Chapter 16

"The PROM committee? Are you serious?"

"Yeah, Gar, I am. Little Kueny and I are going to help out. That way we don't have to pay for tickets."

"But still...the prom committee is for...well, it's not for us."

Steve kicked a rock along the ground. "It is since last Friday."

Realization dawned on Gar. "Oh, you've got to be sh-"

"Listen. If I can't go with Jennipher, I don't want to go. But I have to go, and I have to have a reason not to have a date. Being on the prom committee is that reason. I'll go early, decorate, maybe help the DJ set up, I don't know. Then I go home, get cleaned up, show up, eat dinner, then stay off the dance floor all night, then clean up. The committee is the perfect cover for not having a date."

"I don't see how it's a perfect cover. You're still going to be there by yourself."

"No no no, brother. Here's what I say: 'I was going to bring a date, but it didn't seem fair to any girl to not give her the whole special Prom experience. I'll be so busy helping set up and clean up that I wouldn't have time to devote to a date.'"

"I think you're crazy."

Steve pursed his lips in thought.

"Yeah, I probably am. But I told Little Kueny I'd help out, so I'm already committed."

"So Prom Committee?"

"Prom committee. I'll see you after the meeting."

"Deuces."

"Deuces."