Corrrrrrrrrrrr! This is the life! A new house, a new place to live, wide open spaces...not like that cramped apartment we used to live in and I can ride my bike without worrying about whether I'm going to knock someone over or having it stolen. Jamie McGregor; today is the first day of the rest of your life, me laddo! I wonder if there are any cute chicks in this neighbourhood?
I held up my end of the bargain...I sorted out my stuff in my new room, put the posters up; that sort of thing. Mum and Dad are much better at finding places to put the crockery, TV and hanging paintings up than I am. To be fair, the removals guys did most of the heavy lifting work, I was only going to get in the way of professionals by interfering; fair's fair.
Now who's THAT? Attractive blonde lady...maybe a bit on the older side but, hey, she's can move a bit! Maybe that's who I need to meet, an older, more sophisticated lady who can show a bright and enthusiastic young man of 17 years a thing or two? Maybe not...getting involved with a woman the same age as my mom is a little freaky. I wonder if she has a daughter my age?
Well, that's a successful reconnaissance mission...pity there were hardly any people...especially girls...around. But, early days. Better get home because Mom's probably made lunch by now and Dad will be hollering for me to hold a shelf in place whilst he drills holes in the wall. I know my parents so well.
"Fine, Mom, it's a nice day for a bike ride. Hmmm, this is delicious, thanks. Is Dad going to join us?"
"He's eaten already; he's just finishing putting the bookshelf up. Now..."
Oh, here it comes...the request.
"...I think it might be good if you offered to help with the rest of the unpacking, or..."
"Or?"
"Do your homework. I'll leave it up to you"
That's Mom's way: Present me with two less than desirable options and make it sound like I chose one of them. The last time I helped my Dad do something involving wood, drills and hammers he missed the nail and hit me square on the thumb. I had a bruise and cut there for six weeks.
"I'll do my homework"
"Oh, Jamie's doing homework is he? Will wonders never cease?"
"Ha, ha, Dad. At least I won't get my thumb hurt this way"
"I told you, I was startled by that pigeon that hit the window that day"
"What subject are you doing there, Jamie?"
"A book report on Great Expectations...although my expectations won't be so great if I keep getting disturbed."
"That's telling us, Myra! Come on, let's get the rest of the bedroom stuff unpacked"
After I got to grips with Magwitch I felt I had earned a rest. The advantage of doing your homework on the dining table is that my folks can see that I'm actually doing the work I've been set. Mom didn't even insist on reading what I'd written: Maybe, after all these years, she trusts me to do a decent job? Maybe she sees that I'm 'maturing'? Becoming a more well rounded individual.
"Now don't forget to put your name on your book report and put it...carefully...into your school rucksack. Don't just leave it lying around there; I need to give the table a good clean before dinner!"
"Yes Mom...got the report here! Oops, I hadn't put my name on the report. Ha-ha! There, that's done!"
"Family meeting!"
"What, now Dad?"
"Yes, we must celebrate our first day in our new home! Come, let's gather on the sofa!"
He's going to do a speech, I just know it! "Four score and seven years ago this day, we set out from San Myshuno to Oasis Springs to ensure the McGregors shall not perish from the face of this Earth!"
"Now when we set out from San Myshuno last night..."
I wasn't far off
"...little did we know just how quickly we would settle in. Now this is an opportunity to improve not just this home, but our lives. We now have space to entertain, to work from home in more comfort and to enjoy a pleasant, quiet neighbourhood."
I won't bring up the subject of whether I can throw a party just yet...
"I wonder what the neighbours are like, Colin?"
"I have no idea, Myra. Anyway, that bookshelf is now firmly fixed to that wall and now we can bask a little bit...Jamie, where are you off to?"
"I thought I'd go for another bike ride...down to the park?"
"There's a park?"
"Yeah, it's not far. I thought I'd check it out. Part of my reconnaissance mission...phase 2 if you will"
I'm too restless right now to lounge around at home. I need a boost to my social life and if this street hasn't got any talent, I will find somewhere that does...the park seems as good as place as any to start the search.
The house next door looks very smart indeed; not a single thing out of place. Now, by contrast, the house opposite...if I can call it a house, is more like an old trailer, jacked up on stilts or something like that, and has definitely seen better days. I wonder what our neighbours are like? I wonder if the smart house next door has a groovy chick living there? A groovy, single chick!
