophia and her steady date Edward arrived next.
Ralph didn't know Edward, so he merely said, "Miss Sophia E. M. DeCastro
and Escort." Sophia glared icily at the two of them, while Edward bore a
smug expression. She was a senior, he, a junior. It was O.K. for him to
look smug.
Saja was behind them, alone. Glory had told him to arrive alone,
but hadn't told him why -- so she could present him with his surprise date.
"Saja! You're here!"
"Please!" he whispered. "It's just Bobby tonight. Just Bobby,
and just for tonight."
"I don't get it," she frowned.
"Tonight I am Bobby, High School Student. Saja is not here this
evening."
"Ah, I get it. Why the change of identity?"
"Tonight, I shall partake of the mating ritual of the teenage
swan."
She beamed. "It's cute that you're all ready to meet your date
for tonight!
"A .... date," he said, not following.
"Isn't it wonderful? I didn't want anyone to be alone on Callie's
special night. Nancy and I decided to pair our friends together. It's a
surprise for you guys!"
"Who is this... date?"
"She's here already, organizing the food inside. It's --"
"Ah, superb. She told me she was going to be here ahead of me,"
interrupted Saja, smiling sagely.
Glory was confused. "Wait a second. You *did* know who your date
was going to be."
Saja nodded. "Well, of course. I had already gone to the trouble
of asking her."
"That's funny. Sydney didn't say anything about having spoken to
you yet."
Saja spluttered. "Sydney?"
* * * * * * * *
Chris and Roz walked arm in arm through the Swans Club on the way
to the main ballroom. Chris wore a yellow tuxedo; Roz decided she'd be
more comfortable in her police clothes. She fully expected the strange
bald little Rodavian to appear tonight (if history had taught her
anything), and she'd be prepared. Benny and the Doctor followed a few
paces behind, also arm in arm. The Doctor wore his usual attire --
crumpled linen suit and tie, and battered safari hat.
"Remind me again why we're doing this," Benny asked him in a stage
whisper.
"Because even the Captain was assigned a date for tonight. It'd be
rude of us to leave him in the lurch."
"You know that's not what I mean, Doctor..."
"Ah! I see. You mean, why do we do this?"
"Yes," she said, gritting her teeth. "Why do we do this?"
"Well. You've got to do something."
"Never mind, Doctor."
* * * * * * * *
Captain Walker paced nervously around the dock. Autumn had only
just begun. The days were still hot, but the night air was moist and cool
and refreshing. Even so, he was nervous, and dabbed at his balding head
with a spotted handkerchief. He consulted his pocket watch.
His daughter climbed down the sub's latter and joined him on the
dock. He raised an eyebrow.
"You are looking radiant, tonight, Callie."
She blushed. "Thanks, dad." They hugged awkwardly.
"You're growing up so fast. So fast."
"Dad, you told me I was grown-up five years ago."
"Ah, yes. When we were in Samoa. But this is different."
She smiled. "I know. And thanks, Dad."
Jimmy's motorcycle roared in the distance, and she ran towards the
sound. Captain Walker watched her go, unbearably sad. It had not been
like this before they'd moved back to America. Still, he'd felt Swans
Crossing calling her. He'd known it was time for her to grow up and out
of his life, he'd even prepared for it months ago. But to see it now with
his own eyes was too much to take.
The Countess walked out of the darkness to greet him. "Oh Captain,
my Captain," she sang. "Are you ready?"
Valera. Even in school she'd been imposing and theatrical. Now,
their children's generation ruled the moment, but someone had forgotten to
tell that to Valera Rosnovsky. She was convinced the evening was to be all
about her. Hence her insistence upon bringing him as a "date" to this bat
mitzvah, or whatever. The socialite Countess and the reclusive
millionaire, together again, and this time, not because of snails.
Down the pier, Callie had hopped on her bike, and she and Jimmy
raced off to the event together. The Captain envied both of them the
speed of the cycle, and the isolation of the helmet, while he was forced
to travel in a chauffeured automobile, with photographers and reporters
right alongside.
* * * * * * * *
Before they'd pulled off on their motorbikes, they'd shared a sweet
kiss in the salty evening air. Jimmy was wearing a full tuxedo, almost
unbelievably.
"Well," she greeted him, "I take it back. You really are James
Bond tonight."
"It was the only way they could get me into a tuxedo. I had Saja
perform the change-of-identity ritual last night when he and Owen took me
shopping."
Callie pouted, prettily. "So who does that make me?"
"An exotic Bond Girl. Are you good at faking European accents?"
"I've lived in Europe. I could probably speak in native tongues
all night long."
"But are you going to have my speaking in tongues?"
She gave him a venomous look, and then jumped onto her bike.
"Let's get out of here before I change my mind about all this, all right?"
Then she winked at him before putting her helmet on. They started their
engines and raced off.
* * * * * * * *
Owen pattered out some instructions on his keyboard. He'd had the
brilliant idea of pre-programming selected keyboard riffs into his machine,
so that their music could entertain the crowd even while Owen ate dinner.
