A Daughter's Choice (7 page)

Katie gazed about her at walls lined with tightly fitted lengths of lacquered bamboo and a poster of a frighteningly large black bull and a slender matador, just above the counter where an espresso machine hissed and gurgled. She gave a deep sigh of pleasure. From a juke box came the sound of the Crickets singing ‘Maybe Baby' and a group of girls swayed to the music, a couple of them lah-lahing. Every table was crammed with young people and she felt really with it, sipping frothy Italian-style coffee.

‘You look like the cat who's got the cream,' said the youth, who was from the Midlands and only staying a few days before emigrating to Canada with his parents and young sister. ‘You've a cream moustache. Would you like me to lick it off?'

Was he teasing? Katie did not know but with slow deliberation leaned forward, aware of Eileen's eyes on her, and closed her eyes. His tongue flicked over her upper lip which tingled while a delicious shiver raced through her. It was the closest she had ever got to a kiss from a boy.

The record on the juke box changed and Pat Boone began to croon about April love being for the very young. They gazed deep into each other's eyes and it was so romantic.

‘Like another coffee?' asked Eileen loudly.

‘Yes, please,' said Katie and the boy in vague voices as Pat Boone's voice soared.

Eileen scowled. She was used to taking a back seat. It was where her parents had always kept her because they were embarrassed by her fits. Sometimes they forgot she was there altogether and that way she heard all kinds of things she shouldn't. She knew all about Katie but didn't consider this the best time to let the cat out of the bag. Katie was being kind to her in her way and so was Aunty Kitty. If things should change then she might have to rethink. It sure would be a lovely thing to take over the Arcadia if anything should happen to Katie and Aunt Kitty … After all, having epilepsy had never stopped Julius Caesar from conquering a large chunk of the ancient world!

‘Where are you three off to?' asked Ben, his expression disapproving as he took in Katie's hand nestling in the crook of a different young man's arm. This one she had met in the market on a meat stall and apparently he shared her interest in music. She was looking lovely in a primrose sailcloth shirtwaister bought with Ben's birthday money and her hair was tied up in a ponytail. There was a flush of excitement in her cheeks and she looked so young and carefree that his heart ached for her. Sooner or later life would wipe that smile off her face, he realised gloomily, thinking of Celia and Sarah and Mick.

‘We're going jiving at the Rialto,' said Katie, gazing up at the youth who was tall, fair and unusually dressed in cowboy clothes which his sailor brother had brought him from America, and which he wore when playing Country and Western.

Ben raised his eyebrows. ‘That's what you think! They wouldn't allow him in there in that get-up. It's proper suits and strictly tempo. Why don't you try the YMCA?'

A tinkle of laughter escaped Katie. ‘You're joking! I want to go further than across the road.' She did not feel at all pleased with Ben for making her feel an ignoramus about not knowing the Rialto was strictly ballroom.

‘Try the Grafton or Locarno then. They're less classy. Should be just up your street if it's bopping you want.'

‘They must be squares at that Rialto,' said the youth, tipping back his stetson and staring at Ben. ‘They'll be closing down if they don't get with it.'

‘There's still plenty of us squares around, mate, who like to do things in style,' snapped Ben. ‘You just make sure you bring our Katie home at a respectable hour or there'll be trouble. She's only seventeen, you know.'

‘I'm all of seventeen which isn't young,' said Katie sweetly, because she thought she knew why Ben was like a bear with a sore head. Sarah and Mick … She'd like to knock their heads together. ‘Next birthday I'll be eighteen and I'll tell Ma I'm old enough to take over this place. 'Bye, Ben! Come on Eileen, Dougie.' And she swept out.

In no time at all they were entering the portals of the Grafton which was situated next to the Locarno ballroom. Eileen asked why two dance halls should be so close together. Katie thought, and remembered Kitty telling her that one had started life as the Olympia cinema, and said so. This was the first time she had been in a dance hall and she could not wait to get on the floor.

Overhead a shimmering ball twirled, reflecting shards of glittering light. The band was playing a waltz to which a few couples danced sedately. It was hard to believe the dance had once been banned in England. Clusters of girls sat on one side of the room, and on the other lads talked amongst themselves whilst eyeing up the girls.

