‘Well, you’re going to get a good taster of it on Saturday night. Just remember to say my name three times before you pick me up or else I can’t manifest into the real world.’
I was laughing but awkwardly, because even though I wasn’t taking the formal seriously, there was something happening with Jennifer and me thatdidseem serious. I was feeling things about her. About us. And about Ronan. How he reacted when I told him Jennifer had said yes. I hadn’t told Jennifer about that, I didn’t want her to know that her and me together was making my best friend somehow sad. He was missing out on things and I was just simply missing him. I was waiting for her to ask me about Ronan but so far it was all about the formal.
‘Don’t worry,’ she said, ‘I’m not going asBeetlejuice. Mum took me shopping last weekend and we got something that I’m notunhappy with so it’ll be OK, I think. I hope.’ She was getting twisty and nervous. ‘It’s easier for boys. Did you get your tux?’
‘Yeah, Dad took me to McMillan’s last weekend, all sorted.’
‘Great, and is he still driving us? I don’t mind us meeting there if my house is too out of the way? Mum can drive me?’
‘No, no, it’s OK, my dad is pretty set on being the chauffeur.’
‘I actually really can’t wait now,’ she said, ‘I never thought I’d be the girl who’s all excited about the formal but I am because, well, because it’s the first time you and I …’
The bell rang and Jennifer looked towards it.
‘Guess I’ll make this to-go,’ she said, looking down at her untouched plate of food and standing up.
‘You never finished that thought,’ I said, standing up too.
‘Which?’
‘The “you and I” thought …’
‘Oh,’ she said and brought her chin in tight to her neck and out again, ‘can’t remember, doesn’t matter.’
We left the canteen. Margaret was waiting for Jennifer outside and so I let them walk off together as I went in the opposite direction. It was the first time Jennifer hadn’t asked me anything about Ronan, her usual interest was pushed aside by the formal. I think I was annoyed about that.
As if annoyance was the theme of the day Kevin Sherry passed me with his football mates and walked over my shoes with his muddy boots.
‘Oh, sorry, didn’t see you there,’ he said with a massive smirk on his face.
I looked at him blankly as he walked on with his teammates, talking about the limousine he was renting and how much they all owed between them to cover the cost. I could already picture the scene: Kevin and Leanne arriving in a limousine, showing off their designer clothes, stepping out of the limo like they were arriving at a Hollywood premiere – they’d probably even hire some fake paparazzi to flash their cameras at them on arrival.
Then the image ofmyarrival played in my head: Jennifer and me climbing out of Dad’s Honda; its chipped bonnet and watermarked windows and air freshener hanging from the mirror to mask the damp smell. I’d been neglecting cleaning Dad’s car because of how busy I’d been and if I didn’t do it, it didn’t get done. Prickly panic ran up my neck.
I ran from the bus stop to get home as quickly as possible. I busted into the hallway and went straight for the phone.
‘Mr Feeney, I’m so sorry, I completely forgot about something – can I do a half day on Saturday and do a full day on Sunday instead? I’ve got my formal on Saturday night and if I work the whole day it’ll be cutting it a bit fine.’
‘Need the afternoon to get yourself all dolled up, do you, Brendan?’ he said with a chuckle.
‘No, it’s just I need to get back to sort my dad’s car out, it’s boggin’, and he’s driving me and my date to the formal in it.’
‘Date?’ he said. ‘Very Yankee of you, Brendan.’
I felt myself blush.
‘Well, not a date, but like, the girl I’ve asked to go with me.’
‘I see …’ he said and paused a little bit too long, ‘… well, you’re in luck because I’ve not many funerals in over the weekend at the minute, so that’s not a bother for Saturday, as long as you get the hearse done because she’s out on a funeral in the afternoon and then if you can get the BM done too, that’d be grand. Sound alright?’
‘Absolutely, Mr Feeney, I’m sorry about that. I’ll be there first thing on Sunday to make up for it.’
‘You will not indeed, young fella, this is your first, last and only formal and I’ll not be havin’ you callin’ it an early night to get up on Sunday mornin’ to work. You take Sunday off, Brendan, and enjoy yourself.’
‘Oh, I can’t do that, Mr Feeney …’
‘You can and you will and there’ll be no more talk about it. See you Saturday.’