"Now, do we have either Glory or Neil to cover drums tonight?" he
asked.
"Owen, they haven't played with us in three months. We can't ask
them *now*," answered Sandy.
"Oh," he said. "Well, that's OK. The old trusty keyboard has
percussion programming, too!"
"Not much of a sound," she sighed. "Remember when we were going
to get the whole school involved in our band?"
"And we've already lost our best backup singer," he said, lost in
lonely thoughts. Sandy flashed him a look that would have killed him, had
he noticed. "But anyway. What's our playlist going to be?"
"I thought we'd alternate our own songs with popular music. That
way, our friends will get to hear us, and all the grownies
will get to hear what they like too."
"So we'll open with what?"
"`Hold You Up' is fun. We'll play that first."
"O.K. So after that, you can start off with a cover tune, and
I'll have the keyboard set up to accompany you?"
She rolled her eyes at him. Rather playfully, he thought.
* * * * * * * *
The start of the party was just minutes away, so J.T. hurriedly
filled his plate with hot hors d'ouevres, before the rest of the guests
got to them first.
"I-I just don't get the whole point of this," said Neil.
"Food!" he replied, through a mouthful of something hot and flaky
(with a hint of spinach, unfortunately).
"No, I mean, food is OK. Can't write a doctoral thesis on an
empty stomach, you know."
"You sure can't, bucky ball!" said J.T., having moved on to another
flaky item, this one puffy and somewhat cheesy. Much better. He added
four of them to his plate. The club waiter carrying the tray, glared
disapprovingly.
"Why did Nancy and Glory insist on finding people dates for this?
Isn't it bad enough that we've just lost Jimmy to the dating acid-bath?"
"All right, spill it, then. Who'd you end up with?"
Neil looked pained. "Nancy!"
J.T. laughed, and lost his mouthful of canapes.
* * * * * * * *
Sydney and Nancy joined Glory at the ballroom doors. "We'll take
over the announcing, Ralph, dear," Sydney told him.
"Most gracious of you, Miss Sydney," he said, before vanishing
inside.
Jimmy and Callie arrived. "Yay! You made it!" Glory exclaimed.
"Wow! You're all dressed up, Mr. Clayton!" said Sydney, pecking
him on the cheek. He returned the favor.
"Yes! You look rather dashing, my good man!" said Nancy, also
pecking him on the cheek. This time, Jimmy didn't return the favor.
"Can you believe it?" giggled Callie. "I actually got him to dress
up for the occasion."
"The name is Clayton. James Clayton," said Jimmy in his best
British accent. "Internationally renowned gearhead spy."
"Und I am Callie Valker-Voman, exotic damoiselle vith appalling
accent und skimpy costume."
"Here, let me show you to your table," said Nancy,
speaking more to Jimmy than to Callie. She latched on to Jimmy's arm, and
led them into the room.
The Captain and the Countess arrived next. She was smiling for her
attendant cameraman. Elia fussed nervously with his tie.
"Where is your charming butler?" the Countess asked Sydney. "Isn't
he supposed to be announcing our entry?"
"Well, that's Ralph for you. The Doctor's friend Benny showed up,
so I let him go hover over her for a while."
"I'm glad to learn that one of us is having an enjoyable evening,"
said the Captain.
Valera laughed. "Isn't he the funniest?" she asked the girls,
before leading him into the ballroom.
"Come along, Ansel!" she added, as her photographer trailed behind
them, snapping pictures furiously.
Barek was close behind them. To everyone's surprise, Jazz was at
his elbow.
"Are Callie and Young James here yet?" he asked. He wore a black
suit, and a black silk necktie patterned in what looked like wrenches and
lug-nuts. Jazz wore a cocktail dress, with her soda shop nametag pinned
just above her corsage.
"Oh, they're already inside, let me take you to them!" said Glory.
The unlikely couple followed her into the ballroom.
Sydney was left alone at the entrance. She looked enviously into
the room -- Sandy was singing "Hold You Up", and while the dance floor was
still empty apart from a flashing strobe light (yuck!), the couples were
already mingling and eating. She couldn't see Saja anywhere. And she'd
been looking forward to the evening, too -- before he'd decided to dress
funny and talk like a particularly confusing school teacher, he'd been a
great dancer. She idly wondered if he'd kiss better than Garrett.
"As official party hostess, shouldn't you be paying attention to
the arriving guests, and not gaping at the dance floor?" said a familiar
voice behind her.
She spun around to face the intruder. It was Garrett Booth, hand
in hand with Mila. Sydney didn't even have time to faint.
Next Episode:
EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD
***If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, etc. for Jason, send
them to him at JMILLER6@uoft02.utoledo.edu
Text file Source (historic): geocities.com/hollywood/hills/2262/fanfic
geocities.com/hollywood/hills/2262geocities.com/hollywood/hills
geocities.com/hollywood
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