Part two of the trilogy ...

Part one.... /main/forumdisplay.cgi?action=displayarchive&number=103&topic=003579
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Main Street was not main anymore and not much of a street,
Small similarity to where he'd walked with childhood feet.
The high school was three times aslarge, the parking lot immense
And everything surrounded by a massive chain-link fence.

The banner screamed out "WELCOME to the Class of '84!"
He walked past windows barred that hadn't been like that before.
"The Times, They Are A'Changin'" was a huge hit in his youth
But even Dylan didn't know how much that was the truth.

He walked by rows of lockers on his pathway to the gym,
Saw photos of past athletes - of course, not one of him.
He smiled at names he recognized, the heroes of the past
Who thought success was little more than being strong or fast.

He heard the music through the doors, hit songs from way back when.
Inside there would be squeals as old mates met once again.
How different would the classmates be that he had known before?
With one deep breath he turned the knob and walked in through the door.

She waited in her car a while, and watched as others came,
She recognized a face or two of those who looked the same;
Her nerves were raw. She knew that there’d be welcome hugs from some,
But there were others she’d avoid … “Oh brother … Why’d I come?!”

The girl they knew so long ago, did not exist today,
Too many heartaches etched her face, since she had gone away;
She didn’t think she looked so very different from the past,
But working two long jobs a day, had drained her youthful cast.

“Oh well,” she thought, “Let’s see how others faired against the clock.”
“It’s time to go!” She sighed aloud, and started down the walk.
It seemed to take forever just to reach the old front door,
A little late, she entered, like so many times before.

She strolled beyond the lockers and the pictures she knew well,
“Boy, if these halls could talk, there’d be some stories they could tell!”
She headed ‘tward the music, gave her makeup one last glance,
Then entered through the old gym doors, to join those at the dance.

The gym had been redone to mimic 1984
Purple raindrops hung suspended halfway to the floor.
The tablecloths were in school colors, candles shining bright
And everything was geared to make a very special night.

A giant ghostly silhouette was taped against one wall
With words below that made one chuckle - WHO YOU GONNA CALL?
How easy for the mind to dwell on good and shut out bad
But he recalled events back then that made him feel sad.

Michael Jackson was the king with his own brand of noise
Before he left the country with his love for little boys.
Madonna sang "Like a Virgin" (that one made him wince!)
And acted like the opposite of virgin ever since.

Indira Ghandi assassinated, another blow to peace..
The Killing Fields reminded us of war's atrocities.
A virus, AIDS, was named, and to alleviate our fears
The government swore to have a cure for it within two years.

But, hey, it was a special night, no time to dwell on bad.
It was a time to celebrate the wondrous youth they had.
The room was filling fast as classmates came into the gym
And he could see some smiling faces walking up to him.

She walked into the gym, and instantly, was taken back,
As “Footloose” played, the title song, from that same movie track,
A time when pastel suits and stubble occupied TV,
Along with Cosby, Dallas and a show called Dynasty.

The “cold” war was still “hot” back then, as Reagan held his place,
While gas leaks in Bhopal arose to shock the human race.
Computers in the home were for the rich and nothing more,
While “Typing 101” was still a secretary’s chore.

All this and more, came flooding back, from 1984,
A testament to all the decorations on the floor,
Like yesterday, she searched the crowd, for someone that she knew,
“There’s strength in numbers.” She had learned, and spied a friend or two.

She gravitated their direction, hoping for a hug,
But paused mid-way when someone gave her dress a giant tug,
She spun around and there was Katie (loving this, no doubt!)
(If ever there was gossip, here’s the gal to sniff it out.)

“Oh my! She heard, “You haven’t changed one bit since ’84!”
“I heard you got divorced!” she squealed, “Do tell a little more!”
She stood there trapped, with questions flying at her left and right,
Not quite the way she’d hoped to start her evening here tonight!

The table was set up with tags in alphabetic rows
He found his with no problem and affixed it to his clothes.
He went to find a table that was empty in the gym
And noticed several faces that were smiling out at him.

He hadn't had a lot of friends, his circle being small
Since what showcased his qualities did not include a ball
But now he saw that he was being recognized by some
(Which still did not make him too sure that he was glad to come.)

He said hello to MaryAnn, class valedictorian.
Their competition for that honor had been lots of fun.
He asked her what she'd done with that wondrous brain since then.
She said she had four kids and was expecting once again.

He scanned the faces passing by and, to his mild surprise,
He found that there were many that he didn't recognize.
Could twenty years make such a difference? It seemed very strange
Especially since he was very sure HE didn't change!

She managed to survive the questions from the gossip queen,
Politely dodging all the juicy rumors there had been,
Another unsuspecting victim walked in through the door,
(A perfect time to slip away, across the old gym floor.)

She spotted Patsy, Jen and Laura, chatting to the right,
And when they saw her, she was met with squeals of pure delight!
They talked of kids and husbands – who’d had botox, lifts and tucks,
A bit more gossip followed – who was poor and who had bucks.

