... Mrs. Julie Ann Bockman, the mother of Brad, my best friend! I'd always thought she was kind of hot-looking, and now I knew it! But I didn't want to freak her out or get her freaked out about me. After all, I'd be seeing her later tonight. So, I wished her clothes back on her before she noticed anything.
"Hi, Mrs. Bockman!" I called to her.
"Oh, hello, uh -- Jay, isn't it?" she she said. Though I'd been to her house (one of the plushest in town) several times, and she'd driven me and Brad several times, she could never remember my name. I suspected she'd prefer Brad to be with someone more along his family's lines in terms of money. But there wasn't anyone in town Brad's age that would qualify.
"No, it's Joey."
"That's right! Joey! Are you coming to Brad's party tonight?"
"I've been helping him plan it, remember?"
"Oh. Yes. I think so. Do you have a costume picked out?"
"Yes," I said. But, now that I had the ring, I wasn't sure.
"What are you going to be? A clown? A hippy? A tramp?"
"No," I said, kind of mad about her not very subtle hints about what she thought I'd look best as. "I'm going to be -- a magician." It was so much better than the biker I'd planned to come as.
"A magician? Are you going to perform little tricks for us?"
"You'll see." I made my goodbyes and walked away. I had plans to make.
That night, when I rang the bell at Brad's house, the door was answered by Monique, the Bockman's very own French maid! I think Brad and his dad were more the ones responsible for hiring her. But I didn't care. She certainly made me look even more forward to visiting Brad.
"Ah, M'sieur Joey!" she said with a polite smile. (I loved how she said my name: "Zho-WEE!") "And 'ow handsome you look! You are zee magician, oui?"
"Oui!" I replied. "I hope you'll help me with a trick or two."
She laughed and told me she would if they weren't TOO naughty.
I followed her into the room. She wasn't in costume, just her standard maid's uniform. And I had to ask myself, could I wait until later, or did I have to try my ring out on Monique NOW?!