Chapter 6: Prom Night

"What on earth is Zureicka doing here?" he asked himself. Chris was shocked and could not move for a few seconds.

"Come down here!" she called urgently.

"Shush," Chris gestured with his forefinger across his lips. He had to get downstairs and let Zureicka go home immediately, before anyone else heard her. He rushed out of his bedroom, down the stairs and out the backdoor. "What are you doing here, Zureicka?" Chris asked as soon as he reached her. "Couldn't you wait until tomorrow, like we planned?"

"I was, but then I just had to make sure that nobody saw us talking together. So it's better to talk here. That's why I called you earlier, but you didn't answer your phone," Zureicka explained.

"But you can't just show up like this! How come the dogs aren't barking?" Chris asked.

"Don't worry about the dogs," Zureicka said, as she pulled him aside to stand under a tree, away from the main lights. "We can talk now," Zureicka urged.

"Alright Zureicka, tell me, but you have better be quick about it before someone notices that I'm outside," Chris warned.

"Oh your parents are so stiff. You should have heard how your mom answered the phone this afternoon," Zureicka said mockingly.

"Just get on with it!" Chris hissed.

"We are going to have a cocktail party in the school foyer on the night of the Prom, alright?"

"Yes, I know about that," Chris responded.

"So you are going to get close to Claude and put something into his drink and I will do the same with Ruby," Zureicka said very confidently, while she fingered the collar of Chris' pajamas.

"Oh heavens no!" Chris shouted out.

"What on earth is going on out there?" Chris' father shouted from the kitchen door. When the two teenagers heard this, they jumped apart and Zureicka turned around to leave. “I just gave your dogs a mild sedative. They're just sleeping it off,” she whispered into Chris’ ear. Then she ran away before Chris' father could notice her.

"I thought I heard something outside Dad. It was nothing, but now I wonder where the dogs are," he continued. He was now worried. The dogs would never allow an intruder to enter the farmyard without barking viciously at them.

"Find the dogs and go back upstairs," Chris' father commanded before he went back inside.

Chris ran around in panic. Where were the dogs? To his horror, he found all the dogs soundly asleep. They had been drugged indeed. He checked them all and found that they were beginning to awake from their slumber. Chris heaved a sigh of relief.

*

Chris was furious with Zureicka. How dare she drug his dogs?! He phoned her first thing in the morning.

"Zureicka you drugged our dogs! What's wrong with you?" he demanded.

"I was only trying to give you a practical example of what could happen if you followed my advice. If a couple is fast asleep they can’t steal the night on the dance floor, can they?" she asked in a completely natural tone of voice.

"You think that kind of behaviour is normal, don't you?" Chris asked. "Please keep your advice to yourself and stay away from my friends!" Chris yelled, before he cut the call. He did not answer when Zureicka called back.

"Hello Chris, how are you this morning?" Chris did not have to turn around to see who was behind him. He knew her voice well by now, so he just continued to walk on towards his classroom.

"Remember, I am good at what I do. So look out for those you love and call friends," Zureicka said in a mocking tone of voice.

"Get off my back," Chris whispered into Zureicka's ear. He then marched on with determined, firm steps. Zureicka could not keep up with him.

*

Chris remembered how happy Lieschen, the German exchange student was when he had invited her to a Church musical one day. Ruby was dating Leroy at that point. So Chris decided to find out whether Lieschen already had a date for the Prom. He had an idea.

"Hi Lieschen, how are you?" Chris asked. He had decided to start out tby asking Lieschen to help him learn to speak German. He still had her phone number and that is why he phoned her. There was not much time to waste.

"I'm okay, Chris. Nice to hear from you," she responded.

"I have a big favour to ask," Chris continued. "Could you please teach me German?"

"Oh, I would be delighted!" Lieschen responded. "When can we meet?"

"Outside the school library, just after school tommorrow?" Chris suggested.

"Perfect! See you then," Lieschen replied. Wow, that was easy, Chris thought to himself.

*

After their tenth German lesson, Chris and Lieschen were on easy enough terms as friends. So he was bold enough to ask her to be his Prom dance partner.

