“Sure, as far as the dance is concerned, Ms. Walker. I’m not all dressed up tonight so it won’t be a glamorous video or anything. As far as wearing more red, I’ll talk to Mom about it. Once I explain your idea, she’ll probably go along with it. She wanted me to get a flashier wardrobe anyway. I’m just not certain that I’ll provoke that much interest. I never have before. I think it’s Steve that draws the attention. As long as I’m with him, I look better than usual,” confessed Gwen. “The rest of the time, I’m rather nondescript.”
“That has always been your perception, Gwen, but not everyone else’s,” assured Ms. Walker. “You have a presence like I’ve never seen before. Steve radiates it. When you two are together, sparks fly, and people notice. I’m simply trying to take advantage of the heat you two generate, not to sound too metaphorical.”
So it was that when Steve made his way across the floor to Gwen, Ms. Walker insisted the DJ play “Lady in Red” for them. She had called the DJ the previous evening to be sure he would have that song with him. By the time Steve and Gwen finished the dance, tears were showing on many teenage girls’ cheeks. Ms. Walker smiled as she looked around the gym.
Sparta won its next two games against quality competition. Steve Hammer was becoming known as a passing quarterback like few high schools had ever seen. His height, strength, and calm demeanor allowed him the time and ability to find his targets downfield. At the half time of the first home game in October, Gwen was crowned homecoming queen and he was the king. The gym was packed to the rafters that evening when Steve and Gwen danced to “Lady in Red”. Of course, Gwen wore a beautiful red gown and the video was quickly viewed by hundreds.
The local TV station had a small satellite office in Sparta, as well as a young reporter, Amber Stahl, stationed there. As the team became known as a football power, Amber found herself assigned to the team’s home games, mostly so she could send the station some video highlights of the team’s play. It was the night of the homecoming that she first heard about “The Lady in Red”. She had been standing on the sidelines watching the crowning of the homecoming queen and decided to video the ceremony in case the station would like some human interest shots. That’s when she overheard a conversation.
“Gwen sure does clean up good, doesn’t she, Ralph? I hear she and Steve are performing their “Lady in Red” dance again tonight at the homecoming dance. I’ve watched the first one a couple dozen times already and I’ll be watching tonight’s dance tomorrow. Dave Kite will probably have the coronation on YouTube before we get home. These are some good kids in Tyler’s class.”
Amber Stahl, with the zeal of a young reporter, smelled a story and decided to hang around after the game. If she was noticed videoing the first dance by the homecoming queen and king, it wasn’t mentioned. Half the crowd had their phone cameras pointed at the couple. She just had time to get her report back to the station in the state capital before the eleven o’clock news. It was a slow news night and the lady sports director quickly scanned the video to glean the highlights. Her curiosity aroused, she played more slowly the highlights that interested her. Then she called the news director over to view the video from Sparta.
“Ms. Walker, my YouTube videos had a real shot in the arm Friday night,” revealed Dave Kite as he took his seat in homeroom. “Channel 4 carried highlights of our win over Crawford, the crowning of our homecoming Queen and King, and at least fifteen seconds of their first dance of the evening. Somehow they found out about our class YouTube account and mentioned it. The hits are around ten thousand, with the top one still being the swim suit edition. The senior class is actually getting some cash into its building fund, but a few videos and some car washes and bake sales haven’t exactly put us over the top.”
“I never said that it would be easy, Dave,” responded Ms. Walker. “We are gaining momentum, thanks in large part to your efforts with the internet. We have to keep marketing every good deed, every accomplishment, and every newsworthy action by any senior. Then we’ll start hitting the local businesses for contributions, or even marketing deals.”
Gwen heard Dave Kite’s observation that the building fund was pretty much floundering and decided she had to be more proactive to raise monies. “Charlotte, after school today we’re going to stop in at some businesses. We have to make them aware of our goals and try to get them to consider helping us in some way, preferably with cash. I think we’ll stop at the bank first and talk to Tyler’s dad. He should be willing to help since his son is a senior.”
“So that’s what we’re trying to do, Mr. Smith,” finished Charlotte as she and Gwen sat back to listen to Tyler’s dad express his opinion.
“Tyler mentioned all this to me a few weeks ago. It’s a very ambitious endeavor. Building wings on hospitals is extremely expensive. The big thing that you have going for you is that everyone in town would like a bigger, better hospital. I’d love to help, but I have to be conservative with how I spend the stockholders money,” worried Ralph Smith. “We’re only allowed so much for advertising and that’s pretty well spent for the year. We’ll have to determine some way that the bank can obviously profit by the publicity. I’ll mull it over a few days and get back to you two. I have to admit that I’m very impressed with the professional manner you two ladies presented yourselves, as well as your goals. I know you both have plans to become doctors, but if that doesn’t work out for some reason, look me up. I can always use smart young ladies in the bank.”
The next stop for Gwen and Charlotte was the Ford dealership next door to the bank. “That’s our goal, Mr. Governs,” stated Gwen as she wrapped up their presentation. “Do you think Governs Ford would be interested in helping us in some way?”
“Gwen, I’ve asked you to call me Mort,” responded the young businessman while ignoring Charlotte. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we could think of a few possible ways to help your project. Let me pick you up tomorrow evening and we can discuss it over dinner.”
Charlotte barely concealed her shock as she listened to Mort Governs ask Gwen out to dinner. He had to know about Steve! He was at the dance. Heck, he was the guy Steve outbid for the dance with Gwen that pretty much created the whole “Lady in Red” phenomena. She waited for Gwen to set the guy straight.
Gwen kept a poker face when Mort Governs asked her out to dinner. She felt stressed about chairing a successful fund raising committee. She saw Mort as an up and coming businessman and Gwen thought he could benefit the project greatly. A simple dinner to work out a strategy wouldn’t hurt.
“Okay, Mr. Gov…. I mean Mort. I’ll be ready at six. I can’t stay out too late since I have school the next day. We should be able to formulate a workable plan. Thanks, and I’ll see you tomorrow at six,” smiled Gwen as she stood to leave Mort’s office.