Mosquitos buzzed around Munch and Lolly as they sat on the front porch waiting for Trevor to arrive. It was July 1, 1976 and summer was in full swelter. Munch hated sweating. He shaded his eyes and looked out toward the road. Still no sign of Trevor’s little truck. The boy was running late. Beside him Lolly sighed. He couldn’t tell if she was excited or apprehensive about Trevor’s arrival. It had been over two weeks since they had last seen each other.

Across the way, the trailer door banged open. Munch braced himself. Mitzi was on the loose. Her little flip flops flapped as she ran to the house. She stopped on the side walk and looked out toward the road. With hands on her hips, she said, “That boy is LATE.” Munch couldn’t help but notice, Puccini was not with Mitzi. Since her fifth birthday, she had been less inclined to take him out in public. She was growing up. They all were.

A red BMW pulled into the drive. Could a car be anymore flashy. What were his parents thinking letting a sixteen year old drive a car like that? Still, Munch thought, it would be really cool to be cruisin’ in Houston in that thing.

Lolly rose to her feet. Her body had become tense. Mitzi started doing a jig. She swirled around and grinned at Munch. In a stage whisper she said, “I decided last night that I’m gonna marry you.”

Stunned, Munch asked, “Why?”

She grinned and said, “Cause I like you best.” The child actually turned a little pink.

Munch reached out a hand and patted her on the head. “That’s really sweet.”

Her eyes narrowed and she said, “It’s not just sweet. It’s true.”

Munch was a bit shaken. Mitzi at five years old was an unpredictable creature, and a difficult one. She was a handful in every respect. The woman she would become was a long time in the future. Still, he knew better than to argue with her. He was fairly certain that the instant Trevor stepped out of the car, she would be in love with him again.

The BMW stopped. The door opened. Lolly flew off the porch and raced into Trevor’s arms. He picked her up and swung her around. She let out a squeal. The smile on Trevor’s face was radioactive. It had been a long time since Munch had seen him this happy. It made Munch happy. Lolly looked really happy too.

Mitzi plopped down beside him and laced her arm through his. She said, “Ain’t love sweet.”

It was.

*

Though Trevor had come to stay with Munch, he was, of course at the trailer with Lolly. Not wanting to be a third wheel, Munch had excused himself. He made his way down the drive to get the mail. It was so damn hot outside. Texas heat was no joke. Sweat trickled down his back, down his face and even his feet were sweaty. They slid in the flip flops he was wearing. The sun was beginning to go down. He let out a sigh. If only Thahn Ho had been able to come over tonight, but she had to baby sit. Sometimes he really resented the work ethic she had.

The big tin mail box lid nearly burned his fingers when he reached for it. The damn thing absorbed so much heat, he sometimes wondered why it didn’t spontaneously combust the mail. As always, the hinge of the lid squealed when he opened it. Inside was a stack of mail. He pulled it out. There were art supply catalogues, dress catalogues and some bills. There was one envelope though that wasn’t a bill. He read the address. His heart rate shot up as soon as he saw who it was from. The High School of Visual and Performing arts. Though he had been melting in the heat, he suddenly felt cold. What if they said no? Could he bear no? Surely they wouldn’t say no. If he couldn’t get into an art high school, would he seriously be able to get into an art college in New York, with his mediocre grades? The thump of his heart seemed to echo in his ears. With trembling hands, he ripped the right end of the envelope open and blew inside puffing out the envelope. There was a piece of paper in it. In seconds, he knew his destiny was about to change. He upended the envelope and the piece of paper fell into his hand.

For a moment he closed his eyes and prayed. This just had to be yes. He opened his eyes and unfolded the paper. The first paragraph began with the words, “We regret to in form you, your application has not been accepted.” His eyes stopped there. There were more words, words that were supposed to make him feel better, but he didn’t read them. Had getting in really be that big of a long shot? After all he was in podunk land. What did he know about design and art?

Disgusted with himself he wadded up the sheet of paper. This just could not be. As he made his way back to the house a second thought came to him, what if Thahn Ho had gotten accepted? What if she was good enough? Did that mean his life would soon mirror Lolly’s? Thahn Ho had an aunt who lived in Houston. If she got in, she would spend week days there and come home on the weekends. Could he bear that? Could he bear being left behind? Would their relationship survive like that? He didn’t know. Suddenly he felt sick. Damn the that letter! Damn the timing! He was supposed to be so happy today, he had been happy today, but now he felt like he had been hit by an eighteen wheeler on a desert high way. All he wanted to do was cry and rage. That wasn’t something he could do in public. He made his was to the barn and hurled himself in one of the horse stalls. Funny they had horse stalls when they’d never had a horse.

For a long time he lay in a miserable ball. He did cry a little, but he didn’t rage. His disappointment was bigger than his anger. The barn door creaked open. He turned, the small silhouette of Mitzi approached him. This time she had Puccini clutched in her right hand. The little bear was swinging back and forth. She called, “Munch you in here?”

His first instinct was to stay quiet, but he was honestly sick of his own miserable company. He said, “Yeah, what do you want?”

