Chapter Twenty-Four: Young Charms
By Jason Goldtrap
Simon held Sarah’s hand as he helped her into the back seat of the Oldsmobile; Jeff did the same with Emily. The girls looked at each other with raised eyebrows which spoke more sheer delight than many voluminous words could under the circumstance. They had often wished that the boys of Eagle Creek should be so courteous and considerate of the dainty gender, at least in the avenue of courting.
During the ride Emily had inquired about the choices of foods at the Chrysanthemum Ball.
“I like real food,”
she confidently expressed to Jeff.
He retorted,
“As do I. I am not a fan of the bland morsels that I usually find at these events. I like chicken, steak, potatoes….”
Simon chimed in with
“Green beans.”
“Tomatoes!”
said Sarah.
Emily skeptically inquired,
“Broccoli?”
Jeff rebuffed the vegetable’s good name,
“Not in the least. Let me think, I like cucumbers…”
Emily asked,
“Pumpkin?”
Jeff replied,
“Yes, sugar?”
“No, that’s not what I meant to say, ‘Do you like pumpkin?’”
Jeff pondered for a moment.
“Not at all, you country bumpkin.”
Simon tapped him on the shoulder.
“Not too bad, Edgar Allen Poe.”
Sarah added,
“We are most impressed by Emily’s motoring beau.”
All four realized that a game was afoot. Emily gave Jeff a challenge in verse. Sarah and Simon were to be the happy audience.
Emily began:
“Might you enjoy some cauliflower?”
Jeff replied,
“On any day, in any hour. Would you like some leafy spinach?”
“Only for dessert, when the meal is finished. Perhaps a selection of fine watercress?”
“Oh no, it’s a vegetable I detest. How about a stalk of delicious corn?”
“Yes, I have been eating it since the day I was born. For a hot sauce you could try a splash of green pepper.”
“Too hot and I might dance like a crazed high stepper. Per chance would you enjoy a round, ripe melon?”
“I’d buy one from you if that’s what you were sellin’. And what of the delicious squash zucchini?”
“It’s the perfect compliment to my fettuccini. How often would you eat a bowl of black-eyed peas?”
“A few days after Christmas, on New Years Eve. Shall I stew for you a pot of limas?”
“Yes, and I’ll pay for it with nickels and dimas. Do you know where I might find some good garlic?”
“Many miles north of us, upon the frozen artic. Ever seen a majestic and massive green onion?”
“Once, a while back, in the hands of Paul Bunyan. He then began eating on a cedar sized leek.”
“A meal which undoubtedly took less than a week. How about a bowl of rice?”
Jeff cringed.
“I think that… would be… ever so nice. Too easy!”
He thought for a moment and winked at Emily.
“Would you care to join me for a dish of beets?”
“We’re about to crash, pay attention to the street.”
Just then a doe jumped in their way, Jeff swerved to miss it. Emily and Sarah screamed.
The driver was relieved:
“Ok, I almost went deer hunting the hard way.”
Simon placed his arm around Sarah comforting her. He whispered,
“I hope we live to see another day.”
Sarah said,
“Em, you must continue the match. Simon and I are on pens and needles awaiting your next move.”
Emily thought,
“You mean Simon’s next move.”
Emily laughed to herself. 
Sarah asked,
“What’s so funny?”
She replied,
“Nothing”
using a voice inflection which led Sarah to believe Emily had made a joke at her expense.
She said,
“Emily Jean Clementine, mind your manners.”
Simon spoke up,
“What’d she say?”
Sarah replied,
“It was what she thought.”
“How do you know what Emily thought? Can you read minds?”
“No, but as you said earlier, I speak Emilese which consists mostly of simple gestures which can convey volumes.”
“Ah, so you are an expert at physiognomy: the language of the face?”
Sarah looked longingly into Simon’s eyes. The ambient light of the moon and the flashes of street lamps made his profile appear different each second. She was smitten. She made note of every detail of his countenance: a solid chin with an inviting mouth. She leaned in closer to his face, tracing his jaw with her fingers. She paused for a few moments, as if she were in a trance. She answered his question in a way that implied far more than a response to the immediate inquiry.
She whispered,
“Yes. Yes. And a thousand times, yes.”
