Dancing With Velvet

by Judy Nickles

  “Good for you. Hold out for the best.”

  They walked down Beauregard Avenue back to Chadbourne Street and stopped in front of Concho Drug. “I’d better go home now,” Celeste said.

  “Thanks for having lunch with me. Maybe we’ll run into each other again,” Kent said. “I’d like that.”

  Celeste felt herself blushing. “Maybe so.” She didn’t say she’d like it, too, but she knew she would. She felt him watching her as she crossed in the middle of the block and headed toward Main Street.

  You let yourself get picked up, she chided herself. You talked to a total stranger on the street and even ate lunch with him and walked downtown with him. She had insisted on paying for her own meal, and he hadn’t argued about it. He’s probably on a budget just like I am. He didn’t mention his father. Maybe his mother has to take in sewing to make a living. He was nice enough. We have a lot in common, or maybe I just want to think so. Pete and I were so different. She glanced at the wristwatch Ben and Coralee had given her when she finished high school. Almost four o’clock. Daddy’ll be sober and wanting something to eat. He’ll want to know where I’ve been. I don’t know why he doesn’t trust me. He always had something nasty to say when Pete and I went out somewhere, and Pete was a real gentleman. So is Kent, and I guess he didn’t really pick me up. Anyway, I’ll never see him again, so what was the harm?

  That night, the man who came from behind the blue velvet curtain wore Kent’s face.

  ****

  She thought about the dress—and Kent—all week. When Coralee called on Friday, Celeste confessed what she’d done.

  “You didn’t do anything wrong,” Coralee assured her.

  “I didn’t even know him.” Well, in a way I did. I dropped a half-eaten apple on his head.

  “And you didn’t go back to his hotel with him, either.”

  “Sister!”

  “That’s how you meet people, sweetie.”

  “On the street?”

  “Anywhere. You aren’t in school anymore. You did the right thing going dutch with your lunch, so what’s the harm in taking a walk and talking? You were out there in broad daylight. He couldn’t have done anything he shouldn’t have, even if he’d wanted to.”

  “It just bothers me a little that I can’t stop…”

  “Can’t stop thinking about him? That’s okay, too. Maybe you’ll run into him again.”

  Celeste couldn’t stop the long sigh that escaped. “I’m not that lucky, Sister.”

  ****

  That night she fiddled with her meticulously-planned budget and decided she could pay out the dress by spring. But who needed a blue velvet dress in the spring? I don’t need it at all, and that’s a fact.

  After Wednesday night prayer meeting, Mrs. Lowe, who had been her Sunday School teacher in the primary department, called to her to wait. “Celeste, I have a favor to ask you, and if you say no, I’ll understand.”

  “I’ll help you if I can, Mrs. Lowe.”

  “My maid quit, just up and quit on me without any reason. You know I always treat my help well and pay them more than they’d get a lot of places.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I’ve got to give a dinner party in two weeks, and I don’t think I can get anyone—or at least train them to suit—in that time. Now, I know you can cook, and you’re familiar with all the little niceties. Would you help me out? You know, cleaning, getting things ready, helping in the kitchen? I’d make it worth your while if you’d come in when you get off work at noon on Saturdays for a couple of weeks. We’ll have some lunch and then get to work.”

  “I’ll be glad to help you, Mrs. Lowe.”

  “Oh, Celeste, you’re a good girl! How does five dollars an afternoon sound to you?”

  “That’s fine, Mrs. Lowe.”

  “You’re a good girl,” the woman repeated. “I’ll pick you up at the store at noon. No need to waste time with the bus.”

  “Yes, ma’am, that’s fine.”

  On the way home, Celeste did some quick calculations. Ten dollars would be a start on the velvet dress.

  ****

  After work on Monday, as she stepped out onto the street, consumed with excitement about her errand to put the blue velvet dress on layaway, she bumped into someone. “Oh, I’m sorry, I…” She looked up into Kent’s eyes.

