From time to time Mick borrowed Goldie's car, Goldie couldn't drive it yet without a licensed driver with him, so he left it at Mick's for his friend to use, and came down to drive with Mick so he would be ready to take his test in January.

Mick really wanted to get his car going but for now he was happy driving Goldies, he was making a parts run, the light was green, but suddenly there was a Caddy in the intersection.

Mick slammed on the brakes, and just then the other driver saw him and did the same, the Chevy's grill was a mere inch from the fender of the caddy.

Mick thought the driver had stalled his car, he had someone behind him so he couldn't back up to go around, so he got out.

"You nearly hit me," the man shouted. He had just been on his way back to the office from a luncheon with a client. Maybe he had a few martinis more then he should have.

"What you ran a red light," Mick said.

"I am an important lawyer, you hooligan, I am calling the cops!" Will Kentland bawled angrily.

"Call them you are drunk," Mick shouted.

"You . . . you punk hippy, I will see you rot in jail." Will snapped.

"Look you old drunk get back in your car and head out before the cops do come and arrest yer arse," Mick threatened.

"I am calling the cops all right," Will threatened.

Mick pushed him towards his car, "Beat it grandpa."

"You young ingrate," Will shouted, then mumbled something about suing him.

Mick saw another man coming up as some horns blared, Will staggered back to his Caddy issuing threats as he went.

"Hey man I saw that, my name is Zap Dutcher, if that old buzzard calls the cops on you I will be a witness." the man said, and Mick sighed, thank goodness he wasn't going to read Mick the riot act too.

"Thanks mate, can you believe that old cove?" Mick asked.

"No, but the rich always get away with stuff, look could you help me when you braked I had to lock up my brakes as well and my van died and I can't get it started again. Could you help push me off the road?" Zap asked.

"I will do better then that I think I can fix it," Mick said smiling.

"Really?" Zap asked.

"Yeah I am a mechanic," Mick said smiling.

"Man that is cool, I would pay you," Zap said smiling.

Will had a rotten day not only had that hippy yelled at him, but when he got back to work old man Montcalm yelled at him as well.

What was this world coming to boys with hair long and girls with their skirts above their knees! Why in his day no one would be caught dead without a haircut and shave, and no decent young woman would allow her knees to be seen on the street.

He read the financial section then went to the society page, Evie had been crowned queen and he thought finally he would have something about her to brag about at the office.

He was shocked when he saw a picture of her dancing with one of those long haired degenerates. Did they really allow them in school these days.

"Soup is served," Amanda his wife called.

"How was your day dear?" Amanda asked when he came to the table.

"Terriable I was assaulted by a hippy," Will sighed, looking at Evie, "Don't I buy you clothes, go put some on, oh and you are not to date that hippy you were at the ball with."

"Will," Amanda sighed.

"I hate you!" Evie said, jumping up and running upstairs.

"Now what have you done?" Amanda sighed, "Evie come back and eat your supper."

"Oh for Christ sakes," Will sighed, seeing he wouldn't get any supper until this was settled.

Evie was pretending to do her homework, as he tapped at the door.

"Pumpkin can we talk about this boy?" Will asked.

"Go away daddy," Evie sniffed.

But then both her parents came in she stared at the sheet before her, thinking if she played this right she could have everything her way.

"Pumpkin you promise me you won't see that dirty hippy boy again I will give you a car," Will said.

"But daddy you don't even know Scott he is a gentleman," Evie said honestly.

"Now just a minute," Amanda said, "You can't buy her off like that. What kind of lesson is that teaching her?"

"Amanda let me handle this," Will said, "Scott Warwick? I never heard the name before and where does he live?"

"I don't know, down by the river some where," Evie said.

"See what kind of trash our daughter picks up at that public school?" Will asked, even though it had been his idea to send her there after her grades were so poor he felt he was wasting money on sending her to the private school that Charlotte had attended.

Evie tried not to smile.

"Who cares about his hair and where he lives if he is a nice boy," Amanda argued.

"We are Kentlands, and Evie I forbid you to see this Scott person," Will shouted.

"Will you are making a mistake," Amanda said, she actually thought the Beatles were kind of cute, and who cared who Evie dated, as long as she had a good reputation.

"Amanda we promised never to argue in front of the children, I am the man of the house and I will say what Evie can do and not do," Will said, and Amanda sighed, she had lost.

"I won't date him again if I can have a car," Evie lied.

"Will don't you see . . ." Amanda started.

"Amanda that is enough Evie is not one of your off beat family she is a Kentland and she shall behave as one," Will said.

"That is what I am afraid of," Amanda said and left the room, either Will did not hear her or did not want to, Evie tried not to laugh, she loved it when her parents argued.

"Why don't you invite Reginald Drummond over for dinner, his father is a client of mine and he will be home from college during Christmas break," Will said.

"Sure daddy, can I drive to school tomorrow?" Evie said, thinking soon she would not want to date Scott if things worked out the way she wanted.

