Ann heaved a sigh then stood up and left the room. As she descended the stairs, she suddenly wished that Sam were there to take care of this matter instead of her having to handle it herself. She never had been very good at this sort of thing.
When she entered the living room, Jerry was still standing in the same spot as when she’d left.
“Is Amy all right?” Jerry asked.
“She’ll be O. K,” Ann replied.
“We should make him apologize to her,” Jerry declared, glaring at Larry.
“I don’t think she wants an apology as much as she wants to just go to the dance and have a good time.”
She faced Larry. “You’re very lucky that my daughter doesn’t want me to press charges against you, Larry. If this dance didn’t mean so much to her, I’d be calling the police right this minute. I am going to call your parents, though-what is your telephone number?“
Larry cringed. “Please, Mrs. Middleton, don’t call my folks! They’ll kill me!”
Jerry peered angrily at the boy. “Well buddy, you should have thought about that before you decided to be a peeping Tom. Now tell Mrs. Middleton your phone number before I beat it out of you!”
“Jerry!” Ann cried.
Jerry stared at her and his expression softened. “I’m sorry, Ann. It’s just that this whole thing has made me really angry. This young man is a sicko and I don’t have much patience for his kind. If Amy were my child, I’d force him to apologize to her, then call the police and have them book the little bastard.”
“Well she’s not your child. And furthermore, I don’t like the use of violence in any size, shape or form. There’s been enough of that already.” Her agitation with Jerry’s poor handling of this matter was just now beginning to sink in.
Jerry went over and placed his hand on her shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Ann. It just hasn’t been a very good day.“
Ann shrugged. “It’s all right Jerry, I know that you mean well. But I’m in between a rock and a hard spot now and I just want to get this matter resolved as soon as possible. This dance means so much to Amy-I really don’t want this to ruin it for her.”
Jerry nodded and turned to Larry. “Give us your phone number, Larry.“
Knowing he had no choice, Larry recited his telephone number. Ann went into the kitchen and dialed the number. When Larry’s mother answered, Ann identified herself and explained to her what had happened. His mother had been defensive at first, apparently refusing to believe that her son was capable of doing such a thing. But Ann could also sense that Mrs. Underwood knew her son wasn’t quite above it either.
She asked to speak to her son and Ann put him on. Ann stood by and could tell by the expression on his face and the gist of his dialogue that Larry Underwood was getting a royal tongue-lashing.
Moments later, Larry handed the phone back to Ann and his mother informed Ann that she didn’t drive but she had told Larry to come straight home. And if he hadn’t arrived home in 10 minutes, she would call his father at his job and have him go out and track him down. This, Larry’s mother assured Ann, was the last thing Larry wanted to happen. Ann thanked her-perhaps a little too curtly-and hung up the phone.
“All right, Larry. You can go on now,” Ann said as she led him back to living room.
Jerry was standing by the door and opened it for him. “We don’t want to see you around this house ever again, Larry. Is that clear?”
“Yes sir.”
Before leaving, Larry turned to Ann and said, “I’m sorry Mrs. Middleton.”
Ann replied, “You should be.”
Larry turned and went out the door. Ann and Jerry both stood and watched Larry Underwood as he sauntered down the driveway to the street. His gait was slow and Ann had a feeling that he wasn’t looking forward to arriving home and facing the wrath of his mother and father.
“I hope his parents ream him out good,” Jerry declared. “That’s one sick kid.”
Ann waited until Larry was out of sight then closed the door. “Jesus, what an ordeal,” she sighed, leaning back against the wall. She looked at Jerry. “Do you think he was the same one who has been making the obscene phone calls?”
“Who knows? I wouldn’t put it past the little hoodlum.”
Ann smiled. “Thanks, Jerry. I’m sure glad you came around when you did.”
Jerry returned the smile. “As I told you before, that’s what I’m here for.”
“I’d better go see how Amy’s doing.”
“Do you think she’d mind if I take some pictures?” Jerry asked. “My camera is out in the car.”
Ann shook her head. “I don’t think so-she sure hammed it up for you last weekend.”
“Great-I’ll go get it.” Jerry said and headed for the front door.
Ann glanced at the clock on the mantle and hoped that Amy was almost ready-Jason would be arriving any minute now. She ran up the stairs and found her daughter sitting at the vanity putting the finishing touches on her makeup.
“You look beautiful, sweetie!” Ann exclaimed as she walked over to her. She could tell by Amy’s reflection in the mirror that she was really starting to get nervous about the big dance.
“I’m glad you’re here, Mom. Can you put this necklace on for me?”
“Certainly, honey.”
Amy reached for the diamond necklace that Ann had recently bought for her and handed it over. Ann stood behind her daughter, placed the necklace around her neck and fastened the clasp.
“There you go. Is everything all right, honey?”
Ann shrugged her shoulders and continued applying her lip gloss. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Nervous?”
“A little.”
“Are you over the little episode that just happened?”
Amy paused a moment, then nodded. “Yeah. I take it you called Larry’s parents?”
Ann nodded. “Yes, and his mother wasn’t pleased with him at all. Larry has now gone home to face the music.”
“Thanks, Mom, for not calling the cops,” she said sincerely.
“You’re welcome, sweetie. I just want you to go out and have a great time tonight, okay?”
“I will, Mom.”
Amy stood up and fiddled with her hair a little then turned around and faced her mother. “What do you think?”
“You look simply wonderful, honey. Jason is very lucky to be taking the most beautiful girl at Woodcrest High to the dance!”
“Right, Mom,” Amy replied, rolling her eyes.
“Mr. Rankin would like to take some pictures, if that’s all right with you.”
Amy cast her mother a pained look. “Oh, I guess so. As long as he makes it really quick.”
Just then the doorbell rang and Amy’s face lit up.
“He’s here!” My God, I hope I look all right! Oh, look at this hair-Mom, go down and stall Jason for a few minutes, okay?”
“Your hair looks fine, Amy. Relax!” Ann chuckled.
“Please, Mom!”
“All right. I’ll go stall him for you.”
Ann went back downstairs and opened the door. Jason Walborn stood there with a sheepish grin on his face.
“Hello, you must be Jason,” Ann smiled, holding the door for him to enter.
“Yes. How are you Mrs. Middleton?”
“Just fine.” Ann shook his hand and glanced at Jerry. “This is Mr. Rankin, Jason. A, er, friend of mine.”
“Nice to meet you, Jason,” Jerry said as he shook his hand.
Jason Walborn was as tall if not taller than Jerry Rankin with sandy hair cropped short, angular jawbones, and deep set blue eyes. He was dressed semi-formally in a sport jacket, shirt and tie, and a pair of khaki Dockers.
Ann led the two men into the living room. “Would you like to sit down, Jason? Amy should be down shortly.”
“Sure,” he replied, sitting down on the sofa.
“Amy tells me that you’re a soccer player.”
Jason nodded. “Yeah, we won the division championship last year.”
“I didn’t know that. That’s wonderful!”
“Yeah, we had a really awesome team last year.”
There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment, then Jerry said, “What kind of car are you driving?”