Free On Wings of the Morning by Dan Verner

to come around and open her door. She eased out gracefully, curtseying to him. “Thank you, kind sir,” she murmured.
    “Think nothing of it, ma’am,” Otto returned, and they both laughed. He offered his arm and they went in to the prom.
    The dance was well underway, awash with couples. Betty took Otto by the hand and led him to the dance floor. The small orchestra the senior class had hired from Madison swung into “In the Mood,” and Betty and Otto were soon moving to the rhythms of the song. The band next moved into “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.” They moved close together and glided around the floor. Otto was glad they had practiced. He sang along with the lyrics,
     
    They said some day you'll find
    All who love are blind
    When your heart’s on fire, you must realize
    Smoke gets in your eyes.
     
    Betty laughed quietly at the end of the verse. Otto looked at her. “What’s so funny?”
    “You!”
    “Me?” He smiled at her and she smiled back.
    “Yes, dear Otto, I have to say that you dance better than you sing.”
    Otto knew it was true so he didn’t object. “All right, then, no more singing.”
    They danced on through the evening until it came time for the last tune. The band played “The Party’s Over,” which the female vocalist sang, and then the chaperones turned up the lights. The prom was over. Couples made their way to the doors and spilled in the parking lot. They got into their cars and most drove off. Otto and Betty sat in the Packard for a moment.
    “I don’t want to go home, Otto,” she said. “Let’s go someplace.”
    “That’s a swell idea, Betty. Where would you like to go?”
    She chewed her lip for an instant. “How about Spencer’s?” That was the all-night diner that the kids liked to frequent. They knew they would know plenty of people there.
    “Good idea,” Otto said. “Let’s go.”
    Betty started the engine, put the car into gear and they were off. Spencer’s was at the other end of the main street through town and they followed what seemed to be a parade of cars headed in the same direction.
    Spencer’s lot was filled with cars and young people from the prom standing and talking with each other. Some of them were making their way into the diner, which seemed to be almost filled to capacity. Betty seemed to greet everyone in the parking lot. They finally pushed through the door to the diner and found a couple of places at a corner table. It looked like Spencer’s had put on extra waitresses in anticipation of the after-prom crush.
    One came over to them. “Hi, Betty; hi, Otto. What can I get you to drink?”
    “I’d like a Coke,” Betty said. Otto echoed her.
    When the waitress had turned to go, Betty looked right at Otto. “So, we’re going to have some changes in our lives. I’ll be working at the bank and you’ll be farming and flying.”
    “I really don’t want to be a farmer, but until something better comes along, I need to help out.”
    “It’s the same way with me, but I’ll have fun getting to see people I know all day. I hope we can see each other.”
    “I come into the bank from time to time—“
    “No, I meant outside the bank. Like this. You know.”
    “Gee, I’d like that, Betty.” The waitress brought their Cokes.
    “What would you like to eat?”
    “I’ll have the tuna salad on rye,” Betty told her, closing her menu.
    “And I’d like a cheeseburger,” Otto said.
    “You got it,” said the waitress, taking their menus.
    Remember, I want you to take me flying. Could you do that?”
    “Well, sure. I don’t have that many hours…”
    “I just know you’re a good pilot and I’d love to see what it’s like to soar like the birds.”
    “It’s pretty amazing. Let’s do that. I’ll let you know a good time.”
    “That would be great, Otto. Thank you.”
    They ate their food in silence and then climbed into Betty’s car and rolled back through town to her house. The lights were still on. “Mom and Dad are still up.