Simon returned the gaze. He traced her jaw and inched her face forward to his. She closed her eyes, her lips trembled. Simon puckered up.
“Pot hole!,”
Jeff warned. They bumped heads.
“Ouch!”
Sarah rubbed her head, she thought,
“That was the single most romantic moment of my life.”
She smiled at him, a little embarrassed.
Simon fiddled with his fingers for a moment. He spoke softly in her ear.
“The feeling is very mutual. That being said, we have company.”
Sarah gave a slight smiled.
“Of course.”
She slowly, but respectfully nudged Simon back to his previous position on the seat. Sarah was disappointed but confident that she had done the right thing in the heat of the moment. She would have surely melted into his arms; however, they had just met that afternoon. She turned her attention back to Emily who was pondering her next edible word.
Sarah spoke up,
“Come now Em, you can do it.”
Her confidence bolstered she returned to the competition.
“Got it. And what would you do with the palatable carrot?”
“With you, Emily, I would be obliged to share it. Imagine a girl on whose hat was a radish.”
“That would be most silly and faddish. And where in the meal would there be a yam?”
“Mixed with its fellows, flavoring a ham. I truly enjoy wine, the juice of grape.”
Emily, Simon and Sarah spoke as one,
“Grapes are fruit!”
“I win!”
Emily was so proud of herself. She cleared her throat,
“And for the record, I’ve never tasted wine. And if you were to tempt me with it….”
She yelled,
“I’d make my escape!”
Everyone in the car cheered! Jeff was reeling from the quip,
“And here we are. Enough with this word slaughter, this verbal perversity.”
As Jeff helped Emily out of the Oldsmobile she said,
“That was the best motor car ride of my life.”
Sarah silently chided Emily to keep some amount of mystery and aloofness, especially on a first date.
“Em, that was your second motor car ride of your life.”
Emily gave her a quick smile and rolled her eyes. Both were bowled over by the flattering fascination from their dates however, both were not naive to the potentials of a runaway yearning to consummate love’s end.
Simon gave Jeff a similar sermon via a glare. Temptation was at their door and salivating like a hungry wolf. Part of them wanted to skip the Chrysanthemum Ball in favor of a long road trip out to Lake Helena to, what the Jennings coeds euphemistically called, “Watch the submarine races.” However, they both were in agreement that the needs of elevated decorum and self-control should guide them instead of the base strains of the libido. Tempered, patient and hopeful reality would be a greater reward in the long run than the lure of wistful emotions and all consuming caresses, even when the date was open to the suggestion.
Such is the lot of ladies and gentleman. Respect is a governor of fantasy. Sometimes it is not easy to be a virile young man who longs for the sweetness of touch. Never is it easy to be an infatuated young woman who longs for the touch of sweetness. Although Jennings certainly had its fair share of young ladies who were more than willing to concede the mutual pleasure of their body without much persuasion to practically any man who showed them even a smattering of attention. Yet, Simon strove to be different, answering a call that came from the submissive heart instead of the conquering ego. Every boy, who wants to be a man, must surely endure such battles. Every girl, who wants to be a woman, in the same manner, must win the conflict between her desires and the promises of a marriage bed. To some there is victory, to others there is regret.
There seemed to be a thousand young people at the Chrysanthemum Ball. The lawn in front of the Students Center had a large white tent, illuminated by decorative Chinese lanterns, populated by mahogany tables with white terrycloth. Each featured a centerpiece with Chrysanthemums. The aroma of rotisserie chicken, turkey and roast beef permeated the location. Steam was billowing from the banquet tables, many of those waiting in line appeared as anxious as they were hungry. The dapper young men with their black suits and white ties twirled the fashionable young women arrayed in puffy gowns of velvety red, gold and teal. It was a banquet for the senses as much as it seemed like a wonderful dream.
Sarah and Emily didn’t know what to make of the spectacle. Sarah’s right hand held Emily’s left hand. Sarah quaked Emily’s hand and softly spoke said,
“Oh, Em, this is unreal.” 
To which she added,
“And we have dates!”
They giggled.
Simon and Jeff walked a pace behind them. They shrugged and laughed at the ladies’ antics.
“Jan! Jan!,”
said Emily as she rushed over to the table.
