Today was a turning point, a success, a new beginning, a blast. Today was a very good day. Today was the day that Lauren held a party for her students and their families, and it may have just changed her life, as well as Jonathan’s.
She has been planning it for some time, wanting to give her students a chance to relax after their mid-terms, something for them to look forward to. The only concern she had was whether she would have enough space for the festivities in her small apartment. This problem was solved when Jonathan offered to let her hold it in the store, and this gave her a new idea.
The invitations went out last week, to parents as well as students, and Jonathan put a sign outside his door. It began at five this afternoon with a group of teenagers poking their noses in tentatively. Several more were lured in once Jonathan let these first students choose the music that played. Before Jonathan could really worry about the tone that might be set by the bass-thumping of the speakers, two sets of parents arrived, and the party settled down into something safer for his wares and windows.
An hour later, there were two rough groups of people in the store—the students played games, hung out by the refreshments, and flipped through the tracks of music. Sometimes their choices were shouted down by the adults, who mostly clustered around the counter where Jonathan had placed a few bottles of wine or sat in the front or outside the store on the chairs borrowed from the café next door.
Lauren floated from group to group, and soon Jonathan went with her, at first because he was dragged, but then because he found himself just as comfortable with them all. He reconnected with Tucker, who has a steady girlfriend now with less of a penchant for thieves. He spoke again with Mrs. Ternes, asking after Hayley and whether she had made use of the information he gave them. He caught one of the more mischievous boys trying to steal a bottle of wine, but instead of informing on them, he arranged a wine-tasting and convinced the parents to allow their kids to taste a few. He chose the driest wines, which made most of the students make faces, and took note of those who didn’t as those who had already learned a bit about the taste of alcohol. Then, of course, there was the moment when ten large pizzas arrived at the door, entirely to Lauren’s surprise, and everyone cheered.
In a few hours, most of the crowd had filtered out, and the remaining guests had gathered into one group, a ragged circle of chairs with a handful of others lingering outside and gnawing on the last pizza crusts. The conversation had turned to some of the misadventures the adults had gotten into as teenagers, and Jonathan made everyone laugh with a story about how he and two friends had hidden a store of marijuana in a janitor’s closet. When they got back to retrieve it, they found in its place a note from the janitor thanking them for their contribution.
Laughing, one of the older men leaned forward in his chair. “Jonathan, your mother was such a hard-ass, no disrespect meant—”
“Better not, or she’ll hear you from Arizona and schedule her flight back to kick your ass,” Lauren said, and everyone laughed. Felicity is well-remembered in the town.
Mr. Weber waved off the response to finish his question, “So how did you end up so easy-going?”
Jonathan smiled, looking down into his wineglass. “I learned from my dad. When I was a teenager I used to get into huge fights with her, and I never won. I asked my dad once how he could stand her, and he said to me, ‘Jonathan, that woman dragged me to my feet and got me straight when I didn’t have any bones. She made something out of me, and for that I’m willing to let her have her way, because I know that at the root of all her bossy ways is a love so fierce and strong that it can give shape and strength to anyone.’”
“That’s beautiful,” Lauren said. “I didn’t think your dad was poetic like that.”
“He had his moments, when Mom let him get a word in edgewise.” Everyone laughed. “But Dad did stand up to her when he needed to,” Jonathan continued. “He took my side when I wanted to change my major in college to history instead of business.”
“You were a history major?” asked one of the students, leaning on the back of her mother’s chair.
“Yep,” Jonathan said. “And I haven’t done a damn thing with it, but I don’t regret it. It was four great years with people I loved, and it added a richness to my life here.” He pointed around at the students. “You all chase your careers, but leave room for things that just interest you, too. The more you know about the world, the better of a person you’ll be.”
Some of the students rolled their eyes, but they had learned that they liked Jonathan, and so most of them took the advice to heart.
A bit later, Lauren carefully turned the conversation toward the school board, though Jonathan gave her a stare when she did. The parents talked about the current members for a few minutes, and then inevitably someone mentioned that one would be stepping down.
Almost immediately, and to Lauren’s joy, one of the students looked at Jonathan. “You should go for it, Mr. Harris,” she said.
There was a small chorus of agreement and approval. This time, Jonathan did not immediately demur. He only smiled to himself. “You think so?” he asked.
“Yeah, Jonathan, you’d be very good at it,” one of the mothers said warmly. “We’ve all seen tonight how good you are with the kids.”
Jonathan looked at Lauren, who glanced away in false innocence. “I’m not sure how I’d be as a politician,” he said.
“Well, you only have to be one long enough to get elected, really,” Mr. Ternes said. “And I actually think you might not be so bad at that. You’ve got a great way about you—not intimidating, but also like you wouldn’t let anyone walk over you.”
“Do no harm but take no shit,” said one of the students, and everyone laughed.
Jonathan grinned at the boy. “Maybe I’ll make that my campaign slogan,” he said.
“So you’ll run?” Lauren gasped.
He looked sternly at her, but a smile was on his face still. He got to his feet. “I guess you all will just have to wait and see, won’t you? Now, I’m sorry to kick you out, but if I want to be home by midnight I’ve got to start cleaning up.”
He waved off all offers to help—some of which came from the teenagers—and bustled everyone out the door. Lauren was right there beside him when he locked up, grinning from ear to ear.
Her excitement warmed him, but it also spurred a sharp feeling of anxiety. He took her into his arms and held her close. “Do you really think I can do it?” he whispered into her ear.
“I know you can,” she said. “Oh, Jonathan, I know it more than I’ve ever known anything.”
I, too, sent all my confidence and warmth into him. I know that he would be a powerful force for good for these children.
Some of them hammered on the door, making taunting noises, and Jonathan turned, made sure none of their parents were looking, and lifted his middle finger in a teasing gesture. They ran off, laughing, and Jonathan turned back. The warmth and kindness in his face was clearer than anything I’ve ever seen on his expression. If I know anything about this man, I know that he loves young people, and he will be a great help to them.
“All right,” he said to Lauren. “I’ll do it.”
She jumped into his arms and kissed him. Then she pulled back and pretended to scowl at him. “You mean we’ll do it,” she said, and he laughed.