Lizzie got off a bus in front of an apartment building. It was ten minutes to seven, so she got there early. What prompted her to come to this neighborhood tonight
was a note on her door. It was barely legible but she
eventually recognized it as Harry Senates chicken
scratch handwriting. It was so hard to read, Lizzie said to herself as she examined the note one last time, it was a surprise he became a teacher rather than a doctor.
Most doctors handwriting on prescription requests
were less than desirable reading material. She made
her way up to his door. The notes message ran through
her head like an train on a neverending journey.
"We must talk. 7PM." It had read. What did Harry want?
Did it have anything to do with video she saw on the
troublesome Cheryl Holts website? The newest one she
saw was of her scary shower experience. A man had seen
her in her most vulnerable. But instead of doing the
unthinkable, the man had ran off. Almost like he had
seen something he wasnt supposed to. For an hour after
school Lizzie ran through the video on her monitor
numerous times, but could not ascertain the identity
of the mystery man. After she got Harrys note she wondered if the man had been Harry, and that Harry
was going to tell her that tonight. If so, why arrange
for such a secret meeting? A secret rendevous? If it was Harry, what of Lauren? The thoughts ran through her mind as she knocked on Harrys door. After a minute or so
he answered the door. He was still wearing the light blue shirt from school today.
"Evening Lizzie." Harry said. He stood back so he could let her in. "May I take your coat?"
"Sure?" Lizzie as he helped her out of her heavy wool winter coat. She gave him her scarf and gloves. She looked around his place. It was nicely decorated, but it was a definative bachelor pad. There was a two windows off to the side, where she could see some fresh snow falling. The living room light was on. Harry led her into the living room.
"What is it that you want to see me about Harry?" Lizzie asked.
"Well its complicated." Harry said. "You've been here a while now, and we don't really know each other. So I thought I would invite you over. Get to know each other." He gave her shoulder a squeeze. His hand lingered. Oh my god, it was him! She thought.
"What about Lauren?" She asked, her words seemed to trip over her own tongue.
"Lauren? Forget about her." Harry said. "We have the whole night to ourselves." He went into the kitchen area and turned a light on. "Would you like a drink?"
"Yeah. I would love a drink." Lizzie said. Her mouth felt like it had been suddenly packed with thick cotton. She looked around his living room. "Where is..."
"The drink bar is in the dining room." Harry said pointing from the kitchen. "Well the so called dining room, its just a cardboard table and cheap yard sale chairs, but at least it something."
"Great." Lizzie said. She went off to the dining room. She walked into a pitch blackness like she have never seen. She felt her way to a wall and looked for a light switch.
"Harry wheres the light?" She asked. She turned and looked at him as he approached from behind.
"The switch has been dead for weeks." Harry said. "I fixed it with a clapper." He then put his hands out and clapped hard.
The lights flew up. Lizzie was blinded by the effect. She closed her eyes for a second and rubbed them. She then opened her eyes.
"Oh my god!" She said.
"Surprise!" Everyone called. "Happy Birthday Lizzie!"
"Oh wow!" She said. She looked around. Lauren, Milton, Kevin, Marla and Marilyn were clapping their hands. There was a large chocolate cake on the table that Harry had mentioned before. She put her hands on the side of her face.
"Oh wow, this is amazing." She said as she hugged Lauren. "But how did you guys find out my birthday?" She asked.
"I saw your file, sugar." Marla said. "It was on the counter and it was open to your application. I couldn't
help seeing your birthday was today."
"I apologize for Marla." Kevin said. "She happens to read a lot of things accidentally."
Marla gave Kevin a withering look. He stepped back.
"This is not just a birthday party. We wanted to congratulate you on the job you did with your girls. We planned this part for a day and a half. Especially during the snow day we had off. Steven couldnt make it. His daughter was in town and he couldnt miss her again." Lauren explained. "We invited Harvey."
"I think hes the only one I havent had a chance to talk
to yet. I knew him from my school days." Lizzie said.
"He wasnt able to come. Its his late wifes birthday." Marilyn said.
"What about Scott?" Lizzie asked.
"No one could find him after school." Harry said. "Which is odd cause he's ususally lurking someplace around here."
Lizzie nodded.
"We have a card and a present for you." Milton said. He handed her a large box and a card. Lizzie opened the card first while she tucked the light-feeling box udner her arm.
"To Lizzie, three cheers for the cheers! Have a great
birthday!" She read aloud. "And everyone signed, including Harvey." She noted.
"Now open the box." Lauren said.
"oooh." Lizzie said quietly shaking it. "Well at least
it aint a bomb!"
She peeled the white paper off the box. She dropped it on the counter. She opened the box and took some paper out and placed it next to the wrapping paper. She then took out a large sweatshirt. It was in the school colors and had the wildcar logo on the back. it had a white collar. She looked at the front which was blank except for something over the left breast.
"Coach Lizzie 'Tipper' McCarthy." She said reading it aloud. "Wow, thank you. I will keep this for as long as I can. Or at least till someone sells it for drug money." She deadpanned. "But I really do love it."
"Why did they call you Tipper in high school?" Harry asked.
