The Fall of Candy Corn (21 page)

Candace shook her head. “Who could have? Honestly, I think it's cool that they get carte blanche to roam the park and cause mayhem. It makes me wish I was one of them.”

“And give up being Candy?” he asked.

“Yes! Lisa can have it back next weekend. I'll be happy to go back to cart five. I've had my share of being chased for the time being.”

“Just think, next time someone asks you if you've been chased through the park by a psycho, you can say yes,” Josh said.

“Yeah, I guess I can,” Candace said. “What do you know, something good came out of this after all.”

“It usually does. You just have to look hard enough.”

It was just absurd enough that she had to laugh.

17

Tamara and Candace had gotten in some much-needed rest and relaxation in the form of shopping after school on Monday. They made it back to Tamara's house with their packages and had strewn them all over the living room to inspect the damage.

“So are you sure you didn't have nightmares all night?” Tamara asked again.

“No, I guess I was so tired I just crashed.”

“I still can't believe you did all that. You're a hero.”

Candace grimaced. “That's not the word I would use.”

“That's because you're still in denial over that whole spotlight thing.”

“You're never going to give that a rest, are you?”

“Not until you admit that the spotlight is your friend.”

It was good to be hanging with Tamara and teasing each other. It had been a great afternoon, but Candace found herself unable to stop thinking about the night before. And for some reason, thoughts of that seeemed to trigger questions about what she wanted to do with her life. Chief among her concerns at the moment was what she was going to do about college and a career choice.

“Tam, what do you want to do with your life?” Candace asked.

“Have fun,” Tam said, smiling.

Candace rolled her eyes. “That much is obvious. I mean, what do you want to be?”

“The light operator shining that big old spotlight on you?”

“Seriously.”

“Okay fine.” Tamara looked thoughtful. “That's a hard question. When I was little I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but then I realized I'd have to deal with blood.” She shuddered. “In middle school I thought about being a poet, until I realized I really didn't have anything to say. The more I watch my mom, the more I think I want to be like her. She doesn't have a job. She runs the family, does the entertaining, and takes care of all the social stuff so that my father doesn't have to deal with it. She also helps him with his business and does a lot of charity work. I have to say, that appeals to me.”

“Really?” Candace asked, somewhat surprised.

“Yeah. I mean, I have plenty of time to change my mind, but right now I'm thinking that I want to be a society wife.”

“How very Jackie Collins,” Candace quipped.

“Please, nothing so torrid,” Tamara said, rolling her eyes. “I think I would do well as the wife of an executive or a politician.”

“So, instead of focusing on getting a BA, you're more interested in getting a MRS.”

“That's funny,” Tamara said, laughing. “I like that a lot. My MRS.”

“I have a hard time seeing you married.”

“Why? I'd be totally good at it.”

“Probably because we're not even eighteen yet.”

“Oh, like you don't think about marriage,” Tamara retorted.

“Not very often.”

“You don't think about marrying Kurt?”

“I think about not marrying Kurt,” Candace said.

“Trouble in paradise?”

“No. It just feels awkward sometimes.”

“Hello? What relationship doesn't?” Tamara asked.

“How would I know? This is my first boyfriend, remember? You've had, what, eight?”

“Please.”

“Okay, how many?”

“Nine.”

Candace snorted.

“Listen, Cand. If you want to break up with him, do it before one of you gets really hurt.”

“But I don't want to break up with him,” Candace protested.

“Then don't.”

“I won't.”

“Good. Glad we got that cleared up. Now we can talk about something really important.”

“Like what?” Candace asked.

“Like what you're wearing to his Halloween party Wednesday night.”

Candace smiled. “That is important. I could definitely use some help deciding on that.”

“So, what are your thoughts?”

“It should be someone historical. He loves history.”

“Any particular area?”

“No, pretty much all of it from what I can tell.”

“I've got it!” Tamara exclaimed.

“What?”

“Where did you have your first romantic dinner?”

“Aphrodite's,” Candace said, smiling at the memory. “Tam, you're a genius!”

“I know. Who do you love?”

“You.”

“Not as much as you will in a minute.”

“And why's that?”

“I've got the perfect Aphrodite costume for you.”

Candace squealed and hugged Tamara. “You're right, I love you even more than a minute ago.”

“Told you.”

The events of Sunday night were already legend by Tuesday. Candace fielded a dozen phone calls from referees, and for once she was able to confirm the rumors instead of deny them.

Josh had also been right. Dozens of people were volunteering to work Sugar Shock. “One hundred and fifty volunteers,” Martha said when she finished tallying them all on Tuesday afternoon.