"Of course I will ask Charles to bring the car over he was supposed to come to dinner tonight, since Tess is visiting relatives with the baby." Will said. Drummonds were not the best people but they had money and Reginald would not be a bad match for Evie.

Evie thought Reginald was a toad, but she would go to the country club Christmas dance with him and maybe her father would get something nice for her for Christmas. A fur or designer boots.

There were only about five days left before Christmas break and Evie told Sheila she had to cool it with Scott but she didn't know how to let him down gently.

"How can you do that Evie he adores you? Sheila said.

"It's not me it's my dad I just need to cool it for a couple of weeks, daddy will forget the Winter Ball pictures and we can go back to as it was, I really need your help," Evie said.

"Why me, and my parents have been wanting me to bring Mick to church and Sunday dinner! So you aren't the only one under pressure, I keep having to tell them we are just friends and I am too young to be serious about anyone, Evie I am 17 don't you think they know better. My mother was engaged at 17!" Sheila said.

"Come on Sheila I am your best friend." Evie pleaded.

"Scott is so sweet," Sheila sighed. Sometimes Mick scared the Hell out of her but she would never admit it.

"I don't want to hurt him, just ease him down a bit, come on Sheila," Evie pleaded.

"Well all right," Sheila said, "But Evie don't play with him, he is a good person and he deserves better."

"All right," Sheila said, thinking that Evie did something mean to Scott she would never forgive her.

Sheila hated telling Scott that Evie's father had forbid her to see Scott, but was surprised when Scott took it rather well. Evie had told Scott this might happen and when her father got over it he would get distracted and they could date again. He also knew a secret, they were going to Chris's New Years Eve party together.

Evie had promised and she had told him he couldn't tell anyone not even Mick until right before, because Mick had to go too, or they couldn't go. Something about her needing someone over 16 with a drivers license to drive after dark further then 20 miles from home. She had even showed him a newspaper article. What he didnt know it was a proposed law her father had clipped out, and not law at all.

If Scott would have told Sheila this things might have turned out differently. But he was good at keeping secrets.

Sheila did feel the days of Scott and Evie being a couple were numbered as the days remaining in the year, and she told Mick this but he didn't seem concerned.

What Mick wanted was Sheila in his bed. Sometimes Sheila felt that was all he cared about and she wished he was a bit more like Scott. Scott was so tender and sweet and loved poetry and romance. Mick was more passionate and she guessed it was the difference between a man and a boy, but she wondered if she was ready for a man.

Jube hung around a lot during Christmas vacation and he and Mick got a lot done.

"You guys are invited to the Sweeps ball," Jube said.

"What is that?" Mick asked smiling.

"New Years Eve party at Hotel Calhoun, I am going to Chris's party for a few hours with Boone, but then we will cut out and have real fun at the Hotel. I think Opal will be there," Jube said he had noticed Mick eyeing Opal, Pearl and Ruby, Shady Lucas's nieces and thought he would be a lot better off with one of those girls then White Tower snobs he and Scott were dating.

"Heck yeah, we are supposed to go to Chris's party but this sweeps ball sounds more fun, why do they call it that?" Mick asked.

Scott thought they would have to go to Chris's party it was part of the plan.

"Sweeps cause back in the old days most black folks worked in jobs where you cleaned up folks messes, so we had our own party after the white folks party. Now we are all equal but we hold with tradition it starts late and ends early in the morning so even people that are still working for the man can attend," Jube explained smiling.

"Cool, so we can go to Chris's for a while then head over to the hotel," Mick said.

Scott was relieved, he was hoping he would stay and he and Evie would finally do more then just kiss and hold hands. He wasn't expecting her to go all the way but some good cuddling heavy necking would satisfy him. How he loved his beautiful queen.

Thats why when he happened to be reading an article in the paper about some new jobs opening up for teens, and the last column happened to be right before the society page.

"Eve Kentland the daughter of Mr. and Mrs Kentland was seen at the Christmas Formal Ball at White Tower Country Club on the arm of Mr. Reginald Drummond, a very eligible Freshman at Michighan State." Scott read out loud what if it was as Mick predicted and Sheila had warned him about. Evie was going to dump him for some rich college boy.

He didn't want to believe it, he hoped maybe she had gone with Reginald snooty cat to appease her father, like she said she might have to.

Vinnie had more news and Scott did not want to believe it.

"Hey I saw Evie at the Spotlite last night with some redheaded fat cat," Vinnie laughed, "If their noses got any higher in the air and it rained they would drown."

Mick got a good laugh out of this but Scott ran into the flat without a word.

"Hey the kid has to know what is what it was bound to happen, at least I didn't see Sheila there, but I think Sheila is not like that she is cool, she may be rich but she is a foxy lady," Vinnie said.

"Easy Vinnie thats my girl," Mick joked.

"I like her alright but I got Rosa and two other girls to worry about so don't worry about me man," Vinnie laughed.

Mick thought about the skanky looking Irish girl he had seen Vinnie with he would pass on her, Rosa was cute and sweet. Sometimes he wished he would have met Rosa before he met Sheila.

