Senior Prank (9781620957295) (14 page)

The next morning Missy checked her phone and saw the call from her mother. “Did you talk to my mom last night?” she asked Jose. “She called at 2 a.m. I forgot to call her earlier so I guess she called to check up on me.”

“I don't remember talking to her,” Jose added, “but I do remember answering your phone and nobody was there. I thought somebody had the wrong number and hung up. To me it was no deal.”

“We're in trouble,” Missy said, analyzing the situation. “When she called and heard your voice, she knew we were together in the same room.”

Missy's mom still had big plans for her daughter. She was hopeful Missy would go off to a big university in the state, find a rich man's son who wanted to be a doctor, lawyer, or something with big money, get married and live happily ever after. But as the rejection letters piled up from those schools her mother began to accept that fact she may be forced to attend a community college for two years.

Her father thought that if she went away she'd forget about Jose and find lots of suitors. They weren't enamored with Jose, and thought their daughter could do better than a Mexican bricklayer's son. It didn't matter he treated her with respect and love and that she was happy.

“This is no big deal,” Jose said to Missy, trying to keep her from crying. “Just tell them we were out and in Elvis's room and I picked up the phone. They can't prove jack. Remember they hung up on me.”

With her guilt playing on her mind, she chose to spend Saturday night on the floor in one of her classmate's room. She couldn't decide whether the guilt came from giving into Jose or lying to her parents. She was 18, an adult, but still felt as though she was her parent's baby girl. Something about her past English class readings and innocence lost kept circulating through her mind.

Sunday afternoon they drove back to Houston, as Jose planned to work with his dad a few days during that week off. She had mentioned the prom in Galveston and he knew he'd need some cash for that endeavor. She was dreading the meeting with her parents.

“It will be fine,” Jose said as he pulled into her driveway. “Besides it was good. Real good. Remember we were in Elvis room. Just stick to the story.

“I called Elvis to tell him what's going on,” Jose told her. “He said he'd back the story, and even say you fell asleep and nobody wanted to wake you so he let you sleep on his bed and he slept on the floor. We've got it covered, now don't sweat it,” he added. “We'll get it all worked out.”

However, the closer they got to Missy's home, the more her stomach tightened. Jose's assurances didn't help. Her parents still played the major role in her life. Her independence day still had not been declared, despite the fact she was 18 and two months from graduation.

When Missy's parents saw Jose's car pull into the driveway they went out to greet the lovebirds. After exchanging hugs and pleasantries Missy's dad said, “You both need to come into the house. We need to talk to you both.”

Missy knew by the tone that it wasn't going to be pleasant. “Your mother and I want to know where you stayed Friday night?” Missy's dad asked. “When you're mother called you at 2 a.m. apparently Jose answered. Please explain yourself.”

“After Elvis' group finished playing, we went back to his room, sitting around talking,” Missy answered. “I fell asleep and Jose and Elvis were watching TV. In fact, Elvis let me sleep there and he slept on the floor.”

Missy's dad nodded his head. “We just want to make sure you didn't lie to us and that you stayed with Jose. We won't approve of this type of thing.”

“Mr. Pulston,” Jose said, “I like your daughter and wouldn't do anything to hurt her. She's telling ya what happened. If you want we can call Elvis right now.”

“That's okay,” said Missy's mother. “We just want to make sure nothing's going on or there is something we should know about.”

“No, it's all cool,” said Jose. With that her parents got up and went back to their normal business. Jose winked at Missy. Things were fine. They left and went to mall in order to get away from any further questioning.

Winston was back after spring break. There were eight weeks of school left. He knew he needed to run a tight ship rest of the way as students seemed to get crazier as the end of the year approached. The All American School debacle and his possible firing were behind him. He met with the senior class and told them the administration would have little tolerance the rest of the year and that suspensions and expulsions awaited anybody that broke the rules.

Jose still was struggling with chemistry. He went to Ms. Blossom and asked for any extra credit that could improve his grade. She had a list of term paper topics and rules for them. They had to be at least 15 pages long and done in MLA style. They were worth a half a grade.

