Cutler 01 - Dawn

"Have you been in chorus before, Dawn?"
    "Yes, sir."
    "And do you play an instrument of any kind?" he inquired.
    "I have been teaching myself the guitar."
    "Teaching yourself?" He looked around the classroom. "Now, that's motivation, boys and girls. Well, we're going to have to see how far along you've come. If you're very good, you can put me out of a job," he said.
    "I'm not very good, sir," I said.
    He laughed, his cheeks trembling with his chuckles.
    "There's something refreshing," he said, speaking to the rest of the class, "modesty. Ever wonder what that was, boys and girls?" He laughed at his own joke and went on with the day's lesson. When the bell ending the period rang, he asked me to remain a moment.
    "Bring your guitar in with you tomorrow, Dawn. I'd like to hear you play," he said, his face serious and determined.
    "I don't have a very good guitar, sir. It's second-hand and―"
    "Now, now. Don't you be ashamed of it, and don't let any of the students here make you feel that way. I have an idea that it's a lot better than you think anyway. Besides, I can supply you with a very good guitar when the time comes."
    "Thank you, sir," I said. He sat back in his seat and contemplated me a moment.
    "I know the students are supposed to call their teachers sir and ma'am," he said. "But when we're working alone, could you manage to call me Mr. Moore?"
    I smiled.
    "I'll try."
    "Good. I'm glad you're here, Dawn. Welcome to Emerson Peabody. Now you better hurry of to your next class."
    "Thank you, Mr. Moore," I said and he smiled.
    I started for my next class, but stopped when I saw Louise waiting for me.
    "Hi," I said, seeing she wanted to be friends again. But that wasn't her first concern.
    "I saw Philip Cutler sitting with you at lunch," she said, unable to hide the note of jealousy. "You'd better be careful. He's got a bad reputation with girls," she said, but her voice was still filled with envy.
    "A bad reputation? He seems very nice. A lot different from his sister," I said pointedly. "What do they say that's so bad?"
    "It's what he wants to do, even on a first date," she replied, her eyes big.
    "What does he want to do?" I asked. She stepped back.
    "What do you think?" She looked to the side to be sure no one could overhear. "He wants to go all the way."
    "Did you go out with him?"
    "No," she said, her eyes wide. "Never."
    I shrugged.
    "I don't think you should let people decide what you should and should not think about someone. You should decide for yourself. Besides, it's not fair to Philip," I added, his dazzling blue eyes still hovering in my thoughts.
    Louise shook her head. "Don't say I didn't warn you," she advised.
    "At least he didn't make me sit alone at lunch." My point, like an accurate arrow, hit the bull's eye.
    "I'm sorry I left you . . . can we have lunch together tomorrow?" she asked.
    "Probably," I said without sounding very definite about it. I was still feeling the scratches she and her catty friends had drawn across my heart. But that satisfied her enough to give me the benefit of another warning.
    "If you think Clara Sue Cutler doesn't like you now, wait until she hears what Mr. Moore said."
    "What do you mean?"
    "She thinks she's going to sing the solo at the concert. She did last year," Louise said and punctured my balloon of happiness just as it was starting to inflate.

 
    4
A KISS
     
    At the end of the school day I met Jimmy in the lobby. He was very unhappy because his math teacher had said she thought he was so far behind, he might have to take the class over again.
    "I warned you about missing all that school, Jimmy," I chastised softly.
    "Who cares?" he replied, but I could see he was upset.
    While we were talking, all the other students were hurrying out to catch buses or get into their cars. Those who slept in the dorms sauntered out slowly.
    "All these rich kids got money to burn," Jimmy muttered, seeing some of them heading for their own cars. "Come on," he said, heading toward the stair-way. "Let's see how long we've got to wait for Daddy."
    I followed Jimmy down to the basement where Daddy's office was. There was a workroom right next to Daddy's office, which wasn't a big office, but he did have a nice wooden desk and two chairs in it. There were shelves on the walls and a large, hanging light in a dark blue metal shade draped at the end of a wire and chain just over the desk.
    Jimmy sat down behind Daddy's desk and slumped back in the seat. I brought the other chair