The big old wooden gym was packed with the entire student body of Guiding Light Girls Home. The pep rally was ending. The students in the bleechers waited to be dismissed to get ready to go to the regional basketball tournament or wait and see what the cheerleaders had next to do. Everybody went quiet.

Head cheerleader Kathrina Limbardi took a microphone off the stand near her.

"Will Miss Stewart please come to center court?"

Ginny stood up from the basketball bench where she presided over the pep-rally as cheerleader sponsor. This wasn't in the program. She had no idea what the girls were up to. But a glance at Jean, Lynn, and Jo showed her that they were as surprised as she was. Just what was going on here?

Light and confused applause greeted Ginny as she walked out and stood near the jump ball circle. She looked at Kathrina for an explanation. Kathy just smiled broadly and said into the mic "Captain?"

The Captain walked from his spot near the south side of the bleechers. He was carrying his helmet with the red and white cover under his left arm. For some reason, he looked extra spiffy today, as if when he put on his Knightly livery he took some extra time. Curious whispers filled the air from the bleechers as the girls and faculty wondered what was up. The Captain's boots echoed in the gym as he walked to where Ginny stood. Ginny looked incredulous Was this some sort of a joke? Janet Rowkowski triggered the spotlight, and focused it on center court. She had no idea what this was all about, but for some reason it needed a spotlight.

To the awe of everyone there, Cap dropped to one knee, reached into his left hand glove, and pulled out a small box. He opened it on the hinged lid. Inside was a beautiful gold ring with a diamond. Ginnys jaw dropped. The bleechers exploded in the squeals that only teen-aged girls can make. Mrs. Taylor put her hands over her mouth, in disbelief. Paul Arcon folded his arms and grinned broadly.

"Well, I'll be damned!"

Kathy waved the gym to silence then put the mic near the Captains face. Cap's eyes were fixed on the astonished Ginny who hadn't moved since Cap opened the box. He had a slight smile and look of bold determination on his face.

"Guinifer Stewart," the Captain said, "will you marry me?"

The bleechers exploded with squeals even louder than before, replaced in mere nanoseconds with girls chanting "YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!"

Ginny looked at the bleechers and smiled, stunned by it all. She looked back down at the Captain. Again the gym fell silent, but this time in nervous anticipation. Kathy put the mic near Ginny's face.

Ginny could barely find her voice. She almost whispered.

"....yes..."

Kathy immediately made sure they heard, she shouted into the mic "SHE SAID YES!!!!!"

The gym exploded in cheers and screams. One girl in the bleechers fainted, but the girls on each side of her picked her up and batted her back into conciseness.

"You dont wanna miss this!"

Bleary eyed she managed to stay up. Several were crying. Others just couldn't seem to stop screaming.

The other 3 cheerleaders were as flabbergasted as their mates in the bleechers. This was just too much!

"Oh, look! HES GONNA DO IT!"

Kap stood, took the ring, and gently took the smiling Ginny's left hand. Amid wild screams from the bleechers Kap slid the engagement ring on Ginnys finger.

Then he kissed her and the gym somehow got even louder.

Amid wild cheers and shrieks, the gym recedes in the distance with the school buildings and houses the girls live in. The flagpole is visible with the stars and stripes fluttering as it too recedes. Out over the wall, up into the sky, passed the clouds, into space, lightyears away we seem to go. There a new star flickers into existence.

Sometimes things DO work out they way they ought to.

Oh,

And they lived happily ever after too.