“Wow! That many?” Candace asked, craning her neck to get a better look at the list.

“Yes. I have no idea what we're going to do with them all,” Martha admitted.

“I do,” Candace said. “I think we need to buy more candy.”

“Check.”

“And while we're at it, I think we need to organize a costume contest with prizes. We should also have Freddie McFly and Mr. Nine Lives lead a parade through the park.”

“At this point I pretty much think whatever you want you're going to get,” Martha said. “You're the girl who saved Scare. No one's going to deny you anything.”

“Ah, the power! Must use it wisely.” Candace pantomimed struggling to hold herself back.

Martha laughed. “Enjoy it while it lasts.”

Candace heard the secret door downstairs open and waited curiously to see who was coming to the Comfort Zone. When the door at the top of the stairs opened, she was shocked to see the Zone's owner, John Hanson.

Martha stood up. “This is my cue to go buy that extra candy. I'm sure the two of you have a lot to talk about.”

“Thanks, Martha,” John said as she left.

The former quarterback settled down into the chair opposite Candace. “It seems that, once again, I am in your debt,” he said by way of greeting.

Candace blushed. “Just doing my job,” she mumbled.

“Volunteering to help run Sugar Shock. Exposing and capturing saboteurs intent on ruining this park's reputation. Risking yourself in that endeavor. None of those are in your job description. I know, I checked,” he said with a smile.

Candace shrugged, at a loss for words.

“So, the question before me is what to do with you, Candace.”

“What do you mean?”

“Very few people have had the impact on this park that you've had. You've worked for two seasons as a temporary employee. And both seasons have seen profound benefits to this park through your efforts.”

“The Zone has given me a lot as well,” she said. “Great friends and growth experiences.”

“Indeed,” he said with a smile. “Candace, I don't believe in coincidences.”

She couldn't help but smile at that.

“I believe that God has brought you here for a reason. Therefore, it is my duty to discover how I may be of ser vice in whatever plan it is that He has.”

“I didn't know you were a Chris tian,” she said.

He shrugged. “I make no secret of it. I wrote about my faith extensively in my autobiography. I guess I'm surprised when people are surprised.”

“Sorry,” she said.

“Not your fault. I must ask, though, do you know why God has brought you to us?”

She shook her head. “I'm not sure. I know that I've grown a lot through my experiences here. Maybe that's why.”

“It's possible, but there are dozens of places where you could have grown and received life experience. I think there may be something more specific.”

She was at a complete loss as to what to say. Just sitting across from him was intimidating, but he actually seemed to want her to answer questions that she couldn't.

“What are your future plans?” he asked her.

She sighed. “I've been trying to find someone to help me figure that out.”

He smiled. “Then perhaps I am that someone. Tell me what your problems are.”

It all came pouring out. She told him about her uncertainty about a career, her desire to go to college but the resistance she had met from her guidance counselor, even her bewilderment about how she kept ending up in the spotlight.

He listened patiently, asking the occasional question. When she was finished, she looked at him helplessly, wondering if he actually could help her.

“I have my own theories about your future, which I shall share with you at a later time,” he admitted.

She was stunned. She still couldn't believe that the owner of The Zone was trying to help her with her insignificant problems.

“I believe you'll figure out in time what you want to do with your life. I think that you will find that you are meant to spend more of that life in the spotlight than you ever guessed. There is an old saying, ‘Some are born great. Others have greatness thrust upon them.' I have a feeling you are marked for greatness. Don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise. Apply for whichever colleges you wish, though I would strongly recommend Florida Coast as one of your selections. Draw up a list of all the things you've accomplished in the last several months to show to your guidance counselor. Also, send me the names and the addresses of the colleges of your choice, and I will personally send a letter of recommendation on your behalf.”

“I don't know what to say,” Candace stammered.

“ ‘Thank you' should do in this situation,” he said.

“Thank you.”

“You're welcome. Now, is there anything I can do to help you with Sugar Shock?” he asked.

Candace smiled. “You could help me acquire some prizes for the costume contest.”

He glanced at his watch. “I have some time right now.”

“Perfect.”

They left the Comfort Zone and headed for the shops of the Home Stretch.

They walked into the first store, and stunned silence greeted their arrival. Candace smiled to herself. The two celebrities of The Zone were appearing together. They went through every store in the Home Stretch, choosing prizes for the costume contest. In the end they had more than Candace believed she could possibly hand out, and he helped her carry them back to the Comfort Zone.

“Thank you again,” she said.

“Thank you for taking this event to heart,” he said. “You're really breathing fresh life into it, and I appreciate that.”

“I hope the kids do too,” she said.