  “This isn’t a safe place to be when you’re around,” he teased. “Where are you going in such a hurry?”

  “Why are you still here?”

  “I stayed an extra day to talk to a prospective customer.”

  “Oh.”

  “So where are you going, and can I come, too?”

  “No, I mean, I’m going to put that dress on layaway. I got the chance to make some extra money.”

  “Hey, that’s great. I’m glad for you.”

  Celeste nodded. “So I have to go before they close.”

  When she started off, he fell into step with her. “You’re going my way.”

  “What?”

  “The hotel, remember? It’s this direction.”

  In front of the department store, Celeste paused to gaze at the dress again. “I hope I’m not making a mistake, but it’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen.”

  “It’s not a mistake. You’ll be beautiful wearing it.”

  Celeste chewed her lip. “Well…I’d better do it if I’m going to.”

  “I’ll come in with you. Buy some socks or something.” He opened the door for her.

  “You figured it out,” the saleslady greeted her.

  “I’ve lost my mind,” Celeste said, fingering the skirt of the blue velvet dress, “but I’m going to do it. I may be paying for it from my grave, but…”

  The woman whisked the dress from the rack. “It was waiting for you. Nobody else has even tried it on, so far as I know. I’ll go upstairs with you, and we’ll get this tucked safely away right now.”

  All the way upstairs, Celeste felt sure the prince—or Kent—was holding her hand.

  ****

  Kent grinned at her as the elevator door opened again. “It’s a done deal, huh?”

  Celeste nodded. “I guess so.”

  “How about a soda to celebrate?”

  She glanced at her watch. “I can’t. I have to meet…catch my ride home.”

  “I see. Well, maybe next time. And don’t forget, I’ll be back through here next month. I’ll count on seeing you.”

  “Maybe. I’ve got to go.”

  She dashed through the door ahead of him and hoped he wouldn’t follow her. Standing beside the car, her father scowled. “Who’s the man?”

  “Nobody, Daddy.”

  “You were with him.”

  “He just opened the door for me,” she lied. “That’s all.”

  “Well, get in the car, and let’s go.”

  Celeste hurried around to the passenger side and slid in. Turning her face to the window, she thought of how the dress had shimmered in the light and how soft it felt beneath her fingers. Then she thought of Kent and was sure her father could hear her heart beating.

  Chapter Three

  “I did it,” Celeste told Coralee when she called on Wednesday. “I put the blue velvet dress on layaway, though heaven only knows when I’ll get it out.”

  “I’ll send you some money.”

  “No, I’m going to do this myself. That’s important to me.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m not sure. It’s like, well, maybe like I’m turning over a new leaf for myself. Or something.”

  “Or something. Are you going to wear it?”

  “Sometime.”

  “Where? Dancing?”

  “I was thinking about it. Sister, do you believe in dreams coming true?”

  “Absolutely. Mine did when I married Ben.”

  “You’d known him all your life.”

  “Half of it, maybe. If he hadn’t come to San Angelo to live with his aunt and uncle and go to high school, though, I’d never have me
t him. I always thought it was supposed to happen.”

  “You really love him, don’t you?”

  “More than I have words to tell you, Cece, and I want that for you, too. You’ve seen how good Ben is to me. His parents are, too. I wouldn’t trade my life here on the ranch for anything. The only drawback was leaving you behind.”

  “I could’ve come along. Ben’s parents offered me a place.”

  “And Daddy wouldn’t let you take it, even though he didn’t want you. He didn’t want either one of us after Mamma died. I worry about you, Cece.”

  “Why didn’t he want us?”

  “He just didn’t.” Celeste thought Coralee sounded evasive. “But we had each other, didn’t we?”

  “You took good care of me, Sister, and I’m all right. I’m going to be even better someday.”

  “Daddy’s going to kill himself drinking. You know that.”

  “He still gets up on Monday morning, stone cold sober, and goes to work. From what I hear, everyone at the bank thinks he’s a paragon. Why does he do it, Sister? Why does he drink like that?”

