Cutest Lil' Jazz Singer (3/12) Blog story discontinued

14 years ago

Are You Lonesome Tonight?

(First off, I previously had no idea anyone other than Elvis recorded this song. Well, you learn something new every day, huh? I saw it on a list of songs I looked up, and it caught my eye. Naturally, I had to investigate.)

I sleep on a small couch in the nearby waiting room, and it's time to wake up and head off to school before I know it.

The three of us walk outside and meet Howie and Marian.
Marian, my future sister-in-law. So strange.
They ask us how Mama is doing before they head up to see her themselves. Dad and Justice go home to rest some more, but I have to get over my sleepiness and head off to school.

So, there it is. The sign up for the musical. C'mon, Gloria. Put your name on the audition list.

I take a deep breath and walk up to the bulletin board.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Alicia Carrasco, the drama club president, walk up next to me. I sign my name on the audition sheet.

Words fly out of Alicia's mouth, "You're signing up for the musical! That's just the bee's knees! Wonderful to have another chorus member. I wish I could just sign all y'all up anyway."

I turn to her a little nervously, "I don't have to put what part I'm looking to get, do I?"

"Nah, that's not necessary. We'll decide who gets what at the audition." she says.

I nod my head and say, "Gotcha."

The bell rings, so it's time for me to go to chemistry again. Alicia and her twin brother, Andrés, are both in my chemistry class as well.

Them being out yesterday is actually a good thing because that way we had enough stations, though I wouldn't have minded sharing with Rick. So, Alicia and her brother get started on the first part of the lab. The other four of us get ready for the second part. Camilla and I immediately decide to partner up.

Mr. Locke breaks up our happy plans, "No, Camilla and Gloria, I don't want you to be partners. Camilla, group up with Tom and Gloria with Rick."

Why are teachers always doing junk like that? Camilla and I would make perfect partners, but OH NO we can't have that can we?

I glance in Rick's direction and my heart drops to my stomach again when I see he's looking at me with a mildly happy expression.

I suppose I gotta go sit next to him since Camilla and Tom are both at this table.

I get up and walk over to Rick's table while Rick looks over at his friend Andrés. Obviously, he'd rather partner with him I'm sure.

"Hi." I say and look down at the floor.

"Tom, you don't have to sit that close to me! I need," Camilla pushes his chair away forcefully, "elbow room."

"Just making sure we can see each other's papers so we could work well together." Tom answers. I can hear the laughter in his voice. Looks like Tom doesn't mind the arrangement from Mr. Locke.

(It bothers me that I had her already finish her homework because now it looks like she's just sitting there making him do all the work. Oh well.)

Rick finally looks at me, "Alright, let's get started I guess."

"Okay."

"Have you heard?" Tom asks Camilla. "My dad's new building is being built! White Tower. It's going to be great! Real futuristic and all."

"That's great, Tom." Camilla responds with irritation clearly evident in her voice. Apparently, she's not impressed with Tom's boasting.

"Yeah." he continues, oblivious to the fact that she's not impressed, "We're going to have an apartment up there on the top floor and everything."

Camilla sighs exasperatedly, "I'm trying to do my work here, Tom. Let's just work on chemistry, okay?"

"Of course!"

"So, are your brothers still playing at Waylon's Haunt this Saturday?" Rick quietly asks.

Not much has changed since yesterday.

"Yes. And I'm guessing I'll be there. Well, I will be there. I'm an official part of the band now on non-school nights." I smile.

His head pops up from his work and he smiles at me. My heart melts. He has a beautiful smile.

"Really? That's swell, Gloria!" he exclaims. "Now I'll be sure to be there."

And I'll be sure to be extra nervous now.

"I might even bring a few friends along, if that's okay with you?" he asks.

"No problem." I answer.

BIG PROBLEM!!!! Great.... just what I need. A whole slew of kids from school.

There's a mild explosion over at the lab tables that draws our attention.

Andrés' lab exploded on him. He's immediately sent to the gym to shower off. He's not hurt, but he sure is embarrassed. I can't help but giggle.

While I'm on my way to chorus, I spot Rick signing up for the musical!

"You're signing up?" I ask him hopefully.

"Sure. Um, Andrés' sister really wants me to. Whatever, right? I saw you did too!" he responds.

I nod. "I thought it was worth a shot."

Yes! This is perfect!

The rest of the day passes without incident. I almost fall asleep in chorus when Dorothy sings for us... again.

I don't go home after school. With Mama not there, it doesn't feel right. So, I go to the hospital instead. I don't stay there long either. I tell Daddy that I'm going to the dome to do my science work. I don't think he really knew what he was saying when he said I could go... by myself.

I love how they turn the lights down so that you can look up and see the stars. It's especially neat when it rains.

I lay there singing to myself. I get stuck on the song "Are You Lonesome Tonight", and I sing it quietly.

"... Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare?
Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?
Is your heart filled with pain?
Shall I come back again?
Tell me dear are you lonesome tonight?"

I tap my foot against a palm slowly as I finish the song.

"Hello, Gloria." Rick almost laughs the words out.

I jerk my eyes in the direction of his voice, and then I see him standing almost right above me, smiling. I sit up real fast to get out of my un-ladylike pose.