That night Scott woke up in tears, Evie had married this Reginald person, and he was alone, he loved her so much. Three more days til the party, then he would see her again.

This was the closest thing to true heartbreak he had ever experienced. Scott thought he would go mad if he ever lost Evie. But this was his first and only love, and he had not the experience Mick had. Sheila was his third love, and Scott wasn't sure his brother really loved Sheila.

That afternoon across White Tower Avenue, things were not so blue at the Kentland house.

In fact Will was quite happy, it had been a good Christmas, he and Amanda had been invited to the Governors New Years party, and his son Charles had gotten the promotion he had been wanting. Will wanted to get Charles elected to office in the state senate and this party would be the perfect time to bring it up. Charles was the youngest lawyer to hold tenure at the firm they worked for and Charles was on the city council. The mayor saw his potiental and wanted him in the senate too, instead of going for mayor.

The other thing that made Will so happy to see his troublesome youngest child Evie, getting along so well with Reginald, not the brightest bulb on the tree but he had a good solid future and would inherit his fathers hotels giving him a good stable future for Evie's husband to be, they were only 18 and 16 but he wanted them together.

"So do you have plans for New Years Eve?" Will said feeling so great, if life got better he couldn't stand it, now if only Charlotte would marry well, life would be perfect.

"Yes," Evie said, then looking at Reggie, "How about you?"

"My folks are taking Leonard and I to Aspen, we are leaving tonight," Reginald said smiling.

"Oh I assumed you were taking Evie out," Will said.

"Oh daddy we are not going steady besides I am going to Vals party," Evie said, and saw the expression on her fathers face like someone had slipped an extra sour pickle into his club sandwich.

"Maybe you should go to Flint with us," Will said.

"Liz and Val are expecting me," Evie said.

"Sounds like the girls will have a nice time Will," Amanda said.

Will grimaced, he knew Val and Liz were quality girls but their parents gave them too much freedom in Wills book.

After lunch Evie went next door to talk to Tess her brothers wife, she liked Tess a lot despite what her father thought of the "French Quarter Tart", what ever that meant. Tess was nice.

"Hi Evie," Tess said smiling.

"Afternoon Tess, may I borrow your fur?" Evie asked.

"Anytime you wish sweetie, it is in my closet, I don't wear it much," Tess said, actually she detested furs, she thought they looked much better on animals.

Evie smiled.

"You can do me a favour, could you find someone to watch Richard while Charles and I go to the mayors party," Tess asked.

"I will do it," Evie said. She truly thought her little nephew was an angel.

"Well you or one of your friends, can I count on you, I am sure you have a date that night," Tess said, thinking she would prefer Sheila or Liz to her own scatterbrained sister in law.

Evie smiled and said, "If I have a date I am sure Sheila will be available."

New Years Eve late afternoon Evie went to her brothers house.

"Thank you for coming Evie," Tess said trying not to be disappointed.

"I am only staying with him for a couple of hours, Sheila will be here until you get home, she had some things to do," Evie lied, she was really waiting for her parents to leave.

"Oh great, so you have a date," Tess said smiling.

"Well I have a party but don't tell anyone my father thinks I should date only Reginald but I am too young to go steady don't you think so?" Evie asked.

"Yes of course," Tess said smiling wider. She liked Sheila and Liz the best of the teenage babysitters she had.

As soon as her father had backed his Caddy out of the drive, Evie called Sheila. Her plan was perfect, Sheila thought Chris's party was canceled.

As soon as she hung up with Sheila she called Scott and told him that she was going to be leaving soon, they were to meet her at Night Owl. Scott did not want her to see their place. Mick thought his brother was being silly, but agreed to go.

Shelia was happy to watch Richard, she did not want to stay home alone while her parents went to the mayors party with Marla. There would be no teens there.

"What are you going to do?" Sheila asked.

"I am going to a dance at the Bayview Country Club with Reginald," Evie said smiling.

"So it is over with Scott?" Sheila asked.

"I think so." Evie sighed. If she couldn't land Mick tonight she would give up she thought. With Sheila out of the way it should be easy.

"Okay you know Scott worships you, I wish Mick looked at me like Scott looks at you," Sheila said.

"Well maybe Scott will fall for you after we break up," Evie shrugged, "I apprechiate you coming and watching the baby."

"I enjoy watching him, but Evie, do you really want to throw away a wonderful guy like Scott, who is a prince for some toady guy named Reginald?" Sheila asked.

"No, I have my eye on bigger game, and Reggie is just to keep my father happy for a while he will be going back to college in a few days again and I will never have to dance with the toad again," Evie laughed.

"I hope you know what you are doing," Sheila sighed.

"Come on Mick we got to get ready and go Evie will be waiting for us." Scott pleaded.

"All right." Mick said, he really didn't want to go, and didn't know why, he figured he would get a ride back.

"Evie said she got a date for you," Scott said.

Mick sighed, he didn't know why Sheila didn't want to come. Evie said that she wanted to cool it and what Sheila had said kind of made him feel Evie was telling him the truth.