by Linda Ellen
“Hello Mr. Hudson,” she replied, grinning at him, her happiness literally overflowing. She nodded in answer to his question, and told him briefly about where they had gone and when they’d returned. Then taking up her purchase, she bid him goodbye.
“I saw you talkin’ with those young men outside. One ‘a them your fella?” Mr. Hudson teased with a waggle of his bushy gray eyebrows.
She glanced up surprised, but realized she shouldn’t be – Mr. Hudson always seemed to know all of the scuttlebutt and every who, what and where. He never missed anything happening out front of the big windows of his store. But a thought shot through her brain and sent a shard of electricity down her limbs – he might say something to one of her family members!
“Um…no, Mr. Hudson…they were just…askin’ directions is all,” she fibbed, dipping one hand inside a pocket and crossing her fingers.
The wise old man saw right through her ruse, but being so fond of her, he couldn’t help but smile and nod. Nevertheless, he’d be sure to be on the lookout for anything going on when it came to sweet Mary Louise.
“Alright sweetie. You run along now, I bet Miss Lilly’s needin’ that lye,” he acquiesced, making a sweeping motion with his hand to scoot her on her way.
Plagued by guilt for putting such a deception over on sweet old Mr. Hudson, Louise bit her lip and nodded before slipping out the door. She wasn’t good at lying. Everyone always told her they could see the truth plainly in her guilty eyes.
As Louise hugged the package to her chest and made her way down the familiar street, she had a feeling in the pit of her stomach that somehow this would all blow up in her face.
‡
CHAPTER 12
Their First Official Date
Having been allowed a day to do as she pleased because the workers were finishing up the new floors in the apartment, Louise walked briskly along, scrunching down in her coat to fend off the sharp February breeze. She could barely contain the skip in her step as she thought about her upcoming date with the gorgeous Vic Matthews. The only drawback was…she still hadn’t formulated a foolproof excuse to give her parents about where she would be.
Deep in thought, she turned the last corner heading toward the Neighborhood House and, upon spotting two familiar and welcome faces approaching from the other direction, she snapped out of her reverie and smiled.
“Hey you guys! I’ve been worried about you!” Louise waved and called as she hurried forward.
“Lou!” Fleet called and waved back as the girls quickened their steps, meeting with hugs in front of the building.
“Did you all stay in your place?” Eleanor asked as she pulled back from her friend’s embrace.
Louise shook her head, “No, they took all of us out to a place called Dove Creek Country Club. All but Sonny, that is. We just got back this week,” she added with a shiver, wrapping her gloved hands around herself in the brisk breeze. Turning toward the building to get out of the cold, she asked, “Did you stay here?”
Eleanor shook her head as she held the door for the other two. “No…they made us stay in a tent in what they called a ‘tent city’.” Her expression turned sad as she thought about the misery of it. The cramped conditions and contaminated drinking water. They had huddled around a blazing stove in the middle of the mess tent day after day, while the rain and sleet made the outdoors a morass of mud and misery. “It was awful…cold, rainy, icy, snowy…Mom and Dad both came down sick with colds…”
Louise looked at her friend as they all began to take off their coats and scarves. “But…your mom and dad are okay now?” The girl nodded with a grateful smile. There was, at least, that.
“We stayed here,” Fleet volunteered. “Myrtle came upstairs with us and we toughed it out,” she added, referring to her grandmother, whom she had always called by her first name. She did the same with her mother, Blanche. Louise knew that Fleet lived in a big old house, some blocks west from there, with her mother and grandmother. “We did okay, though. Had lots of candles, and wood for the fireplace when the power went off. Had plenty to eat…lots of men making deliveries,” she added quite matter-of-factly, causing Louise and Eleanor to exchange glances and then look back at their friend. Fleet shrugged fatalistically. There was nothing she could do about her family situation. She knew what her mother – and her grandmother for that matter – did to provide food on the table. And she knew the reasons behind it. It was just something she normally didn’t want to talk about, and it had become a tacit pact between the three lifelong friends.
Before any of them could say more, Mrs. Herndon came walking from the auditorium.
