Chapter Twenty-Three: Fly Boy
By Jason Goldtrap
Sarah with Simon, Emily with Jeff, Karen with Benjamin, and Jan gathered on the porch of the Science Building. They were laughing and reveling in the light of new friendships and victory.
Karen said,
“I am so glad you put Audrey Livingston in her place.”
Jan agreed.
She continued,
“She has been a thorn in our side for years. She is a miserable wretch. She has few friends but lots of money to flaunt.”
Jan rolled her eyes.
Emily hesitated and then said,
“Well, I don’t know about that. I like to hope for the best in all people, even the ones I don’t particularly like.”
Karen replied,
“Not her, not Audrey Livingston. She is a boorish busy body. She is a constant gossip. But after tonight, we have some new stories to use against her.”
Jan laughed along with Karen.
Emily said,
“No. Please don’t say anything. Let it end here.”
Just then a door opened behind them, Audrey Livingston came out. She was sobbing and had a huge black eye. The group became silent.
Audrey said nothing. She just quickly stepped away to the left and ran around the building.
As she disappeared into the night, Emily cautioned,
“If what you told me about her is true, and I have every reason to suspect that it is factual, then, I have more reasons to just let it go. I didn’t come here to pick a fight; but, well, sometimes you have to knock someone flat on their back so they can see how terrible their world has become.”
Karen sighed.
“You know, there might be something to that after all. I talk too much sometimes too, not in public mind you but Jan and I can really rip people to shreds just for fun.”
Jan made a talking sign with her right hand and then with the other.
Karen nodded.
“And that’s why we got into an argument yesterday? You were sick of hearing me gossip?”
Jan nodded.
Karen smiled.
“Jan, I am your voice. Thank heavens, you are my conscience.”
They hugged.
Karen said,
“It was so much fun tonight but we have to get going if we’re going to wear dazzling dresses for the Chrysanthemum Ball tonight.”
They waved and walked away.
Sarah said,
“Em, we must be going. It’s a thirty minute walk to the Grandon from here.”
Simon tilted his head.
“Walk? Why walk at all? Jeff and I can get you to the Grandon in five minutes.”
Emily replied,
“What? How?”
Simon hooked Sarah’s arm.
“Follow me.”
They walked around to the left side of the Science Building and they saw Jeff sitting in a car.
The girls were dumb struck.
“Ladies, I am pleased to present the opulent Oldsmobile Model D Palace Touring Car.”
The machine looked magnificent. It had four wheels with spokes. The front of the car looked like a large bread box. The contraption almost smiled with its silver grill and headlights. It had two long, cushioned benches, one in front, one in back that was slightly elevated.
Jeff disembarked and walked over to Emily.
“Are you ready for adventures in motoring?”
Emily was bowled over.
“Oh yes- oh yes!” 
He opened the passenger door and she stepped on board.
The machine sputtered and shook like a train, but at least trains rode on tracks. Simon extended his hand. Sarah grimaced as she imagined falling out of the mad machine as it rocketed down the street, but Simon was so handsome. She thought,
“How can I say no?”
Simon opened the rear door for her and then walked behind the vehicle. He tapped on Jeff’s shoulder.
“Ready when you are fly boy!”
Jeff put the car in gear. He whipped his left arm into the air and yelled,
“Off to the stratosphere!”
They bolted away from the college.
“Yahoo!”
Simon screamed. Sarah was holding tight to his right arm and gritting her teeth.
Jeff shouted,
“There are about two hundred and fifty cars in Helena. I am a member of a local club. We get together once a month and talk about our machines.”
The car was speeding through the busy streets like a comet. They were dodging horses, stray dogs, and, of course, people who did not look both ways before crossing the street.
Emily yelled,
“Oh wow! This is so much fun!”
Jeff was in control and loving it. He said,
“I am also a member of the American Automobile Association.”
Simon chimed in,
“Jeff holds the speed record for Lewis and Clark County.”
Emily laughed.
“I have no trouble believing that.”
Sarah started to open her eyes but then quickly covered them again. The car careened around corners, kicking up dust. The engine roared like a mountain lion.
Emily was having a blast, she said,
“Oh, we must go by the Last Chance Gulch District.”
Jeff winked and shouted,
“Sure, why not?”
They banked a hard left. The car pivoted on its right side, the passenger side door rattled.
Jeff declared.
“I wish we had time tonight I could drive you to Butte, now there is a wild town. My Model D can get you there in a little over an hour.”
Sarah’s jaw dropped. She began feverously rapping on Emily’s shoulders, their private signal for “No, no, no, no, no, no!”
Emily was disappointed but understanding.
“No, thank you. We need to return to the hotel so we can change.”
Jeff replied,
“Too bad, you’d love it. Butte is wild. Eighty-five thousand people looking to jump, ballyhoo and scat!”
Emily was hooting and hollering like a banshee.
Simon rebuffed him.
“Marvelous, Jeff, a simply smashing idea, taking sixteen-year-old girls to a Rag!”
"You're too safe, Simon!"
He replied.
Simon gently kissed Sarah's hand.
"Only when I need to be."
Sarah was utterly charmed.
