Curse of the Fountain -10- by Melanie Brown

The Fountain of Youth

By

Melanie Brown

Copyright © 2025

Part 10

“Cheerleader? Really? When did you try out?” asked Mom, continuing the conversation as we walked into the house.

I frowned and crossed my arms. “I didn’t. I’m a conscript.”

Mom sat on the couch next to me and put her arm around my shoulder. “What do you mean, honey? Cheerleaders aren’t drafted.”

I laughed sourly. “They do at this school. They couldn’t get enough girls to try out this year. So the coach just decided I was cheerleader material.”

Looking puzzled, Mom said, “That’s weird. Usually, they have more girls than you can shake a stick at trying out.”

I sighed. “It seems nobody likes the girl who is the head cheerleader. I met her today. She’s a total ass.  Her dad is some bigshot, so they just can’t kick her out.”

Amused, Mom played with my hair. “Give it a try. You might like it. It’s a good way to meet boys.”

I twirled my finger in the air and rolled my eyes. “Yippee. Anyway, I have to have a uniform before Friday. They sell them at Big Jake’s Sports-a-rama. Coach begged me to try it out for at least one game. She’s even waiving the fees you normally have to pay for the honor of being a cheerleader.”

Mom shrugged. “Well, honey, I really think you should do this. It’ll be good for you.”

I laughed sardonically. “Why is everything good for you so awful?”

Grinning, Mom said, “Don’t be such a drama queen. Now tell me about your date. Who is he? Where did you meet him? What’s he like? What are y’all’s plans for the future?”

I frowned at Mom. “I’ll be on Say Yes to the Dress next week to pick out my dress.” I just stared at her.

Mom laughed. “Sorry! I’m just excited that my little girl is going on her first date! I just want to know everything! Like, what’s his name?”

Shaking my head at Mom, I said, “His name is Jeff. Remember that boy at the food court? It’s him.”

Mom’s face lit up. “That boy you flirted with?  See? Flirting works.”

I narrowed my eyes at Mom. “I wasn’t flirting. And I didn’t want this date.”

Riley giggled. “I knew you liked him.”

Mom huffed. “Of course, you want to date. How else are you going to get married, give me grandkids and take care of your father and me in our old age? It’s the American dream.”

“More like a nightmare!” I exclaimed. “I don’t want anything to do with boys!”

Mom smirked. “I bet you have a great time. What are you going to do?”

I sighed. “We’re going to go see Fantastic Mars with that Nathan person you like.”

Mom grinned with a faraway expression. “Oh, he’s so gorgeous!  Trust me, you’ll love Nathan Adams. He’s actually pretty funny, too.”

I studied my hands a moment. “That’s all well and good, but right now, I’m really worried about this cheerleading business. Not only am I expected to jump around making a fool of myself, but after the game is a party I’m expected to attend. And guess who’s at the party?”

Mom just shrugged.

“Jeff!” I exclaimed. “He’s like the star player or something.”

Mom grinned. “Wow. Two dates in one weekend. You must really like this boy.”

“I don’t!” I growled. “And while it’s bad I have to be with a boy, I’m required to wear make-up as a cheerleader. Make-up! Can you imagine your crotchety old uncle wearing make-up?”

Giggling, Mom said, “No. But I can see my beautiful daughter wearing it.”

Riley giggled. “Why would your crotchety old uncle wear make-up? What does crotchety mean? I thought he was dead. That would be scary to see a dead crotchety old man walking around wearing make-up!” Riley held up her hands and snarled, “Brains. I must have brains!” Then she giggled.

Dad entered the house having gotten off from work selling cars.

Dad ruffled Riley’s hair. “What’s up, sport?”

Grinning ear-to-ear, Riley said, “Nell has a boyfriend!”

Looking surprised, Dad asked, “Nell has a what? Why am I the last to know? Have I met this guy?”

“I don’t have a boyfriend,” I growled.