There was no way Jose was going to do a 15 page paper on topics he didn't care about so he looked up Danny Sopreski. Danny was known around the school as the cheating king. He knew every possible way to cheat. He had stockpiled a collection of term papers, essays, past tests, and answer sheets for every subject for sale. Danny's dad was a stockbroker who was convicted of running a Ponzi scheme and sent to prison for five years. Over $15 million was lost. Danny followed in his father's footsteps. There is money in cheating, even at the high school level.

Jose went to Danny and asked for a chemistry term paper. Twenty dollars was the price. “You have to change some things in the paper though,” Danny cautioned. “Ms. Blossom has gotten this paper before.” So, Jose bought the paper, and had Missy help him make some changes. His plan was to turn it in on the last possible date, the week before final exams so she wouldn't have time to read it in detail.

Spring track season started and after two races, Lamont had the fastest 200 meter time in the state and edged G in both races. He could get in the top three for the 100 meter races, but couldn't win. Slow starts plagued him in those races, although he was working on it. He got letters from track coaches from Baylor, Texas Tech, and Southern Methodist University, each telling him he'd have to get his SAT and ACT scores up to be admitted, although they were interested. He was studying harder and his grades improved but unfortunately it wasn't enough to raise his grades to a major college acceptance level. Community colleges were interested, but he had bigger ambitions.

Elvis, Jose and Lamont discussed the possibility of a few more pranks before permanently departing the school. Lamont was reluctant, not wanting anything to interfere with his track season. Jose's thoughts were now centered on Missy. Elvis wanted them to join him in using the formula one last time. It would be at the senior awards banquet on Aaron “Pretty Boy” Ryan, the class president.

“I thought we agreed no more potion,” said Jose. “Ya, no more,” seconded Lamont. “I want nothing to do with it. If you go you're on your own.”

Elvis also had his hands full. The band was now playing Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights every weekend. As a result of their marketing through Twitter, Myspace, Facebook, their website, YouTube and just the word of mouth, the band was attracting attention outside the state. Elvis even bragged to Jose and Lamont that there were talent scouts at every show, and it was a matter of time until they were signed to a record deal. Their CD's were selling like crazy throughout Texas. The big time was a matter of time.

Jose and Lamont couldn't resist. They knew that in order to make their mark they had to come up with a prank on Elvis. Lamont got a friend of the family and together the threesome plotted out their prank for Elvis.

The family friend would serve as a Nashville talent scout for Big Time Records. He would go to one of the group's performances and meet with Elvis afterwards telling him he wanted to sign him to a record development deal. There would be a $100,000 signing bonus. The scout agreed to meet Elvis at his home, where his mother would be on hand to watch the deal at Noon the next day, a Saturday.

Elvis went home that night and told his mom. The next morning she cleaned the house and prepared some of her best lasagna. Elvis said her lasagna was the best. The scout arrived at 11:50, brought his briefcase into the house, and pulled out a stack of papers. He laid out the terms of the agreement, such as Elvis would get $25,000 when the deal was signed and that same amount every four months as long as he recorded three songs during that period. At the end of the year, Big Time would go into the studio to record his first CD with a goal of releasing it six months later.

The agent increased Elvis's excitement by talking about concert tours, his own website, awards shows, many of the stars at Big Time records, and the mansions in Nashville. Elvis was ready to sign. Just as he was about to sign the ‘contract,' the agent said, “Before you do this I have someone I want you to talk to. I understand you're a big Keith Urban fan. Maybe I can get him on the line.” He dialed the number and handed the phone to Elvis. “Hello,” Elvis said shyly since he expected royalty on the other end. His heart raced as he waited for an answer. A few seconds later he got his answer.

Jose and Lamont hollered through the phone, “WE GOT YOU ELVIS! You bought it hook, line and sinker.”

