Stacy's Song by Jacqueline Seewald Page B

visited several stores before locating a dress that fit me properly. They don’t have giraffes in mind w hen they tailor dresses. Anyway , I finally found a pastel blue with a square cut n eckline that flattered my shape , making me look more curvy than I was.
    â€œYou’ve got a perfect model’s figure,” Liz said as I paid for the dress.
    I looked at her in surprise. “Me? I’ve got a terrible shape.”
    â€œNo, you don’t. Besides models are supposed to be tall and slim. You look positively elegant in that dress.”
    â€œGlad you think so,” I said.
    She gave me a warm smile. “Don’t ever put yourself down. Others can do it so much better.”
    We walked through the mall and decided on burgers at the food court. We both chose cokes and shared an order of fries.
    â€œDo we have enough money yet for the band equipment?”
    Liz nodded her head, munching thoughtfully. “Just about. Michael wants you to come along with Jimmy and m e when we pick out the amps and keyboard for him.”
    â€œIsn’t he coming too? He should choose the synthesizer for himself.”
    â€œI know,” Liz agreed, “but he won’t leave the house to go to a store. He thinks people will stare at him.”
    â€œYet it doesn’t bother him to perform on stage. I don’t understand.”
    Liz’s gray eyes had an owlish qual ity. “When Michael’s performing he’s in his own world. He doesn’t even think about his blindness then. Without his music, I don’t know what would happen to him.” Liz licked her lips. “Promise me that no matter what happens or how he behaves you won’t give up on him.”
    I didn’t answer her right away. “Sorry , but I can’t make a promise like that. It’s not fair for you to ask. You know I care about Michael but I don’t think that’s enough.”
    â€œHe cares about you too,” Liz said with an earnest expression. “He just keeps all his feelings bottle d up inside. Since the accident he’s closed himself off. Music is his only link to the outside world—music and you.”
    I wished she wouldn’t do that to me. I hated it. It was as if she wanted to make me responsible for Michael. At that moment I resented Liz. I felt she was trying to manipulate me.
    * ***
    Bec ause of what Liz had said I insisted Michael let me sing with him at the Thanksgiving dance. They got another boy to play bass guitar. I thought he played well.
    I joined the group for at least one vocal in every set. Mostly they played instrumentals anyway because everyone wanted to dance. I enjoyed getting up and sin ging with the band. Funny, I’m shy about speaking in front of a class, and yet I never feel as good as when I’m performing music for an audience . For me that was the high point of the evening.
    Greg was very understanding. The nicest thing about him was his easy ways. He was never demanding of my time and was just as content to be with his guy friends talking sports as he was dancing with me. We had a good time at the dance.
    After the dance, Greg and I went out with Randy, Karen and the rest of Greg’s football buddies. We ended up at Club Paradise because there just weren’t any other places open in our town by midnight. Although the team had lost the Thanksgiving game to our arch-rival Southvale and wouldn’t be going on to the state finals , spirits were still high. Greg took the loss in stride and the rest of his friends seemed to follow his lead.
    â€œThere’s always another season,” he said. “As for me I intend to rock them during baseball. We’ll be champions yet!” He raised a root beer toast.
    M r. Kemp had a good band playing, not as good as ours of course, but they had a nice sound. Randy told a bunch of bad jokes and Karen was polite enough t o laugh. Then again Karen was big-time happy these days. It looked like Lori