Now we've arrived, let's check out the scene....hmmm, it looks pleasant and quiet. Too quiet. There's no one here except for that guy asleep on the bench. Great. The only other person here is a bum. OK, looking around, there's a BBQ area, a fishing pond, it's great for the kids who want to climb on that frame...shame we didn't have anything awesome like that when I was 10. And...what else? Wait!
That heavenly vision in red! That might be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen...and I've seen every Julie Christie movie that's been made! I should go over to her and say hello. Who am I kidding? It'll come out of my mouth as gibberish and she'll look at me as if I've escaped from the loony bin. But then I might never see her again! OK, what to do? Take a deep breath, Jamie, walk over cool and calm as you like and say "hello...my name is Jamie...no, James. Hello, my name is McGregor, James McGregor...oh no, that would sound really bad coming from me...no, I must be cool, more like Dean Martin cool and...oh, she's gone.
Oh well, that's that I suppose. Let's check out this area...hmmm, nice. Nice couches, an open fire, a selection of reading...I wonder if there's anything 'spicy' here. This would make an ideal hang-out. I wonder why that guy out there doesn't nap in here instead of on a cold, stone bench? Wait a minute, who lit this fire?
Actually, I like it here. It even has a guitar just lying around. I wonder if it belongs to someone in particular or whether it's part of this clubhouse? I mean, you don't go leaving a guitar lying around if you don't want people to play it? OK, let's give it a go...
"Watcha doin'?"
"What, wait? Oh, hello...you startled me there for a moment. Lost my place in the song"
Not that I'm complaining!
"You're not too bad"
"Well, I'm finding my style, you know? Yeah, looking into taking my music to the next level and all that"
Play it cool, Jamie, play it cool.
"So, I recognise you but can't quite put a name to your face. I'm Jamie McGregor."
"Yuki Behr"
"Oh, would you happen to be Candy Behr's sister?"
*sigh* "Yes...not like I can ever escape her shadow. 'Are you Candy's sister? Can you get me her autograph?'"
"Oh, I didn't mean it like that! I mean, I don't particularly want her signature or anything...I meant as a way of....erm...clarification, that's all. Well, erm, do you play any instruments?"
"Yes, but I'm bored with the whole Beat Scene..."
"Oh..." She's a right barrel of laughs. "I'm new here to this park...so is this a kind of hang out?"
"Yes. I come here quite a bit. Mostly high schoolers though. I'm at Buckingham High. You?"
"Same...funny how we've never crossed paths before"
"It's a big school"
"So...would you like to hang out... with me... for a bit?"
"Sorry, I'm waiting for my date"
Nghhhh!
"Oh...date. Going anywhere nice? I hear that British movie, Afie, is supposed to be good."
"No. Off to a party"
"Nice. Well, maybe if you're interested, you would like to go see that movie with me sometime?"
"Maybe...oh, here comes my date now"
"Hi there, Yuki...well, Jamie McGregor...fancy seeing you here"
"Hello Marcus"
Marcus Mueller...thinks he's something special. The other day he claimed he was chatted up by this cute female doctor. I don't believe a word of it! AND he's Yuki's date as well! How unfair is life?
"Sorry I'm late, Yuki, but are you ready to head on to the party?"
"Whose party is this, might I ask?"
"Oh, don't you know? It's at Judy Keith's house...hmmm, but then again how would Judy Keith know you?
Thanks, Marcus, rub it in that I'm invisible to Judy Keith...the most glamourous and desirable girl at Buckingham High.
"So I guess you'll be looking after the youth club on your own tonight. Have a good shift. Come on, Yuki, we don't want to be late"
"Bye Yuki, have a nice time"
"Bye, Jamie"
Well, that's just great isn't it? Marcus somehow, mysteriously gets Yuki Behr to go on a date with him AND they get invited to Judy Keith's party! Well, I have my books, I have my fire and I have my guitar. Maybe not everyone's going to Judy's party and they'll show up here?
Hang on, who's that headed this way?
Oh no, it's Cassandra Goth! Of course she won't be invited to Judy's party; she'd just bring the mood down. She's heading straight for the club house! I'll be stuck here with her jabbering on about the 'inevitability of death' or 'the cold, bleakness of space' or some other kind of doom-laden depressing observations on life...or in her case, death! I wish she cheered up! OK, Jamie, your bike is over there...it's just a short run...stay low, stay fast and she won't spot you. Except for this bright, yellow, light reflecting shirt you're wearing! Oh no, she's getting closer. OK, it's now or never...just run to the bike, don't look left or right, focus on the bike and get out of Dodge!
