Chapter 1 Ira’s Normal Life (Balance)
The lights went out in the auditorium, leaving nothing but a rotating spot light that panned left to right and up and down to the beat of the obnoxious 90’s hip-hop. There were cheers, a smattering of clapping for a moment, and then over the loud speaker, in that let’s-get-ready-to-rumble voice: “NOW INTRODUCING, THE VICTORS YOU CHOSE AT THE CLOSE OF LAST YEAR, TO BE YOUR LEADERS...YOUR STUDENT BODY OFFICERS!!!”
From behind a large piece of crate paper stretched between 2 volley ball posts, a group of students burst through the paper. They cheered and clapped. All of them wearing business attire: suits and ties and skirts, but topped with baseball hats and trimmed with tennis shoes. The audience screamed in unison with applause.
There were 6 of them. They walked onto the mini stage that had been wheeled into the auditorium as a riser for the podium. The spot light focused in on one of the officers. It was a girl. She wore a black blazer and had on beneath it a cheerleader skirt. “Standing a whopping five feet and 6 inches, Michelle Princeton, captain of the cheerleading squad, holding a 4.0 GPA and a long time advocate for the Mel Bay Buckaneers! We present to you YOUR NEW ACTIVITES COORDINATOR!!!” the crowd cheered. She threw the blazer onto the ground revealing her full cheerleader outfit, and then did a sort of high-kick cheerleader move.
The spot light shifted from one student body officer to the next introducing each of them the a unique but similar fashion. It reached its culmination, introducing the Student Body President: Ira Conrad. He stood with a super-man-stance, both hands balled up in fists at his waste. He wore a stunning pinstripe 3 piece suit and no ball cap or tennis shoes.
“...lead his team to victory on the soccer field as a right wing. Ira is a native of Mel Bay Oregon, and spends his time playing soccer or participating in rock climbing championships... the student voted in last year’s Year-Book as the most likely to become the next President of the United States, your new STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT!” Ira did an imitation moon walk to the podium. The cheers were everywhere. There were a few pockets of booing however.
Ira reached the podium. The spotlight centered on him. He stood behind it and sure enough, his presence was that of a politician. The crowd grew quiet. He waited.
“I know you all don’t want a speech today but I’m going to say a few short words nevertheless.” Ira rested one hand on the podium and scanned the audience. The booing commenced. There was sort of a groan that rippled through the audience. Someone yelled, “your already in office, you can stop campaigning!” there was a reaction rippled of laughter.
Ira put up a hand. “I know. I know.” He waited for silence once more. “The truth is, this is the last year of high school for many of us. High school isn’t the most important thing, and we’re going to move onto bigger and better things. So let’s make this the most memorable year EVER!” he shouted the last word and it echoed like a heart attack through the PA system. The crowd cheered. When the eruption had ended, Ira leaned up close to the microphone. “Our Student Body Officers and myself, along with the best Student Counsel in the history of Mel Bay High!” cheers, “Wish to present to you our motto for this year, focusing on uniting every student in the school, we proudly declare, EVERY FELLOW STUDENT IS A FRIEND!” the other student body officers removed a large sheet and the words were written in black on a large piece of wood. There was a smattering of cheers, but not very powerful. Someone yelled “LAAAAME!”
Ira pushed his way on. “I just want to say, enough with the click’s exclusiveness. Enough with the jocks, nerds, gamers, thespians, whatever. The clicks and what they represent aren’t inherently evil, it’s the exclusiveness we wish to dethrone! So I say to everyone of you!” he pointed a sweeping finger from one side of the bleachers to the other. “Everyone of you is a friend—to ME! Let’s make this year memorable!” cheers again. Ira stepped out from behind the podium to take his bow. And to the surprise of everyone there, Ira was now only wearing polka dot underwear. Somehow, unknown to the crowd, Ira had removed his slacks. The underwear was obviously a gag and Ira was wearing something beneath it, but the crowd died laughing. The other student body officers took a bow next to Ira.
Ira turned the corner in the hallway and saw her. Michelle was at her locker. School had let out some 15 minute before and there was still a rather prominent bustle of students. He didn’t see anything but her though. Her hair seemed to bounce like in a shampoo commercial. She wore skinny jeans and a white blouse that was sort of frilly around the edges. Ira took a deep breath. It was the first day of school, and if this was going to be the most memorable of years Ira had be confident and bold. Things were moving into place just as planned. Ira was student body president, he had just purchased his jeep, he had won the largest rock climbing contest in Oregon over the summer, and was preparing for another in October. Yes everything was going right. He just needed the girl, to make things perfect.
“hey Michelle.” Ira said as he approached her locker. She turned and smiled; what a smile!