“Hello girls! Oh I’m so very happy to see you,” she greeted, hurrying to hug each girl in turn. “I’m so relieved to see that ‘Old Man River’ didn’t get the best of you.”
The girls laughed, each one trying to tell the kind woman their story, all three talking at once.
Happily reunited with their cast mates, they spent the afternoon going over their parts and rehearsing the play, exchanging ‘flood’ stories and welcoming more cast members as they filtered through the door.
Looking at the clock and noticing the time, Louise gasped, “I gotta get going.” Then as a worried look came across Louise’s face, Fleet noticed and asked, “Somethin’ wrong?”
Dying to tell someone, Louise drew her bottom lip between her teeth for a moment, glancing around. They were pretty much alone off to the side of the stage.
“Fleet…can you keep a secret?”
Fleet’s eyes lit up. “Secret?” Then laughing, she teased, “What’d you do? Rob a bank?”
Louise grinned, but nervousness overshadowed the joke. “No…I…” she began, then leaned closer and whispered, “I got a date tonight.”
Fleet grinned, but confusion made her eyebrows draw together. “Yeah…so?”
“So…” Louise hesitated, glancing around again, “so, it’s with…well…” she paused, then rushed out with the whole thing. “He came by about a week before the flood, to take Edna out, only she had her monthly that night and couldn’t go, so I answered the door, and she didn’t see him, and I told her he was just okay, but…he’s more than okay. He’s…he’s…” she paused, finally bursting out with, “The most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen! And he asked ME out!” she finished, literally bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet, her excitement overflowing.
“Wow, girl! Why didn’t you tell me about him before?”
“Well…I didn’t get the chance, with the flood and all…”
“What’s his name? What’s he look like?” she queried, Louise’s excitement beginning to rub off on her.
“Oh Fleet…” Louise sighed, picturing him with the sun to his back as he bid her goodbye at the club. “His name is Victor Matthews…he’s the dreamiest…the most handsome…he’s got wavy brown hair…and cute dimples…and his eyes are like…like milk chocolate, with sparkles,” she giggled. “He’s got big muscles…and the most dazzling smile…”
“So…what’s the problem?” Fleet chortled, thinking she should have such a ‘problem’.
“See…I just can’t let him pick me up at home. I don’t want Daddy to know about it, you know how he is…and especially Edna. She’ll kill me. But…I gotta find some excuse to tell Mama and Daddy…”
Fleet curled her lip and shook her head, leaning to throw a conspiratorial arm around her friend. “Nah, no sweat. Just tell ‘em you went to my house. Tell ‘em…tell ‘em we’re gonna practice for the play.”
Louise’s eyes lit up excitedly, her smile a mile wide. “Perfect!” Leaning to hug her friend, she gushed, “Oh thank you, Fleet! I owe you one!”
“I’ll take that in cash,” she joked, causing both girls to erupt into chuckles. Louise made her excuses to Mrs. Herndon and bid her friends goodbye, hurrying out the door as she stuffed her arms into the sleeves of her coat.
Nearly five o’clock! She had to hurry!
*
Louise hastily skippe
d down the steps of the house, afraid she would be late.
It seemed that Lilly had thought of at least a dozen different chores she wanted done before Louise could make her escape to ‘Fleet’s’ house for a few hours. And once again, Edna had gotten out of doing much of anything; having slipped out immediately after supper and even before the dishes were done. The new flooring was laid and the apartment was clean, and their furniture had been moved back in. Then Lilly had wanted to wash the curtains and a host of other things in preparation for their first night back home since that fateful evacuation night.
“Mary Louise, I just can’t understand why you have to go to Fleet’s, tonight of all nights,” Lilly had complained as Louise had finally managed to remove her apron and begin to get ready.
“Because…because the play is gettin’ closer all the time and we need the practice, Mama,” she had responded – which wasn’t a lie – they did need practice.
“Well, you just make sure you’re back home before ten,” her mother had snapped, turning to stomp out into the other room and muttering about having to do ‘everything’ herself.
