Chapter 18
Cadence
At lunch the next day, Jade and I talk about running for homecoming queen. She seems unsure, but I think deep down she wants to run.
“Jade, seriously. It’s obvious everyone loves you around here. Why not?” I question.
“Let’s see. Maddie will make my life hell.”
“Screw her, you only have like eight months left until graduation. I’m nominating you,” I say, then drop her name in the ballot box before she has time to react.
As I turn, Maddie is looking at me like she’s plotting to kill me. I bet she thinks I’m nominating myself. How tacky would that be? I smile at her. She better start prepping for a fight because if Jade makes it to the final round of voting, she’s going to win. I’m going to make sure of that.
The following day, they announce the votes and Jade is in the top three, just as I expected. For the rest of the week, Jade focuses on going out of her way to be nice to students and campaigning. We also go shopping so I can help her find the perfect shoes for her dress while I pray that Mom can come through with a dress for me. I’ve asked her every day, but she says to be patient. I suck at being patient.
At the end of the day on Thursday we vote for homecoming queen. If I could have stacked the votes I would have, but as Jade and I left fourth block, everyone we passed stopped to say they voted for her. Please let her win. I’d just love to see the shock on Maddie’s face.
As we walk out to the parking lot, we talk about our plans for tomorrow. Gran and Mom are making me stay until the end of the day while Jade is leaving early to get “floosied up”, as she says, before the parade. I shake my head; what is it with these strange words?
When I get home from school I’m surprised to see that Barrick’s truck is gone. He’s usually still here when I get home. Maybe he had to do something for school. I walk in the house and find Gran in the kitchen.
“Hey Gran. What are you making?”
“A pound cake.”
“Yeah, I bet that will put on a pound or two.”
She places her hand on her hip. Here we go. “I’ll have you know that this recipe is healthy.”
“Riiiight. What’s healthy… the workout your arms are getting mixing the batter?” I say with a laugh.
She waves her hand in the air like I have no clue what I’m talking about, and I go to my room to do my homework when I get a text from Mom.
Mom: I’ll be home soon. I’ve got a surprise for you.
Oh, thank God! Homecoming is tomorrow. I’d have a serious fashion emergency if she didn’t. Unable to concentrate, I slip into my dance clothes, grab my iPod, and go outside to do what I enjoy most… dance.
As the sun begins to set, I see Mom coming down the driveway. I grab my iPod and sprint to her vehicle and pull her door open.
“Let me see!” I exclaim.
“Hold on one minute. Let me get in the house first,” she says, opening the truck and removing a rectangular box.
“Ohmygosh, Mom, does that say Proenza Schouler?” She smiles. Holy shit! I knew Mom would come through, but this is amazing and I haven’t even opened the box.
Walking in the house my patience thins, “Mom come on,” I beg.
“Patience.”
“I have none of that and you know it,” I say as Gran comes to see what is going on.
“What in tarnation is going on in here?” she questions as I remove the top of the box. “Oh sweet Jesus!” she exclaims.
I take the shoulders of the dress and lift it from the box. The dress is a tightly woven cobalt gown that looks as if a string has been pulled at the bottom and it’s unraveled past mid-thigh. It’s elegant yet edgy. I notice the perfect heels to accent it are in the box as well.
“Mom it’s beautiful, but how?”
“I called in a favor,” she says with a wink.
“I’d hate to see why someone owed you a two-thousand-dollar-dress-with-matching-shoes favor.” I laugh.
“Two thousand dollars! Regina, please tell me that’s a joke,” Gran says, looking a little pale.
“No Mom, Cadence is right, but I didn’t pay for it. I called a friend that worked Fashion Week and she pulled a few strings. Don’t you love it?” she asks Gran.
“I think I better sit down,” she says, fanning herself. “For two thousand dollars it better love me back!”
Mom looks at me. “Go try it on.”
I quickly run to my room and slide it on. It fits like a glove and as I look in the mirror, I feel like myself. I’m Cadence Lewis, dancer, girl with attitude, and ready to make Maddie’s mouth hit the floor with envy. Walking back into the living room, Gran does a double take and looks at Mom.
“Mom, what do you think?” I ask as I twirl around in a circle. She stands and looks closely.
“It’s breathtaking, Cade. I love it!” she says and looks at Gran.