“To get away from Lolly and Trevor. They are so gross. Too many yucky kisses.”

He stood and asked, “Have you been spying on them?”

“Not exactly.”

“Then exactly what have you been doing?”

She reached him and cocked her head. “I been studying on it. I don’t understand it. It just looks like swapping germs to me.” She shuddered.

Munch couldn’t help himself he laughed. He stood and said, “Let’s go to see Mama. I bet she will let you paint at her drafting table.”

Mitzi squealed and grabbed his hand. “Thank you! That’s just what I was hoping you would say.” Once they were outside, Mitzi looked up at him. She asked, “Have you been crying?”

The child was too damn perceptive. Honestly, he answered, “A little.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t get into the High school of Visual and Performing Arts.”

Abruptly, Mitzi stopped and exclaimed, “Those stupid BASTARDS!”

More amused than shocked, Munch said, “Mitzi! You know you’re not supposed to talk like that.”

“Well they are! They are also big dummies. You will show them, just wait.”

Her belief in him pulled out some of the sting. One rejection letter didn’t mean his dreams were dead, it just meant that now they would flow in a different direction. He squeezed her hand and said, “Thanks, Cuz.”

The smile she gave him revealed her utter faith in him. This disappointment was going to hurt for awhile, but he would get over it. Every artist knew the bitterness of rejection. It was part of the process. How many times had Mama been rejected? So many times.

When they reached the porch, Munch told Mitzi, “Let me tell Mama about the letter okay.”

She frowned at him and said, “Of course.”

“Promise?” Munch knew her well enough to know that if he didn’t get it out fast Mitzi was going to tell.

“Sure.”

Inside, Mama was on the phone. She turned and looked at Mitzi and Munch when they walked in. “He just walked in. You can talk to him now, honey.”

Instant suspicion rattled int Munch’s head. Who was Mama calling honey? Lolly? God, he hoped she and Trevor hadn’t gotten into an argument already. If so, that could totally wreck tomorrow. He took the receiver from Mama. “Hello?”

“Hi Michael.” It was Thahn Ho. Had she gotten her letter too? His heart was pounding so hard he could hear it. She hesitated for a moment and said, “I didn’t get in, did you?”

It might be wrong, but relief flooded him. “I’m sorry. No, I didn’t get in either.”

“I’m sorry too, but at least we will still be in art together.”

Munch smiled, “Yeah we will.”

Behind him Mitzi whispered, “Aunt Estelle, that stupid art school don’t want Munch.

*

The next morning was bright and sunny. Munch was so excited he was about to burst. When they reached Thahn Ho’s house, she was waiting on the front porch. The sun reflected off her dark hair with blinding light. She practically glowed. She ran to the door and climbed inside. Munch wanted to kiss her so bad, but he knew she was shy. Instead, he reached over and took her hand. She laced her fingers through his and smiled at him. It was going to be a good day.

Driving into Houston always excited him, but this morning he was about to pop. The fact that he was going on a public date with Thahn Ho was huge and nothing short of a miracle. In the distance he saw the Astrodome. They were almost there. He glanced at Trevor. The boy was white knuckled holding the steering wheel. Munch didn’t blame him. Houston traffic was fierce. The line getting into the stadium parking lot was long. Cars of all different shapes, sizes and makes were lined up.

Once they parked, Trevor said, “We best stay close together. The last thing we want to happen is to get separated.”

Streaming into the dome was a sea of people. Most of them were people of color. Munch wondered if Trevor or Lolly had ever been around so many people that weren’t white. He doubted it. Thahn Ho’s grip on his hand tightened. He looked at her. There was fear in her eyes. He knew she didn’t like crowds. For the first time it occurred to him that the only reason she was here at all was because she wanted to be with him. The sensation he felt was new. He pulled her closer.

Trevor had been to the Astrodome many times for sporting events. He lead them to their seats. Thahn Ho and Lolly sat in the middle with Trevor and Munch on opposite ends. Munch could feel the excitement of the arena. In the middle of the field was the famous rotating stage. He seriously didn’t know how anyone could sing and spin at the same time.

The lights began to flicker, signaling that the show was about to start. This was really happening. Munch took in the crowd. There were so many different kinds of people here. Each one of them loved jazz or were with someone who loved jazz. There were other mixed couples in the crowd. Hope wiggled in Munch’s mind. Maybe someday color wouldn’t matter. Maybe someday people would be able to love who they loved. Maybe.

The lights went down and the stage lights came on. The voice of the announcer boomed over the sound system. Nancy Wilson stepped onto stage. She was so beautiful. She wore a slim green dress that had a sheen to it. Her hair was perfectly styled. She smiled at the crowd and spoke in her honey smooth voice. When she began to sing, the hairs on Munch’s arm literally stood on end. She sang:

My love has no walls on either side,

That makes my love wider than wide,

I'm in the middle and no and I can't hide

Loving you.

Beside him, Thahn Ho laid her head on his shoulder. This was heaven. This was bliss.