Just a Scratch

“We’re gonna rock around the clock tonight!” sang Billy as he danced around the room shaking his hips like crazy.

“Whoa, Billy! You are really moving those hips!” said Jimmy. Billy’s hips were moving so fast that it was hard to see them from the blur. Jimmy and Billy were great friends.

The boys loved to get together to listen to records. They each had a collection of 45 records. In reality, Billy’s collection of records actually belonged to his dad. But his dad seemed happy to share.

Billy’s hips kept swinging and moving to the beat. As Billy’s hips moved closer to the record player, he accidentally bumped the record player. Zrrrrrwk! The needle of the record player sliced right across the record.

Billy froze and slowly turned around. He was mortified. What had he done? He knew this was his dad’s favorite record. Was it now ruined?

Jimmy looked sheepishly up at Billy, scanning his face for a reaction. Billy put his hand to his face and gasped, “He’s going to kill me!”

Billy moved in slow motion to the record player and pulled the record off. He surveyed the damage as he held the record up to the sunlight. Indeed there was a huge scratch.

Bang! The front door slammed shut and footsteps could be heard in the hallway. Billy cringed and Jimmy said, “Well, I think it’s time for me to go home. I’ll see you at the sock hop!”

Billy nodded and looked back down at the floor.