How did he sneak up on me like that? I must've been really lost in thought.

"Rick!" I scold. "When did you get here?" I stay seated on the ground.

He sits down in front of me. "About," he stops to think, "ten minutes ago." I see him smile in the meager light from a nearby streetlamp. "At first I thought they had hired a professional to set a mood for the place, and I guess I shouldn't be surprised to find you here."

Professional?

"Humph." I make a noise of disbelief, but inwardly I'm preening.

"So, what are you doing here?" he asks, still smiling.

"I had to get away from that hospital for a while."

The smile drops off his face. "What? Who's in the hospital?"

"My Mama." I answer. "They don't know what's wrong with her."

"That's messed up. I thought hospitals were supposed to be good at that." he says.

"No. They don't know from nothing! I'm so mad at those doctors! There my Mama lies sick and they just shrug their shoulders." I wildly wave my arms in the direction of the hospital, imagining I'm slapping a doctor or two around.

Agitated, I get up and start pacing and filling Rick in on everything that's happened. Occasionally I stop and hold my tired head before turning around to walk the other way. Rick gets up and walks over to sit on a nearby bench.

"Baby, why don't you sit down before you make yourself ill." he calls to me from the bench.

Where did he hear that nickname? Probably Camilla.

Deciding what he said makes sense, I go and sit down next to him.

"I'm really sorry to hear about your Mama. I hope she gets better." he says with a sincere look on his face.

His voice sounds agitated now, "Why is that all the good parents have to have bad things happen to them and the rotten ones continue to ... " He lets out an irritated noise.

My, that's a loaded statement.

I look over at him. "So. Why are you here?"

"My old man." He sighs. "I hate it when his buddies come over for poker night. He gets drunk. Angry drunk. I had to escape that tonight."

"I'm sorry you gotta deal with that." I say sympathetically.

"Well? I can't do anything about it, can I? I can't wait until I can move out. I've got to live with him until I graduate. Then I'll go get a job and get my own place." he says with his elbows on his knees.

"Oh nuts! What time is it?" I ask.

He chuckles and sits up. "No idea. It was about 10 when I finally walked out."

"Thrill. That's all we need is a cop to come across us being out after curfew." I look around nervously.

He grins over at me, "Well, if I'm going to have a partner in crime I'm glad it's you."

I stop glancing around nervously and settle my shocked gaze on him. He laughs.

"Shh!" I wave my hands up and down. "Pipe down!"

He keeps laughing. "You weren't worried until a second ago, what gives?"

"I just can't believe I let time creep up on me like that." I say abashedly.

"Time flies when you're having fun, right?" he says as he scoots the rest of the way across the bench towards me.

Uh, how did this happen? Did he do this on purpose? I think he did. He likes me? What's this all about?

"Time sure is flying for me right now." he says.

Butterflies explode in my stomach. Or that chemical reaction with sodium and water. My heart flies. As many times as I've imagined this I never thought it would actually happen! Now that it has I don't know what to do!

"You know," he starts up again, "that song you were singing. What was it called again?"

I manage to keep my voice calm-a miracle. "It's called 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?'"

"Yes, I am."

My head pops over to look at him in shock.

"That's the name of the song." I clarify.

"It caught my attention. I wonder what made you sing that song? Are you lonesome tonight, Gloria?" his face gets closer and closer to me.

He's going to kiss me! Whoa! I am not that kind of girl, and he's barking up the wrong tree if that's what he thinks!

"Whoa, there! Bank's closed, mister!" I blurt out before his lips reach mine. I have to literally push him away.

"What?!? What's wrong, doll baby?" he asks in a confused and hurt tone.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asks.

The nerve of him!

"I'm not like that." I say simply.

"Maybe I'm mistaken. I thought this is what you wanted. I thought I was reading you right." he tries to explain.

"Not like this." I start to get up. His hands grab my forearms. I roughly brush them off of me.

"I'll just make my way home now." I say without looking back at him.

"Want me to walk you to the subway?" he asks quietly.

"No thank you." I say in as polite a manner as I can manage.

I start to walk away.

"Gloria!" I hear behind me. "Wait up!"

I don't stop walking.

"Please?" he begs.

I stop walking and slowly turn around.

I can't look at him right now. I can't let him see just how much that almost-kiss affected me.

"I'm sorry." he says. "I just... I like you, Gloria. And... I thought you liked me too. I guess I was wrong."

"Yes, I like you, Rick."

"Really?!" he says real fast.

I look up now to see a wide grin on his face.

"You like me?" he asks to clarify once more.

I want the earth to swallow me up again. "Yes." is all I can get out.

"But then..." he gestures to the bench.

"I'm not that kind of girl."

"To kiss someone on a park bench?" he asks incredulously.

"Not right off the bat like that." I answer, my voice steady now.

Understanding finally reaches his eyes.

"Sorry." he says again. This time I know he means it.

"I'll... I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

He sighs, "Sure."

I walk off to the subway, hoping I don't run into the police, to make my way home.

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Are You Lonesome Tonight by Lou Handman and Roy Turk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo-CcjPpE4Y

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