Karen said,
“Hi.”
Jan gave her a wave to compliment Sarah and Emily’s gowns.
Sarah said,
“Why thank you. I am confident your date is most pleased.”
With that Jan’s face fell.
Sarah winced.
“Oh. I didn’t realize you didn’t have.…”
Jan shrugged.
“Ok.”
Benjamin arrived at the table with two plates of food, he said to Karen,
“A waltz first?”
She smiled.
“Delighted to.”
Sarah and Emily sat next to each other at the large round table with Simon and Jeff on either side.
Emily picked up a program and looked it over.
“We got here in time for the first dance.”
Jeff talked with Emily; Simon with Sarah. Emily would frequently toss back her head with laughter, a clear compliment to her date.
Emily playfully slapped his hands. She repeated the action with every witticism, each time she withdraw her hand from atop his. Sarah observed her and did the same, not wanting to be outdone. Upon the sixth such occasion she paused no more.
With her right hand she traced the fingers of his left.
“You have the most amazing knuckles, strong, textured; if a girl didn’t know better she might.…”
Emily stopped her flirting when she caught a glimpse of Jan slumping in her chair; looking at the floor. Emily returned her focus to Jeff, and said coyly,
“Hold that thought, I’ll be back in a flash.”
She quickly scooted her chair and left the table.
Jeff turned to Simon, with his face he asked,
“What’d I do? What’d I say?”
Simon was as clueless as he.
Sarah turned to Jeff.
“Em? What happened to Emily?”
Jeff was bewildered.
“I don’t know she said, ‘hold that thought’ then off like lightning bolt.”
Sarah was fidgety.
“Um, um, I, um, where is the powder room?”
“Students Center lobby,"
Simon replied.
Sarah nodded.
“Thank you.”
She also scooted her chair and scampered off.
Sarah scrambled across the lawn, past the mermaid fountain that some one had humorously decorated with a corsage, and to the lobby. She found the ladies’ room. A line of women in ball gowns were adjusting their hats, applying lipstick and make up. Sarah went to the door of each stall.
“Em? Em? Em?”
Not finding her friend she adjusted her hat then left. Part of her wanted to find her friend, a bigger part wanted to continue the evening with Simon. She considered her options and then returned to the table. As she drew closer she could see Emily walking arm in arm with a tall, handsome young man. Her eyes grew huge and she slowly shook her head back and forth saying to herself,
“I don’t know what you are doing but it’s not going to work.”
Sarah sat down.
“I’m back.”
Simon seemed glad. Jan barely acknowledged her. Emily hurriedly approached the table, arm in arm with the young man. All eyes were on her.
She said to him,
“Please sit down”
and pointed to a chair next to Jan. He obliged.
“Jan, this is Robert Warner from Jefferson City.”
Jan was confused but smiled and said,
“Hi.”
Emily continued,
“Robert, this is Jan from Helena.”
They shook hands.
“Jan stutters.”
Jan was shocked; she turned to Emily thinking she’d gone mad.
“She stutters, so, you’ll have to be patient with her.”
Jan was shaking her head. “No, no, no” and rapping on the table to express her disapproval.
“Jan is a lovely young woman. She has no date for the ball. Robert, do you have a date for the ball?”
He chuckled,
“No.”
Emily smiled.
“You do now.”
Jan was furious until she looked at Robert again and reconsidered the offer.
“Jan, you can’t hide all of your life. You are a beautiful woman. Here is a young man who wants to dance with you.”
Jan remained a tinge embarrassed and shy.
The quartet began playing, “Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms.”
She smiled upon hearing the music. Robert asked,
“Do you know this song?”
Jan nodded. “F, f, f, f, fa, fa, fa, fav, fav, favorite.”
Robert leaned in to her and softly sang in a stirring bass voice,
“Believe me
if all those endearing young charms
that I gaze on so fondly today
were to fade by tomorrow
and fleet in my arms,
like fairy gifts fading away
thou wouldst still be adored
as this moment thou art
let thy loveliness fade as it will.
And around the dear ruin
each wish of my heart
would entwine itself verdantly still.”
He stood up and reached out his hand.
“Will you dance with me?”
Jan smiled and placed her hand in his. They left for the dance floor. Sarah and Emily had tears in their eyes.