  “It started after Mamma died, but there was something…well, never mind. You were too young to see it.”

  “Is that why? Because she died?” The long silence on Coralee’s end of the phone stirred Celeste’s curiosity, but Coralee answered as evasively as before.

  “No. Things weren’t right before that.”

  “Do you know why?”

  “It’s not important.”

  “Maybe it is.”

  “Forget it, sweetie.”

  “I’m not a baby anymore, Sister.”

  “I know. Cece, promise me you’ll do something about making a life for yourself away from that house. I just don’t like the idea of you there alone with him when he’s drinking.”

  “He says a lot of mean things, I guess, but that’s the liquor talking.”

  “As long as that’s all he does,” Coralee muttered.

  “Why would you say that?”

  “Because…I don’t know. Never mind.”

  “Don’t worry, Sister. Someday I’m going to meet the man of my dreams.” Maybe I’ve already met him.

  Coralee laughed. “Especially now, since you have that blue velvet dress.”

  ****

  After helping Mrs. Lowe, Celeste paid ten extra dollars on her layaway the following Monday. On Tuesday, Mrs. Lowe called Celeste to thank her again.

  “You were wonderful. Where did you learn to do all that? Arrange the flowers and do place cards and make those little appetizers in the shapes of flowers?”

  “Coralee taught me everything she learned in domestic science in high school. The rest I just sort of picked up from magazines.”

  “Well, my friend Ina Smith was impressed. You know Ina, don’t you? Her husband is the manager of the gas company.”

  “I can’t place her.”

  “She’s giving a Christmas party and asked me if I thought you’d help her. She’d pay you. In fact, I told her it would cost her ten dollars for one weekend. She can afford it. You’re worth every penny, Celeste. She’s going to call you.”

  For the next few weeks, Celeste hoped, in vain, to catch a glimpse of Kent again. By the first of December, she’d paid out her original layaway, and had only twenty dollars left to pay on the blue velvet dress. She could almost see herself wearing it. By doing without movies, lunches out on Fridays, and everything else except her church pledge, she drove her balance down dollar by dollar. On the fifteenth of December, she almost ran to Cox-Rushing-Greer to make her final payment.

  The saleslady caught her on her way out with the box under her arm. “You did it. I knew you would.”

  Celeste felt like her face would split from smiling. “Yes, ma’am, I did.”

  “I happen to know there’s a dance on Saturday night at the Roof Garden. You ought to go.”

  A new wave of excitement swept over Celeste. “Maybe I will.”

  “You have some shoes to wear with it?”

  “Just my Sunday pumps, but they’ll have to do.”

  “You need silver ones, strappy sandals, I think, and those clips for your hair and the dress.”

  “I got the clips at Woolworth last week. I work there, so I got a discount. They’re cheap, but they don’t look it. As for the shoes, maybe I’ll find some later.”

  “You’ll have all the young men falling at your feet no matter what’s on them.”

  Celeste laughed. “I doubt that, but it’s a nice thought.”

  ****

  “What’s in the box?” her father asked as she got into the car.

  “Just something I had on layaway.”

  “Seems to me you have plenty of clothes.”

  “I’m still wearing what I wore in school.”

  “What’s wrong with that?”

  “I’m not in school now.”

  He snorted. “You ought to save your money.”

  “I pay my own way, Daddy.” I clean the house and cook your meals and still have to pay for mine.

  “You should.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He reached under the seat and pulled out a bottle.

  “Can’t you wait until you get home?” she asked without thinking.

  “Shut your sassy mouth, girl!”

  Celeste turned her face to the window to hide her tears.

  ****

  She hung the dress in the back of her closet, reaching in to stroke it every night before she went to bed and again in the mornings as she dressed for work. She asked around at the store and found two of the girls who knew about the Roof Garden dances.

  “There’s one on Saturday,” Veda told her. “Les Green and his orchestra.”

  “Who?”

  “He’s been here before, and he’s good. Look, my roommate Paula and I are going. Why don’t you come with us?”

