Free All the Way Home and All the Night Through by Ted Lewis Page A

hard as I could, so that it caused a valley in her skin. Her back became taut, and her knees kept slithering together. Her mouth hooked into mine. Keeping my thumb on the suspender, I bunched up a handful of skirt-cloth, opening and closing my fingers, my nails scratching across her thigh through the material. I tore my face from her for a second and muttered:
    â€œI wish we weren’t in the pictures.”
    I felt her cheek go red against mine. She was too embarrassed to answer, so she kissed me hard.
    The White Horse. Loud tables full of drinking dance-goers. About half underage. Black looks from Saturday regulars squeezed out of usual places. The door kept opening and the crowd kept growing. I was snuggled in Elites Corner. That is, the corner where the band and assorted partners could view the whole kaleidoscope. Karen was nesting close to me, her expansive self-conscious smiles proclaiming her excited satisfaction. Harry, Don and I and the rest of the band were getting them in faster than anyone else as we had less time. We were all wearing our uniforms under our coats. Red ties, black waistcoats, striped trousers. We wore them with a great smugness.
    The pub was quite smooth. It had only been up about three years and the carpets and upholstery were still good. Soft lighting improved everybody even before the drink began to take effect. Everybody, boys and girls, bore the look of pre-pub mirror preparation. Even the most casual attire had been scrupulously screened. Everyone was euphoric, smart, nervous, proud and stupid.
    I took a drink from my black and tan. Then I squeezed Karen’s hand and gave her a one-and-only look. I took another drink. I wondered about Janet. God, she’d better come, I thought. If she didn’t come, I knew how depressed I would get. The evening would lose its point. All this gladness would have its personality split into schizoid emptiness. Even if I never spoke to her that night, she just had to come. Every time the door opened, somebody else came in. I put my arm round Karen’s shoulders.
    â€œOkay?”
    She nodded, smiling. She kneaded my free hand with both of hers. I squeezed back.
    â€œDid you say something about that Janet coming tonight?” I asked.
    â€œJanet? Oh yes, she may be coming. It depends on this date, whether or not she’s going with him. She seems very particular who she goes with, somehow.”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œShe said it would be awfully difficult.”
    â€œUh huh.”
    â€œHope she does though. I like Janet. She’s nice.”
    â€œIs she?”
    â€œOh yes. She’s the nicest in our year. She’s not as . . . not as harsh as some of the others are. Do you know what I mean?”
    â€œNot exactly.”
    â€œWell, the others, they seem to, you know, you always seem too conscious of their presence. With Janet, you’re conscious of her quietness.”
    It struck me that this was out of character for Karen.
    â€œThat’s odd for one girl to say about another. They’re usually right bitchy about each other.”
    â€œI suppose they are,” she said, squeezing my hand some more. I got the scene. She was advertising herself as being nicer than other girls. Quite clever, I thought, considering how daft she was.
    â€œWhy, are you interested in her coming?” she asked, smiling coyly as though she knew I wasn’t really interested in Janet coming at all, just in her.
    â€œWhat do you think?”
    â€œI don’t know.” She picked up her glass.
    â€œCome on. What do you think?”
    I smiled at her, making sure she couldn’t feel anything but the beginnings of discomfiture. Her cheeks reddened slightly. She took a drink.
    â€œWell?” I asked.
    â€œWell, I...”
    It had gone as far as it should. I tightened my arm across her shoulders and squeezed her toward me.
    â€œWell, you should do.”
    I brushed her cheek with my lips and finished up with my nose in