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“ Do you need any help?” Eddie asked, noticing the tight jeans and white, silk blouse. The jacket and skirt she wore, when they first met, hid her long hourglass figure. She bent over and placed the lights carefully on the floor.“ All I have to bring in is my costume and the fan,” she said, glancing back at two men who quickly turned back to their chores.“ I’ ll give you a hand,” Eddie offered and walked quickly to keep up with her long strides.
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Outside the school doors, Kate slowed.“ The costume fits wonderfully. Tanya is so talented. I have a mirrored wall in my dining room. I set up the lights and fan to see how I looked. I am so excited. This is so out of character for me, I want to say thank you, Eddie,” the words poured from Kate as she stopped, turned, and squeezed his hand briefly and a little awkwardly. They approached a black convertible BMW“ You are quite welcome,” he said, He pictured her driving with the top down, her shoulder length, blond hair whipping about the cut, strong features of her face.“ Nice car,” he noted. She handed him the fan and hat-box riding in the front seat.“ My wig,” she said, pointing at the box and carefully removed the dress that lay across the back seat.
As they carried her props along the parking lot, she asked,“ Have you seen Brad Miller’ s room yet?”“ No. It’ s been under lock and key all week and the windows have thick, brown paper taped over them. Have you?”“ I’ ve not. He’ s been working on it every day, carrying cardboard boxes of God knows what. Brad was on guard every time he opened the door, not allowing anyone to peek inside,” she confided. As if on cue, Brad’ s Jeep came wheeling into the lot and halted near the couple.“ How’ s it going?” he yelled and killed the engine.“ We wanted to ask you the same thing,” Eddie quizzed.“ Finished last night,” Brad grinned.“ Just need to hang a few lights and let the show begin,” Eddie, Kate, and props lead the way into the school as Brad held the door.
The finishing touches of the moving bars were put in place by Rodney. He was operating the bars with the garage remote when Eddie arrived and offered introductions.“ Damn you’ re big!” Brad said to Rodney.“ Damn you’ re little,” Rodney smiled.“ Wrestled one-twenty-five.”“ Football, middle linebacker,” Rodney said, and they turned to Kate.“ Basketball, center,” she said, and they all turned to Eddie.“ Baseball, shortstop,” he said.“ This is quite a team,” Rodney said, as they all laughed. Eddie looked around.“ Where are Frank and Bill?” Rodney answered,“ I told them I was getting hungry. Frank promised to feed me, so they headed out to pick up lunch for all of us. Where is the cafeteria?”
The cafeteria was lined with empty booths for the Halloween party. Frank and Bill were on their way in with a bunch of volunteers as the quartet arrived. Frank set eight assorted Subway sandwiches on the table and Bill set a case of bottled water on the table.“ Anyone want a soda?” Frank asked, walking across the polished terrazzo floor toward the vending machines.“ Root beer and a couple bags of chips,” Rodney bellowed. Frank nodded and returned with an armload of chips and a few soft drinks.“ I had them put everything on the sandwiches. I figured you can pick off what you don’ t like,” Frank said.‘ You are talking to a bunch of jocks. If it’ s food we’ ll eat it,” Rodney smirked, letting everyone make their selections first.“ Bless this food and friends gathered. Amen,” the smooth, rich voice came from the huge man.“ I’ m also the assistant pastor at my daddy’ s church,” Rodney offered with a shrug.
The volunteers began to outfit the booths around the dining, chatting, group as they finished their late lunch.