Emily dabbed a tear from her cheek with a napkin. She cleared her throat and returned to her seat next to Jeff. She said, “Now where was I?”
Jeff’s hands were still folded on the table.
She grabbed his hands and feigned a laugh. “You are soooooo funny.”
He laughed and said, “You're sly.” Sarah and Simon were also laughing.
“Hungry?,” Jeff asked.
“Famished!,” replied Emily.
Jeff asked, “Sarah, do you want to come with us to the buffet line?”
She looked to Simon. “I really want to dance first.”
Jeff smiled. “I understand. Have fun.”
As Emily and Jeff disappeared into the crowd Simon asked Sarah, “So you want to dance with me?”
She smiled and replied,
“Until I run out of breath.”
They merged into the dance floor.
Jan was utterly under Robert’s spell as they twirled and twirled.
The atmosphere was charged with music, merriment and magnetism. Sarah and Simon danced the whole night. They forgot about the dinner. She was in his tune, becoming accustomed to his sway.
Her fingers became intimate with the back of his neck. She beamed up to him as though she were admiring the deliberate brushes of a masterpiece. He was focused on her eyes, her lips, her neck. She mustarded up a smidgen of courage and allowed the tip of her tongue to peek from her mouth and moisten her top lip. She was eager to have him receptive to her cue. She gently caressed his shoulders. With his left hand in the small of her back he pulled her close. She elevated herself by arching herself with her toes. He placed his right hand on her left cheek and then glided over to her ear, to the back of her head. They shared a magnificent kiss.
“Last song, folks,”
came a voice from the crowd. Her eyes went down and then back up to his. She did not speak, as much as she panted with a deep, shaking voice, “more,”
and again, “more.”
He obliged her longing, overpowered by her allurement.
Another couple bumped into them. “Simon, you should at least be dancing.”
Simon was lost in the moment. “What?”
Sarah placed her arms around his back. “We forgot to dance.”
Simon smiled. “Oh yea.”
Sarah gave her right hand to him indicating that they should be a part of the flow of the group. He agreed and they happily went one more round.
“Thank you everyone for attending good night.”
At this the men doffed their hats to their respective dates and began singing. “Good night, Ladies. Good night, Ladies. Good night, Ladies. It’s time to move along.”
The charmed young women curtseyed in reply.
Sarah smiled. Inside she was screaming,
“More, more, more, more, more.”
Simon escorted her off the dance floor and away from the tent.
Sarah did not know where they were headed, it didn’t matter. The only thing of importance was him. They held hands as they walked. She closed her eyes and saw herself wearing a white dress with a mesh veil; her father was walking beside her, in a church. She opened her eyes, they moved farther from the noise of the crowd.
They sat down on a stone bench. She reached in for another kiss and then laid her head on his right shoulder. He smiled at her but then suddenly bolted from his seat. He took off running.
Sarah could hear a woman crying at the top of her lungs.
“He has my purse! He has my purse!”
She could barely see Simon’s white suit as he sprinted into the blackness.
Another young man, in a sky blue suit, built like a weight lifter, flew by her as if he were competing in the hundred yard dash. Next came the young woman, still screaming all the more excitedly,
“My purse! My purse!”
Sarah grabbed the strangers hand and they took off running with her.
Sarah could see Simon closing in on the thief. He jumped a wall separating the college boundary from the city street in a single bound. Simon jumped as well but briefly stumbled on the landing. His arms were flailing to keep balance as he awkwardly pounced. Sarah was frightened. The next young man easily cleared the wall. A third young man, in a tan suit came from the right running after the first two on the opposite side of the wall.
Sarah yelled to him,
“Please, help.”
The young man stopped and picked them up over the wall.
“One, two, three… and over.”
The trio kept running.
The thief tossed the small white purse in the air. It somersaulted twice before landing. The young man in the tan suit picked it up and gave it to the proper owner. As the ladies ran, she examined the contents.
“Rouge, blush, a picture of my mother, hotel key… the money is gone!”
Sarah gave her a look to reassure her.
As they drew closer to town they could see the thief maneuvering past the handful of people standing outside a restaurant. Simon and the young man in the sky blue suit were close behind.