“You got panties on under that thing?” she questions.
“What?” I ask confused. Why is that any of her business?
She begins to spell it out for me. “Do you have underwear, drawers, bloomers, under garments, or even a thong?” I cover my ears; Gran just said thong! Mom looks at her like she’s crazy. “Honey, you’re gonna show all your goods if you’re not careful. I’m just trying to make sure you’re covered up. I mean, I know things are different these days, but at least leave something to the imagination.”
“MOTHER!” My mom gasps.
“Hey, I’m just calling it like I see it, and if she bends over without anything on, everyone is going to see the Promised Land with those slits.”
“Yes, I’ve got panties on, thank you!” I say to Gran. This dress completely covers me up top but it has slits almost to my ass, so a pair of dance shorts will put Gran at ease.
I turn to go to my room to change when there is a knock on the door. “Come in,” Gran yells without seeing who it is. What if it’s an axe murder or something? I laugh at that thought. I bet not one crime has been committed in this town ever.
Barrick
I enter Ms. Mae’s and almost trip over my chin when I see Cadence in a dress that clings to her body and barely covers her behind. I blink and quickly close my mouth as I try not to stare. She’s always dressed to the hilt, but tonight she looks amazing. I have to look away when I hear Ms. Mae clear her throat.
“Hey, Ms. Mae. I wanted to let you know that I just got back and put Daisy back in the pasture. The vet said she’s pregnant and about three months along.”
“Thank you, Barrick. Did the vet say everything looked okay?” Ms. Mae questions as she stands and I notice that Cadence has slipped away.
“He said everything looked great but we need to keep checking her. She’s due near the end of April.”
“Great. Are you okay with doing that or should I?”
“Either way,” I reply as Cadence enters the room in regular clothes.
“What are you checking?” she questions.
“Daisy, the cow, is pregnant. We have to make sure she and the calf are okay,” Gran says.
“How do you know she’s pregnant?” Cadence asks. I laugh. I know she can figure that out but I can’t resist messing with her.
“Basically we locked her and bull number fifty-four in a pen and let them go at it,” I say with a straight face. Her face molds into a look of horror and Ms. Mae looks at me while covering her mouth trying not to laugh.
“He’s not serious is he, Gran?”
“Heck no! It was more like Barrick caught them in the pasture back in July.”
“Ohmygosh! I can’t hear this!” she says, hurrying out of the room. I can’t help but stare as her backside moves up the staircase and vanishes. As I turn to Ms. Mae she has her finger pointing at me.
“You should be ashamed, young man. I’ll give you credit it was funny, but bless poor Cadence’s heart she’s never experienced any of this. I’m sure it’s a lot to take in, and you k
new exactly what you were doing. Oh, and quit checking out her backside.”
“Sorry Ms. Mae. It’s just—”
“I know about all of your pranks. That’s why I let you go ahead with it, but if I were you, I’d watch out. I would even sleep with an eye open.” She laughs.
“Oh and tomorrow, I need to leave in time for the parade. I’ll make sure that everything’s finished before then. Is that okay?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“Oh course! I wouldn’t dare dream of makin’ you work while everyone else in this town plays. Not to mention, I might need to hitch a ride myself.”
Cadence
Swiftly escaping Barrick and his disgusting jokes, I call Lauren. I leave out the details of Daisy because no one needs to be exposed to that. I give her complete details of my dress, all of the homecoming festivities, and how I pray that Jade will beat Maddie.
“Who’s Jade?” she questions with a hint of jealousy in her voice.
“Oh, she’s like the only person I’ve actually had a conversation with off the farm.”
“Oh,” she says shortly.
“What’s your deal?” I banter back.
“Nothing. I hope that you’re not going to drop your standards on friends since you’re there.”
“Of course not, but get this. She dances at that hillbilly studio Gran wants me to visit.”
“Shut up!” she exclaims.
“No joke. I can’t wait to see her dance tomorrow.” I laugh and Lauren follows suit. “There is no way that she’s as good as me.”
“Uh, not even a little bit,” Lauren says before she fills me in on everything at home. I notice the time and realize I have to get ready for bed. Tomorrow is game day and I’m not talking about football. I tell Lauren I have to go but will call her after the dance.