I am absolutely sick and tired of being a C grade student. I put in the work, the effort and hand my homework in on time...these days...but still I'm stuck at a C! My teachers hate me, that's the only explanation.
"Hey, you're up pretty early, son. Hard at it I see"
"Yeah, dad, I want to ace this homework. Don't give my teachers any excuse to not award me an A or B"
"I'm impressed, son, with this attitude. Where did it come from?"
"I'm sick and tired of being on the lower rung, the second tier, I guess. I want...something..."
"More? A chance for improvement? Your family not high enough in your expectations?"
"That's not what I meant, dad, well not quite. I mean, improvement yes but I know you work hard and have achieved a lot."
"Your grandparents came out here from Aberdeen, Scotland, with nothing and they helped me through school before I joined the Air Force. I got my education there but at the rate you're going you could be the first McGregor to make it to College!"
It's nice to get a bit of encouragement from the old man instead of a "what time do you call this, Mister?" and it was even better to get him to read over my work to see if it was OK and the spelling correct.
As it turned out the teachers must have softened to me because I got a B today! Yay me. Onwards and upwards and all that. Anyway, after a quick dinner I was buzzing and I wanted to check out the scene this evening; see who was around and about. I was pretty much over my strange 'date' with Morgan Fyres and was ready to see who else was around; from the guys at school to maybe a few groovy chicks. That B I got today has made me pretty confident!
Only...there's no one here!
Slow night, eh? Never mind, I'll just head on over to the clubhouse, pick up the guitar and play some tunes. Maybe that will attract some company...chicks dig guys who can play guitar.
OK, I've got the hang of this...this lick was tricky at the start but I'm better with the chorus. I'm not disgracing myself here by any means. Wait! Who's that in the distance over there? Blonde chick in a yellow dress? Oh my goodness! It isn't! It couldn't be! It damn well is! Judy Keith!
I've only been in love with this girl since I was 6 when we met at a birthday party. I say "met" but what happened was that I noticed her and couldn't stop looking in her direction. She...well...didn't look back in mine. But we've lived in the same town, gone to the same schools and know lots of the same people.
The last time I saw her outside of school was when she walked right down my street...I tried to say hello to her but chickened out. Johnny Zest was right: I should just go up to her and say hello. Just hello. I mean, our lives do overlap somewhat and what's the harm in saying hi to her. The alternative is to miss out on another opportunity. I'm not going to chicken out a second time!
"Hey there! Out of my way, kid, you're blocking my path...Judy? Is that you?"
"Excuse me, do I know you?"
"Kind of...I'm Jamie. Jamie McGregor. We go to Buckingham High."
"Oh...well, there's a lot of people at Buckingham High. Do we share any classes?"
"No...but we have some mutual friends: Yuki Behr, Marcus Mueller, Efrain Webber..."
"Oh...them..."
"Erm, and Gillian Hills! I know her as well!"
"You know Gillian? Cool!"
"Yeah, well, she likes my music...my sound. I play guitar"
"Are you in a band?"
"I'm entering negotiations to possibly join one...for now I'm more a kind of singer/songwriter."
"That sounds cool. So what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"I just wanted to introduce myself properly. I see you around a lot and thought I'd say hello."
"You see me around a lot?"
"Nothing sinister, I assure you. It's just...well...you know...my friends tell me you're pretty groovy"
She nods. I don't know if I'm making a good impression or not. Oh now there's trouble brewing. I really gotta pee! I should have gone before I cycled here but...gnnnhhh...it's building up and I'm about to burst!
"Is there something wrong, Jamie?"
"With me? Oh no! I'm fine....FINE."
"It's that you're doing this strange dance. It is a dance, is it?"
"Erm...kind of. Listen, Judy, I have to go for a moment...are you hanging around here?"
"Maybe"
"OK, hold that thought....see you in a bit!"
Forget cool and suave...I'm running to the bathroom! Oh man, I've blown it! She's going to think I'm a nerd now! The only plus side is that I feel enormous relief right now...
"Hey, Judy, who's that guy who was talking with you just now?"
"Hi Colleen. He's some guy who says he's at the same high school as us. I think his name was Johnny...or was it Jimmy?"
"I only caught a little look at him. Cute?"
"Yeah, kind of. He was trying too hard though...kept talking about his 'sound'."
"Ugh, how sad. Oh look...here he comes now. Hmmm, not bad. A bit like Paul McCartney"
"I guess. Not quite as cute as Paul though. But he's not bad either. You interested?"
"I could be. Not if he's the desperate type though."
Oh wow...she's got a friend who's hot as well! This could be my lucky night...Judy's stayed, she didn't run off and now she's got a really cute friend with her as well and they're both looking at me! Play it ultra cool, Jamie.
Well, I'd better learn how to play Norwegian Wood then! I can't believe I got to talk to Judy Keith AND she's going to meet me this Friday as well! I think I've sown the seeds with her...impressed her a little, things are looking up, Jamie boy. And I think her friend likes me as well, which is good because you never know how these things go...take Morgan from last week: One minute we're hitting it off and the next week she goes a little crazy on me.
"How about you and me head back to my place? My parents are out of town this evening and I know where the key to the liquor cabinet is."