The thief clipped left into an alley. Simon followed. The young man in the sky blue suit shot passed the alley and went around the building. The young man in the tan suit ran into the restaurant. Sarah and the victim were wondering why he did that but there was no time for questions. Soon they were in the alley with Simon and the thief. The thief had a large knife with him. He and Simon were an arms length away pacing each other in circles.
“Give that back, now.”
“Or what, college boy, or what?”
“I will not tell you again.”
“Come on, do you want to be a hero over a few bucks?” With that the thief lunged at Simon with the knife. He stabbed him in the left shoulder. Simon screamed in pain and dropped to his knees.
Sarah was in tears, she wanted to go help him but the other girl held her back.
“Do you want another college boy? What have you got to say?”
Simon looked at the thief with a determined expression. “Simon says…now!”
The thief felt a tap on his shoulder. When he turned around to investigate, POW! He was out like a light.
“Thanks, Carl.”
He shruggeded.
“Anytime Simon, it was my pleasure.”
Within moments the third young man found them. He was escorted by a policeman with his gun drawn.
“Here we go, officer.”
Sarah ran over to Simon who was holding his left shoulder, trying to stop the spouting blood. Simon kept a brave front: “Oh, baby, that smarts.”
Sarah was ready to faint. “Simon? Simon? No.”
“He’ll be alright. I’m Pre-Med. I have a key to the Medical Services building and a car. We can be there in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”
Simon agreed. He turned to Sarah. “Tony’s the best, really, I’ll be fine.”
Sarah and the other girl helped him to his feet. Carl reached in to the pockets of the unconscious thief.
The young lady said, “It should be about $9.”
He found it. “Five dollars, six, seven, eight, nine.”
He handed her the wad of bills.
She said,
“Thank you”
and kissed him on the cheek.
“You were so brave, all of you. To help a stranger like that….”
“…is the responsibility of every citizen.”
Simon interrupted her.
The police officer flipped the thief over and moved his arms to his back to put on handcuffs.
“Becky Henderson from Butte.”
She started to extend her hand but then withdrew because of the obvious mess.
“Simon, pleased to meet you. The big guy is Carl, our best wrestler. Tony got the cop. This is Sarah from Eagle Creek.”
“Oh, Sarah, thank you for supporting me.”
They hugged.
“I just came out of that same restaurant not 4 minutes ago. The policeman was still there.”
The officer patted Tony on the back.
“Quick thinking, son.”
Tony nodded and ran his hands through his hair.
“Come on Simon, my car is just a block from here.”
“Thank you, Tony. Listen, Carl, Sarah is staying at the Grandon on Sixth and Warren. Becky where are you staying?”
She smiled.
“The same.”
Carl wiped the sweat from under his red cap.
“I’ll escort them home.”
With the handcuffs firmly on the perpetrator, the police officer began slapping the thief’s cheek. “Wake up! Wake up! Let’s get going.”
The thief awoke, still dizzy from Carl’s powerful punch.
Simon motioned to Becky to open up her purse and hand him the money. Becky was confused but trusted him.
“Nine dollars! Nine dollars! Look at it. Nine dollars! Is that really worth the rest of your life in prison? I have a hole in my shoulder. Smell the blood. That is my blood pouring on the street, ruining this white suit for what? For what?”
Simon composed himself.
“If you want to do something else for the next thirty years except sit around a dank cell awash in misery then see me Tuesday night at six.”
Becky and Sarah were confused; they didn’t know what that meant.
The police man jerked the thief around and they walked off. Becky, Sarah and Carl walked behind as Tony helped Simon into his car.
“Sarah, I had a most enchanting evening. I wish it could have ended on a better note.”
Sarah leaned in to kiss him.
Tony put the car in gear and ribbed Simon’s left side.
“I think it just did.”
Simon laughed.
“Good night folks. Oh, wait a minute.”
The car abruptly stopped.
“Sarah, tomorrow morning is chapel. Can I pick you up at 9:45?”
Sarah said with a wide grin, “Yes.”
“9:45 then. Assuming of course I survive Tony’s surgical technique.”
“Are you kidding? I operated on a cadaver just yesterday and he survived.”
The car sped away into the night. The policeman and thief disappeared in the opposite direction.