“You knocked ‘em dead today, Ira. That was really cool!” Michelle was getting books out of her locker.
“Thanks. I...uh. Yeah, I was worried I lost the crowd... too preachy, maybe?”
“Could have been. But it wasn’t.” She closed her locker and leaned her back up against it. Her bag was bulging. She let it sink to the ground.
“That’s quite the load. Let me carry it for you. I’ll give you a ride home in my jeep too. Did you know I got a jeep over the summer.”
Michelle smiled. “Yes, Ira, I knew you got a jeep. You told everyone in student counsel the day you bought it.”
Ira looked down at his feet. He remembered telling everyone before, he wanted to pound his forehead, but that would have to wait until he was alone at home, then he could scold himself for being so stupid.
Ira reached for her bag. “here, let me get that for you.”
“I got it Ira.” She said hefting the bag over a shoulder. Ira tried to take the bag anyway, but she resisted. The result was that when Ira let go of the bag, it sent Michelle stumbling backwards like the losing side of a tug of war.
“Oh my gosh! Sorry. Sorry! I really didn’t mean to...” Ira said stepping next to her. His face was red again. I’m such an idiot! He said to himself.
“It’s okay Ira. I should get going. I actually have a ton of homework, gotta love those AP classes, and then cheerleading practice in the morning, and Student counsel... its gonna be a hefty year.”
They turned and began walking down the hallway.
“let me give you a ride at least.”
“Ira, Lisa is probably waiting for me.”
“She’ll understand. Come on, do you really want to be with Lisa? Or me?” Ira said with a pseudo-debonair smile. Michelle laughed. She stopped walking and looked directly at Ira. “What?” Ira said looking around himself to make sure it was him she was looking at.
“You’re really gonna make a good Student Body President aren’t you?”
Ira’s mouth dropped. He didn’t know what to respond. So he shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m gonna try...”
They rode without speaking in the jeep. Ira only stalled it once, when they were first leaving the parking lot. They bounced along in the beautiful sunny afternoon. It was still august, the last fading days of summer, and it smelled rich of grass and pine trees as they sped along the windy road out to Michelle’s house. She lived a little bit further inland, where the forest blocked ones view of the ocean.
They pulled up to her house and she was stepping out of the jeep. “thanks Ira.”
“Listen, what are you doing tonight?”
“Homework. James is gonna be calling me too.”
“Are you still seeing that lame college-man!” Ira said patronizingly.
“Yes, he has a name and he is my boyfriend.”
“Isn’t he in Michigan or something?”
“Yeah, OSU doesn’t start classes until the 8th of September.”
The jeep pulled into a long driveway up to a rather large home, with pillars and a pond in the front yard.
“Come on. I won’t keep you out late.” Ira prodded. If he weren’t sitting in the jeep, he probably would have gotten on his knees. Now that Ira was succeeding in a social life, he found himself wanting more of it. He was sick of sitting at home reading, like he had done all through junior high.
“How about instead, you let me bum another ride to school in the morning.” She shut the door of the jeep and walked into her house without looking back. Ira stared at her the whole way. She was beautiful. She had it all: intelligent, gorgeous, rich, and not to mention, what made her more attractive than perhaps anything else, was the simple fact that she was unattainable. She was currently owned by that dopy college boy. Ira was positive James was a nobody at college. But to a young high school girl, any remotely attractive college boy meant a status also out of most girl’s reach.
Ira pulled his jeep up to his home. It was a modest split level home. 3 bedroom including the master. Large kitchen, 2 car garage, lots of space. But the drawback was simply, the house was getting older. The carpet could have been from the 70’s, everything was brown. Brown wallpaper, brown countertops, brown cupboards, and not wood-brown, but paint-brown, that was cracked and peeling.
Ira walked into the house and threw his things down next to the piano in the front room.
“Uh oh! Look who’s back.” Ira’s father, Terry, said hunching to look into the dining room in between the snack bar and the overhang of cabinets. “Its MISTER STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT IIIIRA COOONRAD.” Terry was mixing up his famous potato rolls in a green mixing bowl the size of a small lake. He wore a pink and red apron with hearts on it, shielding his work suit: slacks, blue button up, and tie.
“Come off it dad. Its not a big deal.”
“It is to me!” he said with a big laugh. “Come on, how was the first day. Did you do it?”
“Do what?” Ira feigned ignorance.
“You know, the boxers at the end of the speech.”
Ira wanted to maintain his cool composure, but it was his dad’s idea in the first place. So Ira broke down and described the entire thing. Terry was chuckling through the whole story. “No one noticed during the speech than, that anything was different?”
