Mr. Terupt Falls Again (31 page)

T
he weather was perfect. The wedding was perfect. Mom and Grandma cried through the ceremony, and so did Mrs. Williams. Ms. Newberry looked gorgeous in her wedding dress. She and Mr. Terupt looked so happy, and so in love. Anna and I squeezed each other in a big hug after Mr. Terupt kissed his bride.

The food Lexie’s mother and Vincent cooked (with Lexie’s help) was delicious. The flowers and centerpieces were beautiful, and Peter did an unbelievable job DJing. The temporary dance floor that Luke wanted stayed busy all afternoon and into the evening. But my favorite part of the reception was the wedding cake. Grandma made it. She had made wedding cakes for friends before, so she insisted on making this one despite all our objections. We were concerned she was doing too much too soon after her heart attack,
but she wouldn’t hear it. You know what they say—if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. So I did. I helped her make it. Grandma mixed in some spices that bit you when you took a taste. According to Grandma, this was the cake’s way of making sure you were paying attention before the moistness and sweet flavors took over your mouth. It was a tower cake with bride and groom cows on the top. That was the only decoration piece Grandma could find in the house, so that was what we used. I liked it. I knew it would make Mr. and Mrs. Terupt smile, too.

Grandma and I found a way to talk about the land struggle in a calm manner while we made the wedding cake. As far as Grandma could tell, “and your grandfather would tell you the same,” she said, “this land dispute looks like it’s going to be in the hands of lawyers for years. That’s great for your grandfather and me, but that’s never been our concern. We just want to make sure the family’s going to be okay after we’re gone.”

“We will be,” I said.

“I know you will, and so does your grandfather. You’re growing into a strong young woman, much tougher and wiser than I ever was at your age,” Grandma said. “We know you’ll be able to handle yourself.”

I smiled. There wasn’t anything that made me feel as good as Grandma’s praise.
Thank you for giving her back to us, God. I might be tough, but I’m not ready to live without her yet
.

“And Charlie’s got himself a wonderful woman now. He ought to be the next getting married,” Grandma said.

I smiled even bigger. I couldn’t wait to tell Anna what Grandma had said.

Dear God
,

I know I need to trust you. That’s what faith is all about. Grandma and I figure her doctor being Native American is your way of telling us that they aren’t bad people. Please forgive me for thinking all those terrible things without knowing anything about them. Grandma’s right, Charlie and I will be able to handle ourselves. I trust you. Amen
.

I
t wasn’t just the way Mr. Terupt looked at Ms. Newberry, but the way she looked at him too. They had a way of saying “I love you” with their eyes. And that was exactly what they were saying while holding each other’s hands and gaze during their vows. Mr. Terupt gave Ms. Newberry a very romantic kiss and then they were announced as Mr. and Mrs. Terupt.

Danielle and I gave each other a big hug. There were hugs and handshakes going on all around us. Then it was time for the reception. Danielle and I couldn’t wait—we had a secret plan up our sleeves.

I had never won anything before the Snow Hill School Prize. To be honest, I still can’t believe I won it. I remember hugging Mr. Terupt after receiving the award.

“The world would be a beautiful place if it were full of
Annas,” he whispered to me. “You’ve helped us all by being nothing but good.”

I squeezed him. The world would be a beautiful place if it were full of Mr. Terupts, I thought. As I took my seat and looked out over the audience, I saw a couple of people left for me to help. That was where the secret plan came in.

During the wedding reception all the single girls would gather on the dance floor, ready for the bride to throw her bouquet over her shoulder. The girl who caught the bouquet was supposed to be the next to get married. After Grandma Evelyn gave my mom and Charlie her stamp of approval, Danielle and I knew we had to get that bouquet into my mom’s hands. With some sneaky pushing and maneuvering, we jockeyed my mom front and center on the dance floor.

“On three,” Peter announced with his DJing microphone. “One-two-three.”