“I owe you guys one,” Elvis snapped back. “You got me all right, but someday, I'll have the last laugh.” He hung up, the ‘agent' laughed along with him, apologized and left, saying, “I hope you do make it big young man. I see you're a hell of a musician.”

Elvis might have been a good musician but he was not much at making himself a long term match with the ladies. One night while playing a club about 15 miles from his home, he spotted a young lady on the dance floor. As he played, he wondered what it might be like to hook up with her. She had the look he desired most – beautiful face, long blonde hair, well proportioned body, and a charming smile. She seemed to be alone, hanging out with a few of her girlfriends. He tried to woo her with his guitar playing, looking at her as he played. Finally, during of the group's last breaks, he went over to her, asking her name.

“I appreciate your asking,” the woman said, “but I am engaged to a football player for the Houston Texans. I'm just here having fun with a few of my girlfriends.

“I'm flattered but I hope you understand. By the way, you're pretty good on that guitar.”

Elvis said, “Sure, thanks. Just wanted to see if we might hook up. If anything ever goes wrong, remember the Texas Redneck Rockers. You can probably find me there.” Another one of those musician myths - they can get about any girl they want -had been shattered.

The prom went by without trouble or pranks. Police and teacher chaperone presence discouraged misbehavior. Jose took Missy and had the students doing Spanish dances. The senior trip to Six Flags went on without any notable bad behavior, unless you count the students throwing water balloons at their fellow classmates coming by on the roller coasters. Both events had your typical high school scenarios of students vomiting after drinking, displaying their amateur hour alcohol abilities.

Finally, came Elvis's chance at Aaron Ryan. He wanted to see what their special formula would change the preppie class president into. He figured with Ryan's big dislike of rednecks that's the direction the formula would take him. Ryan was the son of a county commissioner, and a politician in his own rite. He wore designer clothes, such as ones from Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren. Dockers and sweaters were his common attire. He spoke intelligently, eloquently and with an impressive vocabulary. To his credit rarely said anything negative. He was a member of the tennis and golf teams and belonged to numerous clubs. He did, however, consider rednecks as second class citizens. The rednecks called him Pretty Boy, a name he despised, but there was little he could do to combat their taunts.

The night of the senior banquet, held to a capacity crowd in the school cafeteria, Elvis had a plan to get the formula into the system of Pretty Boy Ryan. Aaron would start the program after Winston gave the welcome. He knew that a few seconds while Winston was talking was all he needed. Getting Ryan alone was the problem.

Elvis was on the refreshment committee for the event. He worked with others in the kitchen preparing drinks, cookies and other treats for the post banquet crowd.

So, as Winston was giving his welcoming speech Elvis peered out the food preparation door where only Aaron could see him. He frantically signaled for Aaron to come into the kitchen. Aaron said to his fellow students on the stage, “I'll be right back.”

“I need you to help me lift something,” Elvis told him as Aaron entered the food area. “It will only take a second.” They went into the kitchen cooler where Elvis asked Aaron to help him lift some trays of food onto a cart. As Aaron lifted the first one, Elvis stuck the potion – this time prepared in a small empty milk bottle - under Aaron's nose and asked him to smell.

“I want to see if this milk is spoiled.” Elvis said. “Does it smell like it to you?”

“No, it doesn't even smell like milk,” Aaron replied.

Elvis quickly reacted, seizing the moment to capture his prey.

“Try it again,” Elvis said, sticking the potion under Aaron's nose as the pair was alone in the cooler. Total time in the cooler was no more than 30 seconds.

“I don't smell anything,” Aaron answered. “I'd better go.” With that he returned to his chair on the stage.

Winston finished up, saying, “And now I present to you Aaron Ryan, the senior class president, who will lead us through tonight's senior awards banquet. Aaron, take it away. By the way folks, he's going to be an Aggie next year.”

Ryan walked up to the microphone and said in a huge Texas drawl. “Thank you. How ya'all doin'? There's almost as many folks here as a NASCAR race. The trailer park must be m-t. Some of ya shur look purdy? They say gud speakers tell a joke to start. Well, here's a gooden.”