[b][color =red]*CONTINUES *[/color]
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We were three weeks into rehearsal, and up until this point; Claire and I had not yet been on a date, because of our studies, as well as having rehearsals three nights a week. And while back stage in the dark during and after rehearsals, there had been a lot of hugging and kissing between us, but nothing more than that had occurred.
It was on a Friday morning while we were all finishing breakfast when Aunt Lauren asked, "Do you have any plans for this evening, Scotty?"
"Yes, Ma'am," I proudly replied, "I've got a date with Claire."
Oh, that's nice, Honey," Aunt Claire knowingly smiled, "That works out perfectly then."
"Uh oh," chuckled Uncle Mike, "Look out Scotty."
Even if Uncle Mike hadn't warned me, I'd always been able to tell when Aunt Lauren was up to something so, with that in mind, I smiled and said, "Okay, Aunt Lauren, I can always tell when something's going on with you. What is it, and what does it have to do with my date with Claire."
"You know me well, don't you, sweetie?" she grinned, "Okay, here it is. I'd like you to bring Claire over for dinner tonight so that Uncle Mike and I can meet her. I'll even make your favorite dessert."
"Oh man," I grinned, "You're gonna make a double-layer chocolate cake? Yeah, we'll be here, what time?"
"How does seven o'clock sound?" she asked.
"That will be just fine," I smiled, "I'm going to stop and wash my car on my way home from school so it'll be clean tonight when I pick up Claire."
"Okay, sweetie," Aunt Lauren giggled
~~~~~~
"We're having dinner at your house tonight?" Claire excitedly asked, when I told her of Aunt Lauren's invitation during lunch.
"Yeah," I said, "I hope that's okay."
"Oh Scott," purred Claire, kissing my lips, "It's perfect."
"Good," I smiled, "I'll pick you up at six-thirty then."
"I'll be ready, handsome."
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That evening, per Claire's directions, I drove into the older section of my hometown where all the very old and very big houses were. It was then that I knew that Claire was out of my league. However, she corrected my train of thought a couple of years later when....Uh oh, I'm getting ahead of myself.
After I pulled up in front of the house with the address Claire had given me, I got out of my car, and then walked up to the front door and rang the bell. When the door opened, an older and very beautiful version of Claire answered the door smiling, and said, "Hi, I'm Marsha Rogers, and you must be Scott."
Yes, ma'am," I courteously replied, "I'm here to pick up Claire."
"Please, come on in," she graciously said, "Claire's not quite ready yet."
After she closed the door behind me, I looked around at splendor of their home. A very elegant, ornate and beautifully crafted stair way stood before me, catching my eye and making me turn back to Mrs. Rogers and ask, "Was this house built during Victorian era?"
"You have a good eye, young man," a male voice responded from behind me.
I turned and saw a man of about fifty, I'd say, smiling and walking toward me. "Hello," he said, extending his hand, "I'm John Rogers, and I'll bet that you're Scott."
"Yes, sir," I smiled, shaking his hand.
"We've been hearing your name around here a lot recently," he laughed, "Oh, and by the way, my daughter tells me that you're going to be The Scarecrow in 'The Wizard of Oz'."
"Yes, sir," I proudly replied, "We're really looking forward to putting on a great show."
"I sure hope so," smiled, Mrs. Rogers, "We're both going to be there opening night you know."
I hope you like it Mrs. Rogers," I politely replied.
"Aw, honey boy," she smiled, "My name is Marsha, and his name is John so, I want you to call us that, okay sweetie."
"Yes ma'am," I smiled, nodding my head.
"Claire told me that you drive a Corvette, Scott," grinned John, "May I see it?"
"Sure," I grinned, motioning my head toward the front door, "She's parked right outside."
~~~~~~
"Wow," breathed John, "She sure is a beauty, Scott."
"Thank you, sir," I replied, "My Uncle Mike helped me pick it out on my birthday."
"Uncle Mike?"
"Yes sir," I said, "I live with him and my Aunt Lauren. Both of my parents died when I was a baby, and Uncle Mike and Aunt Lauren, who is my Mom's sister, took me in. My maternal grandmother had set up a trust fund for me on the day I was born, and it matured upon my parent's death. But Uncle Mike put it back in trust to mature when I turned sixteen so; I bought a new car with some of it."
"I don't mean to get personal," he said, "But what are you going to do with all that money?"
"It's for college," I said, "I don't want to burden my family with the responsibility of having to pay my tuition."
Although John never said anything, Although John never said anything, I saw the same look in his eyes that I'd seen in Uncle Mike's eyes when he would tell me that he was proud of me. John suddenly chuckled and said, "You want to see something, Scott?"
"Sure."
"Follow me then," John grinned.
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[color =red]TBC...[/color][/b]