Louise sighed and shut her eyes for a moment, then continued on, slipping into her best dress. A soft green shirtwaist with black buttons and belt and long tapered sleeves, that she had picked because someone had told her once that it made her eyes appear more green than hazel. Quickly, she stepped into what was now her only pair of shoes, which were ugly black leather with button straps. Oh well, she shrugged, it can’t be helped. Then moving over to the dresser, she picked up her brush and ran it through her brown silken locks until they shone becomingly, finishing up the look by gathering the sides at the back with a large barrette.
Picking up her purse and, for effect, her copy of the play’s script, she sailed out into the next room and grabbed her coat off the rack by the door.
Willis, once again ensconced in his comfortable easy chair – now all scrubbed and clean – looked up from his paper and gave his daughter a grin.
“You off, honey?”
“Yeah, Daddy. Gotta run…I don’t want to be late,” Louise gushed, and then realizing what she’d said, she turned her head for a moment and closed her eyes, hoping he wouldn’t catch the slip.
He didn’t. “Well, you run along and have a good time with your friend,” he admonished, glancing down at her attire. “You look mighty pretty.”
She smiled at him and crossed to his chair, leaning down and giving him a firm hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks Daddy. I’ll see you later.”
Then before anything else could come up, she called, “Bye Mama,” as she opened the door and slipped out, not waiting to hear a reply.
Dashing up the stairs to the bathroom, Louise hurriedly pulled the string for the light and removed several items out of her pocketbook. With shaking hands, she applied some powder, blush, and lip rouge, something she didn’t normally do. In fact, she wore make up so seldom that she secretly ‘borrowed’ the items from Edna’s large stash, hoping to put them back that night without getting caught.
Then giving her face one last critical appraisal, she snapped her purse shut and marched out the door, silently skipped down the steps, and out into the evening.
As she hurried on her way, her heart was pounding with such excitement that her fingers were tingling and she could barely breathe.
*
People scurried along Fourth Street, anxious to get out of the chilly February evening breeze. Some were on their way home, while others were on their way to some other destination. Lights were just coming on in the shops. Voices murmured in unintelligible conversations as they passed by Vic, while he paced up and down the sidewalk in front of Luckert’s. On every turn, he glanced up the street as he waited for Louise to arrive.
Laughing softly, he shook his head as he rubbed his damp hands down his hips before shoving them back in his pockets. He couldn’t remember ever being so nervous before a date before, as if it was his first time taking a girl out.
His mind drifted back to the day before, when Earl had pulled the car away from the curb.
“Okay, man. Spill it. How’d ya know her?” his friend had demanded, dying to know the details surrounding his pal, whom he’d known all his life and never seen ‘in love’, now seeming absolutely smitten with a girl.
Vic had laughed, his grin flashing. “You remember the ‘babe’ Alec set me up with a few weeks back?”
“That’s her? You mean he actually did you a favor?” Earl joked, casting a grin at his friend.
“Well…not exactly. See…Louise is her sister. She came to the door that night. Edna was the one I went there for, but she was sick, so they said. But man…I ain’t been able to get Louise outta my mind ever since,” he confided with a chuckle. “She…she really got under my skin…big time.”
“Well…what about Edna?” Earl asked, trying to recall what she looked like the day they had ridden back from Anchorage.
“I saw her, when I went with that old man on the delivery truck that day – you know, when I came to see you guys? Plus…my boat was the one that rescued the Hoskins the night they evacuated. She’s…cute and all. But Louise…she’s special.”
Earl laughed and reached over to give his friend a teasing punch. “I can see that.”
Vic had laughed too, feeling on top of the world…
His mind came back to the present as he turned once again and saw her just as she was rounding the corner on Fourth and heading his way. There she is. He cleared his throat and began to jog toward her.
Holding her purse and the script clutched to her chest, Louise looked up and saw him at the same time, and quickened her pace. But when they reached one another, they were both struck with shyness for a moment.