  “I don’t have a date.”

  “Neither do we, but there are always plenty of unattached men around. It’s a good time, nothing serious. Everyone’s on his best behavior. No mashers to follow you home or anything.”

  Home. Celeste winced. She might be able to get out of the house dressed for the dance and even back in, but she didn’t want to deal with her father in case he happened to see her. He always forgot his threats to kick her out, but they were unpleasant to listen to all the same.

  “We share a room in a boarding house over on Harris,” Veda continued. “It’s not fancy, but we keep it neat, and you’re welcome to dress there with us if you don’t want to go all the way home.”

  Veda dropped her eyes suddenly in a way that made Celeste think she knew about her father. But who cared? It had nothing to do with her. “I’d love it,” she said. “You’re sweet to ask me.”

  “We’d ask you to spend the night, but there’s no room, and the floor’s not comfortable, that’s for sure.”

  “No, that’s all right. I’ll get home afterward.” Daddy’ll be good and drunk by then, probably passed out. Maybe I won’t stay very late anyway. Maybe I’ll be a wallflower.”

  Veda narrowed her eyes. “You, honey? We were all glad when you moved upstairs to work, because all the men who came in here couldn’t keep their eyes off you. Now we get noticed occasionally.”

  Celeste flushed. “I didn’t do anything to get them to pay attention to me, honestly I didn’t.”

  Veda touched her arm. “I’m teasing you. But you are attractive, Cece. I’m serious. And I’m glad you’re going with us Saturday night.”

  ****

  Celeste packed everything in the dress box and maneuvered it onto the bus Saturday morning. At noon, she asked Mr. Thomas if she could stay upstairs until Veda and Paula got off at five.

  “You three have plans?”

  “We’re going to the dance at the St. Angelus tonight. I’m dressing in their room.”

  “Good for you, Miss Riley. But you don’t have to stay up here all afternoon. I’m short a girl at the hardware counter. Miss Bennett’s
mother fell and broke her ankle last night. She was pretty upset when she called in this morning, but I told her not to worry about it. If you want to cover for her, I’ll pay you.”

  “Oh, that’s awful. I’m really sorry. I’ll be glad to cover for her, Mr. Thomas. It’ll be nice to have something to do, and maybe you could give Sara a half-day’s pay. I’m sure she could use it, especially with Christmas coming up.”

  The manager looked at Celeste for a long moment. “You’re sure about that?”

  “Yes, sir. It’ll be fun being back on the floor again.”

  “All right, then. I’ll make sure Miss Bennett knows what you did for her.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  “I wouldn’t think of anything else.”

  ****

  The store teemed with shoppers all afternoon. Celeste enjoyed waiting on customers again. Just before closing, she tallied her sales and closed out the register, then went with the other girls to take their canvas cash bags upstairs, where Mr. Thomas counted the day’s receipts and made out a deposit slip so that he could put the money in the night depository at the bank.

  “I think you sell on your smile,” he told Celeste as he counted her money.

  She blushed. “It was fun being downstairs again.”

  “Thank you for helping out.”

  “It’s okay, really.”

  Veda and Paula were waiting for her at the back door. “We usually catch the bus to the Triple Gables for supper, because our landlady doesn’t cook Saturday nights and Sundays. She’s a good cook, but eating out is a nice break.”

  Celeste thought of the extra money in her purse now that the layaway was paid for. “I’m starving after working the counter this afternoon.”

  Reveling in Paula’s and Veda’s cheerful company, Celeste realized she’d almost forgotten the fun of being part of a group of girls. “I’m going to design school in Dallas someday,” Paula offered, studying another customer’s stylish dress while they waited for dessert.

  “She draws all the time,” Veda said, removing the meringue from her chocolate pie. “She’s good, too. Me, I want to go to the business college. Didn’t you go there, Celeste?”

  “No, I took business classes at the junior college. I thought I might go on somewhere else, but I couldn’t afford it.”