The flowers sailed through the air, and Danielle and I used our bodies to keep everyone else away. Mr. Terupt told us afterward that we looked like a couple of basketball players boxing out for a rebound—whatever that meant. The important thing was, Mom caught the bouquet. When she looked up she smiled at Charlie. He smiled back and shrugged. Danielle and I hurried off and gave Grandma Evelyn a high five. She was the one who helped us hatch the scheme.

What a wonderful ending! I couldn’t wait to plan the next wedding.

Mr. Terupt gave me a wink from across the dance floor. He knew I liked playing matchmaker, and I was pretty good at it too.

“Y
ou may kiss the bride.”

Mr. T planted a big one on Ms. Newberry. It was long, but nothing crazy. I bet Ms. Newberry wouldn’t have tasted like salt. She looked beautiful. Mr. T was a lucky man.

I threw one heck of a party. Just like Mr. T wanted. I kept the music pumping and the dancing never slowed. There was one song that everyone will remember—“It Had to Be You” by Harry Connick Jr. I played it at Mr. T’s request. Mr. and Mrs. Terupt brought down the house with a swing dance that’ll never be forgotten. After that everyone stayed on the floor and danced the night away, including me. I danced with the foxy Mrs. Terupt. Miss Catalina. Mrs. Williams! My mom! And yes, Lexie.

“It’s time, Peter,” Mr. T said. He was standing beside me at the DJing table, smiling as he looked at all the people having fun. “It’s time to forgive yourself.”

I turned and grabbed him in a hug. “Okay,” I said. “Okay.”

He squeezed me harder.

It was a shame the night had to end, but I knew there were more good times ahead. The lovely Mr. and Mrs. Terupt wouldn’t be far away, and I would be with my friends. As I walked down new school halls next year, I wouldn’t be remembering the worst thing I’d ever done, but the best days of my life—these past two years with Mr. T.

I
’ve heard Jessica talk about happy endings before. She loves them. After Mr. and Mrs. Terupt showed everyone how to let loose with their big-time swing dance, I looked across the dance floor and saw Dad spinning and twirling Mom. Then I looked down and saw Asher bending his knees and bouncing. No one had a bigger smile or felt better than me at that moment. It was a happy ending—a very happy ending.

M
any boys dream of being like their favorite football or baseball player when they grow up. Others of being president. I used to think I wanted to be an astronaut. Then a chemist. Then a detective.

FADE OUT
.

Many people have helped along the way. I give my sincere thanks to all of you, no matter how small a part you might think you’ve played.

To all the teachers and librarians who have embraced Mr. Terupt and his students.

To the booksellers who have put Mr. Terupt in the hands of parents and kids.

To Sarah and Noah Burstein for being excellent readers.

To John Irving for your incredible wisdom and true friendship. You’re a great coach.

To Paul Fedorko for your time and continued work on my behalf.

To Françoise Bui for your insightful comments and feedback, for your honesty, and for all your hard work.

To all my friends and family, who have not only done plenty to spread the word, but have provided rock-solid support and positive encouragement. I can’t thank you enough.

To my beautiful daughters, Emma, Lily, and Anya, who allow me to find time to write by not getting up as early as me. To Emma for being my first reader, and to Lily and Anya, who I know are right behind their big sister. And to my faithful dog, Jake, who has me getting up even earlier as he gets older and can’t hold it all night long. You make sure I get out of bed.

And lastly, to Beth, who does it all. Thank you. I love you.

ROB BUYEA
taught third and fourth graders in Bethany, Connecticut, for six years before moving to Massachusetts, where he lives with his wife and three daughters. He teaches biology and coaches wrestling at Northfield Mount Hermon School.
Because of Mr. Terupt
, his first novel and the companion to
Mr. Terupt Falls Again
, was selected as an E. B. White Read-Aloud Honor Book and a Cybils Honor Book and has been named to numerous state award lists. Rob spends his summers at Cape Cod enjoying family adventures, entertaining friends, and writing. You can visit him at
robbuyea.com
.