The car sputtered all over town. Emily spoke up,
“Hey, Aren’t you taking us to the Grandon?”
Jeff hesitated.
“The Grandon? Is that where Alexander Hamilton shot Aaron Burr?”
Emily was embarrassed.
“Sorry.”
Jeff chuckled,
“Don’t be; I deserved it. But, now, I’ve forgotten where the hotel was. Perhaps a kiss would remind me.”
Sarah and Emily were both surprised and looked to each other for cues.
Simon flicked Jeff on his left ear and said,
“Let me know if this works for you, buddy.”
Emily said,
“I just met you!”
Jeff shrugged.
“Am I ugly?”
Emily considered for a moment. “You’re no Adonis but….”
“But what?”
Emily was beaming. “You are quite daft and too forward!”
“Guilty as charged. Let’s see the Grandon is on Sixth and Warren. Which is…?”
Emily was insistent.
“I don’t know!”
“It could be quite a distance from here. Maybe it’s in Birdseye or perhaps Unionville.”
Simon and Sarah were bemused by the exchange.
Emily conceded.
“I’ll kiss you on the cheek, nothing more.”
“Fair enough.”
Emily leaned in and gave him a two count peck.
“Oh! That Grandon Hotel! It’s the next left.”
In a couple of seconds they arrived. Emily playfully hit him on the right shoulder. “You tricked me!”
She then laughed. Jeff and Simon hopped out and opened the car doors for the girls.
Jeff tipped his motoring cap and said,
“I’ll be back at 7:45, looking dapper and fresh.”
Emily quipped, “Oh, I’d say you are already quite fresh.”
They waved as the car sped away.
Sarah whispered to Emily, “We’re a looooong way from Eagle Creek.”
They spun around and walked into the hotel. They went to their room and quickly washed up. Emily put on her ball gown. As Emily looked in a mirror adjusting her hat; she asked,
“Is there food at this soiree? I could eat a horse.”
“Sorry, Em, no horse. Just steak and chicken.”
Emily replied coyly,
“So, horse is not an option?”
Sarah looked at her and they said in unison,
“Naaaay!”
They laughed and Sarah plopped down on her bed. She leaned against the pillows. “Oh, Em! Isn’t life grand?”
Emily slowly walked over to Sarah.
“Don’t you mean, isn’t love grand?”
Sarah tilted her head.
“I simply do not know of what you speak… yes, maybe….?”
Emily asked,
“Falling?”
Sarah lifted her right hand high and tickled the air.
“I am fluttering. I am tumbling from the stars themselves, spiraling through the snowy clouds, floating like a feather, straight into Simon’s arms!”
Emily smiled.
“I’m getting there myself with Jeff.”
As Emily helped Sarah into her dress she mumbled,
“He is a dreamboat.”
Sarah stroked her neck with her right hand.
“Did you see his hands? They were so manly; strong, worn but with trimmed, clean nails. Did you smell him?”
Emily thought for a moment.
“No, but Jeff had an enticing, robust fragrance.”
Emily paused and then growled in a hushed tone, “Oh Sarah, I could have lost myself.”
They hurriedly changed into their ball gowns and headed down to the lobby.
The lobby of the Grandon was as busy as ever. Girls were adjusting their hats and comparing themselves with other girls. Sarah asked,
“Do I look passable?”
“What? Are you kidding me? You’re amazing!”
Emily stepped back and made a pantomime picture frame with her hands.
“Presenting this month’s cover girl for McCall’s Magazine, Miss Sarah Conrad of Eagle Creek, Montana. She is wearing a light auburn, silky, scandalously low cut pigeon-chested top with a rich satin bodice. Her cameo holds a picture of the love of her life, Sarafina, which, hopefully, will soon be replaced by Simon or some other muscular young man. Will she find true love?” Sarah twirled as she replied, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” They laughed.
Sarah then said to Emily,
“And here we have Miss Emily Jean Clementine also of Crummy Creek, Montana. Her curvaceous figure has garnered a special mention in the latest edition of Vogue as the most delicious baked good on the market. Her skin is milky white. Her deep blue eyes are so radiant that they could stop a man at thirty paces.”
Emily closed her eyes and swayed.
Sarah cautioned,
“If I may be so bold?”
Emily replied,
“You may, you may!”
She swayed back and forth; listening to the symphony in her mind.
Sarah said,
“She is alluring.”
Emily spoke up,
“I am rapturous, with the voice of a cooing dove and the countenance of a radiant jewel. I am statuesque in all ways. I am the ravishing, irresistible. I am temptation itself. What man can escape my intentions?”
She opened her eyes and froze.
Jeff asked,
“Are you ready to go?”
Emily was red faced. Her eyes darted back and forth,
“Yessssssssss.”
Jeff looked at her and tried hard not to laugh.
“I suppose we should leave?”
Emily replied,
“Quickly.”
As Emily and Jeff walked out the door they could see Simon and Sarah almost collapsing with laughter and applauding,
“Bravo! Bravo!”
Emily started to go back inside; Jeff grabbed her arm.
“Come along, Emily.”
Sarah wore a devious smile.
"The night is ours."