“I don’t think so. We kept the spot light on mainly my upper half you know, and the rest was shadows. I’m sure to get an earful from Mr. Hink tomorrow but it was worth it.”
“Well, he has to say something. He is an advisor. But you wanted to show the clicks you were everyone’s president right? Making people laugh brings down barriers like crazy.”
Ira loved talking to his dad. He had wished all growing up to be more like him. Terry was the perfect balance of adult temperament with child like reveries. He knew when to joke and when to be serious. He commanded a room like a president and a comedian. It had been his idea to surprise the student body with the phony underwear, and it had worked. Of course it had, Dad knew how to win peoples respect and devotion. It wasn’t a facade either. He cared about people.
Ira went upstairs to change out of his suit and tie. He jumped on MSN for a few minutes but after seeing that Michelle was not online, he abandoned it. When Ira came back downstairs he found his mom in a skirt and blouse. The table was set with their best china, and the table was packed for a feast.
“What’s with all the...” Ira asked with a frown. He hated when his parents left him in the dark.
“A new co-worker at the Hospital. He’s a surgeon, they have a daughter your age, and they just moved here from Chicago. I offered to treat them to dinner tonight.”
Course you did. Ira scowled some more. He didn’t want to put on airs tonight. There were always people coming over. It was the flip side of that coin: Dad being cool attracted company all the time. It was always really boring conversation too. Especially on first encounters. Dad held back the really fun jokes and stories, and told the long time successful stories. The one’s Ira had heard many a time, but Dad seemed to add new details or change things up...but still. Ira did not want to entertain tonight.
The door bell rang, and in came the family of 3. They were a perfect mirror of each other. Dad tall and slender and talkative. Mr. Townsend was round and quiet; he wore a contemplative expression which Ira was sure was just a mask to hide an empty mind. Stephanie, Ira’s mom, was also tall and thin. She was a busy body and a hard worker. Mrs. Townsend was more of a homebody, Ira could tell. For the simple fact that she brought a casserole and wouldn’t stop smiling. Not a fake “putting on heirs” sort of grin, but a genuine “I like everyone” beaming like a star smile.
To his surprise, Emily Townsend, was actually cute. She was sort of rugged looking. Like she didn’t wash her hair everyday and didn’t care about designer jeans or Abercrombie and Fitch. She wore a boys old button up plaid shirt with torn up jeans that might have been cool 10 years back but now they were left wanting.
Stephanie introduced Ira to Emily. They both said hello in the same teenage “I’m here but i’m not really here! Kind of voice. They didn’t speak another word the rest of the night, which came as a relief to Ira. He was worried he’d have to think of things to talk about.
Dinner dragged on. Ira had eaten as slowly as possible but adults don’t eat, they talk and nibble. He had cleared his plate a couple of times of mashed potatoes, corn, roast beef and rolls. Mrs. Townsend, (she asked to be called Mable) could not stop commenting on the food. Terry loved it, and soaked it up, he and Mable talked of food the rest of the night. Terry practically ate 4 servings of her split pea casserole. Dad loved to cook. Mom and Mr. Townsend had some unintelligible conversation about hospital stuff. They were like their own mini-episode of ER, and without a medical dictionary Ira was lost most of the time. Mr. Townsend really seemed to open up when talking about his field. Stephanie was a nurse but she was interested in going back to school to be a PA so she was uber-interested in whatever Townsend had to say about his schooling.
It was a like a constant cross fire of conversations across the table seeing how fathers and mothers sat across from each other and yet were talking to the opposite. Ira spent most of the time avoiding making eye contact with Emily and checking his watch.
“...so Emily, you excited for school here in Mel Bay?”
“Not really. But I’m supposed to say yes.” Emily’s parent’s frowned at her. “What. I’m not gonna lie. I’m sure he understands.” Mable huffed trying to stop her, but dad encouraged it further.
“Understand what?” Terry asked tipping back his glass, sipping at the ice which was all that was left at this point.
“Moving to a new school senior year. Starting from scratch.”
“Yeah. I can understand that. Can be hard, but depends on how you approach it.”
“How do you mean?” Emily said with a squint.
“Well, you can dwell on life in Chicago and all the things you missing out on, or you can look at the good happening around you right now.”
Ira had to save her. Dad was getting on a soap box and they were all about to hear a speech. “Dad, please. Spare us a lecture.”
“what, no lecture. This is no lecture.” Terry said smiling. He was always enjoying himself.
“I would like to hear what he has to say.” Mr. Townsend urged. Emily was clearly not happy with the move and Townsend welcomed anything that supported his decision that had brought the family to Mel Bay.
“Well, for one thing, the student body president is sitting right in front of you!”