"Back in the day, the school gym floor was really out of shape. Anyway during one of the basketball games we performed a routine at half time. I was the lucky dummy who got stuck with performing in the area of the gym that always seemed slanted toward the floor. Thus I seemed like I was tipping over, and I got that nickname." She finished. "Its never been mentioned before now."
"Some nicknames are really interesting." Harry said. "If
I told you what nicknames I got the first day I was in the dungoen you would blush three different shades of red."
"Oh do tell us, Harry." Kevin said. "Otherwise how will Lizzie learn?"
"Good point. One of them is..."
There came a loud knock at the door.
"Cheese it, its the cops." Harry said. "Milton, hide the cheerleaders!"
"Bite me Harry, ok?" Milton said.
Harry went to the door as Marla and Marilyn went to the kitchen to get some plates and silverware to have the cake with. Harry opened the door and saw a delivery man.
"Special Delivery..." He started to say.
"Special Delivery? I didn't order anything." Harry said. "And besides what are you doing out in this weather?"
"I'm not looking for, although your place was a little
hard to find. I'm looking for a Elizabeth McCarthy." He
said referencing his notebook.
"That would be me." Lizzie went up to Harrys side.
"For you." He said. She took a small white box from him.
"Okay." She said looking at it. It had a Tiffanys trademark on it. It felt light though Lizzie could feel something moving inside when she lightly shook it.
"Is this another gift?" She asked. "You guys are so great. And its only my second week."
"You got us." Harry said. "We are so desperate to keep
teachers, we have parties and trinkets for every new
teacher to come down the pike." He smirked. "But
this is totally new to me."
"I'll go open it in front of the others." She said taking her prize into the dining room. Harry shut the door after he realized the delivery man was hanging
aroundly, so obviously, asking for a tip. He handed
the man a two dollar bill and closed the door. He entered the room during a strange discussion about cake.
"Now I say you eat from the cake out to the frosting." Milton was saying. That way the frosting is saved for
last."
Marla scoffed. "For last? You gotta be crazy, Milton honey. When you have something that sweet in front of your face, you have got to dive into it." She said. "What am I saying, you should know all about this kind
of thing, Milton."
Milton was about to react when Kevin pinched his arm.
"Come on, do it later. We've here to have fun." He muttered to him.
"I just got a delivery." Lizzie announced holding the white Tiffanys box aloft.
"Thats strange." Lauren said. "The only ones who know
we're here are the ones that are here and the no shows."
She said thinking about it.
"True." Harry said. "Maybe you got a secret admirer?"
"I bet." Lizzie said.
"If she did, she'd sure be a fast worker." Marla said.
"Open it." Marilyn said at her side. "I'm dying to know whats inside of that box.
"All right, I'm opening it." Lizzie said taking the white ribbon off the top of the box. She then pulled the top of the box to reveal a black box. She placed her hand under the white box and pulled the second box from the outside. She quickly let the white box fall and she placed her hand under the black box. The box had the feeling of soft felt. She looked the box. It had a small set of hinges in the back. She looked at it head on.
"Here I go." She said. Lauren could feel herself holding her breath. It wasnt even her present aned it was exciting. Lizzie flipped open the box slowly. Something
was glimmering from the inside. Lizzie opened the box till it was wide open, for all to see.
"Oh my." She said as she looked at the glittering object in the middle of the box. The gang gathered around it.
"Its a bracelet." She said. "A charm bracelet." It was made of white gold, and had two bands running along each other in a twisty knot pattern. On one end, Lizzie noticed as she picked it up, was a small charm that looked like a cheerleading pom pom. Next to it was a diamond, and her birth stone hanging together on another charm.
"That is beautiful." Lauren whispered, as if a loud noise could make the delicate object shatter.>BR?
"Yes." Marla said. "That has got to cost a pretty penny."
"Yeah." Milton said. "That has got to be a least two years worth of Winslow high earnings right there."
"Does it fit?" Harry wondered aloud.
"I dunno. Let's find out." She said as she flipped her wrist over it. She started to drape the bracelet around her wrist, but she had trouble since one hand was incapable of helping the other.
"Let me help." Kevin said. "I have big hands." He said as he pulled the bracelets opposite ends together. He clipped the two ends together carefully.
"I love it." She said softly. "I really do. Who sent it to me?"
Everyone looked at each other. Lauren eyed Harry suspiciously.
"Its not me guys, if I could afford a bracelet like this
I would not be living in rat trap USA!" He protested. Lauren took him at his word.
"If it wasnt one of you, then who was it?" She asked her voice trailing off on the last few words. She had a feeling she knew who it was.
"What?" Marilyn asked. "Do you know?"
"No." She responded, denying to herself what she was thinking. "I'd love to stay, but theres something I have
to do." She said grabbing her coat.
"What about your cake? Your shirt!" Harry said.
"Save a piece for me. Let me have my sweatshirt." Milton winged her the item of clothing. "I'll see you tomorrow." She said racing toward the door. "I'll be
sure to mail each and everyone of you a thank you note!"
She ran out the door as she pulled her jacket on. The door slammed behind her. Seconds later everyone broke into their own groups to discuss what happened. Milton and Kevin went to the window. Lauren and Harry talked in the kitchen while they got more drinks for the guests.
"Is she going where I think shes going?" Lauren asked.
Harry had the same question on his mind. "Yes, she is. And boy, is he ever going to be surprised."
