Stagelight

“Happy birthday, sweetheart.” Momma congratulated, as she placed a cake in front of Penelope. The girl sighed as she looked at the lit candles, her father on the other side of her. They were the only ones in the dimly lit kitchen. Penelope hadn’t even had a chance to make friends at her new school since her parents moved from Texas to a base in New York. And now, it was all the more apparent that Penelope felt alone, as she always did when she was forced to move. She closed her eyes and made a wish, with all her heart she wished for her life to change for the better. With an exhale she blew the candles out. Although she made her wish, her hope was nonexistent. She knew that she would be forced to move to and fro until she was able to financially support herself and choose her own place to live.

“How does it feel to be 18?” Her father asked, to which Penelope shrugged.

“Feels the same.” She admitted. “Every birthday feels the same for me.”

“Well this is a big one, sweetie.” Her mom chimed in. “You’re a woman now.”

“According to you I was a woman at 16, then 17, now 18...” Penelope drawled on.

“Hey, don’t you talk to your mother that way.” Her father pointed a finger at her. “She took the time to make a cake specially for you. And all you can do is give lip. How about you go to your room.”

Penelope huffed and stood up from the formica kitchen table, walked off into her room and shutting the door behind her. She shut her eyes as her back pressed to the door, trying to hold back tears. Then she looked at herself in the mirror, she didn’t like what she saw. She walked closer to the mirror over her dresser, taking in every detail of her face. And then she found herself even more frustrated.

She walked over to her record player and fell to the floor, shuffling through the many albums she had in the rack. Her fingers swiped each record as she tried to decide what to listen to. TheEverly Brothers, The Drifters, Elvis, Brenda Lee, Dion. She finally landed on her favorite album, one she played so many times it practically began to dull. Johnny Jett, a self-titled album. Johnny was the most popular singer in America, probably the world. He dethroned Elvis after he got drafted in the Army. Penelope wasn’t an Elvis girl anyway, but Johnny Jett, he made the type of music she liked. Although white, he had the soul of a black man. He sang the blues, rock and roll, and danced with a unique swagger.

She took the record out of the sleeve and then placed it in her record player. She pressed the button and the needle automatically touched down on the record, and it began to spin. Music buzzed through the speakers that were covered in tan felt, and the music made Penelope swoon. She began dancing around her room, her knee-length skirt swaying around her. Johnny’s distinctive baritone voice filled the room. She watched herself in the mirror practicing her moves, but she looked so clumsy, she gave up. She walked over to the record sleeve that sat on the floor and picked it up, walking backward to her bed and falling back onto it.

She stared at the cover, at his handsome face. His dark black hair, his blue eyes, his straight nose, his pouting lips. How his gaze was enticing. It excited any girl who laid eyes on him. He really was shaking things up, no one had seen anyone like him before. Penelope quickly sat up in her bed as her mom interrupted her lustful analysis of the Johnny Jett cover.

“Penelope, dinner’s ready. Come on out.” She announced. ”And come on and have some of your cake."

“Mom, knock before you open my door!” Penelope shouted. She walked over to her record player and the music halted with a scratch, then headed to dinner. That night, they watched the television, and Penelope couldn’t believe her eyes. The news reported that Johnny Jett got drafted and he would be stationed in Fairridge, the same base where Penelope’s father was stationed. She watched the footage of him shaving his beautiful black locs, now his hair was nothing but a buzzcut. He walked along with all the other men in the army, looking almost uniform, only he was the most handsome one. And it showed. It was the most exciting thing Penelope had in a while. As all the other girls mourned his being stationed, knowing he surely couldn’t put out more music, Penelope relished that he would now be in the exact same town as her.

As the weeks passed at school, Penelope didn’t feel any differently since her birthday. As she did at any school, she felt like an outcast. Yes, she would eventually make one or two friends, but often times she’d show up in the middle of the school year when everyone was already settled. It was Spring, and prom was right around the corner. Penelope knew no one would want to take her.

She sighed as she took her books out of her locker and headed to class. She sat in her seat not understanding a word her teacher was saying. She was always behind in school due to her constant moves. Instead, her concentration faded and she daydreamed. She couldn’t stop thinking of Johnny, and how he would be so close to her. But she knew the odds of her seeing him was slim, and she blinked away her fantasy as quickly as it came into her head.

After school, Penelope went to a local diner. She only had enough coins for a milkshake. She sipped her vanilla shake, then looked over her shoulder as she heard the jukebox across the room begin playing. There were two men in uniform, probably in their 30′s standing in front of the jukebox. They chose Johnny Jett to play, Penelope found that interesting because most older people deplored Johnny Jett. But she didn’t think much of it, turning back around and continuing sipping her shake.

It was then she was interrupted by one of the men, he removed his hat as he approached Penelope. She looked at him shyly, unsure exactly why he approached her.

“Hello there.” He said warmly. “I couldn’t help but notice you sitting here by yourself.”

“It’s alright, I just decided to come after school.” Penelope answered, then she noticed that she never said hello. Her cheeks got hot at her awkwardness. “Hello to you as well.”

The man grinned. “My name is Curtis Evans. I’m an Airforce Officer at the local base. I was wondering if you’re a fan of Johnny Jett.”

Penelope didn’t want to seem like all the other girls who gawked at Johnny. So she lied. “I’m not a fan per-say, but I find his music pretty good.”

“That’s too bad,” Curtis said as he grasped his hat in his hand. “You see, I’m a friend of Johnny’s. And I figured you looked like the kind of girl who would want to meet him. How would you like that?”

“I’d love it!” Penelope’s icy exterior melted immediately. “I mean, well, I think it would be interesting.”

“Interesting, you say?” Curtis chuckled. “Well, just give me your information and I’ll come pick you up at 8.”

The other man walked over and took a good look at Penelope. He rose a brow. “She looks pretty young.”

“I’m not young, I’m 18.” Penelope corrected as her blue eyes darted between the two men.

“She’s 18.” Curtis repeated to his friend as he reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a handbook. “Just write down your address here, okay?”

Penelope’s fingers grasped the book, and the color left her face. “I-- I don’t know if my parents will let me.”

“She’s too young.” The friend chimed in again, and Curtis held up a hand as if to tell his friend to be quiet.

“How about this, I’ll talk to your parents and they’ll decide whether or not you can go.” Curtis offered. Penelope nodded, then wrote down her house number. That evening, Curtis really did call and spoke to her parents. He explained that Johnny was an upstanding guy, and that he was very famous but still had great values. Curtis also made it clear that he, himself would never let anything happen to their daughter. And in almost a miraculous turn of events, Penelope’s father approved her going to Johnny Jett’s house.

They set a date, and Penelope couldn’t be more excited. She looked through her close to find the best dress to wear. She knew she didn’t want to look like a doll, with too many frills or pastels. She chose a darker dress, a more mature look. In fact, it was the dress she wore to her grandmother’s funeral. But she felt it was the perfect thing to wear to Johnny’s house.

Curtis picked her up at 8 o’clock sharp, and her mother hugged her goodbye and wished her a safe trip. Johnny was allowed to live in a house off-base, it was about 30 minutes from the house Penelope’s family lived in. They finally arrived, and in every window there was the glow of yellow light. There were many people inside, and Penelope could feel her heart flutter as she neared the door.

Curtis opened it and shouted out. “Hey, everybody!”