"Lieschen, you are quite popular I think, so you must have a partner for the Prom already?" Chris asked carefully.

"Oh no! What makes you say that I'm popular?" Lieschen laughed.

"No, I don't mean it in the wrong way, of course," Chris mentioned quickly. He did not want to offend her.

"No Chris. I don't have a partner for the Prom yet. I think guys are afraid of me," Lieschen explained.

"Oh then, will you please, please be my Prom date?" Chris asked in a playful begging tone.

"Wow, are you serious?" Lieschen asked with a demure smile.

"Of course I'm serious and I don't want to miss my chance," Chris explained as he looked her carefully in the eyes.

"Then it would be an honor to accompany my student to the Prom," Lieschen declared with a big smile. Chris then picked her up and swung her aroung a few times.

"Wow! You don't have to get me drunk!" Lieschen joked. "I've already agreed."

"Oh so you're a smarty pants now?" Chris joked in return.

Chris now had two reasons to celebrate. Claude's father was sending him a suit from France and he was taking a beautiful German lady to Prom, as his partner. Deep inside, Chris knew that he was settling for second best in both cases: his prom date and his suit. But better to lose this battle than to lose the war, later on he told himself.

The thought of Zureicka was at the back of his mind. He, Claude and Ruby were ready for her though. They would watch their drinks carefully. Chris decided to phone Ruby.

"Hey Chris. Nice to hear from you," Ruby replied. "Did Zureicka bother you again?" she asked with concern.

"No, dear, she dare not. Her father swore that he would keep her away from the Prom, because she had openly told him about her cruel plans. He promised me that she would remain indoors and that he would not allow her to get anywhere near the Prom. He believed me when I went to him and told him about what she had asked me to do," Chris explained.

"Yes, I suppose we should trust his competence," Ruby replied thoughtfully.

"But I'm actually calling to inform you that Lieschen Strauss is going to be my Prom date," Chris mentioned. He had to get used to the idea by saying it out loud.

"Oh so you are taking your German teacher to Prom? Nice one Chris!" Ruby responded. "Well, anyway, I'm glad for you."

"Thanks Ruby. Have you found a dress yet?"

"Oh yes! My mom does not sleep on these issues. She is going to do up one of my dresses from a music show which I had last year. It's going to be super," Ruby explained.

"Wow, so you are going to look smashing!" Chris responded.

"Claude was a little disappointed that I did not want one of his dad's boutique dresses, but he knows that my mom will have her way," Ruby added. "Anyway that dress is stunning and it’s going to be even more transformed. You will see, Chris."

*

On Prom night Ruby, Claude and Chris stayed very far away from any drinks offered at the cocktail party, prior to the main event at the town hall. They were dressed up like movie stars. The boys in their tuxedos. Ruby in a lilac ball gown and Lieschen in an emerald green ball gown. “Do you think she would have a way to escape?” Ruby asked Claude.

“If she does it will only cause her more trouble with her dad,” Claude responded.

Chris and Lieschen were joking around and trying to act as natural as possible. “You just make sure we stay away from Zureicka’s friends as well,” Chris said. “We never know whether she gave them some sleeping pills for our drinks.”

*

At the town hall the entrance was decorated with flowers and candelabra. It was charming and glamorous. “Oh this makes me forget all about Zureicka,” Ruby announced to her three friends. “This music makes me feel as if I am in a dream.”

“Alright then ladies. Let’s enjoy our evening,” Claude declared with a bow to both girls each.

When their first dance began, Lieschen danced for a few minutes then announced: “I need to go to the bathroom. I will be back in a flash.” Ruby saw her leave and decided to follow her.

“Wait for me Lieschen!” she called out.

They were in high spirits when they entered the decorated bathroom area. There were beautiful, long curtains as well. “Let me touch up my lipstick Ruby,” Lieschen said.

“I knew you would come to the bathroom at some point, my dears.” The two girls looked around to see who was talking. Zureicka stepped out from behind the curtains, with a gun in her hands.