“Dear!” Stephanie chimed in at the same time that Ira moaned, “you’re really bringing that up.” Ira was glad for his mother’s support. He would need her to thwart a flood.
“What? It’s the truth. What a perfect connection. You’re making right now. I bet Ira can show you around school tomorrow and everything.”
“I can’t!” Ira interjected. It was rude, but he had to put a foot down somewhere. “I mean, I would love to. But I have to be at the school early, and...”
“Perfect. You can give her a ride!” Terry said.
“No I can’t.”
“Why’s that Ira?” Stephanie was turning on him. He had been too bold.
“I’m already giving someone else a ride.”
“And the jeep can hold on 2 people now?” Terry leaned back in his chair.
“Mr. Conrad, it’s okay. I’m sure I can manage.” Emily said. Ira was surprised. She fared well with the adult discussion. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.
“No. Ira, the jeep is actually mine, and if you want to be driving anything to school tomorrow, you’ll be taking Emily too.” Terry lost his smile. Ira knew he had lost. He faked a cheeky smile and said they could work something out, but inside he was a bubbling volcano. Michelle and Emily in the same car. How could Ira strut his stuff for Michelle with an audience. Emily seemed the type to speak her mind. It was Ira’s intention of making Michelle a regular part of his daily routine. Michelle didn’t need a ride. Her dad owned like 3 BMWs and 2 Corvettes. She could drive a different fancy car to school every day of the week. She had accepted to ride with Ira because she wanted to be with him. A 3rd wheel would be the end of it.
Ira drove the black jeep up the winding road to Michelle’s mansion. The top was down, but it was a windy morning. The ocean breeze was billowing in from the bay and pushing past the trees, moaning of an early autumn. Emily grimaced most of the way. Ira glanced at her on a few occasions but there was no talk between them.
Ira felt a twinge of guilt for not being receptive. He tried to think of a commentary he could make, but somehow “its a blustery day huh?” just didn’t seem to fit. Emily would know he was being fake and Ira wasn’t in the mood to pretend.
They reached Michelle’s house. She stepped out the door in a striped button up shirt that was undone revealing a snow white tank top underneath. Ira’s heart jumped. She was so attractive. He thanked his lucky stars that she had won the election for activities coordinator.
As Michelle reached the car she hardly took note of Emily’s presence. Ira then realized the catastrophe. He should have picked up Emily second. Ira wanted to pound his head on the steering wheel as he watched Michelle hop gingerly into the open back seat of the jeep. Ira now cursed that same luck. How could this be happening? He knew that with a girl like Michelle one wrong move meant it was over. Resigned to his fate, Ira pushed forward.
“Michelle, this is Emily. She just moved in and her dad works with my dad.”
“Pleasure to meet you.” Michelle said in a tone that almost seemed sincere. Emily mumbled a thank you without looking back.
The drive to school was equally silent. Twice Ira endeavored to kindle a conversation but Michelle gave short one-word answers. Emily stared out the passenger window the entire way. She hardly moved. Ira began to worry that if they didn’t get there soon enough moss would begin to grow.
The day dragged on. Ira spent about 10 minutes showing Emily around the school and then dismissed himself. He felt more guilt but he really had things to get done. It was his job to give the morning announcements over the loud speaker and hadn’t time yet to put together the details.
Classes were the usual run of the mill. Ira found a friend in each class and spent a lot of time talking when he could get away with it. 2 different professors had scolded him for it, using his title as leverage against him.
At the end of the day, Ira made another attempt at rekindling things with Michelle but she declined, simply saying that things were better this way. Ira cursed that stupid parents for being so social, and cursed himself for having picked up Emily first, not that it would have made much difference. And he cursed himself again knowing that he would be taking Emily home again as well.
Ira pulled the jeep into its spot in the driveway. He was feeling better about life again, and trying to forget the social complications. He need to focus now on school. There was much to keep track of; all the things that were already assigned for homework. Emily would have to be sorted out later. Dad had ordered him to make it a permanent situation but Ira would talk to Emily. She seemed to be enjoying Ira’s company about as much as he was hers. He was sure after talking she would agree to dispense with the rides to school.
He grabbed his bag from the back seat and waltzed into the house feeling light and fancy-free.
He found his mom in the front room staring out the window with a hand covering her mouth. Tears were streaming down her face and she was holding a wad of tissues. Her eyes were red enough to illustrate hours worth of shed tears. When she said hello her voice was shaky.
“What’s wrong.” Ira furrowed his brow. He could feel a blow coming to his world.
“It’s your father, Ira.” Stephanie Conrad swallowed reluctantly. “He’s been in an accident at work.”
"What happened!" Ira said dropping his backpack to the tile with a thump.
"He's..." Stephanie broke down and bawled before she could get the words out.
