He returned his attention to the phone.
“Could be worse.”
“How?”
“I never went to mine.”
“I don’t have a date.”
That stopped me.
“You didn’t?”
Walter shook his head.
“I planned to. I even bought a tie. Then my military plans changed. Later, I ended up in Vietnam. By then, prom felt like something that belonged to another person’s life.”
There was no self-pity in his voice.
“You didn’t?”
That made it land harder.
I watched him shrink the photo he’d just enlarged.
Then I said, “Come to mine.”
Walter looked up.
“What?”
“My prom.”
“Nikki, I’m 78.”
“Come to mine.”
“I noticed.”
“People will stare and think you’re crazy.”
“I’m sure I’ll survive that.”
His mouth twitched.
I leaned forward.
“You never got to go. I don’t have a date. Come with me. But I’ll handle the technological stuff, okay?”
“I’m sure I’ll survive that.”Walter studied me long enough that I thought he’d refuse.
Then he nodded.
“All right.”
I grinned.
“Really?”
“Before you change your mind.”
Walter studied me long enough that I thought he’d refuse.
***
That evening, Mom stared at me across the kitchen counter.
“You’re taking a 78-year-old man to prom.”
“Yes.”
“And Walter is comfortable with this?”
“He said yes.”
Mom folded her arms.
“Nikki, I’m not worried about what people will think.”
“You’re taking a 78-year-old man to prom.”
“I know.”
“I’m asking whether Walter knows you aren’t treating him like a charity project.”
“He does.”
“You’re sure?”
“Mom, he’s my friend.”
She watched me for another second.
Then she nodded.
“Okay, baby.”
“Mom, he’s my friend.”
***
On prom night, Mom zipped my dress and fixed one loose strand of hair.
“You look beautiful.”
“You’re legally required to say that.”
“I’m your mother. I’m legally required to mean it.”
Outside, my older brother Ben honked twice.
Mom leaned toward the window.
“You look beautiful.”
“Benjamin! Calm down!”
“That’s his warning shot,” I said, grabbing my bag.
Ben had agreed to drive us.
When Walter came outside, even Ben stopped talking.
Walter wore a navy suit, polished shoes, and a pale blue tie.
Ben looked at me.
“That’s his warning shot.”
“He’s dressed better than I am.”
“That’s not difficult.”
Walter opened the back door.
“I heard that.”
Ben smiled.
“Good. I’m Ben.”
“Walter.”
“He’s dressed better than I am.”
I climbed in beside him.
“You look great.”
Walter adjusted his cuff.
“The staff had opinions.”
“Apparently good ones.”