Vic’s gaze took in how lovely she looked, even more so than usual, he thought. With her hair pulled back, and the radiant pink windblown glow of her cheeks, she was exquisite. He noticed she was wearing make-up and for a moment, he couldn’t remember if he’d seen her wear it before. Surely he had…
Louise allowed her eyes to take in every detail of her escort – his dark, wavy hair becomingly tossed by the wind, his freshly shaved face and jaw, the collar of his leather jacket turned up, with the jacket zipped up tight because of the cold. His hands were shoved deep in his pockets when she’d first seen him, but as he’d jogged toward her, he took one out to give her a jaunty wave.
“You’re right on time.” “Have you been waiting long?” they both began, only to break off and laugh self-consciously. It seemed they were always speaking at the same time.
“I just got here,” Vic offered, then noticing she was shivering in the cold, he added, “Come on, let’s go inside.” Turning toward the establishment, he politely took her elbow to escort her down the street. Grinning with pure unadulterated joy, she glanced up at him as they walked.
The only thing spoiling the evening for Vic was the fact that he didn’t have any money. He’d tried numerous times that day to borrow some, but no one seemed to have any, all of them in the ‘same boat’ as he was. Mentally preparing to tell her that they could only sit at a table at the back of the malt shop, but not enjoy any refreshment, he looked up and let out a tiny gasp of relief.
Turning to her, he asked apologetically, “Um…this is gonna sound funny, but…could you wait right here for just a minute? I’ll be right back,” but before she could utter a word, he was jogging toward a young man who was heading in their direction.
When he reached him, Vic stopped, his back to the direction in which he had left his date. “Gerald, hey man!” Vic greeted. “How ya been?”
“Aw, can’t complain, man, you know,” Gerald returned, trying to glance around his friend at the girl he had seen him talking to.
Cutting to the chase, Vic admitted, “Man, I need a favor. I need some lettuce, real bad. Can you lend me a five spot? Anything? I’ll pay it back as soon as I get it, I promise.”
Gerald shook his head regretfully. “I’m sorry man. All’
s I got’s some tin,” he replied, digging in his pocket and coming up with two quarters. “I’ll split it with ya, how’s that?”
Sighing with acceptance, Vic nodded. “Better than nothin’, I guess,” and accepted the coin from him. “Thanks, man. Um…gotta go.”
“That’s the doll I saw you talkin’ to at the armory that time, ain’t it?” Gerald astutely asked.
“Yep, and she’s cold, and she’s waitin’,” Vic answered, giving his friend a wink. “See ya later,” he added as he turned and loped back to where Louise stood shivering. With a relieved grin, Vic took her elbow and escorted her into the drugstore, as if they were entering the Waldorf.
*
“So he was at the Brown all that time,” Vic murmured, shaking his head as he took a sip of his soda.
They were sitting together in the back corner of Luckert’s Drugstore. It was a busy night, with patrons filling the stools at the counter and occupying every table, laughing and eating and telling ‘Flood’ stories. The bright lights in the ceiling reflected off the black and white diamond pattern of the tiles on the floor. Music blared on the big jukebox in the corner, at that moment, amusingly playing, “It Looks Like Rain in Cherry Blossom Lane” by Guy Lombardo. However, the two at the back paid no mind to anything or anyone but each other.
“Mmmhmm,” Louise returned with a nod, wrapping her lips delicately around her straw as she took another drink of her malt. She had no idea Vic had borrowed the money for her treat, but only had enough to get one malt, which cost twenty cents. He’d had to settle for a soda. But he didn’t care. He had lied and told her he’d had a big dinner.
“Sonny said when the water started to rise, he was with a couple of other newsboys. They’d been tryin’ ta sell papers in the lobby, and he ‘bout sold out!” she giggled, imagining her salesman brother doing just that – selling papers with a big headline about the record-setting rain to folks that just spent all day dodging raindrops. “He said the water all of a sudden started to come in the lobby, so him and the other fellas moved further inside. Hotel customers were callin’ down to the main desk asking for newspapers to be brought up, so the manager let Sonny and one other boy take them upstairs ‘cause all the bellboys were busy tryin’ to sweep the water back out the doors. By the time they came back down, there was a foot of water in the lobby!”