‘You grab chairs and I'll get us drinks,' said Dougie.

‘Orange juice, please,' said Katie, handing him some money. He protested but she insisted. So he walked off in search of the bar.

The girls gazed about them, sitting on the edge of their seats, both longing to dance. Eileen had a net skirt on under her frock and Katie felt sorry for her because they weren't as fashionable any more.

Dougie hadn't been gone long when the waltz came to an end and a quickstep took its place. Immediately some couples began to jive and the girls watched as a youth skirted the floor and came towards them. He had dark hair perfectly styled in a fashionable Tony Curtis quiff and there were black velvet lapels to his jacket.

Eileen edged forward on her seat but it was Katie he addressed. ‘Are you dancing?' His green eyes fixed on her face as his jaw moved rhythmically, almost in tune to the music.

Kitty did not allow Katie to chew gum and she was fascinated by that mobile mouth. ‘I'm with a fella.'

He glanced around. ‘The invisible man?'

Her lips twitched. ‘Very funny.'

He grinned. ‘Glad you appreciate the joke. How's about it then? It's not as if I want to take a lease out on you or anything. Just one dance.'

‘No, thanks. He'll be back in minute.'

‘A minute'll do me.' He wriggled his shoulders and did a soft-shoe shuffle. ‘Just a quick bop, love.'

Katie did her best to hide a smile, and if she had not come to the dance with someone else, would have gone with him then. There was something very attractive about that smile and those eyes.

‘I knew you could crack your face if you tried,' he said, holding one hand out towards her, but before she could do or say anything Dougie appeared on the scene.

‘You're bothering my girl,' he said pugnaciously. ‘Scram!'

Green-eyes looked him over. ‘I preferred you invisible.'

‘Is that meant to be a joke?' said Dougie, and poked Green-eyes in the chest.

The youth fell back a pace. ‘I wouldn't do that again if I were you,' he murmured, combing back his quiff with his fingers.

Katie glanced around and saw that people were watching. ‘Stop it!' she hissed. ‘The pair of you could get us thrown out! Now will you go away?' she said to Green-eyes. ‘I'm sorry, but I did tell you I was with someone.'

‘If that's the way you want it.' He shrugged and walked away.

Eileen got up and followed him. Katie stared after her and watched, surprised at how badly she didn't want Eileen to dance with the green-eyed youth. When she saw them go on to the floor she picked up the smaller of the drinks and drained the glass.

‘You shouldn't have drunk that so quickly!' exclaimed Dougie, looking alarmed.

‘Why? I was thirsty.'

‘It wasn't pure orange juice. I had them put gin in it.'

Katie stared at the glass as if it had been poisoned and almost choked. ‘I'm not supposed to drink! Ma would have a fit.'

Dougie sat down heavily and sighed. ‘This evening isn't going the least bit the way I wanted it. I thought the place would be jumping and we'd have a real cool time.'

Katie was starting to feel bored with him but they were here now and she supposed she had to make the best of it. She smiled and said, ‘Why don't you take off your hat and we can dance?'

‘I like my hat,' he said defensively.

Katie gave up on him and sat with her hands between her knees, waiting for Eileen to return. It was not long before she did. Katie wanted to ask her about the green-eyed youth but there was a tight expression on the Irish girl's face which somehow put her off.

As the evening wore on, the room became hot and crowded. The main band had a break and a younger group came on stage and eventually she got to dance because a bouncer ordered Dougie to take off his hat. As they jived Katie was aware of the green-eyed youth who had now taken to the floor with a girl whose hairstyle was startlingly like his. She wore a get-up much like the one waiting to see the light of day in Katie's wardrobe and, oh, how she envied that girl as the green-eyed youth jived with her as if to the manner born! She found herself blushing as his gaze suddenly caught hers, and looked away.

It was a relief when the last waltz was called and Katie glanced at her watch, wanting to dump Dougie as fast as she could. ‘It's time we were going, I didn't realise it was so late. I'm going to cop it!' she said.

‘Don't be a wet,' said Dougie, suddenly coming alive again and pulling her into his arms. ‘We might as well stay to the end and have a smooch.'

‘But people are starting to leave.'

‘Let them.' He was suddenly very forceful.

‘I'll dance with you,' said Eileen, flashing him a smile.

