The Right Side of Memphis (12 page)

“I aced that biotch!” exclaimed Mikey, even though he rarely got anything above a “C
.
”

“I think I did pretty well, too
,
” I stated. 

Of course, Mikey had to start in on me, again.  “I’m surprised you could concentrate on the test, what, with you drooling over April all day.”

“I think that was you, Mike!” Connor interjected, coming to my rescue yet again.  “We’d better get to homeroom, though
, before the bell rings
.”  We took our seats just as the second bell rang. 

The rest of the day went by without incident.  In Biology, April even gave me a note that of course smelled of roses.  I waited until last period
,
though
,
to read it:

Jimmy,

I think you’re
really
cute.  I hope you think I’m pretty, also. 

I was hoping you’d ask me to the Winter Dance, if you don’t already have a date.

Let me know…okay?

-
         
April

It was a short note, but one that made me very happy.  It got me equally as nervous, though.  I had never even held a girl’s hand…so how was I going to take one to the dance?  I had nothing to wear, and I’d have to get a corsage.  At the end of the night, she’d probably expect me to kiss her.  It’s not that I didn’t want to, but what if I was bad at it and she told everyone at school?  I definitely didn’t want Mikey to know about this note, but I’d probably tell Connor about it on the way home from school. 

“Hey, Connor,” I started as we made our way home, “April gave me a note today in Biology.”

“No way, dude!  That’s great….what’d it say?”

“She wants to go to the Winter Dance with me.” I explained.  Connor thought that was great.  “But, I’m scared.  I have never been that close to a girl.  How will I know if I should kiss her?”

“You’ll just know,” he offered with confidence.  Connor had kissed a few girls over the last year, even though he never really dated any of them. 

“How will I know how to kiss
,” I asked, “
…so I don’t gross her out?”  

My best friend just started cracking up laughing.  “You know I’m your best friend and would do anything for you, dude….but, I’m not kissing you!” he teased. 
Hearing that
made me laugh and lightened my mood. 

That is, until we rounded the next corner.  Blue and red lights were flashing near my house.  I could see a portly police officer putting my
Mom
in the back of a squad car.  She was handcuffed! 

I forgot about Connor and
the
note from April, and sprinted to my house as the police car containing my Mom drove off.  I don’t know when I started crying, but tears were streaming down my face.  At first, I figured it was just snowflakes that landed on me, melting.  I was screaming, trying to catch my mother.  I didn’t know what was going on.  As I reached my house, a tall, middle-aged, uniformed officer asked if I was James Nelson.

“Where did you take my Mom?” I screamed, through my sobbing and tears.

“It’ll be alright, son
,
”
t
he officer told me. “Are you James Nelson?”

“YES! YES!  Why did you take my Mom away?” I demanded.

“Because she isn’t your Mom,” the tall officer answered. 

That’s all I remember before I fainted

. 

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