Mom looked to Dad and said, “Our little Nell has not one, but two dates with the star football player. She’s only been at school one day and is already doing better than I did.”

Dad narrowed his eyes at Mom. “What is that crack supposed to mean?”

Looking wistful, Mom said, “Oh, nothing.”

Dad angrily took his tie off and glared at me. “I want to see this boy before he goes out with you! You know the rules.”

I folded my arms and glared right back at him. “The after-game party is hardly a date. It would happen with or without me. So you’re not likely to meet Jeff before that. You can come to the game. I’ll be there for that. Rah-rah and all that jazz.”

Dad gave me a quizzical look. “Wait. What? You’ll be at the game? Your high school game? But you hate football. You told me that when I was a kid and asked you to watch a game with me.”

With a wry grin, Mom said, “She’s a cheerleader.”

Dad spun around. “Wait. What? Am I in the right house?”

Mom said, “Yep. We’re going to go buy her uniform tonight after dinner.”

Dad peeked behind a curtain. “If he wasn’t dead, I’d think Allen Funt was in the house. Either him or Rod Serling.”

Riley looked behind the curtain too. “Who?”

Mom shook her head. “Don’t be such a drama queen.”

                    *

“Coach said the uniforms are in the back of the store.”

Mom sighed. “I hope they still have your size.”

I shook my head. “Wouldn’t it be terrible if they didn’t? I couldn’t be cheerleader.”

“Mom, can I have this?” bubbled Riley.

“Put the tennis racket down, dear.”

“Oh, here are the uniforms. I don’t see my size. Let’s go home.”

Mom laughed. “You didn’t even look.” She started going through the rack of uniforms.

Some movement near some shelves on the other side of the rack attracted my attention. “Hey, Sissy.” Sissy is a fellow cheerleader.  We both dislike Donna, the head cheerleader.

Sissy looked up from the shelf. “Nell! Looking for a uniform?”

I stood next to the rack Mom was looking through and nodded.

Standing up, Sissy held up a package of ankle socks. “I was getting holes in my socks so I thought I’d better replace them.”

I tilted my head in question. “You couldn’t buy those anywhere?”

“Not in school colors.  Is that your mom?” She pointed at Mom.

“Yeah. Oh, hey.” I touched Mom’s arm. “Mom. I’d like you to meet someone. This is Sissy. So far, she’s my only friend on the squad.”

Sissy coughed an embarrassed laugh. “I wouldn’t say that. I think most of the squad likes Nell. And nice to meet you, Mrs. …Fenwick? Right? You have no idea how excited Coach and the rest of us are to have Nell on the squad. We really need at least one more girl, but five is better than just four, ya know?”

Riley jumped between us, holding a tennis racket like a machine gun pointed at Sissy. She sputtered, “Pudda Pudda Pudda.”

“I told you to put that down.”

I grinned, embarrassed. “That’s my little sister, otherwise known as an Area-51 escapee.”

Sissy chuckled. “I have a little sister as well.”

Mom, also known as Captain Obvious asked, “So you’re a cheerleader too?”

Sissy grinned. “Yes ma’am. Second year.”

“She’s promised to help me learn the ropes.”

Beaming, Sissy said, “Nell’s smart. She’ll catch on fast. Oh, Mrs. Fenwick, is it okay if I come over to your house early Friday? I wanted to help Nell with her make-up.”

Mom smiled broadly. “That’d be wonderful. About what time?”

Sissy shrugged. “Seven-ish?”

Nodding, Mom said, “That’d be great. We’ll see you then.”

“We wear our uniforms all day Friday. Don’t forget to do your nails Thursday night.” She checked the time on her phone. “I gotta run. My mom will probably kill me. See you tomorrow at school.” She darted off.

Pretending she was playing guitar on the tennis racket, Riley asked, “So Friday we’re going to see a crotchety old dead guy wearing make-up?”

I sighed heavily. “And craving brains.”

“Cool.”

                     *

End of Part 10