He looked at her disparagingly and without a word dragged Katie on to the dance floor. ‘You could have danced with Eileen,' she muttered. ‘That was unkind.'

‘She's a gooseberry. Why did she have to come with us?' he muttered, and pressing Katie against him, slobbered all over her neck.

After that she couldn't get out and home quick enough but to her dismay the queue at the bus stop was enormous. ‘I'm walking,' she said. ‘You coming, Eileen?'

‘I'm coming too,' said Dougie, draping an arm round Katie's neck so she felt weighed down, much to her annoyance.

They headed past the registrar's office and the Hippodrome cinema towards Low Hill, accompanied by a stony-faced Eileen.

They were not the only ones walking. Katie could hear snatches of conversation and songs from the hit parade.

‘Lollipop' mingled with Perry Como's ‘Magic Moments', as well as a duet rendition of ‘Hopalong Cassidy'. She guessed someone was taking the mickey out of Dougie and hoped he would ignore it, but some hope! Although it took a ‘Where did you get that hat?' to make him turn and tell them to shurrup.

‘The cowboy's getting tough,' said a girl's amused voice.

‘He's not a cowboy,' added a male one. ‘He's just pretending.'

‘You!' said Dougie, clenching his fists. ‘I might have known it would be.'

‘Psychic, are you?' said Green-eyes.

‘Perhaps he's an alien if he's not a cowboy?' said the girl, whom Katie now recognised as the one wearing the satin blouse and tight skirt, the one Green-eyes had danced with. ‘You'd better watch it, Patrick. He might zap you.'

‘Emperor Ming, you think?' Patrick smiled at Katie before his eyes came to rest on the youth at her side.

‘Oh, you're so funny!' said Dougie, taking a step forward. Katie moved in front of him, not wanting them to fight. He tried to dodge round her but she shifted with him. ‘Get out the way, Katie,' he yelled. ‘I'm gonna punch him on the nose.'

The other girl's eyes widened. ‘Touchy, isn't he? Will he remove his hat first?'

‘Shut up, Bernie! Can't you see he's got no sense of humour?' said Patrick, eyes gleaming in the lamplight. He doubled his fists. ‘Katie, let me at him.'

‘No! You mustn't fight,' she said in a persuasive voice.

‘No?' He dropped his arms and then unexpectedly caught her by the waist and swung her out of the way. ‘But he wants to fight me,' he said. ‘And I'm not chickening out.'

‘But I'll be in deep trouble if I don't get home soon,' she said, struggling to free herself, but he was strong and that gave her a thrill.

‘Where's home?' he said, breath fragrant with chewing gum.

‘That's none of your business!' yelled Dougie in a fury as he attempted to drag her out of Patrick's grasp. The next moment Katie was on the ground and the two youths were trading punches.

Katie got to her feet, rubbing her hip and glancing round. She noticed that Eileen had vanished and wondered what to do next, then decided there was nothing she
could
do. So she watched the fight, eyes sparkling. She really didn't want the two of them to hurt each other, but what girl wouldn't find a certain amount of pleasure in the sight of two fellas grappling over her? Because she felt sure
she
was what this was all about.

Then a voice spoke and spoilt all her pleasure. ‘Katie, you're not going to be allowed out for a week after this! Ma'll have your life!'

‘Oh, hell!' she muttered, facing Ben and catching sight of Eileen at his side.

‘He's the one causing all the trouble,' said the Irish girl, pointing at Patrick. ‘Be careful, Ben, he might have a bicycle chain under his collar.'

‘Don't be daft!' cried Katie, gazing at her in astonishment. ‘He's not that kind of bloke. It's an act.'

But Ben had made his move and, seizing the pugilists by the back of their collars, forced them apart. For a moment their arms still flailed as their feet sought a securer hold on the pavement. ‘You bloody onions!' shouted Ben. ‘Think you're tough, do you? I'll show you what tough is! Turning the other cheek and walking away. Now shake hands and act like gentlemen.'

‘You're jokin'!' said Dougie, managing to tug himself free. ‘He was trying to pinch my girl.'

‘One date does not make me your girl! So
you
can go home,' said Katie, incensed. She turned on Ben. ‘Did you come looking for me?'