They’d been the best of friends back then, their cheers had rocked the
field,
And with that, came a power that these gals had learned to wield;
It seemed they hadn’t changed that much, but “her” perception had …
Their superficial chatter, seemed to grate on her a tad.

“Your “ex” is over there,” said Patsy, pointing to a crowd,
“Well thanks, I’ll keep my distance. He looks drunk and kind of loud.”
“Whatever,” Patsy said, “Let’s raise some pep, that’s why we’re here!”
And all eyes turned to them …as Patsy roared their high school cheer.

He'd shaken hands with many - others smiled and he smiled back.
He learned his history teacher had just had a heart attack.
Footsteps came up behind him and a boisterous voice was heard,
"Well, look how lucky we all are! I hear you done good, nerd."

The quarterback had lost his muscles, grown a little pouch
(Assuredly from too much beer and time spent on the couch).
The years had not been kind to he who always made the plays..
"Hello, Biff" Then he slowly said, "How's married life these days?"

"Hah! Married life? That's over, man. I'm flyin' wild and free."
"Getting tamed and neutered ain't for real men like me."
"She hooked me with those gorgeous legs and how she shook her butt
But, in the end, she turned out just another silly slut."

He felt his hands turn into fists, could not control his breath.
His nails dug into his palms and Biff was facing death!
But Biff just smiled and walked away to find another beer
Leaving him there, still fuming, turning, looking...was she HERE???

She shrank into the background as her friends yelled out the cheer,
(The spotlight wasn’t what she craved, and “not” why she was here.)
Her high school days had seen her through her trials as a teen,
With shyness masked by cliques and clubs, swept up in school routine.

She watched as others worked the room, content with who they were,
They laughed and joked, and looked at ease … “Why couldn’t that be her?”
Instead, she felt the urge to run … when Biff came into sight,
Avoiding him, would be a chore if she stayed long tonight.

She turned to leave, but noticed with a twinge of sad regret,
That Biff was talking to the man that she could not forget!
“Now what’s the odds?” she said aloud, “Her ex and childhood chum?”
A most unlikely pairing, which had left her feeling numb.

Between the rumors flying ‘round, and now a first hand tale?
“He must think I’m just horrible” (a thought that left her pale).
As panic took her by surprise, she ran toward the door,
And crashed into the table – landing sprawled out on the floor!

"This had been a big mistake", he thought. "Why did I come?"
To try to slip back to the past was really rather dumb.
He didn't need to stand around and listen to that trash.
The time had come for him to go - and then he heard the crash.

He saw the table overturned, the strewn-around decor,
The pair of nyloned legs of someone lying on the floor.
Her face then came into his view and he began to smile.
He helped her up and said, "Hi, friend. I always liked your style!"

Her eyes looked up at his and, in that instant, they both knew
That all the feelings they once shared and treasured had been true.
Regardless of the years gone by or what occurred back then
He'd always loved that little girl that he had called his friend.

They found a table to themselves where they could sit and hide.
He told her she looked wonderful and saw her grin grow wide.
She told him that she hadn't been successful as a wife
But had a son who had become the best thing in her life.

He said he’d never married – there was no one who compared,
To what he’d felt for her as kids – for what they both had shared;
She gave an understanding nod, and searched within his eyes,
Exchanging something raw and real that neither could disguise.

She took a moment, overwhelmed at how the night had changed,
Unspoken words went back and forth, in intimate exchange;
He suddenly leaned over and he whispered in her ear,
“I’d like to take you home.” She blushed, and said “We’re out of here.”

He took her hand and left the gym, oblivious to all,
(They didn’t see Biff standing there, with fists clenched by the wall),
They found his car and left the school, took Highway 22,
Toward the little Hotel she had booked when she came through.

The roads were dark and quiet, she was grinning to his right,
When all at once, two headlights beamed behind them in the night;
They came up quickly, swerving as her apprehension grew ...
She heard the engine roar, and saw Biff’s truck speed into view!

"It couldn't get much better", he was smiling in the night.
The feelings they were sharing felt so absolutely right.
Their childhood admiration had been love right from the start
And what he felt could barely be contained within his heart.

He reached his hand to squeeze hers. When he did, to his surprise
He saw a look of panic-stricken terror in her eyes!
He heard an engine's roar and saw the pickup come up fast
Then spotted Biff's red, drunken face laugh at him as he passed.

Biff swerved to cut him off and there was nowhere he could go!
The road was on a hill - the valley fifty feet below.
The tree came up from nowhere. There was no time to cut back!
The last he heard was her shrill scream and then all turned to black....

He woke up in a white room, bandages from head to toe.
How long he had been lying there he had no way to know.
"Lucky to be alive", he heard one nurse say, quietly
But the only thought that filled his mind was screaming, "WHERE IS SHE???"
Stay tuned for part three

How can I sleep NOW?

I NEED to know
(it's an inquiring mind kinda thing!!!)