Part 14 (1/2)

- Now that's enough of that, says his friend.

Karl was fifteen. His Mom was forty. His Dad was forty-two. His Dad had done all right for himself in his business and just recently had become President of one of the biggest investment trusts in the nation. He had, to celebrate, increased Karl's allowance at his fifteenth birthday and turned a blind eye when Karl borrowed his mother's car when he went out on a date. Karl was a big boy for his age and looked older than fifteen.

In his new tuxedo and with his hair gleaming with oil, Karl could have pa.s.sed for twenty easily. That was probably why Nancy Goldmann was so willing to let him take her out.

As they left the movie theatre (Gold Diggers of Broadway), he whistled one of the tunes from the film while he gathered his courage together to suggest to Nancy what he had been meaning to suggest all evening.

Nancy put her arm through his and saved him the worst part: ”Where to now?” she asked.

”There's a speakeasy I know on West Fifty Six.” He guided her across the street while the cars honked on all sides. It was getting dark and the lights were coming on all down Forty Second Street. ”What do you say, Nancy?” They reached his car. It was a new Ford Coupe. His Dad had a Cadillac limousine which he hoped to borrow by the time he was sixteen. He opened the door for Nancy.

”A speakeasy, Karl? I don't know ...” She hesitated before getting into the car. He glanced away from her calves. His eyes would keep going to them. It was the short, fluffy skirt. You could almost see through it.

”Aw, come on, Nancy. Are you bored with speakeasies? Is that it?”

She laughed. ”No! Will it be dangerous? Gangsters and bootleggers and shooting and stuff?”

”It'll be the dullest place in the world. But we can get a drink there.” He hoped she would have a drink, then she might do more than hold his hand and kiss him on the way home. He had only a vague idea of what ”more” meant. ”If you want one, of course.”

”Well, maybe just one.”

He could see that Nancy was excited.

All the way up to W.56th Street she chattered beside him, talking about the movie mostly. He could tell that she was unconsciously seeing herself as Ann Pennington. Well, he didn't mind that. He grinned to himself as he parked the car. Taking his hat and his evening coat from the back, he walked round and opened the door for Nancy. She really was beautiful. And she was warm.

They crossed Seventh Avenue and were nearly bowled over by a man in a straw hat who mumbled an apology and hurried on. Karl thought it was a bit late in the year to be wearing a straw hat. He shrugged and then, on impulse, leaned forward and kissed Nancy's cheek. Not only didn't she resist, she blew him a kiss back and laughed her lovely trilling laugh. ”Did anyone ever tell you, you looked like Rudy Vallee?” she said.

”Lots of people.” He smirked in a comic way and made her laugh again.

They came to a gaudy neon sign which flashed on and off. It showed a pink pyramid, a blue and green dancing girl, a white camel. It was called the Casa Blanca.

”Shall we?” said Karl, opening the door for her.

”This is a restaurant.”

”Just wait and see!”

They checked their hats and coats and were shown by an ingratiating little waiter to a table some distance from the stand where a band was backing someone who looked and sounded almost exactly like Janet Gaynor. She was even singing Keep Your Sunny Side Up.

”What happens next?” said Nancy. She was beginning to look disappointed.

The waiter brought the menus and bowed. Karl had been told what to say by his friend Paul who had recommended the place. ”Could we have some soft drinks, please?” he said.

”Certainly, sir. What kind? ”

”Uh - the strong kind, please.” Karl looked significantly at the waiter.

”Yes, sir.” The waiter went away again.

Karl held Nancy's hand. She responded with a funny little spasm and grinned at him. ”What are you going to eat?”

”Oh, anything. Steak Diane. I'm mad about Steak Diane.”

”Me too.” Under the table, his knee touched Nancy's and she didn't move away. Of course, there was always the chance that she thought his knee was a table leg or something. Then, when she looked at him, she moved her chin up in a way that told him she knew it was his knee. He swallowed hard. The waiter arrived with the drinks, He ordered two Steak Dianes ”and all the tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs”. He lifted his gla.s.s and toasted Nancy. They sipped together.

”They've put a lot of lemon in it,” said Nancy. ”I guess they have to. In case of a raid or something.”

”That's it,” said Karl, fingering his bow tie.