“Oh, yeah. U, it's me, Elizabeth. I mean, E-Beth."
It took half a second to register. But when I realized who it was my entire day brightened.
“Hey!!! How are you doing? How's your Senior year going? Man, college apps have to be done by now. You know where you're going to school next year?"
"School's good, school's good. And I'm actually going to Uni when I graduate. So I'LL be seeing you around campus next year. But actually, uh, that's not why I'm calling." Her voice was filled with nervous tension.
“Yeah, yeah. What's up?"
There was a short silence on the line as I swear I could hear her trying to figure out how best to say her piece.
“Well, I have a favor to ask.”
“Anything. I owe you my eyesight, remember?"
“How could I forget? You were squealing like a little girl and I believe some of your shrieks reached into the ultrasonic range such that only canines could detect them," E-Beth laughed and I could noticeably feel her relaxing from her previous nervousness.
“Ouch! That's not a very good way to get me to do you a favor."
"Sorry..." Her voice was sincere, but there was still a quiet laugh at the end of it. And then her nervousness was creeping back.
“Well, I was wondering if... and you totally don't have to say yes or anything... I mean, not if you don't want to... but I'd really like it if... I mean-"
“E-Beth. Spit it out.”
“I was hoping you'd be my Prom date.”
“Prom? Wow! Well, sure." The gentleman inside me kicked in just then.
“It would be an honor."
“Really? Ohmigod, you have no idea what this means to me! I mean, really, you probably don't know. But... really?" I could hear the inner cheerleader in E-Beth as she rejoiced on the other end of the line.
“Yes, really. When is it?"
She rattled off the date.
I automatically glanced at the calendar. "That's the Saturday after next. Is it that time already?"
"Yeah."
It was a good thing I didn't make any plans for that Saturday. And then
I realized just how close she was cutting this.
“So, just curious, how far down the list was I?"
“Huh?”